All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
18 02, 2022

The Evolution of the Schleich Styracosaurus

By |2023-07-07T07:28:54+01:00February 18th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

Schleich, the German manufacturer of models and figures has recently introduced five new for 2022 prehistoric animal models. Four of these figures are dinosaurs (Amargasaurus, Majungasaurus, Parasaurolophus and Styracosaurus). Schleich has made replicas of Parasaurolophus and Styracosaurus before. When reviewing the new for 2022 Schleich Parasaurolophus and producing a short video showcase of the model, team members at Everything Dinosaur included an image of Schleich’s “Replica-Saurus” Parasaurolophus that was introduced in the mid-1990s: Schleich Parasaurolophus Video Showcase. Today, we take a brief look at the previous Styracosaurus figures that the German company has made.

Schleich Styracosaurus model in lateral view.
The new for 2022 Schleich Styracosaurus dinosaur model in lateral view. The Styracosaurus figure measures over 19 cm long. This Styracosaurus figure is not the first replica of “spiked lizard” that Schleich has made.

“Saurus” Styracosaurus Dinosaur Model

Everything Dinosaur estimates that the “Replica-Saurus” series of prehistoric animal models was first introduced by Schleich around 1996. This painted vinyl range, originally consisting of eight replicas, was often described as being a range of 1:40 scale figures. Styracosaurus was not one of the first figures made, but the series proved popular and soon more dinosaurs were added including a “Saurus” Styracosaurus.

Schleich "Saurus" Styracosaurus dinosaur model.
The Schleich “Saurus” Styracosaurus dinosaur model.

The Styracosaurus was typical of the dinosaur models produced at the time. Heavily influenced by palaeoartists such as Knight and Burian, the models tended to be dark brown or green with little sign of the imaginative colouring seen in later figures. Everything Dinosaur did stock this figure in the early years of this century, but the “Replica Saurus” range was gradually replaced and Schleich introduced the “Dinosaurs” sub-brand and this heralded the start of much more colourful prehistoric animal figures. An example of which, would be the 2013 Styracosaurus model, one of two dinosaur figures introduced by Schleich that year.

Schleich Styracosaurus and Carnotaurus (2013).
Schleich added two dinosaur models to its product portfolio in 2013, a Styracosaurus (foreground) and a crimson coloured Carnotaurus (background).
Schleich Styracosaurus
“Spiked Lizard!” celebrates its 100th birthday! The 2013 Schleich Styracosaurus commemorated the centenary of the scientific naming and description of this iconic horned dinosaur.

The Schleich 2013 Styracosaurus Model

The second Styracosaurus model was introduced in 2013. It commemorated the centenary of the naming and scientific description of this iconic Late Cretaceous horned dinosaur (Lambe 1913). In 2016 Schleich dropped the umbrella “World of History” branding and re-organised their dinosaur range once more. Sadly, the 2013 Styracosaurus was short-lived and within just a few years the figure was retired and moved out of production.

The New for 2022 Schleich Styracosaurus figure

Styracosaurus fans have had to wait for nearly a decade for a new Schleich “spiked lizard” replica. The new for 2022 Schleich Styracosaurus figure has been well-received by dinosaur model fans and collectors. Of the five new models of extinct creatures introduced by Schleich this year (2022), the Styracosaurus is our personal favourite.

Schleich Styracosaurus dinosaur model
The Schleich Styracosaurus dinosaur model shown in oblique anterior view.

To view the new for 2022 Schleich prehistoric animal models and the rest of the Schleich range in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Schleich Prehistoric Animals.

17 02, 2022

A New Abelisaurid from North-western Argentina

By |2023-07-09T14:19:00+01:00February 17th, 2022|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Ask any dinosaur fan about the Abelisauridae and they are likely to mention Carnotaurus, Abelisaurus and even Ekrixinatosaurus – all large predators whose fossils were found in Argentina. Whilst it is true that the South American fossil record of these short-armed, blunt-headed theropods is largely restricted to Brazil and Argentina, abelisaurid fossil material is not uniformly distributed across Cretaceous-aged sediments in these two countries. For example, in Argentina, abelisaurid fossil discoveries tend to be found in the south, in Patagonia.

Abelisaurid size comparison.
The braincase fossil is 70% smaller than the braincase of other abelisaurs, suggesting that G. ochoai may be a diminutive form or perhaps the fossil material represents a juvenile. Size comparison between Guemesia ochoai (right) and the closely related Ekrixinatosaurus novasi (left) if specimen number IBIGEO-P 103 represents adult material.

