All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
10 11, 2021

Eofauna Konobelodon atticus

By |2023-07-15T12:06:03+01:00November 10th, 2021|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The next prehistoric animal model to be added to the Eofauna Scientific Research range is a fabulous model of the ancient elephant Konobelodon atticus, the figure is in 1:35 scale and is Eofauna’s first “shovel-tusker” model.

The figure is scheduled to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur early in 2022 (estimated arrival time at the UK warehouse – February 2022).

Eofauna Konobelodon atticus
The new for 2022 Eofauna Konobelodon atticus model is supplied with a data card and Everything Dinosaur will also provide a product fact sheet with sales of this figure.

Konobelodon atticus

Konobelodon was an enormous amebelodontid, one of the very last of its kind. Several species have been described since the first fossils associated with this genus were studied in the mid-19th century. It is characterised by its pair of huge, flattened tusks in its lower jaw and its extremely long pair of straight tusks in its upper jaw. The model represents Konobelodon atticus, fossils of which were first discovered in Greece (Late Miocene deposits).

Eofauna Scientific Research Konobelodon atticus
The stunning Eofauna Konobelodon model measures 23 cm long and stands approximately 11 cm high.

Konobelodon atticus was originally named Mastodon atticus by the German palaeontologist and zoologist Johann Andreas Wagner in 1857. The extensive, Miocene-aged deposits at Pikermi on the Attica peninsular of Greece, were discovered by Bavarian soldiers, part of the army of the Bavarian prince Otto, who ruled Greece for thirty years from 1832 until he was deposed in 1862. Fossils of large mammals were exposed on the surface and this attracted German field teams from various institutions and universities to excavate and study the fossil material

More than 40 mammal species were named following these excavations. A large, left maxilla (upper jawbone), that was described by Wagner led to the erection of the species Mastodon atticus, in the mistaken belief that this prehistoric elephant was closely related to other European elephant fossils that had been studied by the influential French anatomist Georges Cuvier, who first used the term “Mastodon” to describe fossil elephants in 1806.

Mastodon atticus?

Wagner, who was a professor at the University of Munich, published a series of comprehensive treatises on the Pikermi field work on behalf of the University and in 1857 he erected the species Mastodon atticus, in the publication Neue Beiträge zur Kenntniss der fossilen Säugthier-Überreste von Pikermi (New Contributions to the Knowledge of the Fossil Mammalian Remains of Pikermi).

Eofauna Konobelodon model
The Eofauna Scientific Research Konobelodon figure is in approximately 1:35 scale.

A Revision of Prehistoric Elephant Taxonomy

Thought to be closely related to the taxon Amebelodon, a second species was named in 1990 based on fossils found in Florida. It was considered to be a sub-genus of Amebelodon (Konobelodon britti). Phylogenetic analysis failed to resolve the taxonomic position of Konobelodon fossil material within the Amebelodon genus and a re-assessment of the phylogeny was undertaken in 2014, resulting in the establishment of Konobelodon as a distinct genus. Notable differences in the European K. atticus and the American K. britti resulted in both being declared separate, but related species. A third species of Konobelodon (K. robustus), was named and scientifically described in 2016, based on fossils found in north-western China (Linxia Basin).

Konobelodon model
Originally named in 1857, Konobelodon atticus has had a long and complicated taxonomic history.

Eofauna Konobelodon atticus

A waitlist has been set up on the Everything Dinosaur website (it can be accessed by clicking the second link below), if the waitlist button is not visible, log into your Everything Dinosaur account or create an account to access the waitlist option.

You are welcome to reserve an Eofauna Konobelodon atticus figure by emailing Everything Dinosaur: Email Everything Dinosaur.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that this exciting prehistoric elephant model would be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in early 2022.

To view the range of Eofauna prehistoric animal figures currently in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Eofauna Scientific Research Models.

