All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
21 01, 2022

Adding Videos to our Website

By |2023-07-09T14:58:52+01:00January 21st, 2022|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

Everything Dinosaur team members conduct regular reviews of our website: Everything Dinosaur.

Our website has been praised for its ease of use, visitors find it easy to navigate and it is designed to be very customer friendly. However, we do not intend to rest on our laurels and as we believe in continuous improvement, we are working with our IT specialists and top consultants to provide an even greater customer experience.

One of the things we are testing is the addition of short product videos to our website. We already provide lots of images of the prehistoric animal themed items that we sell, but a video showcasing the product can often help customers to understand the model better. For example, we can show articulated jaws, flexible tails and poseable arms. If a video shows a team member holding the figure, then viewers can instantly get an idea of the model’s size.

Everything Dinosaur YouTube video showcase.
Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel will include more short product videos, each one less than a minute in length that will highlight product features and showcase the prehistoric animal figure. The first video showcase will feature the recently introduced Rebor Smilodon populator “Stray Cat” figure in the plain colour scheme. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Improving an Award-winning Website

This month (January 2022), Everything Dinosaur was awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award, the highest accolade for customer service. The company’s commitment to helping customers is at the very heart of our business and creating videos of products we sell should help to inform and to educate our website visitors.

Visit the award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

We want to provide showcases for the range of prehistoric animal models that we stock. Actual footage of the replica shot by us. Shortly, we will post up a video that looks at the Rebor Smilodon populator Stray Cat in the plain colour variant and we would like your views. The video will be up in a couple of days – we would love to hear what you think of this method of showcasing prehistoric animal models.

Rebor Smilodon populator showcase video.
The Rebor Smilodon populator 1/11th scale model is the subject of our pilot video in our “video showcase” project. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Unlike many companies, which do not physically stock items but rely on them being despatched to customers from China, we actually bring prehistoric animal models into our own warehouse. We have access to the replicas and we can shoot videos using the actual models rather than just relying on images that the manufacturer sends out. We can then give our customers much more visual information about a particular product and produce videos that show the figure from every angle.”

YouTube subscribers will be given the opportunity to have an exclusive first view of the Rebor Smilodon video. Team members at Everything Dinosaur will be asking for feedback and comments prior to the video going live on the Everything Dinosaur website.

To subscribe to Everything Dinosaur on YouTube: Subscribe to Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.

20 01, 2022

New Schleich Amargasaurus Model

By |2022-10-23T18:54:32+01:00January 20th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The new for 2022 Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur model has arrived at our warehouse and is now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This is the first of five new prehistoric animal figures from Schleich expected to arrive and it is a fantastic figure of a South American sauropod.

Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur model
The model measures around 25.5 cm long, the head is approximately 7 cm off the ground and the neural spines along the neck are approximately 10.5 cm high.

An Impressive Size for a South American Sauropod

The figure is considerably chunkier than other Amargasaurus replicas and like many Schleich models it is pleasing to handle and quite tactile. No doubt this figure will prove popular in creative and imaginative play. The model measures around 25.5 cm in length, although because of the slight bend in the tail the figure is actually a little bigger. The head is approximately 7 cm off the ground and that magnificent double line of neural spines, complete with the thin flap of skin running between the spines is around 10.5 cm high.

As with other members of the Dicraeosauridae family of sauropods the external nares (nostrils), were located on the top of the skull. It is pleasing to note that the Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur model reflects this anatomical feature found in the actual fossil material.

Close-up view of the Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur model
A close-up view of the new for 2022 Schleich Amargasaurus model. A stunning model of a sauropod from South America.

In Stock at Everything Dinosaur

Team members have been busy checking over the models, before booking them into stock and allocating them a bay in our warehouse. Whilst examining the figures, discussion turned to the correct term that would be applied to describe a herd of these Early Cretaceous dinosaurs. We are not sure whether a collective noun for a group of Amargasaurus dinosaurs has ever been coined. As the original scientific paper was written in Spanish, perhaps a word from this language to describe a group of these long-necked dinosaurs might be appropriate.