Researchers writing in the “Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology”, have named a new abelisaurid taxon based on the discovery of a small braincase (fused skull bones which contained the brain, specimen number IBIGEO-P 103), in Salta Province in the far north-west of Argentina. The new dinosaur has been named Guemesia ochoai. Its discovery provides the first definitive evidence of the presence of these enigmatic theropods in this part of Argentina.

Patagonian abelisaurid fossils are relatively abundant and include extensively researched and partially complete specimens. In contrast, abelisaurids from north-western Argentina are represented by isolated bones and teeth, fossil material that is regarded as too scrappy to permit the erection of new taxa.

Los Blanquitos Formation

The nearly complete braincase comes from reddish sandy siltstone exposures in the Amblayo Valley (San Carlos department, Salta Province). The precise age of the fossil-bearing sediments is unknown, although radiometric dating studies of volcanic rocks associated with the top of the Los Blanquitos Formation indicate an age range of 69.5 to 70.5 million years, thus suggesting that these strata date from the Campanian/Maastrichtian.

Towards the end of the Mesozoic, rising sea levels led to the division of South America into several landmasses. A shallow sea separated the north-eastern part of the continent from the southern portion. The braincase autapomorphies established by CT-scan analysis undertaken at the TCba Salguero Diagnostic Centre in Buenos Aires, distinguish G. ochoai from Patagonian abelisaurids and its discovery supports the idea that distinct dinosaur communities existed in South America during the Late Cretaceous.

Guemesia Dig Site Photo
The field team at the G. ochoai dig site in the Amblayo Valley. The fossil specimen can be seen in the foreground it is covered in its protective plaster jacket prior to its removal from the dig site. Back row, left to right, Andrew Cuff, Thomas Halliday and Javier Ochoa. Front row, left to right Agustín Scanferla and Anjali Goswami). Picture credit: Agustín Scanferla (Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires).

International Collaboration in the Hunt for Argentina’s Dinosaurs

The scientific paper, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, provides an example of the extensive international collaboration between academics in a bid to discover more about the unusual dinosaur biota of northern Argentina.

Co-author of the scientific paper Dr Andrew Cuff (Human Anatomy Resource Centre, University of Liverpool), explained:

“I was lucky enough to be a member of the small team that was exploring the area and heard the excited shouts of Javier Ochoa [a technician at the Museo Regional “Florentino Ameghino,” Río Tercero city, Argentina] (who found the fossil), and Agustín Scanferla [Universidad Maimónides, Argentina]. They said they had found a skull. After getting a closer look at it I guessed that it might be an abelisaur braincase from the bits we could see, but at that stage it was very much a guess. We extracted the specimen from the ground back in 2015. Some beautiful, and I imagine very difficult preparation of the braincase (due to the bone looking very similar in colour to the rock), has since occurred. This was followed up with CT scanning to get a look inside the braincase allowing more in-depth study of where the brain itself would have been. The Argentinian team has carried out a great study, and I feel very privileged to have been involved in a small way.”

A Diminutive Abelisaurid or a Juvenile

It remains uncertain as to whether the skull material represents a mature, diminutive theropod or the remains of a juvenile. The bones forming the braincase are tightly fused, but the authors urge caution when using bone fusion as the sole indicator of the age of an animal. Hopefully, postcranial material will be found such as limb bones that will permit a histological analysis.

Commenting on the possibility of further fossil finds from north-western Argentina, Dr Cuff added:

“There is certainly a lot more material to be found in Salta province that would further enrich our knowledge of the Argentinian dinosaur record. I hope that further exploration will help us fill in these gaps in the South American and Argentinian fossil record.”

Etymology for a New Abelisaurid

The genus name honours Governor of Salta Province and military leader General Martin Miguel de Güemes (1785-1821). The species name recognises the contribution made to vertebrate palaeontology by Javier Ochoa, who found the braincase fossil.

To read an article from 2021 about a newly described abelisaurid from Neuquén Province (northern Patagonia): Llukalkan aliocranianus.

New species of abelisaurid described from south-eastern Brazil: Kurupi itaata from the Marília Formation.

