All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
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31 07, 2020

Time to “Beef Up” Dilophosaurus

By | July 31st, 2020|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Photos/Pictures of Fossils, Press Releases|0 Comments

Time to “Beef Up” Dilophosaurus wetherilli

A comprehensive review of the fossil material associated with the Early Jurassic crested theropod Dilophosaurus (D. wetherilli) has been published.  The consequences of this newly published paper for manufacturers of dinosaur models are profound.  It is likely that our view of “double crested lizard” will change and with the writing of this paper, all the Dilophosaurus figures and replicas are very probably all wrong!

It’s time to “beef up” Dilophosaurus and to stop depicting it as a lightly built, gracile, weak-jawed scavenger but to recognise that this dinosaur was an apex predator!

Everything Dinosaur team members have produced a short YouTube video that explains what has happened.

Time to “Beef Up” Dilophosaurus (D. wetherilli)

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

All Dilophosaurus wetherilli Dinosaur Models May be Wrong!

An analysis of the five most-complete Dilophosaurus specimens reveals that Dilophosaurus had stronger jaws than previously thought.  That distinctive notch between the premaxilla and the maxilla (the upper jaw bones), which is so carefully depicted in numerous replicas and figures, might be much less pronounced.  The original interpretation of the “kink” being put down to the fragmented and poor condition of the fossil material.  The shape of the upper jaws may be a result of taphonomy and it might not reflect the actual shape of the bones.

Lots of Dilophosaurus Dinosaur Models Feature in Everything Dinosaur’s Video

Wild Safari Dilophosaurus dinosaur model.
The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Dilophosaurus model came out in 2009 and it shows the characteristic anatomical traits formerly associated with this theropod dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Nasal and Lacrimal Bones Form the Crests

It is the nasal and lacrimal bones that form the famous crests.  This new paper suggests that these features were not thin and bony but the hollow, pneumatised cores were covered with keratin or keratinised skin making them much larger than previously thought.  Although their overall shape remains uncertain, these crests may have played a role in helping this large animal to lose heat.  Recently published research (Eastick et al), suggests that the casques of large, ground-dwelling birds such as cassowaries might act as thermal windows.

The casque on the top of the head of the cassowary could help this large bird to lose heat when it is very hot and restrict heat loss in cooler conditions.  At the time of publication (2019), it was proposed that these findings might have implications for the function of similar structures in avian and non-avian dinosaurs and that includes Dilophosaurus wetherilli.

Used for Display and Thermoregulation?

A new interpretation of Dilophosaurus wetherilli.
The new interpretation depicts Dilophosaurus as an apex predator which was very bird-like. Those crests could have played a role in thermoregulation.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur (puppet of Dilophosaurus created by Brian Engh)

Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube video highlighting the scientific paper on Dilophosaurus that may change the way models of this dinosaur are made lasts for a fraction over eleven minutes.  It provides an overview of the recent paper and discusses how future Dilophosaurus dinosaur models might look.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the newly published research reviewing the Dilophosaurus wetherilli fossil material: Beefing Up Dilophosaurus.

Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel contains over 175 dinosaur and prehistoric animal videos, including model reviews, tips and hints about prehistoric animal model collecting, new releases, fossil discoveries, updates and insider information.

Discover Everything Dinosaur on YouTube: Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.  We recommend that you subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Everything Dinosaur would like to acknowledge the help and support of University of Texas at Austin/Jackson School of Geosciences for their help in creating our YouTube video.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

30 07, 2020

Vicious Prehistoric Owl from the Bighorn Basin

By | July 30th, 2020|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Primoptynx poliotauros – Large Owl that Hunted like a Hawk!

With the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs some 66 million years ago, our mammalian ancestors diversified and thrived.  A large proportion of their predators had become extinct and this may have contributed to their success.  However, our furry friends were not to have everything go their way, as within a few million years other vertebrates, notably the birds had themselves diversified and begun to fill predatory niches in terrestrial ecosystems once occupied by less derived maniraptorans.

Primoptynx poliotauros

For example, a new species of large owl has been described from postcranial remains found in the Bighorn Basin of Wyoming.  This owl, which was approximately sixty centimetres tall, has particularly large and well developed talons on its hind and second toes.  Writing in the “Journal of Vertebrate Palaeonotology”, the research team responsible for describing the fossil material conclude that this large bird was a very dangerous threat to the numerous species of small and medium sized mammals within the ecosystem.  The owl has been named Primoptynx poliotauros.

The Fossil Remains of Primoptynx poliotauros Laid Out in Skeletal Position

Primoptynx poliotauros fossil material.
Primoptynx poliotauros fossil bones laid out in approximate skeletal position.  Note the scale bar of 10 cm.

Picture Credit: Senckenberg Research Institute/Tränkner

Big Owl with Big Talons

Lead author of the scientific paper, Dr Gerald Mayr, an ornithologist at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt commented:

“The fossil owl was about the size of a modern snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus).  However, it is clearly distinguished from all extant species by the different size of its talons. While in present-day owls the talons on all toes are approximately the same size, Primoptynx poliotauros has noticeably enlarged talons on its hind toe and second toe.”

The scientists postulate that as this prehistoric owl has a longer first and second toe, as seen in extant hawks and other members of the Accipitridae family, such as such as the Harpy eagle (H. harpyja), this suggests that P. poliotauros used its feet to dispatch prey items in a hawk-like manner, in contrast to extant owls that kill prey with their beak.

Co-author of the paper, Dr Thierry Smith (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences), explained:

“Owls today have four toes with claws of equal size to catch relatively small preys and kill them with the beak.  Primoptynx poliotauros has a longer first and second toe, as seen in hawks and other members of the family Accipitridae.  Those more developed toes are used to pin down prey, which are punctured by the talons.  So, it was an owl that hunted like a hawk on medium-sized mammals.”