9 11, 2021

Triceratops Skeleton on Display

By |2023-07-15T12:15:35+01:00November 9th, 2021|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Geology, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Triceratops might be one of the most recognisable of all the dinosaur genera, but we still have a lot to learn about this Late Cretaceous ornithischian and perennial favourite amongst dinosaur fans. Several musuems have a Triceratops skeleton on display. It might be a famous resident of the Hell Creek Formation, but Triceratops remains have also been reported from other North American geological formations too, all of which date from the very last faunal stage of the Cretaceous – the Maastrichtian.

Triceratops on Display
A cast of a Triceratops skeleton on display at the Naturmuseum Senckenberg (Natural History Museum – Frankfurt). On the left, a wall mounted example of a Plateosaurus can be seen. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Natural History Museum range includes several ornithischian figures including Triceratops (whilst stocks last): London Natural History Museum Dinosaur Models.

Where Have Triceratops Fossils Been Reported From?

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have tried to compile a list of the geological formations, other than the famous Hell Creek Formation, from which Triceratops fossil material has been excavated.

Here is our list:

  • Scollard Formation (south-western Alberta, Canada).
  • Frenchman Formation (Saskatchewan, Canada).
  • Evanston Formation (Wyoming, USA).
  • Lance Formation (Wyoming, USA).
  • Laramie Formation (Colorado, USA).
  • Denver Formation (Colorado, USA).
Triceratops fossil mount.
“Three-horned face” Part of an exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (USA).

Two Formally Recognised Species

Scientifically described and named back in 1889 (T. horridus – Marsh), several species have been assigned to the Triceratops genus over the years, many of which were based on highly fragmentary and poorly preserved fossil remains. Today, only two species are formally recognised, Triceratops horridus and the geologically younger Triceratops prorsus.

Intriguingly, fossils from the Hell Creek Formation suggest that there are probably other species of Triceratops awaiting formal recognition. Triceratops horridus is known from the lower portion of the Hell Creek Formation and T. prorsus from the upper portion, there is a distinct, transitional, intermediate form of Triceratops reported form the middle portion of this geological formation. The fossils associated with these strata probably represent an as yet, unnamed and undescribed new species of “three-horned face”.

Stratigraphic placement of Hell Creek Formation Triceratops.
Stratigraphic placement of Hell Creek Formation Triceratops reveals trends in cranial morphology, helping to confirm species. Picture credit: Scannella et al.

For an article that looks at the evolutionary relationship between the two, formally recognised species of Triceratops: How Triceratops Got its Horns and Beak.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post from 2018, that examines the ceratopsian family tree and looks at the taxonomic relationship between the Triceratops genus and other Late Cretaceous horned dinosaurs: A Horned Dinosaur Family Tree.

8 11, 2021

Permian Beetles Provide Pointers to Ecosystem Collapse

By |2023-07-15T12:20:52+01:00November 8th, 2021|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

The COP26 conference continues to dominate the news. Countries are striving to find the commitments required to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius to mitigate the worst effects of global warming. Could the humble beetle provide a clue as to the consequences if the world’s leaders can’t find agreement?

A new study published in eLife this week, looked at beetle fossils, specifically those wood-eating (xylophagous) beetles, it seems the mass extinction event that took place around 252 million years ago devastated these insects. If the huge and diverse Coleoptera are not invulnerable to global climate change, then what chance does the last line of hominins have in the current climate crisis?

Permian beetle fossils and line drawings.
Examples of Permian beetles including fossilised wings and carapaces with (B and D) life reconstructions. Picture credit: Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS).

The Mass Extinction Event at the End of the Permian

The end-Permian mass extinction event, led to the collapse of global marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It has been estimated that around 95 percent of all life on Earth died out. The ecological response of insects (Insecta), to this catastrophe is poorly understand. A team of scientists have reviewed the fossil record of wood-eating beetles associated with the Permian and Triassic and they have concluded that the collapse of forest ecosystems led to a dramatic decline in these beetles. Furthermore, xylophagous beetles may have been responsible for the decrease of oxygen concentrations in the Permian.