Could a group of amargasaurs be described as an ensamblaje (assemblage)?

Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur models
We are not sure what the collective noun is for a group of Amargasaurus dinosaur models. Some of the recently arrived Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur models are set aside ready for checking over before they are added to the stock.

To view the range of Schleich models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Schleich Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals.

19 01, 2022

Everything Dinosaur Receives Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award

By |2022-10-23T18:55:00+01:00January 19th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award. This is the third year that this top award has been given by Feefo and Everything Dinosaur has won it three years in a row.

The Trusted Service Awards are unique as they are based purely on feedback from real customers. This means they are a true reflection of commitment to outstanding customer service. The Platinum Trusted Service award is the highest accolade that can be awarded to a company by Feefo.

Everything Dinosaur wins award.
Everything Dinosaur is a Trusted Service Awards winner! The Platinum award was first given out in 2020, every year since its inception Everything Dinosaur has been awarded this accolade.

Outstanding Customer Service

Feefo have given Platinum Trusted Service awards to businesses who have achieved Gold standard for three consecutive years. To receive a Gold Trusted Service award, businesses must have collected at least 50 reviews with a Feefo service rating of between 4.5 and 4.9 between 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2021.

Everything Dinosaur have received a certificate to commemorate this fantastic achievement, an award earned when businesses were under extraordinary pressure due to the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Everything Dinosaur wins the Platinum Trusted Service Award
Everything Dinosaur’s certificate confirming the Platinum Trusted Service award.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are very pleased to have received this award from Feefo. This accolade reflects our commitment to our customers and it also recognises how hard we have been working in exceptionally difficult circumstances.”

Feefo 2022 Awards.
Everything Dinosaur wins the Platinum Trusted Service award.

Congratulating Everything Dinosaur on their continued success, Kim Burgess, (Head of Customer Success at Feefo), stated:

“The Trusted Service Awards recognise companies who go above and beyond to provide the very best customer experience. I’m so impressed by how our customers have overcome the challenges of the past two years. Particular congratulations to our Platinum Trusted Service winners. It’s an extremely tough challenge.”

Everything Dinosaur would like to thank all of those thousands of customers who have left a Feefo review about us. We read them all and we are truly humbled to have been honoured in this way.

Our thanks to you all.

18 01, 2022

Menucocelsior arriagadai – from Southern Argentina

By |2022-10-23T18:56:00+01:00January 18th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Scientists writing this month in the journal “Cretaceous Research” have formally described a new genus of Late Cretaceous titanosaur from Patagonia. The dinosaur has been named Menucocelsior arriagadai based on a series of tail bones (caudal vertebrae) and fragmentary limb bones including a right humerus and a left fibula, found in sediments associated with the Allen Formation (Maastrichtian stage of the Upper Cretaceous).

Views of Menucocelsior arriagadai tail bones.
Views of Menucocelsior arriagadai tail bones. Autapomorphies in the caudal vertebrae permitted the erection of a new titanosaur genus. Picture credit: Rolando et al.

A Titanosaur that “Jumped the Gun”

The announcement concerning the naming of a new titanosaur genus was made last year (2021), Menucocelsior was one of several new titanosaur genera named in 2021. However, the formal, scientific paper that erected the genus was published this month in the January edition of “Cretaceous Research”.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s article from December 2021 that outlined the new titanosaurs named and described over the previous twelve months: New Titanosaur Species Described from South America – Arrudatitan.

Menucocelsior arriagadai scale drawing.
A scale drawing of M. arriagadai. Although only known from caudal vertebrae, a size estimate has been made based on more complete and better known South American titanosaurs. It is estimated that Menucocelsior measured around 8-10 metres in length.

A Late Cretaceous Titanosaur Paradise

Although only known from very incomplete and fragmentary material, the fossilised remains assigned to M. arriagadai do not demonstrate a close taxonomic relationship with any other, previously described titanosaur. The site where the fossils were found Salitral Ojo de Agua in Río Negro Province has also yielded the fossilised bones of at least three other species of titanosaurs and other contemporary fossil sites in the Allen Formation have provided evidence of numerous other titanosaurs along with hadrosaurs.