From the Willwood Formation (Wyoming, USA)

The fossil material heralds from the Willwood Formation of the northern Bighorn Basin, Park County in Wyoming and the genus name is from the Latin for first “primus” and the “ptynx” for owl.  Although around 55 million years old, Primoptynx was not the “first owl”, there is evidence to suggest that these birds originated in the Cretaceous.

The fossils help to confirm the widespread and diverse species of owls that were present during the Eocene Epoch.  The success of owls (Strigiformes), runs in conjunction with the evolutionary development of placental mammals.  The later extinction of Primoptynx poliotauros and prehistoric proto-owls may have been due to the emergence of diurnal birds of prey in the Late Eocene.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Skeleton of a new owl from the early Eocene of North America (Aves, Strigiformes) with an accipitrid-like foot morphology” by Gerald Mayr, Philip D. Gingerich and Thierry Smith published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

29 07, 2020

New Study Supports Traditional View of Dinosaur Evolution

By | July 29th, 2020|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Geology, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Study Suggests that Ornithischian and Saurischian Dinosaurs Evolved Around the Same Time

An international team of scientists from Brazil and Argentina in collaboration with a geochronologist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), have provided evidence to support the hypothesis that the Ornithischia and Saurischia diverged early on in dinosaur evolution and this supports the view of the dinosaur family tree as proposed by Seeley in 1887.

Writing in the journal “Scientific Reports”, the researchers which included Jahandar Ramezani (MIT), re-examined the fossils of Pisanosaurus mertii, dating these fossils to approximately 229 million years ago (Late Carnian stage of the Triassic).  Pisanosaurus is believed to be the earliest known ornithischian dinosaur, although some palaeontologists have concluded that this one-metre-long reptile is a dinosauriform.

An Analysis of Dinosaur Evolution

This new date suggests that bird-hipped dinosaurs were evolving at around the same as lizard-hipped forms (Saurischia), this challenges the hypothesis proposed by Baron et al in their 2017 paper which re-shaped the traditional view of dinosaur taxonomy.

To read more about the 2017 scientific paper: Root and Branch Reform of the Dinosaur Family Tree.

A View of the Ischigualasto Formation (Foreground)

A view of the The famous Ischigualasto Formation (foreground) the Sierra de Famattina Mountains can be seen on the horizon.
The famous Ischigualasto Formation (foreground), the Sierra de Famattina Mountains can be seen on the horizon (La Rioja province – Argentina).

Picture credit: Desojo et al

Accurately Dating the Ischigualasto Formation

The researchers focused their fossil finding efforts on the Hoyado del Cerro Las Lajas area, where outcrops of the Ischigualasto Formation can be found, but they are less well explored compared to contemporaneous strata within the “Valley of the Moon” geological park in San Juan Province.  Volcanic deposits yielded zircons at various levels and these minerals permitted the measurement of isotopes of uranium and lead (rate of radiometric decay).

The presence of these igneous rocks allowed the geochronologist to measure the relative proportion of isotopes present in the zircon crystals.  Radiometric dating permitted the scientists to make an estimate of the age of the bedding planes and infer the age of the fossils that they contain.  The study revealed that the Ischigualasto Formation overlaps with the deposition of another important fossil-bearing formation found in North America – the Chinle Formation.

Carefully Jacketing a Specimen Prior to its Removal

Preparing a fossil specimen for removal.
A researcher carefully prepares a field specimen for removal.

Picture credit: Desojo et al

Overlapping with the Chinle Formation of the South-western United States

The middle layers of the Chinle Formation which outcrops in the south-western part of the USA contain a variety of vertebrate fossils, including early dinosaurs.  However, very few fossils if any, are associated with the lower levels of the Chinle Formation.   The lack for fossils, prevents palaeontologists from understanding more about the early radiation and diversity of the Dinosauria from their suspected origins in the southern hemisphere.  The rocks from which fossils of the  basal ornithischian dinosaur Pisanosaurus have been found were dated to approximately 229 million years ago.  From this data, the research team were able to conclude that the earliest bird-hipped dinosaurs evolved at around the same time as the first lizard-hipped dinosaurs appear in the fossil record.

The Scientists Proposed that Pisanosaurus was Indeed an Ornithischian and it Lived Around 229 Million Years Ago

Pisanosaurus life reconstruction.
A life reconstruction of the Triassic ornithischian Pisanosaurus.

Dating of the Strata to Determine Dinosaur Evolution

Commenting on the contribution of the dating of the strata to the paper, Jahandar Ramezani stated:

“We can now say the earliest ornithiscians first showed up in the fossil record roughly around the same time as the saurischians, so we shouldn’t throw away the conventional family tree.  There are all these debates about where dinosaurs appeared, how they diversified, what the family tree looked like.  A lot of those questions are tied to geochronology, so we need really good, robust age constraints to help answer these questions.”

Uranium-bearing Zircon Crystals Allowed an Accurate Date for Parts of the Ischigualasto Formation to be Established

Zircon crystals help to date parts of the Ischigualasto Formation in Argentina.
Microscopic crystals of the uranium-bearing mineral zircon were identified in rock samples and these crystals permitted an accurate date for the rock layers to be calculated.