Dominated by Xylophagous Beetles

The fossil record may show some bias towards wood-eating beetles when compared to the preserved remains of other types of beetle with different diets, but in this new study the research team, which included scientists from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology and Centre for Excellence in Life and Palaeoenvironment, the University of California and the London Natural History Museum, discovered that xylophagous beetles dominated the Coleoptera during the Early Permian.

Studying Permian Beetles

As different types of beetle evolved, their dominance declined until the end-Permian mass extinction event when the number of species collapsed. The lack of coal seams dating from around 252-247 million years ago, are a testament to the loss of forest habitats. New xylophagous beetles appeared widely in the early Middle Triassic, which is consistent with the restoration of forest ecosystems

Plotting the decline of wood-eating beetles.
Simplified phylogeny of Coleoptera (A) from the Early Permian to Middle Triassic. Thick lines indicate the known extent of the fossil record. The branches representing stem groups are shown in red. The ‘dead clade walking’ pattern is symbolised by the dashed line. Genus percentage of wood-eating groups from the Early Permian to Middle Triassic (B). Yellow graded band represents the “coal gap” a time when forest ecosystems collapsed. Picture credit: Zhao et al.

A Decrease in Atmospheric Oxygen

The concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere, peaked during the Carboniferous, but began to decline during the Permian. It is thought that the evolution of Permian terrestrial herbivores including wood-consuming beetles may have limited the transport and long-term burial of terrestrial organic compounds in marine sediments, resulting in less organic carbon burial and attendant declines in atmospheric oxygen.

Today, we are seeing a dramatic fall in the number of different types of insect. The loss of pollinators on world food supply has been well documented, however, xylophagous insects have been largely neglected in studies of the current extinction crisis. This research may help scientists to better understand future changes in insect diversity and abundance and the consequences of such developments as the world faces global environmental change.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Early evolution of beetles regulated by the end-Permian deforestation” by Xianye Zhao, Yilun Yu, Matthew E Clapham, Evgeny Yan, Jun Chen, Edmund A Jarzembowski, Xiangdong Zhao and Bo Wang published in eLife.

7 11, 2021

Everything Dinosaur’s Next Video will Feature New CollectA Models

By |2023-07-15T12:10:21+01:00November 7th, 2021|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Press Releases|1 Comment

Everything Dinosaur in collaboration with their chums at CollectA announced recently the first of the new for 2022 CollectA prehistoric animal figures. The models, a deluxe Paraceratherium, an updated, 1:40 scale deluxe Spinosaurus (S. aegyptiacus) and a stunning deluxe replica of the pterosaur Pteranodon sternbergi have created a great deal of excitement amongst model collectors and dinosaur fans.

New for 2022 CollectA prehistoric animal figures
The first batch of new for 2022 CollectA prehistoric animal figures P. sternbergi (top left), Paraceratherium (top right) and the updated 1:40 scale CollectA deluxe Spinosaurus (bottom).

To see the range of CollectA Deluxe figures and scale models: CollectA Deluxe Scale Models.

More new model announcements will be made in the coming weeks, however, as with all new figures there have been lots of comments and questions raised. In a bid to help our customers and fellow model collectors, team members at Everything Dinosaur will be creating a special YouTube video that explains the science behind the new models and provides more information about the production process.

Everything Dinosaur YouTube video CollectA models (2022)
Everything Dinosaur will provide more information on the first batch of new for 2022 CollectA prehistoric animal models in the company’s next YouTube video. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

CollectA Prehistoric Life models: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular models.

Pteranodon sternbergi or Geosternbergia sternbergi?

The CollectA deluxe pterosaur has been named as Pteranodon sternbergi. Knowledgeable collectors are aware that the validity of this scientific name has been challenged. In the Everything Dinosaur YouTube video, we will explain some of the issues surrounding the taxonomy of this famous pterosaur genus.