Researchers have concluded that the environment must have been extremely productive to support such a large number of mega herbivores. It has been proposed that the titanosaurs evolved different feeding strategies to avoid excessive competition for food resources (niche partitioning). Perhaps these animals were selective browsers, specialising in feeding from the branches of trees, whilst the hadrosaurs were bulk-feeders, targeting ground vegetation.

The genus name is derived from the indigenous Mapuche language for a large watering hole, which describes the fossil site. The specific or trivial name honours the Arriagada family, the owners of the land where the fossils were found.

The scientific paper: “The sauropod record of Salitral Ojo del Agua: An Upper Cretaceous (Allen Formation) fossiliferous locality from northern Patagonia, Argentina” by Mauro Aranciaga Rolando, Jordi A. García Marsà, Federico L. Agnolín, Matías J. Motta, Sebastián Rozadilla, and Fernando E. Novas published in Cretaceous Research.

17 01, 2022

PNSO to Introduce a Styracosaurus Model

By |2023-07-09T14:42:21+01:00January 17th, 2022|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

PNSO will be adding a replica of the horned dinosaur Styracosaurus to their mid-size model range. The figure should be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in March (2022). The PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus model is another member of the Centrosaurinae subfamily of horned dinosaurs to be added to the PNSO portfolio. The Styracosaurus joins Jennie the Centrosaurus, Brian the Pachyrhinosaurus, Perez the Machairoceratops and A-Qi the Sinoceratops.

PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus
The spectacular PNSO Styracosaurus dinosaur model is expected to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in March 2021.

Styracosaurus albertensis

Named and scientifically described by the famous Canadian palaeontologist Lawrence Lambe in 1913, Styracosaurus with its stunning array of spikes and its single, large nose horn is regarded as one of the most spectacular dinosaurs known to science. Model fans and collectors will be excited to see the figure.

PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus (anterior view)
The PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus (anterior view).

PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus Dinosaur Model

Whilst PNSO does not normally state a scale for the figures in their mid-size model range, an approximate scale for this dinosaur model can be calculated. The model measures 18 cm long from the end of its tail to the tip of its snout. Size estimates vary for S. albertensis, but fully grown adults are thought to have measured around 5.5 metres in length. Based on these measurements, team members at Everything Dinosaur have postulated that this model’s scale is approximately 1:30.

PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus model measurements
The Styracosaurus model measures 18 cm long and the tips of those impressive head shield spikes are around 10 cm off the ground.

Posters, Booklet and a QR Code

The PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus model will be supplied with a full-colour, 64-page booklet as well as posters. A QR code on the product packaging links to a brief video that outlines how the figure was developed. The posters and booklet help to highlight the fabulous artwork of the very talented Chinese palaeoartist Zhao Chuang.

PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus
The new for 2022 PNSO Styracosaurus model is supplied with a 64-page full, colour booklet, posters and a QR code that once scanned directs you to a short video that explains how the model was made.

A Spectacular Dinosaur Model

Commenting on the introduction of the spectacular Styracosaurus dinosaur model, a spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated that PNSO had rapidly built an excellent reputation for making beautiful horned dinosaur models.

The spokesperson added:

“We welcome the addition of Anthony the Styracosaurus to the PNSO model range. We are confident that this new for 2022 dinosaur figure will prove to be a firm favourite amongst dinosaur fans and model collectors.”

PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus model.
The PNSO Anthony the Styracosaurus dinosaur model depicted in dorsal view.

To view the range of PNSO dinosaur and prehistoric animal models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models and Figures.

16 01, 2022

Dating the Mammal Tree of Life

By |2023-07-10T07:09:48+01:00January 16th, 2022|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Recently published research has answered an important question regarding the timing of the evolutionary origins of modern types of placental mammals such as the Carnivora, the rodents and the primates. Once the non-avian dinosaurs vanished some 66 million years ago, placental mammals rapidly evolved and diversified to fill many of the niches in ecosystems vacated by the extinct members of the Dinosauria.