The scientific paper: “First definitive abelisaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous of Northwestern Argentina” by Federico L. Agnolín, Mauricio A. Cerroni, Agustín Scanferla, Anjali Goswami, Ariana Paulina-Carabajal, Thomas Halliday, Andrew R. Cuff and Santiago Reuil published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

16 02, 2022

PNSO Torvosaurus Dinosaur Diorama

By |2023-07-09T14:02:50+01:00February 16th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Our thanks to John a dinosaur model collector and fan of PNSO prehistoric animals who sent into Everything Dinosaur some photographs of his recently completed PNSO Connor the Torvosaurus diorama. John was self-isolating after contracting COVID-19, we are glad to hear he is feeling much better and is looking forward to the arrival of the new for 2022 PNSO Harvey the Iguanodon model. Perhaps, there are plans for a Torvosaurus interacting with an ornithopod dinosaur diorama.

PNSO Torvosaurus dinosaur diorama (in lateral view)
This diorama featuring “Savage Lizard” stands out beautifully against the chosen backdrop. Picture credit: John.

Connor the Torvosaurus Dinosaur Model

The PNSO Torvosaurus model came into stock at Everything Dinosaur last year. It is a replica of the Late Jurassic megalosaur, one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs described to date from this time in Earth’s history. Two species of Torvosaurus are regarded as valid T. tanneri from North America and T. gurneyi from Europe. However, just like the contemporaneous Allosaurus taxon, it is likely that more species of Torvosaurus will be named and described as existing fossil material is re-examined in conjunction with new fossil discoveries.

Connor the Torvosaurus dinosaur diorama.
The PNSO Connor the Torvosaurus dinosaur diorama. The model has been provided with a display base, a landscape and a background has been added to produce the effect of a Late Jurassic scene. Picture credit: John.

In his email to Everything Dinosaur John stated:

“Here are some photos of my Connor, use any or all of them if you wish. This is a fantastic looking model of a Torvosaurus. I love the colour scheme, stance and how fine the scales are. Detail is excellent!”

PNSO Connor the Torvosaurus dinosaur diorama (dorsal view)
The PNSO Connor the Torvosaurus model diorama shown in dorsal view. Picture credit: John.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur praised the diorama and commented:

“We are always delighted to receive photos of prehistoric animal scenes that have been created using the dinosaur figures that we supply. We have some very clever and creative customers.”

PNSO Torvosaurus dinosaur diorama (lateral view)
The model maker has added a base and ensured that the background textures and colours are in keeping with the dinosaur display base. Picture credit: John.

Our thanks once again to John for sending in these stunning images to Everything Dinosaur.

To view the PNSO Connor the Torvosaurus and other PNSO prehistoric animal models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Models and Figures.

15 02, 2022

Safari Ltd Dino Dana Feathered T. rex Video Showcase

By |2022-10-23T18:34:25+01:00February 15th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

As part of the company’s on-going project to provide more information to customers about the prehistoric animal models and figures stocked, Everything Dinosaur has produced a short video showcasing the Safari Ltd Dino Dana feathered T. rex dinosaur model.

This is the first Safari Ltd prehistoric world dinosaur replica to be featured in a video showcase, a spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that there were plans in place to include new for 2022 Safari Ltd models in this YouTube video project.

The Safari Ltd Dino Dana Feathered T. rex dinosaur model is the first Safari Ltd prehistoric animal model to feature in Everything Dinosaur’s video showcase project. A spokesperson from the UK-based company confirmed that there were plans to produce more product video showcases and that Everything Dinosaur intended to feature several Safari Ltd prehistoric animals including new figures such as the recently announced Prehistoric World Patagotitan model.

Feathered T. rex Model Measurements and QR Code Details

The product showcase video lasts thirty-seven seconds. It permits potential customers and model fans to get a better look at the feathered Tyrannosaurus rex figure. The Dino Dana T. rex is shown on a turntable and as it turns, collectors can see the figure and gain a better appreciation of the model. Measurements are provided and details of the QR (quick response) code that can be found on the dinosaur’s hang tag given. Collectors can scan this code once they have downloaded an application to the mobile phone and interact with the figure.

Dino Dana feathered T. rex QR code.
Showing the QR (quick response) code on the Dino Dana feathered T. rex hang tag. Once an application has been downloaded the collector can scan the QR code and interact with this dinosaur model.
Dino Dana feathered T. rex video showcase.
The Dino Dana feathered T. rex video showcase titles.