In addition, the video will provide more information on the science behind the updated version of a swimming Spinosaurus, a figure that has a broad, newt-like tail. The new for 2022 Deluxe Paraceratherium replaces an earlier CollectA figure, one that was retired in 2019. The video narrator will explain how the new for 2022 model differs from the original and looks at some of the scientific evidence that suggests Paraceratherium had a small trunk, similar to that of an extant tapir, to which this giant herbivore was distantly related.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated that the video should be up on the company’s YouTube channel in a few days.

The Everything Dinosaur YouTube channel has thousands of subscribers. It contains model reviews, prehistoric animal news stories as well as features on product development and model collecting advice and tips.

We recommend that you subscribe to Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.

To visit Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel and to subscribe to the channel: Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.

6 11, 2021

Titus the T. rex Christmas Gift Experience

By |2022-10-25T09:40:14+01:00November 6th, 2021|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

The Titus T. rex is King exhibition at Wollaton Hall (Nottinghamshire) has been wowing visitors since it opened in early July (2021). After all, this is the first time in more than a century that the fossilised bones of a Tyrannosaurus rex have been exhibited in England.

Team members at Everything Dinosaur were lucky enough to visit Titus during the summer and it is a most spectacular dinosaur with the festive season approaching, why not gift your friends and family an unforgettable experience – the chance to get up close and personal to the “King of the Tyrant Lizards”.

Titus the T. rex Christmas gift experience
For a limited period (November until 24th December), exclusive festive-themed ticket vouchers will be available to purchase from the Wollaton Hall website. The opportunity to see a fossils of a real T. rex exhibited in England for the first time in over 100 years. Picture credit: Wollaton Hall.

Have Yourself a Roarsome Christmas!

For a limited period – November through until 24th December – exclusive festive-themed ticket vouchers will be available to purchase from the Wollaton Hall website: Visit Wollaton Hall Website for T. rex Tickets

To ensure delivery in time for Christmas, the last chance to purchase the vouchers will be 12th December.

Tyrannosaurus rex is a theropod dinosaur, birds evolved from small theropod dinosaurs, so technically, if you tuck into turkey or gobble up a goose over the festive season you are actually eating a dinosaur!

Take time out over the holiday season to meet a relative of your Christmas dinner that could have happily eaten you for lunch!

Titus T. rex is King” Exhibition

The “Titus T. rex is King” exhibition covers 4,000 square feet, exploring the legend of the Tyrannosaurus rex and also sets out to dispel some myths about this immense predator – one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs to have existed.

Tickets for this exhibition are on sale now, set at £12 for an adult, £8 for a child (under 16 years), students and concessions, £32 for a family ticket (two adults and two children under 16 years) and under 3s and carers have no entry fees to pay. Excludes booking fee.

5 11, 2021

New CollectA Models 2022 (Part 1)

By |2023-07-15T12:23:26+01:00November 5th, 2021|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|3 Comments

New CollectA Models 2022 (Part 1)

Today, we introduce the first batch of new for 2022 CollectA prehistoric animals. The last eighteen months or so have been extremely challenging, it is great to be able to introduce to you the first of the new for 2022 prehistoric animal figures and replicas from this highly respected manufacturer.

  • CollectA Deluxe Pteranodon sternbergi with an articulated jaw (1:20 scale).
  • The CollectA Deluxe Spinosaurus swimming with an articulated jaw (1:40 scale).
  • CollectA Deluxe Paraceratherium.

Scheduled for delivery in early 2022, Everything Dinosaur will keep model collectors informed about shipments.

CollectA Deluxe Pteranodon sternbergi
The new for 2022 CollectA Pteranodon sternbergi model. A very colourful replica of a Late Cretaceous pterosaur sometimes referred to as Geosternbergia.

CollectA Deluxe Pteranodon sternbergi in 1:20 Scale

The stunning CollectA Deluxe P. sternbergi figure is a replica of a pterosaur that was formally described in 1966, following the discovery of fragmentary fossil material in 1952. A broad crest suggests that this figure represents a male. The Pteranodon genus has been subject to much revision over recent years. Although, Pteranodon sternbergi fossils tend to be associated with older strata than Pteranodon longiceps material, their taxonomic relationship remains controversial. Some palaeontologists have proposed that P. sternbergi is sufficiently different from P. longiceps to warrant it being placed in it own genus – Geosternbergia. Whatever the phylogeny, this new for 2022 pterosaur figure with its articulated jaw is a welcome addition to the CollectA Deluxe range.

CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale swimming Spinosaurus
The CollectA Deluxe swimming Spinosaurus in 1:40 scale (approximately).

CollectA Deluxe Swimming Spinosaurus in 1:40 Scale

The first batch of new CollectA models includes a dinosaur. The CollectA Deluxe swimming Spinosaurus is an updated version of the Prehistoric Life swimming Spinosaurus figure introduced in 2015 (100 years after Spinosaurus aegyptiacus was named and described) and recently retired.

In 2015, CollectA was the first toy company to make a model of S. aegyptiacus based on the comprehensive reassessment undertaken the previous year in a scientific paper entitled “Semiaquatic adaptations in a giant predatory dinosaur” (Ibrahim et al). In 2020, some of the research team behind this earlier paper examined Spinosaurus tail bones (caudal vertebrae) and concluded that this huge theropod had a tail well-adapted for propelling it through water. The new for CollectA 2022 Spinosaurus reflects this research. The model has been given a broad and very fin-like tail.

Commenting on the introduction of this new figure, model designer Anthony Beeson stated:

“In order to keep up with the science, we have now produced an updated deluxe model that incorporates the new information showing the deep, amphibian-style, tail that powered the animal while swimming. The Spinosaurus has a new colour scheme and an articulated jaw. I have retained the 2015 shape of the sail although some have cast doubts on it.”

CollectA Deluxe Paraceratherium Model
The new for 2022 CollectA Deluxe Paraceratherium model.

CollectA Deluxe Paraceratherium

The third model to be announced is an updated Paraceratherium replica, which replaces the original figure that was retired in 2019. The CollectA Deluxe Paraceratherium represents a male and it reflects recent research that suggests that it possessed a short, muscular proboscis, reminiscent to that of a modern tapir – to which it was very distantly related (member of the Perissodactyla – odd-toed ungulates).

The CollectA Deluxe Paraceratherium has a short trunk.
The new for 2022 CollectA Paraceratherium model has been given a short trunk (proboscis).

One of the largest land mammals known to science, analysis of cranial material suggests that this herbivore might have had a short trunk or a prehensile upper lip. The design team at CollectA have opted for the former. They have also given it patches of coarse hair a characteristic seen in some extant ungulates.

Although a giant (some specimens suggest a body weight of around 20 tonnes), the CollectA figure is quite lightly built and designer Anthony Beeson speculates that it probably wallowed in mud or indulged in dust baths to help control its body temperature.

When discussing the figure’s size, Anthony stated:

“The model’s size has had to be a compromise between what is suitable for display in shops and for manufacturing.”

Model Measurements

  • CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Pteranodon sternbergi with an articulated jaw – length 15 cm, height 13.5 cm.
  • The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale swimming Spinosaurus – length 37 cm, height of sail 11 cm.
  • CollectA Deluxe Paraceratherium – length 22 cm, height 14.7 cm.

These three figures are scheduled to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in the early part of 2022. Given the current difficulties with logistics and global shipping, we are not able to give a precise date as to when these figures will be available. Team members will do all they can to update customers with regards to availability.

To view the current range of CollectA Deluxe figures and models in stock: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animal Models.

To view the range of CollectA Age of Dinosaurs figures available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs/Prehistoric Life.

4 11, 2021

ITOY Studio Dilophosaurus Test Results

By |2022-10-25T09:42:02+01:00November 4th, 2021|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The latest Everything Dinosaur YouTube video updates viewers on the product safety tests the company commissioned on the ITOY Studio Dilophosaurus sinensis dinosaur model. The video also explains why product testing is important and explains the steps Everything Dinosaur takes in order to legally import prehistoric animal figures.