Picture credit: Desojo et al

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences department of MIT in the compilation of this article

The scientific paper: “The Late Triassic Ischigualasto Formation at Cerro Las Lajas (La Rioja, Argentina): fossil tetrapods, high-resolution chronostratigraphy, and faunal correlations” by Julia B. Desojo, Lucas E. Fiorelli, Martín D. Ezcurra, Agustín G. Martinelli, Jahandar Ramezani, Átila. A. S. Da Rosa, M. Belén von Baczko, M. Jimena Trotteyn, Felipe C. Montefeltro, Miguel Ezpeleta and Max C. Langer published in Scientific Reports.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

28 07, 2020

“Captain Hook” A New Dinosaur from Hell Creek

By | July 28th, 2020|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Trierarchuncus prairiensis – The Last Alvarezsaurid

A new species of alvarezsaurid dinosaur has been described from fragmentary remains consisting of a foot bone, a partial radius (arm bone) and three thumb claws which might represent a progressive size series.  The little dinosaur has been named Trierarchuncus prairiensis and the fossils come from the uppermost Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation of Montana and demonstrate that these bizarre, little theropods survived until the very end of the Cretaceous.

A Life Reconstruction of the Newly Described Alvarezsaurid T. prairiensis

Life reconstruction Trierarchuncus prairiensis.
Trierarchuncus prairiensis life reconstruction.

Picture credit: Badlands Dinosaur Museum (North Dakota) model created by Boban Filipovic

The Most Complete Alvarezsaurid Claw Described to Date

Writing in the journal “Cretaceous Research”, the research team that includes lead author Dr Denver Fowler (Badlands Dinosaur Museum), describe the three thumb claws (manual digit 1) which are of different sizes.  They conclude that these three claws probably represent a growth series and from this they can plot how the claw changed as the alvarezsaurid grew.  As Trierarchuncus matured, the thumb claw became more robust and roughened.

Blood vessel grooves on the manual ungual (claw) became more deeply embedded in the bone.  One claw, the middle-sized specimen, represents the most complete alvarezsaurid thumb claw described to date and it demonstrates that these claws were more curved than previously thought.  A powerful, strongly curved thumb claw would have helped this small dinosaur to rip into rotten wood in search of invertebrates.  It has also been suggested that alvarezsaurids evolved to exploit termites as a food source, that is, they exhibited termitophagy (specialised consumers of termites).  The single claw on each hand in association with strong forelimbs could have been used to tear apart termite nests.

A View of the Three Alvarezsaurid Fossil Claws (Proposed Ontogenetic Series)

Three claws ascribed to the genus Trierarchuncus.
The three claws described in the scientific paper form a possible growth series.  The most complete alvarezsaurid claw described to date can be seen in the middle.  Note the strongly curved and hook-like claw, if this is a growth series, then it has been suggested that the thumb claw became more strongly curved as the animal matured.

Picture credit: Badlands Dinosaur Museum (North Dakota)

Inspired by Captain Hook!

The claws were the inspiration behind the dinosaur’s name.  The genus name comes from the Greek “trierarch”, a reference to the appointed officers responsible for a Greek warship, whilst “uncus” is the Latin for hook.  The trivial or species name honours the gentle, rolling prairies of eastern Montana where the fossils were found.  The name which is pronounced Try-er-arch-unk-cus pray-ree-en-sis  translates as “Captain Hook of the prairies”.  This is also a nod in the direction of the infamous “Captain Hook”, a fictional character, the nemesis of Peter Pan created by J. M. Barrie.

The Three Thumb Claws from the Alvarezsaurid in the Study

The three alvarezsaurid thumb claws showing a possible growth sequence.
Possible evidence of a growth series – alvarezsaurid manual unguals.  The human hand provides a scale, an adult Trierarchuncus was probably less than a metre in length.

Picture credit: Badlands Dinosaur Museum (North Dakota)

Implications for the Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Alvarezsauroidea

If the three claw specimens do indeed represent a growth series (an ontogenetic series), then this discovery could have far-reaching consequences for all those maniraptoran dinosaurs confined within the Alvarezsauroidea.  If the claws of these dinosaurs changed radically as the animal grew and matured, then supposedly unique features (autapomorphies), used to erect other alvarezsaurid genera might be unreliable.  These features might be attributed to the relatively young age of the dinosaur when it died, rather than representing a defining anatomical characteristic that can lead to the naming of a new species.

Views of the Thumb Claw Showing Curvature (MOR 6622 – Holotype Claw)

Trierarchuncus prairiensis thumb claw showing curvature.
Views of the most complete Trierarchuncus thumb claw showing curvature.  The  holotype claw MOR 6622.

Picture credit: Badlands Dinosaur Museum (North Dakota)

The Youngest Known Alvarezsaurid

Stratigraphic data indicates that Trierarchuncus represents the youngest known alvarezsaurid.  Fossils associated with these types of theropod occur through most of the eighty-five metre thick Hell Creek Formation, with the uppermost specimen having been found within a few metres of the contact with the Palaeocene-aged Fort Union Formation.  It is likely that alvarezsaurids were present in North America throughout the Late Cretaceous and that they persisted until the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs.

Evidence suggests that alvarezsaurids originated in Asia: Haplocheirus – Is it a bird?  No, it is a dinosaur.

Did alvarezsaurids eat eggs?  An article from 2018: Did Alvarezsaurids eat eggs?

The scientific paper: “Trierarchuncus prairiensis gen. et sp. nov., the last alvarezsaurid: Hell Creek Formation (uppermost Maastrichtian), Montana” by Denver W. Fowler, John P. Wilson, Elizabeth A. Freedman Fowler, Christopher R. Noto, Daniel Anduza and John R. Horner published in Cretaceous Research.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

27 07, 2020

Microraptor Moulted Just Like Many Modern Birds

By | July 27th, 2020|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Evidence of Sequential Moult Identified in Microraptor gui

A team of Israeli scientists in collaboration with colleagues from China have found evidence in the holotype specimen of Microraptor (Microraptor gui) that this flying dinosaur sequentially moulted its feathers.  All living birds have to replace their feathers periodically in order to maintain their function, feathered dinosaurs underwent the same process to.  The way in which the feathers are shed and replaced provides palaeontologists with an opportunity to infer habits and behaviours about a long extinct animal.