The research team who included scientists from Queen Mary University of London, Cambridge University, University College London, the University of Bristol and Imperial College London used a new and fast Bayesian statistical approach to plot the timeline of mammal evolution. The data generated confirms the hypothesis that although the first placental mammals evolved in the Mesozoic, it was only after the KPg extinction event that marked the end of this Era and the beginning of the Cenozoic, some 66 million years ago, that the ancestors of today’s modern placental mammal groups evolved.

Mammal tree of life.
The research team used a new and rapid Bayesian statistical approach to plot the timeline of mammal evolution. The data generated confirms the hypothesis that although the first placental mammals evolved in the Mesozoic, it was only after the KPg extinction event that the ancestors of today’s modern placental mammal groups evolved. Picture credit: Mario dos Reis Barros and Sandra Alvarez-Carretero.

Analysing the Mammalian Genomic Dataset

Writing in the academic journal “Nature”, the scientists used a novel Bayesian statistical method to analyse an enormous mammal genomic dataset, in a bid to plot more precisely the timeline of the evolution of modern mammals. They conclude that the ancestors of these modern groups postdate the KPg extinction event.

The Bayesian analysis had to be robust, not only to handle the genetic data from almost 5,000 mammal species and 72 complete genomes but also to accommodate and account for uncertainties within the huge amount of data being processed.

Tracing the Mammal Family Tree
Tracing the mammalian family tree. The Bayesian analysis plotted the major evolutionary advances of the Mammalia. It is known that the first placental mammals evolved in the Mesozoic, exactly when is hugely controversial. This study aimed to clarify the evolutionary origins of modern placentals. Picture credit: Luo Laboratory.

Tackling a Contentious Topic in Evolutionary Biology

Commentating on the significance of this study, one of the co-authors of the paper, Professor Philip Donoghue (Bristol University) stated:

“The timeline of mammal evolution is perhaps one of the most contentious topics in evolutionary biology. Early studies provided origination estimates for modern groups deep in the Cretaceous, in the dinosaur era. The past two decades had seen studies moving back and forth between post- and pre-KPg diversification scenarios. Our precise timeline settles the issue.”

The statistical method developed for this study can be used to help resolve other controversial areas of research that require the detailed analysis of huge amounts of data. The scientists are confident that this technique can be applied to even grander projects such as the Earth BioGenome project which aims to plot a reliable evolutionary timescale for the development of life on Earth.

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

The scientific paper: “A Species-Level Timeline of Mammal Evolution Integrating Phylogenomic Data” by Sandra Álvarez-Carretero, Asif U. Tamuri, Matteo Battini, Fabrícia F. Nascimento, Emily Carlisle, Robert J. Asher, Ziheng Yang, Philip C. J. Donoghue and Mario dos Reis published in the journal Nature.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

15 01, 2022

William Reviews a Mastodon Model

By |2023-07-10T07:12:22+01:00January 15th, 2022|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Our thanks to prehistoric animal model fan and collector William who sent into Everything Dinosaur his detailed review of the Safari Ltd Wild Safari Prehistoric World Mastodon figure. Here is William’s review of this prehistoric elephant model, which was first introduced in 2018.

Wild Safari Prehistoric World Mastodon model.
The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Mastodon model.

Mammut americanum – Sculpted by Doug Watson

As with most of his previous model reviews, William starts by commenting on the head. He states that the Mastodon has a lower, flatter skull than mammoths and extant elephants. He comments that the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Mastodon has well defined, dark orange eyes with black pupils and nicely sculpted eye lids. The model is shown with its mouth open, the tongue can be seen but there is no second set of tusks in the lower jaw as found in other types of ancient proboscidean. The ears are small and reflect theories on thermoregulation (heat dispersal and conservation) in these large-bodied mammals.

Details on the trunk are highlighted. The figure has its trunk raised, either to sniff the air or bellow a challenge to a rival. William praises the trunk commenting that in life it would have been used to pluck foliage and branches as well as having a role as a tactile, sensory organ. The reviewer states that living elephants have 40,000 muscles in their trunk and are capable of lifting over 700lbs. He speculates that Mastodons may have had stronger trunks.