The results of the independent product tests conducted by Eurofins on the ITOY Studio Dilophosaurus sinensis dinosaur model are announced in the latest Everything Dinosaur YouTube video.

ITOY Studio Dilophosaurus sinensis

The ITOY Studio Dilophosaurus (D. sinensis) figure has had a limited production run. It is going to be more expensive to purchase than dinosaur toys that are predominately aimed at children. Furthermore, it is only going to be available from a specialist retailer such as Everything Dinosaur. These are all arguments to suggest that this is an adult collectable figure and not a toy. As such, it falls outside the UK Toy Safety Regulations 2011 and the EU Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC). Product tests are still required and this is why Everything Dinosaur acquired a sample and had this figure tested by Eurofins under the General Product Safety Assessment protocol.

ITOY Studio Dilophosaurus sinensis dinosaur model
ITOY Studio Dilophosaurus sinensis model. A new for 2021 dinosaur model coming into stock very shortly at Everything Dinosaur. Tests results have come in and Everything Dinosaur can sell this model, so long as they abide by the conditions and recommendations made in the product safety assessment.

Coming into Stock at Everything Dinosaur

The video narrator explains that the company responsible for printing the product packaging has incorrectly labelled the box with a CE mark. As far as we at Everything Dinosaur know, this model has not been tested under the EU Toy Safety Directive and no certificate stating conformity has been produced (Declaration of Conformity).

If this item was to be offered for sale with the CE mark clearly visible, this would be illegal. Fortunately, thanks to the independent product testing commissioned by Everything Dinosaur, team members know what they have to do to overcome this problem.

Working with Eurofins and their recommendations, Everything Dinosaur has been able to bring into stock this exciting dinosaur model.

To view the range of ITOY Studio prehistoric animal models currently in stock at Everything Dinosaur: ITOY Studio Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

Confirming that this dinosaur collectable was heading for the company’s UK warehouse, a spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“The ITOY Studio shipment has been delayed. Many vessels are encountering delays at the moment and there are long waits for ships to be unloaded at ports. However, we hope to have this Dilophosaurus collectable in stock at Everything Dinosaur before Christmas.”

Everything Dinosaur on YouTube

The Everything Dinosaur YouTube channel features hundreds of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed videos, including production updates, model news, new figures and free to enter competitions.

To subscribe to the Everything Dinosaur YouTube channel: Everything Dinosaur on YouTube

3 11, 2021

Headless Pterosaur Defines an Entire Genus

By |2022-10-25T09:43:23+01:00November 3rd, 2021|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

A headless pterosaur fossil has provided palaeontologists with a blueprint to workout which flying reptile fossils represent juveniles and which fossils represent fully-grown adults. The specimen which consists of partially articulated, postcranial material was collected privately before coming into the vertebrate fossil collection of the Dalian Natural History Museum, Liaoning Province (China). Partially fused bones indicate that the specimen represents a juvenile of the tapejarid pterosaur species Sinopterus dongi. As such, it provides a fantastic comparator enabling scientists to differentiate between pterosaur fossils representing animals at different growth stages as well as helping to determine which pterosaur fossils should be attributed to different species.

Sinopterus dongi pterosaur fossil and line drawing.
Specimen D3072 (Sinopterus dongi) view of the fossil (A) and accompanying line drawing (B). Note scale bar in (B) equals 2 cm. Picture credit: Shen et al.

Nemicolopterus – Unravelling the Jehol Biota

It is very likely that the fossil came from a location close to Chaoyang City (Liaoning), from rocks belonging to the Jiufotang Formation. Fossils from the Jiufotang Formation (early Aptian age), together with those associated with the underlying Yixian Formation (Barremian to early Aptian) and the Barremian-aged Huajiying Formation of the Sichakou-Senjitu Basin form the Jehol biota.

Several different types of pterosaur are associated with these strata and tapejarids are the most abundant. To date, there have been ten described specimens and dozens still awaiting formal study. Classifying the fossils and identifying genera and species has proved problematic.