The Holotype Fossil Material of Microraptor gui

Microraptor fossil.
Feathers are found preserved in many dinosaur fossils from China and a new study suggests that Microraptor sequentially moulted which has implications for the habit and behaviour of this volant dromaeosaurid.

Writing in the academic journal Current Biology, the scientists from the University of Haifa, the Society of Protection of Nature and the Jerusalem Bird Observatory (Israel), along with co-workers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences identified signs of sequential moulting on the fossilised wing of Microraptor gui.

Moulting Strategy Links to Habitat Selection and Flight Ability

Living birds generally moult their feathers in one of three main ways or strategies:

1).  A gradual direct replacement of all flight feathers in a slow moult with both wings showing similar stages of moult at the same time – referred to as sequential moulting.

2).  Simultaneous replacement of all the flight feathers – referred to as simultaneous moulting.

3).  A gradual, but not ordered moult in which feather replacement has no predictable sequence or direction – referred to as an irregular moult.

Different Moulting Strategies Identified in Extant Birds

Different strategies of feather moulting in living birds.
Examples of moult strategies in living birds.  Marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa) in (A) showing a gradual sequential moult.  The flightless cormorant (Nannopterum harrisi) during a non-sequential moult with both wings showing old, new and growing feathers without any order or symmetry.  A common loon (Gavia immer) after simultaneous shedding of all the wing’s feathers as part of a non-sequential simultaneous moult.  An African darter (Anhinga rufa) in (D) that is characterised by a non-sequential moult in which its flight feathers grow simultaneously.

Picture credit: Kiat et al plus Gartner, Salmond, S. P. d’Entremont, Francey (Journal of Current Biology)

Moulting Strategies

In total, the moulting strategies of 302 living bird species were studied, including active fliers and ground-dwelling birds incapable of powered flight.  These findings were than applied to the feather arrangement, composition and morphology as found in the wing of the Microraptor gui holotype specimen.  The researchers were unable to distinguish between simultaneous and irregular moulting (strategy 2 and 3), so they confined their study to a direct comparison between sequential moulting (strategy 1) and non-sequential moulting (strategies 2 and 3).

The moulting strategy adopted by a bird species impacts on their ability to fly and provides clues about their habitat.

For example,  those birds that spend much of their time in the air or live in habitats which are open with few hiding places to help them avoid predators, sequential moulting tends to be adopted.  This ensures that the birds can still fly even during moulting.  Birds that do not fly frequently, or that have access to plenty of hiding places in their habitat so that they can avoid detection by predators tend to shed a large number of feathers simultaneously and have a relatively rapid moult, typically no more than 2-3 weeks, but if they are a volant species their ability to fly is severely impeded during this time.

The Implications for Microraptor gui

A detailed examination of the wing feathers preserved on the holotype specimen of Microraptor led the researchers to identify six feathers of differing sizes (a-g in the diagram below).  These feather lengths were in a sequence indicating that Microraptor moulted gradually and sequentially.

Evidence of Sequential Moulting in Microraptor (M. gui)

Sequential moulting in Microraptor.
The holotype specimen exhibits an active moult in the primaries (the arrow points to the moult-related wing gap).  The bottom right inset shows how the researchers identified seven primaries in the specimen’s wing, marked as P(a)–P(g).

Picture credit: Kiat et al (Journal of Current Biology)

This suggests that Microraptor probably spent a considerable portion of each day in the air and that it needed to be able to fly to avoid predators and to forage for food.  Furthermore, Microraptor required this capability on a daily basis, including during the moulting process.

Wing Moult (Sequential Shedding) in Microraptor

Wing moult in Microraptor.
Illustration (A) shows fully grown primary feathers on the wing, whilst (B), shows light grey feathers which have yet to be shed.

Picture credit: Kiat et al (Journal of Current Biology) with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

Microraptor gui Demonstrating Sequential Moulting

Microraptor is the earliest known feathered vertebrate to demonstrate sequential moulting and this suggests that this strategy is nested very deep within the Maniraptora lineage that led to the evolution of birds.  It likely maintained its flight ability throughout the entire year.  These findings support the hypothesis that Microraptor was a strong, capable flier.  The researchers conclude that flight was essential for either its daily foraging or escaping from predators and that sequential moulting is the outcome of evolutionary pressures to maintain flight capability throughout the entire annual cycle in both extant birds and non-avialan paravian dinosaurs from 120 million years ago.

Microraptor Probably Sequentially Moulted Which Infers it was a Strong Flier

The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor Model.
Showing the iridescent feathers and the bifurcated tailfan of the CollectA Deluxe Microraptor model.  New study of the Microraptor gui holotype suggests sequential moulting and from this it is inferred that flight was essential for either Microraptor’s daily foraging or to avoid predators. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows a CollectA Deluxe Microraptor model.

To view this range of models and figures: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Figures.

The scientific paper: “Sequential Molt in a Feathered Dinosaur and Implications for Early Paravian Ecology and Locomotion” by Yosef Kiat, Amir Balaban, Nir Sapir, Jingmai Kathleen O’Connor, Min Wang and Xing Xu published in the journal Current Biology.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

26 07, 2020

A Unique Ornithopod Diorama

By | July 26th, 2020|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

CollectA Fukuisaurus and CollectA Mantellisaurus Get Makeovers

A very big thank you to dinosaur model collector Elizabeth who sent us pics of the CollectA 1:40 scale Fukuisaurus and the CollectA drinking Mantellisaurus that had been customised by the very talented Martin Garratt so that they represent the same species.  Elizabeth had commissioned the model maker to create a diorama featuring a pair of ornithopods, one female and one male.  With the addition of the 1:40 scale Fukuisaurus into the CollectA range this year, her plan to use two similar models to represent a male and a female of the same species came into fruition.