Feathered T. rex Dinosaur Model

The Dino Dana television show was created by a Canadian production company (Sinking Ship Entertainment). It featured the adventures of girl that can bring prehistoric animals back to life. A total of fifty-two episodes and a feature-length film were made. The series merges live action sequences with computer generated animation. The television programme first aired in 2017, the same year that Safari Ltd introduced their feathered T. rex replica, a colour variant of which becoming the Dino Dana feathered T. rex.

Comparing two feathered T. rex dinosaur models.
The two Safari Ltd Tyrannosaurus rex models compared. The 2017 feathered T. rex release (top) and the Dino Dana colour variant (below).

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

14 02, 2022

New Schleich Prehistoric Animal Models in Stock

By |2022-10-23T18:34:56+01:00February 14th, 2022|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 Majungasaurus, Styracosaurus and the Nothosaurus marine reptile model are in stock at Everything Dinosaur. All five of the recently announced new Schleich prehistoric animals are now available from the UK-based mail order company.

Schleich Majungasaurus dinosaur model.
The new for 2022 Schleich Majungasaurus dinosaur model (anterior view).

The Schleich Majungasaurus

The stout Majungasaurus model, with its stubby front limbs and deep skull is a welcome addition to the Schleich range of dinosaur models. This is the first time that Schleich have made a replica of the Late Cretaceous abelisaurid from Madagascar, although they have made several models of the related Carnotaurus.

The Schleich Majungasaurus has a prominent horn on the top of its head, an anatomical feature that reflects the fossil record for this theropod, although when first found, the frontal horn was thought to represent the fossilised remains of a pachycephalosaur. The striped colour scheme is certainly striking and this figure has an articulated lower jaw.

Schleich Majungasaurus model.
A close-up view of the Schleich Majungasaurus. This dinosaur model does have an articulated jaw.

Schleich Styracosaurus Dinosaur Model

Our personal favourite of the recent Schleich model releases is the Styracosaurus dinosaur model. Painted in muted shades of green and brown it contrasts with the more vibrant Majungasaurus figure. This is not the first time that Schleich have produced a Styracosaurus figure. There was a Styracosaurus in the original and long-retired “Saurus” series and in 2013, a blue-coloured Styracosaurus was introduced, marking the centenary of the formal naming and scientific description of “spiked lizard”.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that a future blog post would look at these Schleich Styracosaurus models in more detail.

Schleich Styracosaurus dinosaur model
The Schleich Styracosaurus dinosaur model shown in oblique anterior view.

Schleich Nothosaurus Marine Reptile Model

The only non-avian dinosaur model to be added to the Schleich “Dinosaurs” range is a replica of the Triassic marine reptile Nothosaurus. The model measures 22 cm in length and it joins a replica of a Plesiosaurus and a Mosasaurus in the Schleich range.

Schleich Nothosaurus marine reptile model.
The new for 2022 Schleich Nothosaurus marine reptile model in lateral view.

This is the first time that Schleich has made a Nothosaurus figure and although this genus has an extensive fossil record as well as a global distribution with fossil discoveries in Asia, North Africa, the Middle East as well as Europe, there are very few Nothosaurus models in the portfolios of mainstream model manufacturers.

Schleich Nothosaurus and Everything Dinosaur fact sheet.
The Schleich Nothosaurus model is supplied with a free Everything Dinosaur Nothosaurus fact sheet.

Everything Dinosaur has researched and written a Nothosaurus fact sheet that will be sent out free of charge with sales of the Schleich Nothosaurus figure.

The Schleich new for 2022 Nothosaurus.
A close-up view of the Schleich Nothosaurus marine reptile model with the fine scales on the front limb (manus).

To view the new for 2022 Schleich prehistoric animal models and the rest of the Schleich figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Schleich Prehistoric Animal Models.

13 02, 2022

Prehistoric Croc with Dinosaur Remains in its Stomach

By |2023-07-09T14:40:37+01:00February 13th, 2022|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Scientists have announced the discovery of a new genus of crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia. Named Confractosuchus sauroktonos it is only the second crocodyliform known from the Cenomanian-aged Winton Formation and remarkably, the last meal of this predator has been preserved. The abdominal contents consist of the partial remains of a juvenile ornithopod, thus providing the first evidence of crocodile/dinosaur predation in Australia.