For example, the tiny pterosaur Nemicolopterus heralds from the Jiufotang Formation and there is some debate whether the fossil specimen is a distinct species, or whether the fossil represents a very young Sinopterus.

PNSO Nemicolopterus model.
The PNSO Nemicolopterus pterosaur model. The study of a fossil specimen attributed to a juvenile Sinopterus dongi, may help to confirm that Nemicolopterus is a valid genus.

The newly studied specimen (D3072), might be missing its skull, but a detailed analysis reveals partially fused bones indicating that this is a juvenile. The fossil has been assigned to the tapejarid species Sinopterus dongi. Specimen number D3072 is so complete and well-preserved (some parts of the skeleton are in better condition than other parts), it has provided the research team with valuable information on the anatomical characteristics of young tapejarid pterosaurs.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained:

“Specimen number D3072 is like the Rosetta stone that archaeologists were able to use to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics. The fossil provides valuable information on the anatomy of juvenile tapejarids and it will help palaeontologists to work out which pterosaur fossils represent juveniles of already named species and which fossils may represent entirely new species.”

The research team have proposed that D3072 becomes the type specimen for Sinopterus dongi and they are confident that it will help shed new light on the osteology of the Sinopterus genus. It will provide a blueprint, playing a significant role in future comparative studies and helping to resolve taxonomic issues.

The scientific paper: “A new specimen of Sinopterus dongi (Pterosauria, Tapejaridae) from the Jiufotang Formation (Early Cretaceous, China)” by Caizhi Shen​, Rodrigo V. Pêgas​, Chunling Gao, Martin Kundrát, Lijun Zhang, Xuefang Wei and Xuanyu Zhou​ published in PeerJ.

2 11, 2021

Australian Meat-eater turns Vegetarian

By |2023-07-15T13:26:17+01:00November 2nd, 2021|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Fossilised dinosaur footprints dating from the Late Triassic that were once thought to represent a large, predatory dinosaur have been re-examined and are now thought to have been made by a mainly vegetarian sauropodomorph. A series of fossilised footprints preserved on the ceiling of a gallery in a coal mine close to the suburb of Dinmore (Queensland, Australia), had been assigned to the ichnogenus Eubrontes. The three-toed tracks, discovered in 1964, were thought to represent a track made by a large theropod dinosaur. They were regarded as the earliest known evidence for the presence of big meat-eating dinosaurs, however, the tracks have been reassessed and are now thought to represent a basal sauropodomorph.

Late Triassic sauropodomorph life reconstruction
A life reconstruction of a basal sauropodomorph. Picture credit: Anthony Romilio and Kamil Porembinski, CC by-SA2.0.

Walking on the Ceiling?

University of Queensland palaeontologist, Dr Anthony Romilio, lead author of the scientific paper published in the journal “Historical Biology”, commented:

“It must have been quite a sight for the first miners in the 1960s to see big bird-like footprints jutting down from the ceiling”.

Around 220 million years ago, dinosaurs walked across water-sodden layers of plant debris and these tracks were later filled in by fine silt and sand. Over millions of years the plant material turned into coal and this was removed by the miners, leaving a ceiling of siltstone and sandstone in the excavated galleries complete with the preserved natural casts of the dinosaur tracks.

Historical photographs of the coalmine ceiling dinosaur tracks.
Historical photographs of dinosaur footprints from the Striped Bacon coal seam mine ceiling, Rhondda colliery, Dinmore, Upper Triassic (Norian) Blackstone Formation. Taking plaster casts of the fossils in situ (A). Close-up view of track Rhon1.2 (B) and close-up view of track Rhon1.3 (C). Schematic drawing of the coalmine ceiling trackway (D). Picture credit: Queensland Museum.

The First and Only Evidence of an Australian Basal Sauropodomorph

The coalmine has been closed down, but the original photographs, drawings and plaster casts made in the 1960’s were available for study and under close scrutiny, the research team recognised that the tracks shared characteristics with the sauropodomorph ichnogenus Evazoum.