An Ornithopod Diorama

A Stunning Dinosaur Diorama Created by Martin Garratt

Two customised dinosaur models.
A beautiful pair of CollectA dinosaur models that have been customised on behalf of a client by the very talented model maker Martin Garratt.

Picture credit: Elizabeth

Two Herbivorous Dinosaurs at a Watering Hole

This beautiful diorama features the two CollectA figures and model maker Martin has placed them on the margins of a small pond, thereby taking advantage of the head down pose of the CollectA Mantellisaurus figure.

A Close-up View of the Two Dinosaur Figures

CollectA Fukuisaurus and Mantellisaurus have been customised by a model maker.
Customised Fukuisaurus and Mantellisaurus.  A model maker has created a superb diorama featuring two different dinosaur replicas but portraying them as one species of ornithopod.

Picture credit: Elizabeth

Fukuisaurus and Mantellisaurus

Although these two figures work exceptionally well in the diorama and they may have been contemporaneous, in reality Fukuisaurus and Mantellisaurus were separated by thousands of miles when these two herbivorous dinosaurs lived in the Early Cretaceous.  Mantellisaurus (M. atherfieldensis), is known from the Vectis Formation (Isle of Wight and Dorset in southern England), as well as equivalent level beds from western Europe).  In contrast, Fukuisaurus (F. tetoriensis), comes from exposures of the Kitadani Formation on the Japanese island of Honshu.

To view the CollectA Prehistoric Life range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Prehistoric Life Figures.

Customised Dinosaur Models – Fukuisaurus and Mantellisaurus

Customised CollectA Mantellisaurus and Fukuisaurus.
A pair or ornithopods customised by Martin Garratt.  The CollectA Mantellisaurus (left) and the CollectA Fukuisaurus (right).

Picture credit: Elizabeth

Discussing Mantellisaurus and Fukuisaurus

In addition, although the size of Mantellisaurus is not known, it was considerably bigger and heavier than Fukuisaurus.  Although, it was more gracile than other Hadrosauriformes, palaeontologists have estimated that this dinosaur could have exceeded seven metres in length and weighed more than 1,000 kilograms.  Fukuisaurus, which is known from many more fossil specimens, the majority of which come from a single horizon, is estimated to have measured around 4.5 metres in length.  Fukuisaurus is estimated to have weighed around 400 kilograms.

The CollectA Models Next to Their Customised Counterparts

Customised CollectA dinosaur models (Fukuisaurus and Mantellisaurus).
The CollectA Fukuisaurus and Mantellisaurus compared to the customised figures.  Clockwise from left to right – customised CollectA Mantellisaurus, the CollectA Fukuisaurus in the manufacturer’s colour scheme, customised CollectA Fukuisaurus figure and finally, the CollectA Mantellisaurus in the factory livery.

Picture credit: Elizabeth

In her email to Everything Dinosaur, Elizabeth stated:

“CollectA models of Fukuisaurus and Mantellisaurus, repainted and based by Martin Garratt [UMF Models] to create a diorama of two dinosaurs of the same species at a pond – take your pick as to whether to call them Fukuisaurus or Mantellisaurus.”

A Pair of Customised Ornithopods

Customised dinosaur models.
Ornithopod pair (CollectA Fukuisaurus and CollectA Mantellisaurus).  A pair of stunning customised figures on a small pond diorama.

Picture credit: Elizabeth

Our thanks once again to Elizabeth for sharing her superb photographs with Everything Dinosaur.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

25 07, 2020

Beefing Up Dilophosaurus – New Research

By | July 25th, 2020|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Comprehensive Review of Dilophosaurus – Paints New Picture of Predator

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the Petrified Forest National Park have published a comprehensive review of Dilophosaurus wetherilli fossil material and revealed that “double-crested lizard” had stronger jaws than previously thought.  Those famous skull crests turn out to be more robust as well.  Instead of being regarded as a delicately-jawed scavenger, this iconic dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of North America may have been an apex predator.

Previously Thought to be Quite Lightly Built with Delicate Jaws

Comparing Wild Safari dinosaur models.
Wild Safari Dinosaurs compared.  Dilophosaurus had been thought to be much more lightly built than other Jurassic theropods.  However, a comprehensive review of fossil material suggests that our perceptions regarding Dilophosaurus may have to change. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Not a Member of the Ceratosauria Clade?

Writing in the “Journal of Palaeontology”, researchers Adam Marsh (University of Texas Austin) and Timothy Rowe (Division of Resource Management, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona), conducted an extensive review and re-examination of all the know specimens of Dilophosaurus wetherilli and concluded that this large-bodied theropod was probably not a member of the Ceratosauria or indeed, the Coelophysoidea, but was a stem-averostran theropod, a member of the Averostra clade.  As such, D. wetherilli shows a phylogenetic relationship with Cryolophosaurus ellioti which is known from the Early Jurassic of Antarctica and Zupaysaurus rougieri, fossils of which come from the Late Triassic of Argentina.

The Review Included A Reassessment of the Holotype Skull Material

Dilophosaurus wetherilli holotype material.
Dilophosaurus wetherilli holotype specimen (UCMP 37302): (1–4) articulated right side of the skull and line drawings.  Plus (5, 6) nasolacrimal crest, (7, 8) left postorbital, (9, 10) left lacrimal, (11, 12) left quadratojugal, and (13, 14) left squamosal in (1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13) lateral and (3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14) medial view.