Furthermore, the ornithopod bones represent the first skeletal remains of this group reported from the Winton Formation, previously only known from tracks and shed teeth, the unfortunate dinosaur that was eaten by Confractosuchus may represent a new taxon.

Confractosuchus sauroktonos attacks a juvenile ornithopod.
A life reconstruction of Confractosuchus sauroktonos capturing the juvenile ornithopod. Picture credit: Dr Matt White/Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum.

High Resolution Scans Reveal Delicate Fossil Bones

The crocodile specimen consisting of a nearly complete skull with post-cranial material representing about 35% of the total skeleton was discovered in 2010, on the Elderslie Station near to the town of Winton (Queensland). A field team was excavating the remains of a titanosaur and during the removal of the overburden the crocodile fossil material was found. Unfortunately, the concretion containing the fossil was partly crushed by an excavator. The small bones contained within the concretion were too fragile to be removed from the hard stone surrounding them so the object was subjected to neutron and synchrotron X-ray micro-computerised tomography so their details could be revealed.

Confractosuchus skull fossil.
The skull of the newly described Confractosuchus sauroktonos, only the second crocodyliform to be described from Winton Formation fossils. Picture credit: Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum.

“Broken Lizard Killer”

The diet of fossil crocodyliforms are usually inferred based on distinctive bite marks on fossil bone, although it has long been suspected that just like their extant relatives, ancient crocodiles would have preyed upon a wide variety of other animals. This fossil specimen indicates that young dinosaurs were on the menu for Confractosuchus.

The genus name of the new taxon is derived from Confractus which means “broken” in Latin, a reference to the shattered concretion in which the fossil material was preserved and suchus from the Greek for the Egyptian crocodile god Sobek. The species name is also from the Greek meaning “lizard”, a common word used as a suffix for the Dinosauria and ktonos meaning “killer”.

Although the tail and hind legs were missing, the researchers estimate that this Confractosuchus individual was around 2.5 metres long, but it was not fully grown. Analysis of the teeth and jaws suggest that it probably had a similar diet to an extant caiman, it probably did not specialise in hunting and killing young dinosaurs, but it would not have turned down the opportunity of catching a young dinosaur or scavenging a corpse.

Analysis of the ornithopod fossils suggest that the crocodile either directly killed the dinosaur or scavenged it quickly after its death.

Confractosuchus sauroktonos is only the second crocodyliform to be named and described from fossils found in Winton Formation strata. The related but much smaller Isisfordia duncani was named and described in 2006.

Confractosuchus sauroktonos from Queensland
The concretion (left) that when subjected to high resolution tomography revealed the remains of a juvenile ornithopod within the crocodyliform’s body cavity. Picture credit: White et al

Both C. sauroktonos and I. duncani have been classified as members of the Eusuchia clade of crocodyliforms. As such, they are distantly related to modern caiman, alligators, gharials and crocodiles as all living crocodyliforms are also eusuchians.

The scientific paper: “Abdominal contents reveal Cretaceous crocodyliforms ate dinosaurs” by Matt A. White, Phil R. Bell, Nicolás E. Campione, Gabriele Sansalone, Tom Brougham, Joseph J. Bevitt, Ralph E. Molnar, Alex G. Cook, Stephen Wroe and David A. Elliott published in Gondwana Research.

12 02, 2022

Schleich Parasaurolophus Video Showcase

By |2022-10-23T18:35:55+01:00February 12th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Product Reviews|0 Comments

The latest product video to be posted up on the Everything Dinosaur YouTube channel features the recently introduced, new for 2022 Schleich Parasaurolophus dinosaur model. This figure is one of five new prehistoric animal figures announced so far by the German model manufacturer. The Parasaurolophus dinosaur model is the first Schleich figure to be given a product showcase video by Everything Dinosaur.

The new for 2022 Schleich Parasaurolophus dinosaur model video showcase.

Model Measurements and Did this Dinosaur Live in China?

In the short video (it lasts around 45 seconds), viewers have the opportunity to observe the Parasaurolophus figure on a revolving turntable, model measurements are provided and a caption pops up explaining that this lambeosaurine is known from North America. A second caption follows shortly afterwards that indicates that this hadrosaur may have lived on two continents as very similar fossils to those associated with the Parasaurolophus genus have been found in Heilongjiang Province (China).