Scale Drawing American Mastodon.
American Mastodon scale drawing.

William observes that the prominent tusks are of a natural ivory colour and held low. They model has flexible tusks with no sharp tips, so these protrusions do not represent a hazard and are unlikely to cause injury.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

Reviewing the Body and the Coat of the Mastodon Figure

William explains that the short, robust and muscular build of Mammut americanum was unlikely to lead to confusion with coeval mammoth species. The American Mastodon was ideally suited to its temperate forest environment. He provides size estimates and concludes that bulls were much larger than cows, as seen in living elephant species.

When discussing the coat, William states that it “is one of the finest sculpted I have ever seen, only surpassed by Eofauna’s Steppe Mammoth figure.”

The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Mastodon is a marvel to touch and to hold thanks to the exquisite details of the model’s coat. He states that it is refreshing to see this as with mammoths’ hair colour would have varied between individuals and William speculates that perhaps, every once in a while, a genetic abnormality would permit an albino variant to be born.

Strong Legs

William praises the strong legs and highlights the detailing such as the toenails. He comments that these large animals would have traversed temperate woodlands and conifer forests, eating a wide variety of plant material in order to satisfy their huge appetites. He completes his model review by stating that the model has a rich auburn colour with a dark wash that has been skilfully applied to highlight the skin folds and the muscles under the skin.

A Mastodon Carving.
Close up of carved bone depicting an American Mastodon. The carving is estimated to be around 15,000 years old and it could be the oldest artwork recorded in America. The depiction of a prehistoric elephant emphasises the significance of these large mammals to the first people to live in the Americas. Sarah Grile/The Palm Beach Post.

American Mastodon Fact File

To conclude his review of the model, William provided some additional information regarding this species, commenting that in 1705 in the New York village of Claverack a Dutch settler whilst out working dug up a large tooth, the first of many found over next two centuries. William briefly outlines the evolutionary history of the prehistoric elephant lineage and explained that it was the French naturalist Georges Cuvier who erected the genus.

William explained that these elephants ranged from Alaska/Canada in the north down to central Mexico, but there is no fossil evidence of these animals ever having reached South America. Most scientists believe that the last of the Mastodons perished along with much of the American megafauna around 10,000 years ago, although these huge herbivores may has survived until as recently as 4,000 years ago, in isolated pockets.

He states that the Wild Safari Prehistoric World American Mastodon is a great addition to his model collection and he adds that he received the figure with a fast despatch and delivery from Everything Dinosaur. It arrived in 100% perfect condition. William also praised the customer service of Everything Dinosaur.

To see the range of Safari Ltd prehistoric animal models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models.

14 01, 2022

Koolasuchus Becomes the State Fossil of Victoria

By |2022-10-23T19:00:37+01:00January 14th, 2022|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Following a public vote, Koolasuchus a giant temnospondyl from the Early Cretaceous has been declared the State fossil of Victoria. The huge amphibian, perhaps the very last of its kind, thrived in the cool conditions of southern Australia. During the Early Cretaceous, Australia was located at a much higher latitude than it is today, it was within the Antarctic Circle. The cool climate prevented crocodilians from inhabiting the region and their absence permitted one of the last of the temnospondyls to occupy the crocodilian niche in the ancient ecosystem.

Koolasuchus life reconstruction
A life reconstruction of Koolasuchus cleelandi, the State fossil of Victoria. Picture credit: Peter Trusler.

Koolasuchus cleelandi

Acknowledging the result of the public vote which took place last August (August 2021), Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director, Museums Victoria commented:

“Victorian state emblems recognise and celebrate the natural history of our region. Museums Victoria is renowned for our palaeontology collection with exceptional fossils from internationally significant fossil sites across Victoria. We are the custodian of these fossils, we display them, research them and keep them safe for future generations to learn from. Koolasuchus cleelandi is of global significance and it provides clues to the evolution of life on Earth and the past environments of Victoria.”