Picture credit: Marsh et al (Journal of Palaeontology)

Dilophosaurus wetherilli

With an estimated body length of around six metres, D. wetherilli is one of the largest terrestrial predators known from the Early Jurassic of North America.  Despite extensive study of the fossil material and this dinosaur’s on-going popularity with the public due to its depiction as a venom-spitting, frilled dinosaur in the first “Jurassic Park” film released in 1993, much of the animal’s skeleton, anatomy, ontogeny and taxonomic relationship with other members of the Theropoda remains unknown.

Using fossils collected from the middle and lower portions of the Kayenta Formation (Navajo Nation, northern Arizona), the scientists comprehensively reviewed the holotype cranial material (UCMP 37302).  In addition, previously undescribed specimens were analysed and it was concluded that the fossils represent a single species, a large, crested theropod within the Kayenta Formation.   This suggests that Dilophosaurus, as a species, persisted for a long time – several million years.

Dilophosaurus Fossil Finds in the Navajo Nation

Dilophosaurus fossil finds (location and stratigraphcial map).
Localities from which Dilophosaurus wetherilli (Welles, Reference Welles 1954) has been collected in northern Arizona.  The shaded region in the north-eastern corner of the state represents the Navajo Nation.  The inset stratigraphic column idealizes the section near Tuba City and Gold Spring, Arizona.  The dark green unit underlying the Kayenta Formation represents the Moenave Formation and the Wingate Sandstone in the western and eastern half of the Navajo Nation, respectively.  Outcrop area modified from Cooley et al (1969). 

Picture credit: Marsh et al (Journal of Palaeontology)

It is noted that many anatomical characteristics of the skeleton are more derived when compared to Late Triassic theropods, adaptations to a larger body size and a more robust macropredatory habit.

An Articulated Hindlimb Assigned to D. wetherilli 

Dilophosaurus wetherilli articulated right hindlimb.
Dilophosaurus wetherilli referred specimen (TMM 43646-1): articulated right hindlimb.

Picture credit: Marsh et al (Journal of Palaeontology)

Dilophosaurus an Apex Predator

Previous research had suggested that Dilophosaurus had weak jaws and this may have influenced how this dinosaur was depicted in the “Jurassic Park” franchise.  This review identified areas of attachment for powerful jaw muscles and that the skeleton was pneumatised (air pockets) and these structures would have helped to both lighten and strengthen the skull.  The authors state that whilst Dilophosaurus could catch small animals and even catch fish in the fluvial environment with which its fossils are associated, the robust upper jaw and strong grasping hands suggest that it was equipped to tackle far larger prey.

The idea of Dilophosaurus being a much more powerful and dangerous animal is supported by the discovery of partially articulated specimens of the early sauropodomorph Sarahsaurus (S. aurifontanalis) containing large bite marks alongside shed teeth and a skeleton of Dilophosaurus wetherilli within the same quarry as reported by Rowe et al in 2011.

A Dilophosaurus Braincase

During the comprehensive review, the researchers were able to assign to the Dilophosaurus genus a number of other specimens that had come from the Kayenta Formation, including a remarkably-well preserved small braincase from a juvenile.

Commenting on their fortuitous find Dr Marsh stated:

“In the midst of the analysis, we discovered that a small braincase in the Jackson School’s collections belonged to a Dilophosaurus wetherilli.  We realised that it wasn’t a new type of dinosaur, but a juvenile Dilophosaurus wetherilli, which is really cool.”

The More Robust Rebor Figures Introduced in 2019 May Represent a More Accurate Depiction of Dilophosaurus wetherilli

Rebor Dilophosaurus models "Green Day" and "Oasis"
The Rebor Dilophosaurus replicas “Green Day” and “Oasis”.  A new study suggests that the jaws and bony crests of Dilophosaurus wetherilli were more robust than previously thought.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows the Rebor Dilophosaurus figures.

To view the Rebor range of models: Rebor Dinosaur and Animal Models.

The strong jaws coupled with the powerful forelimbs suggests that Dilophosaurus was an active predator rather than a scavenger.  It seems that many palaeontologists perceptions regarding Dilophosaurus wetherilli will have to be reconsidered, science as well as the film industry might have got this dinosaur all wrong.

The scientific paper: “A comprehensive anatomical and phylogenetic evaluation of Dilophosaurus wetherilli (Dinosauria, Theropoda) with descriptions of new specimens from the Kayenta Formation of northern Arizona” by Adam D. Marsh and Timothy B. Rowe published in the Journal of Palaeontology.

The Everything Dinosaur: The Everything Dinosaur Website.

24 07, 2020

Irisosaurus yimenensis – New Species of “Core Prosauropod”

By | July 24th, 2020|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Irisosaurus yimenensis – New Species of “Core Prosauropod” from Southern China

Researchers writing in the open access journal Scientific Reports have described a new species of Early Jurassic herbivorous dinosaur from China.  The animal, named Irisosaurus yimenensis is known from fragmentary remains and demonstrates a suite of unusual anatomical features that suggests this genus is a member of the Sauropodiformes, between early-branching “core prosauropods” and the late-branching “sauropod-like” members of the non sauropodan sauropodomorphs.  The fossilised remains come from the Fengjiahe Formation close to the village of Zhanmatian in Yunnan province.

A Life Reconstruction of Irisosaurus yimenensis

Irisosaurus yimenensis illustration.
Irisosaurus yimenensis life reconstruction.  This herbivorous dinosaur is thought to have been bipedal, measuring approximately 5 metres in length and from the Early Jurassic of China (Pliensbachian faunal stage of the Early Jurassic).