Schleich Parasaurolophus dinosaur model.
The new for 2022 Schleich Parasaurolophus dinosaur model. Although mainly associated with strata laid down during the Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous of North America, fossils from younger rocks (Maastrichtian stage) in north-eastern China suggest that Parasaurolophus may have lived in Asia and persisted until the very end of the Cretaceous.

Fossils of a large lambeosaurine were found in Maastrichtian aged deposits in Heilongjiang Province in north-eastern China. The skull material is very similar to that associated with Parasaurolophus and although the taxon was named Charonosaurus jiayinensis (Godefroit, Zan and Jin, 2000), the fossils could represent another Parasaurolophus species. Whether the Chinese fossils are Parasaurolophus or C. jiayinensis remains unclear. More Chinese fossils will be required to clarify the taxonomic relationship between these two (for the time being), separate genera.

Previous Parasaurolophus Models

Schleich has made replicas of Parasaurolophus before. One of the original figures in the long retired Schleich “Saurus” series was a green Parasaurolophus. Another Parasaurolophus figure was introduced by the German manufacturer in 2007.

Schleich Parasaurolophus model.
The original Schleich Parasaurolophus model in the “Saurus” range.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Our latest product video showcase provides dinosaur fans and model collectors with more information on the recently introduced Schleich Parasaurolophus. Whilst we have to keep these videos short, we try to make them as informative as possible.”

Schleich Parasaurolophus
A photograph of the new for 2022 Schleich Parasaurolophus model.

To view the range of Schleich prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Schleich Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals.

11 02, 2022

Abditosaurus kuehnei – The First New Dinosaur of 2022

By |2022-10-23T18:36:31+01:00February 11th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

The first new dinosaur to be scientifically described in 2022, hails from the Late Cretaceous of the southern Pyrenees of Spain and it’s a giant. At an estimated 17.5 metres long, Abditosaurus kuehnei was probably the largest dinosaur on the European archipelago some 70.5 million years ago (Maastrichtian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous) and its fossils represent the most complete titanosaur known from Europe described to date.

Abditosaurus kuehnei life reconstruction.
Abditosaurus kuehnei life reconstruction. Picture credit: Oscar Sanisidro / Museu de la Conca Dellà.

A Dinosaur That Took Decades to Discover

During the Late Cretaceous sea levels were exceptionally high and much of the continent of Europe we know today was underwater. The landmass of Europe was divided into a series of islands, this archipelago is known to have supported a wide variety of different types of non-avian dinosaur, titanosaurs were present, although none of the scientifically described genera would have matched Abditosaurus in size.

Late Cretaceous Europe.
Europe during the Maastrichtian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous. Abditosaurus roamed the Ibero-Amorican island on the western age of the archipelago. The Ibero-Amorican island consisted of mainly southern France, Portugal and north-central Spain. The researchers propose that this large titanosaur migrated to the island from the south around 70.5 million years ago when sea level regression opened up a temporary land bridge with northern Africa. Adapted from Dalla Vecchia.

Related to Titanosaurs from Gondwana

The new titanosaur taxon demonstrates an unusual combination of characters not seen in other Ibero–Armorican titanosaurs. For example, it had a very robust humerus with a distally expanded deltopectoral crest, an anatomical characteristic typical of the Saltasauridae family of titanosaurs. A phylogenetic analysis carried out by the research team, who included Doctor Albert Sellés, a palaeontologist with the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Museu de la Conca Dellà, nests Abditosaurus within a clade of South American and African saltasaurines and away from European titanosaurs. This suggests that Abditosaurus migrated to the Ibero-Amorican island around 70.5 million years ago when a temporary land bridge united the island with northern Africa.

Further evidence suggesting that dinosaurs migrated from Africa to the island was found at the dig site. Dr Albert Sellés, one of the co-authors of the scientific paper, explained that eggshell fossils from a titanosaurian oospecies known from Gondwana were also discovered.

Abditosaurus kuehnei fossil excavation.
Abditosaurus kuehnei fossil excavation (a) the fossils exposed at the Orcau-1 site and (b, c) fieldwork to extract the fossil material. Picture credit: Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont.