The Sauropodomorpha is a sister clade to the Theropoda within the lizard-hipped dinosaurs (Saurischia), the first sauropodomorphs evolved around 230 million years ago and these, large-bodied, long-necked herbivores were the ancestors of the huge sauropods that were to dominate many terrestrial ecosystems in the Jurassic. If the research team’s interpretation of the ceiling tracks is correct, these prints provide the first and only evidence of basal sauropodomorph dinosaurs from Australia.

2018 - The Rise of the Sauropodomorpha.
Over recent years, a number of Late Triassic/Early Jurassic sauropodomorph dinosaurs from around the world have been scientifically described.

The coalmine ceiling tracks suggest that the sauropodomorph that made them was around six metres long.

To read an article about other Australian tracks preserved on the ceiling of a cave: Mystery of Dinosaur Prints on Cave Ceiling Solved.

Views of a print from the Coalmine ceiling (Dinmore, Queensland).
Analysis of a track from the coalmine ceiling (Rhon1.2) and scale drawing of the hypothetical trackmaker. Plaster cast of Rhon1.2 (specimen number QMF5474), with (A) orthographic image, (B) ambient occlusion view, (C) elevation map and (D) contour map. Life reconstruction compared with a person for scale (E). Picture credit: Romilio et al.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Queensland in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Saurischian dinosaur tracks from the Upper Triassic of southern Queensland: possible evidence for Australia’s earliest sauropodomorph trackmaker” by Anthony Romilio, Hendrik Klein, Andréas Jannel and Steven W. Salisbury published in Historical Biology.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

1 11, 2021

Rebor Deinosuchus Replicas in Stock

By |2022-10-25T09:47:44+01:00November 1st, 2021|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The Rebor Club Selection limited edition Deinosuchus hatchlings (Swamp and Estuary) are in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Team members have been busy emailing all those customers who originally pre-ordered these figures and contacting fans of prehistoric animal model collecting who requested that they be informed when these collectables arrived.

Both these figures have had very restricted production runs, only 500 of each have been produced. These are the first new Club Selection figures to have been introduced by Rebor since the Rebor Club Selection Hatching Baryonyx “Hurricane” came into stock back in early 2019.

Rebor Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus model (Estuary Variant0
The Rebor Club Selection: Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus is about to leave its egg! It’s very keen to get to the safety of the water. This limited edition Rebor Club Selection figure is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This is the Estuary colour variant.
Rebor Club Selection: Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus model
Rebor Club Selection: Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus model in right lateral view. The Rebor Club Selection Meta Deinosuchus model is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This is the swamp colour variant.

Limited Edition Figures

Only 500 of each of these incredibly special models have been made. There are no plans to make any more, once current stocks have sold out, then that will be that! The figures represent a hatching Deinosuchus, several species have been scientifically described, the most recent of which D. schwimmeri, was named in 2020. Deinosuchus is known from numerous fragmentary remains. It lived during the Late Cretaceous inhabiting both sides of the Western Interior Seaway. Distantly related to modern alligators, it may have preferred estuarine habitats and with an estimated body length of approximately 12 metres, it was an apex predator and some palaeontologists regard it as the one of the largest crocodyliforms to have ever existed.

Rebor Club Selection Deinosuchus figures
The Rebor Club Selection Deinosuchus figures – the box contents. The limited-edition Estuary variant (right) and the limited-edition Swamp variant (left).

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that they were delighted to receive this latest shipment of Rebor prehistoric animal figures:

“A lot of collectors have been extremely excited about this model. Since these figures were announced we have received numerous enquiries. Model collectors are concerned that with only 500 of each available, they might miss out. We have been busy ensuring all those customers of Everything Dinosaur who wanted to pre-order these figures have been contacted and informed about their availability.”

Rebor Club Selection Deinosuchus models in stock at Everything Dinosaur.
The Rebor Club Selection Deinosuchus models have arrived at Everything Dinosaur (left) Swamp and Estuary (right).

Rebor Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures

To view the two Rebor Club Selection Deinosuchus figures and to see the rest of the Rebor models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

Go to Top