Koolasuchus was named and described in 1997, from fragmentary fossil material including elements from the huge lower jaw that had been found south of Melbourne. The species name honours Australian geologist Mike Cleeland for his work for helping to plot and map the geology of Australia.

This huge amphibian, that probably favoured fast flowing streams and rivers, came to greater prominence when it featured in episode five of the ground-breaking BBC documentary series “Walking with Dinosaurs”. The episode, entitled “Spirits of the Silent Forest” looked at the remarkable biota associated with southern Australia in the Early Cretaceous.

13 01, 2022

Everything Dinosaur Receives a Little Thank You

By |2022-10-23T19:02:33+01:00January 13th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Earlier this month (January 2nd, 2022), Everything Dinosaur published the fantastic news that Dorset Council had approved the erection of a bronze statue honouring Mary Anning at Lyme Regis on the famous “Jurassic Coast”. Team members at Everything Dinosaur have supported the charity “Mary Anning Rocks” that was set up to raise funds and to campaign for a permanent memorial to Mary Anning to be established.

To read our earlier post about the Dorset Council approval and to see images of the proposed statue: Mary Anning Statue Approved by Dorset Council.

As a small token of the charity’s gratitude, we received a little note and a gift.

Everything Dinosaur is thanked for their campaign support.
Everything Dinosaur is thanked for their support of the Mary Anning Rocks campaign to have a statue erected in Lyme Regis to honour the pioneering palaeontologist and fossil collector Mary Anning.

Honouring a Pioneering Palaeontologist

Our chum, Brandon Lennon who leads fossil walks at Lyme Regis and like Mary Anning before him, sells fossils that he finds on the beaches around Lyme Regis, sent us the gift which includes a personal thank you from the patrons of the charity and an informative booklet on Mary Anning’s life and work written by Nigel J. Clarke.

Brandon Lennon, a patron of the charity himself wrote:

“Thanks so much for all your help, in the early days”

Everything Dinosaur was one of the first organisations from outside Lyme Regis to back the campaign and to help raise awareness. Since the charity’s inception, Everything Dinosaur has helped to promote and support the fundraising.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It is wonderful to have seen the plans for a statue come to fruition. The unveiling will probably take place in the late spring, we would love to be at the event but due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to make plans to visit Lyme Regis at this time. We congratulate the organisers and fundraisers for all their hard work in ensuring a permanent memorial to Mary Anning. Her statue will remind all the visitors to the area of her contribution to the nascent science of palaeontology and will help to inspire the next generation of scientists”.

Mary Anning - A life on the rocks
The inside front cover of the Mary Anning booklet by Nigel J. Clarke (edited by Sue Clarke) features the iconic portrait of Mary Anning and her dog Tray and the “Sea Sells Seashells” poem which is believed to have been inspired by Mary’s fossil finds.
12 01, 2022

Sending Dinosaur Models to the European Union

By |2022-10-23T19:03:14+01:00January 12th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Earlier this week, team members at Everything Dinosaur were notified of a discussion taking place on the Dinosaur Toy Forum about how Beasts of the Mesozoic models might reach customers in the European Union now that the UK had left the EU.

Concerns had been raised by dinosaur fans and Beasts of the Mesozoic model collectors about whether items secured in the Kickstarter programme, such as new tyrannosaur figures could be despatched into the EU.

Beasts of the Mesozoic Xenoceratops
The Beasts of the Mesozoic Xenoceratops (background shot) a magnificent articulated dinosaur model in 1:18 scale. The Xenoceratops was part of the third wave of colourful horned dinosaur models to be introduced. Everything Dinosaur has been involved in fulfilment operations on behalf of Creative Beast Studio, helping to ensure despatch of Kickstarter orders to the UK and Europe.

Everything Dinosaur has been responsible for fulfilment operations on behalf of Creative Beast Studio, ensuring despatch of Kickstarter figures to the UK and the rest of Europe.