The “Forgotten Reptile”

German palaeontologist Walter Georg Kühne found the first fossil evidence of this large dinosaur in 1954 when exploring Upper Cretaceous deposits near the small town of Orcau (Catalonia). These fossils were despatched to the Instituto Lucas Mallada in Madrid. The following year Kühne returned and collected more bones. No further excavations took place until 1986, when the site was opened up again by a field team from the Institut de Paleontologia de Sabadell (Barcelona) which found dorsal ribs and part of the sternum. From 2012 to 2014 the dig site was opened up once more, this time by a joint Museu de la Conca Dellà, Institut Català de Paleontologia and Universidad de Zaragoza expedition and further fossil material was removed.

The generic name is derived from the Latin word “Abditus” (meaning forgotten) and the Greek word “sauros” (lizard), in recognition of the protracted excavation. The specific name honours Professor Walter Georg Kühne.

Abditosaurus kuehnei skeletal drawing.
Skeletal reconstruction and scale estimate of Abditosaurus kuehnei. The different coloured bones indicate which bones were excavated during the different field expeditions. The bones coloured light pink were excavated in the 1950s but have been subsequently lost. Picture credit: Bernardo González Riga.
Cervical vertebrae of Abditosaurus kuehnei.
The partially complete but articulated cervical vertebrae of Abditosaurus kuehnei. Picture credit: Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont.

The photograph above shows the neck bones of Abditosaurus recovered from the dig site. Although famous for their long necks, the fossil record of sauropod cervical vertebrae is surprisingly sparse.

To read an Everything Dinosaur blog post that summarises some of the problems of restoring sauropod specimens when palaeontologists have only limited information about the size of the dinosaur’s neck: How Much Do We Know About Sauropod Necks?

The scientific paper: “A titanosaurian sauropod with Gondwanan affinities in the latest Cretaceous of Europe” by Bernat Vila, Albert Sellés, Miguel Moreno-Azanza, Novella L. Razzolini, Alejandro Gil-Delgado, José Ignacio Canudo and Àngel Galobart published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

10 02, 2022

Giving the Arthropoda a Leg Up

By |2022-10-23T18:37:00+01:00February 10th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

A University of Manchester researcher in collaboration with a team of international scientists from China, Sweden and Switzerland has helped invertebrate palaeontologists to resolve the puzzle of how arthropods evolved gills. Dr David Legg from the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Environmental Sciences and his co-authors have published a scientific paper this week that describes a new genus of ancient marine arthropod from the Chengjiang biota of Yunnan Province, China. The newly described Erratus sperare swam in a shallow tropical sea some 518 million years ago (stage 3 of the Cambrian). At around 3 centimetres in length, it was no giant, but it represents a giant leap forward in the evolution of the Arthropoda.

Erratus sperare life reconstruction
A life reconstruction of the Cambrian Erratus sperare which has helped palaeontologists to improve their understanding of the origin of gills in the Arthropoda. Picture credit: University of Manchester.

The Evolution of Biramous Limbs

Extant water dwelling arthropods and their extinct counterparts such as the trilobites have biramous limbs, legs that have two distinct parts or branches – one for breathing and one for walking. The inner branch is known as the endopod and the outer branch is called the exopod, together these two branches form the marine arthropod limb.

How such specialised limbs evolved was a mystery. Some of the earliest fossil arthropods, like Anomalocaris, had swimming flaps that may have doubled as gills, but until now researchers didn’t know how arthropods made the jump from these specialised flaps to the biramous limbs of modern arthropods.

Anomalocaris life reconstruction.
The Terror of the Trilobites – Anomalocaris. This large Cambrian predator had swimming flaps that may have doubled as gills, but until the discovery of Erratus sperare researchers didn’t know how the Arthropoda made the evolutionary jump from these specialised flaps to the biramous limbs of modern arthropods. Picture credit: BBC Worldwide/Framestore.

Erratus sperare – A Transitional Form

Erratus sperare fossils come from the UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Yunnan Province, China. The Maotianshan shales exposed in Chengjiang County preserve a record of a Cambrian marine community that existed several million years before the Burgess Shales of British Columbia were laid down. The highly fossiliferous strata have yielded at least 196 different species, with both hard parts and soft tissues preserved.

E. sperare appears to be a transitional form, it provides a missing link between arthropods that used specialised flaps such as Anomalocaris and arthropods with biramous limbs. It has both legs and flaps.