Picture credit: Ang Li

Fossil Material Found in 2018

The researchers which include Claire Peyre de Fabrègues of Yunnan University analysed the partial skeleton and concluded that Irisosaurus has a body plan close to that of the so-called “core prosauropods” in having, for instance, cervical vertebrae longer than most dorsal vertebrae, gracile forelimbs which are much shorter than the hindlimbs, a deltopectoral crest extending half of the total length of the humerus and a unique carpal-metacarpal complex.  The fossil material has been dated to approximately 185 million years ago (Pliensbachian faunal stage of the Early Jurassic), it was discovered in 2018.  A phylogenetic analysis confirmed that Irisosaurus belongs to non-sauropodan sauropodomorphs and places it as the sister taxon to Mussasaurus which lived more than thirty million years early in Argentina.

Phylogenetic Analysis places Irisosaurus as the Sister Taxon to the South American Mussaurus

Irisosaurus phylogeny.
Phylogenetic analysis places Irisosaurus as the sister taxon to the South American Mussaurus

Picture credit: Scientific Reports

On the Road to the Sauropoda

The Sauropodomorpha is defined as saurischian dinosaurs that incorporate the Sauropoda and the early diverging sauropodomorphs.  The earliest sauropodomorphs are known from the Late Triassic, with most of the described species from Gondwana.  The Laurasian record of these types of dinosaurs does consist of some Triassic forms, but the majority of the known species date from the Jurassic.  Among the fourteen Jurassic non-sauropodan sauropodomorphs from Laurasia described to date, eight are from China.  Nearly all of the non-sauropodan sauropodomorph genera currently known from China were first reported from the Lufeng Formation, which is also associated with the Yunnan province.  The Fengjiahe Formation is the southern equivalent of the Lufeng Formation, it has revealed a similar ancient dinosaur dominated biota.

Silhouette of Irisosaurus yimenensis with Some of the Fossil Material

Irisosaurus yimenensis outline and fossil material.
Silhouette of Irisosaurus yimenensis with some of the fossil material.  The most informative elements are figured; (a) Outline; (b) Tooth; (c) Left maxilla; (d) Middle cervical; (e) Posterior cervical; (f) Anterior dorsal; (g) Middle dorsal neural spine; (h) Right scapula; (i) Right humerus; (j) Right ulna; (k) Right manus.  Scale bars = 1 m (a);1 cm (b); 5 cm (c–g); 10 cm (h–k).

Picture credit: Scientific Reports

What’s in a Name (Etymology)?

The generic name refers to the famous iridescent clouds of Yunnan Province (彩云之南). The specific epithet refers to Yimen County, where the type locality is located

The scientific paper: “A new species of early-diverging Sauropodiformes from the Lower Jurassic Fengjiahe Formation of Yunnan Province, China” by Claire Peyre de Fabrègues, Shundong Bi, Hongqing Li, Gang Li, Lei Yang and Xing Xu published in Scientific Reports.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

23 07, 2020

Stunning Scientific Paper on Hummingbird-sized Dinosaur Retracted

By | July 23rd, 2020|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Scientific Paper on Oculudentavis khaungraae Retracted

On March the 11th (2020), a scientific paper was published in the academic journal “Nature” highlighting another remarkable discovery found in an amber nodule from northern Myanmar.  The Cretaceous-aged amber had already provided some astonishing information on the forest biota close to a coastline from around 100 million years ago.

An ammonite shell entombed in the ancient tree resin for example, then there was the remains of a tiny baby snake (Xiaophis myanmarensis), fossilised frogs and a whole range of insects, plant and pollen fossils, not to mention preserved remains of enantiornithine birds and a partial feathered tail from a dinosaur.  Everything Dinosaur had covered these discoveries within this blog, but this new paper, written by Xing et al concerned something truly breath-taking… the title of the paper summed it up nicely – “Hummingbird-sized dinosaur from the Cretaceous period of Myanmar”.

A Tiny Fossilised Skull – The Skull of a Maniraptoran?

Oculudentavis khaungraae skull in amber.
Tiny fossil skull preserved in amber (Oculudentavis khaungraae).

Picture credit: Lida Xing et al

Something Tiny But Very Big

The research team, comprised of scientists from the China University of Geosciences, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (USA), the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (Canada) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, described an amazingly well-preserved tiny fossil skull with very bird-like features but miniscule teeth present in its jaws.  The tiny specimen, less than 1.5 cm long was thought to represent the smallest dinosaur known to science.  The animal was named Oculudentavis khaungraae, the genus name means “eye tooth bird” in recognition of its enormous eyes and unusual characteristic of having some of the upper teeth located directly under the eye socket.

Computer Generated Image of the Bird-like Skull (O. khaungraae)

Oculudentavis khaungraae computer generated image of the skull.
Oculudentavis khaungraae computer generated image of the skull (left lateral view).  The genus name translates as “eye tooth bird”, whilst the trivial name honours the person who donated the amber nodule to a museum (Hupoge Amber Museum).

Picture credit: Xing et al (Nature)

Oculudentavis khaungraae was documented as representing the smallest dinosaur and compared to the smallest extant avian dinosaur Mellisuga helenae, the bee hummingbird.

However, in what we at Everything Dinosaur think is an unprecedented development, the scientific paper announcing this amazing discovery has, this week, been retracted.

A statement on the “Nature” website reads:

“We, the authors, are retracting this Article [the March 11th paper] to prevent inaccurate information from remaining in the literature.  Although the description of Oculudentavis khaungraae remains accurate, a new unpublished specimen casts doubts upon our hypothesis regarding the phylogenetic position of HPG-15-3.

The specimen number HPG-15-3, is the holotype cranial material currently in the collection of the Hupoge Amber Museum in China.