In response to these concerns, Everything Dinosaur posted up onto the forum the following information:

The UK officially left the European Union on 31st January 2020 (at 11pm CET), there then followed a transition period where nothing changed, giving all parties the time to adjust to the new trading arrangements, this ended on 31st December 2020. Since that date, Everything Dinosaur has offered a fully tracked and delivery duty paid (DDP) service for all our customers in the EU. Everything Dinosaur pays the duty for the customer. We have also become members of the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme, which whilst not part of Brexit, is a European initiative to harmonise the payment of VAT across Europe. We are registered in Ireland for this purpose and by doing so we ensure that the VAT applied on all purchases is the correct amount for each European country and that VAT received is then submitted to that person’s national tax authority. All our customers can be assured that Everything Dinosaur has done all it can and continues to ensure compliance with international taxation laws.

Delivery Duty Paid (DDP)

When addressing the issue of delivery duty paid (DDP), the following information was supplied:

With regards to DDP deliveries, since the UK started its new relationship with the EU Everything Dinosaur has sent out thousands of parcels to customers – every single one DDP and with (as far as we know, as we have never received any comment about a customer of ours having to pay extra for a parcel), not a single problem.

Beasts of the Mesozoic adult Triceratops and Torosaurus
The largest figures in wave 3 represent two of the largest horned dinosaurs known to science. Torosaurus latus (left) and Triceratops horridus (right). Everything Dinosaur was responsible for wave 3 fulfilment operations across the UK and Europe.

EU 2019/1020 Market Surveillance Regulations

In addition to calming any fears about the sending of parcels into the EU, the statement also addressed new EU legislation concerning market surveillance stating:

We would also add that in July 2021 new EU legislation came into force – this is called EU 2019/1020 market surveillance regulations. It has come about due to the huge number of items being purchased by EU customers which originate from outside the EU. The Beasts of the Mesozoic range would be affected by this legislation – as would Nanmu Studio, ITOY Studio, W-Dragon and such like.

Unless someone in the supply chain takes responsibility for ensuring product safety such as CE accreditation within the EU then the sale of an item would be illegal and subject to being held up at the EU port of entry. We can assure all forum members, that as Everything Dinosaur is a responsible company and well aware of our obligations under international law, we have ensured that all the Beasts of the Mesozoic, Nanmu Studio, ITOY Studio, W-Dragon etc that we sell are registered in the EU and comply fully with EU 2019/1020. Everything Dinosaur has registered in Germany for this purpose (at considerable expense we might add).

To read an article that explains more about the implications of EU 2019/1020 for model collectors: New Market Surveillance Regulations Come into Force.

Market Surveillance Regulations (EU) 2019/1020
Under the new (EU) 2019/1020 regulations dinosaur models may not be offered for sale to EU consumers without an Economic Operator established in the EU.

Beasts of the Mesozoic Tyrannosaurs

It had been noted that comments had been made on the forum about how the Kickstarter tyrannosaur fulfilment process would be undertaken. Whilst stressing that no decisions had been taken to date, Everything Dinosaur supplied the following information:

We were responsible for all European and UK Beasts of the Mesozoic fulfilment operations for Wave 3 ceratopsians, as we had been for earlier fulfilment operations concerning Beasts of the Mesozoic Kickstarters, this operation was undertaken in mid-December when the shipment arrived at our UK warehouse. Despite the huge problems at the time due to COVID-19 restrictions and the enormous strain on the European mail delivery system and our own commitments to sending orders to our customers in time for Christmas, we were able to complete the despatch of Wave 3 fulfilment on schedule.

At this time (mid-January 2022), there has been no formal agreement in place between Everything Dinosaur and David Silva of Creative Beast Studio with regards to the treatment of the tyrannosaur series. Everything Dinosaur can confirm that it intends to stock this most impressive range. At this stage in the Beasts of the Mesozoic production cycle, no decision as to fulfilment for the tyrannosaur range has been made.

If readers require further information, they are welcome to contact Everything Dinosaur: Email Everything Dinosaur.

To view the Beasts of the Mesozoic models available from Everything Dinosaur: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models.

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