A Controversial Scientific Paper

Shortly after the scientific paper’s publication, a number of academics challenged the conclusions drawn and criticised the authors for their taxonomic assessment which relates to Oculudentavis khaungraae being classified as “bird-like” and placed within the Avialae, a clade that includes elements of the Maniraptora (some theropod dinosaurs and birds).

It was suggested that the phylogenetic assessment carried out was too biased towards resolving the placement of Oculudentavis as a bird or a very closely related dinosaur, rather than considering other data sets that might resolve its position elsewhere.  The “bird-like” skull is found in a number of lizards (examples of convergent evolution), several authors commented that the possibility of O. khaungraae being a lizard was discounted too quickly by the paper’s authors.

Everything Dinosaur reported these concerns and doubts in a follow up article to the original post about the scientific paper on March 15th (2020): Casting Doubt over Oculudentavis.

Can a Binomial Name be Obliterated?

It is rare for a scientific paper to be retracted, but occasionally this happens.  Papers can be retracted for any of a number of reasons, but normally a retraction occurs when serious questions surrounding its veracity are identified.  For example, a paper published in 1998 in the medical journal the “Lancet” by Wakefield et al reporting a link between the MMR vaccination and autism was retracted in 2012 following an extensive investigation.  The British Medical Journal (BMJ), put out a press release stating that following the investigation it had been concluded that the paper implying a link between the MMR jab and autism was an “an elaborate fraud.”

Dr Fiona Godlee, BMJ Editor in Chief stated at the time:

“The MMR scare was based not on bad science but on a deliberate fraud” and that such “clear evidence of falsification of data should now close the door on this damaging vaccine scare.”

The scientific binomial name Oculudentavis khaungraae is now in limbo.  It is a matter of record that the taxon name exists, but with the withdrawal of the paper, we at Everything Dinosaur are not sure what will happen.  It probably falls within the remit of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), to produce a ruling on how to treat this taxon.

This development does not undermine the astonishing fossil discoveries being made as researchers study amber from Myanmar, it might help to bring into focus some of the ethical issues associated with the commercial mining and use of funds, but scientific reporting is essentially built on trust.  Fossils have been frequently misidentified , as new evidence emerges so ideas, theories and hypotheses evolve and develop.  Normally, scientists correct their findings in subsequent papers, to have a scientific paper retracted is highly unusual.

Oculudentavis khaungraae – A Taxon in Limbo

Oculudentavis - is this an invalidated taxon?
The validity of the taxon is in limbo after scientific paper was retracted.

Picture credit: Han Zhixin with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

We shall await developments…

In the meantime, visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

22 07, 2020

New PNSO “Wilson” T. rex Dinosaur Model Reviewed

By | July 22nd, 2020|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|2 Comments

A Video Review of the new for 2020 PNSO “Wilson” T. rex Dinosaur Model

Everything Dinosaur team members have been busy in the studio producing a YouTube video review of the new for 2020 “Wilson” the Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur model from PNSO.  This new, free-standing replica replaces the original “Wilson” T. rex figure from PNSO and Everything Dinosaur took the opportunity to compare and contrast these two models.

Everything Dinosaur’s Video Review of “Wilson” the PNSO T. rex Dinosaur Model

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

PNSO T. rex “Wilson” Video Review

In Everything Dinosaur’s short video review (the YouTube video lasts 9:43), the new 2020 Tyrannosaurus rex model is introduced and the articulated jaw is demonstrated and commented upon.

The beautifully detailed head of the theropod dinosaur is discussed and the bony crests over the eyes highlighted.  These crests may have served a variety of functions, helping to protect the eyes during intraspecific combat or whilst attacking prey, shading the eyes and helping T. rex to see in bright, sunny conditions and the potential role in visual communication.  The video narrator provides further information and explains some of the science behind the interpretation of the tyrannosaur skull morphology.

A Closer View of the Head of the New for 2020 PNSO “Wilson” T. rex Dinosaur Model

Highlighting the eye crests in the new PNSO T. rex figure
The new for 2020 PNSO “Wilson” T. rex dinosaur model has prominent eye crests which reflect skull morphology seen in the fossils. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view “Wilson” and all the other PNSO prehistoric animal figures available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models and Figures.

Looking at the PNSO T. rex “Wilson” Packaging and Artwork

The video examines the dinosaur model in detail, but also provides information on how the packaging and box contents between the first “Wilson” figure produced by PNSO and this new version has changed.  The 2020 figure is presented in a beautiful box adorned with the artwork of Zhao Chuang one of the co-founders of PNSO.  The video also looks at the product leaflet that accompanies the model and comments on the contribution of Yang Yang, the other co-founder of this Chinese company.

The Box Art is Commented Upon in the Video Review

PNSO "Wilson" box art.
The new for 2020 “Wilson” T. rex dinosaur model box art.

Comparing the 2020 “Wilson” with the Original PNSO Model

The video review also permits Everything Dinosaur team members to compare the new figure from PNSO with the earlier Tyrannosaurus rex “Wilson” model, the figure that was supplied with a base.  In the video, we demonstrate how to convert the new for 2020 model so that it can be displayed on the base which was provided with version 1.

Comparing Two PNSO “Wilson” T. rex Dinosaur Figures in the Video Review

Comparing T. rex dinosaur models.
Comparing the new for 2020 PNSO “Wilson” T. rex dinosaur model to the original figure.  The original figure can be seen on the right of this screen capture from the video review.  The new for 2020 PNSO “Wilson” is shown on the left. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

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This video review of a Tyrannosaurus rex figure is one of a series of videos posted on Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel showcasing different replicas.  To view these videos check out our YouTube channel: Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.

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