Erratus sperare fossils and explanatory line drawing.
Erratus sperare gen. et sp. nov. from the early Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 3), Chengjiang Lagerstätte, China. The fossils are approximately 518 million years old. Photograph (a) NWUS92-310, specimen formerly referred to Isoxys auritus note the carapace with short anterior spine and covering the seven most anterior body segments; the flap margin without setae (arrows); (b) details of flap 6–7; note the smooth margin. XDBZ102 (c), the complete carapace (Ca) of E. sperare in dorsal view, showing anterior spine and straight posterior margin; (d) line drawing of (a) showing cardinal spine (Cs), ventral eyes (Ey) with stalk (Es), and flaps 1–11; the ventral endopods (En) are present in the anterior trunk. Scale bars, 2 mm for (b) and 1 cm for others. Picture credit: Fu et al.

Explaining the significance of this fossil discovery, Dr David Legg commented:

“Fish aren’t the only organisms that have gills! Arthropods have gills too… they just have them on their legs. When it came to arthropods, however, we just weren’t sure where these gills came from. Thanks to this new fossil, Erratus sperare, we now have a much clearer idea. These gills also probably went on to evolve into the wings of insects and the lungs of terrestrial arthropods like spiders so were a very important innovation.”

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

The scientific paper: “The evolution of biramous appendages revealed by a carapace-bearing Cambrian arthropod” by Dongjing Fu, David A. Legg, Allison C. Daley, Graham E. Budd, Yu Wu and Xingliang Zhang published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

9 02, 2022

A New Super-predator from the Middle Triassic

By |2023-07-09T14:46:02+01:00February 9th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Scientists from the University of Birmingham, Virginia Tech (USA) and the London Natural History Museum have described a new super-predator from the Middle Triassic of Tanzania. The ancient archosaur, a very distant relative of modern crocodiles, has been named Mambawakale ruhuhu, with a skull estimated to be around 75 cm long and a total body length of around 5 metres, Mambawakale is one of the largest terrestrial carnivores known from this period in Earth’s history.

Originally referred to as Pallisteria angustimentum, with the genus name honouring geologist John Weaver Pallister OBE (1912–1985), the researchers writing in the open-access journal Royal Society Open Science, wanted to acknowledge the contribution of local scientists and field team members from Tanzania and Zambia. Once it had been established that the fossils represented a new taxon, advice was sought and the genus name Mambawakale (from the regional Kiswahili language meaning “ancient crocodile”) was erected.

Photographs of the skull of Mambawakale ruhuhu (Holotype)
Photographs of the skull of Mambawakale ruhuhu (NHMUK R36620) in right lateral view (a) and left lateral view (b). Note scale bar = 100 mm. Picture credit: Butler et al.

The Manda Beds of Tanganyika (Tanzania)

The first, major collection of Triassic fossils from the Middle Triassic Manda Beds exposed in the Ruhuhu Basin of southern Tanzania took place in the 1930s. The research was led by the British geologist Gordon Murray Stockley. At the time Tanganyika was still part of the British Empire and the fossils were removed to the UK, Europe and to South Africa (an independent dominion of the British Empire). The archosaur fossils were studied by Alan Charig in the late 1950s, but this work was not published until after his death in 1997.

In 1963, two years after Tanganyika gained independence and was renamed Tanzania, Alan Charig participated in a British Museum (Natural History Museum) expedition to the region to find more archosaur material. This expedition was heavily reliant on Tanzanians and Zambians who helped excavate fossils, locate dig sites and built roads to permit transport of the fossils. Sadly, the efforts of these people were not recognised in published reports and no Tanzanians or Zambians were named in the publications.

The Mambawakale material consisting of a partial skull, lower jaw, cervical vertebrae and the bones from the left hand (manus), was one of the last sets of fossils from the 1963 expedition to be studied. Once the researchers had identified that these fossils represented a new genus, they wanted to recognise the previously little acknowledged contributions of the Africans, hence, the reference to the Kiswahili language for the genus name. The species epithet makes reference to the Ruhuhu Basin.

Mambawakale left manus
Left hand (manus) of the newly described pseudosuchian archosaur Mambawakale ruhuhu (specimen number NHMUK R36620). Picture credit: Butler et al.

One of the Oldest Known Archosaurs

The large skull and heterodont dentition in the anterior portion of the upper jaw, indicate that Mambawakale was a powerful animal and a formidable carnivore.

Corresponding author Richard Butler, Professor of Palaeobiology at the University of Birmingham stated:

“Mambawakale ruhuhu would have been a large and terrifying predator, which roamed across Tanzania some 240 million years ago. At around 5 metres long, it’s one of the largest predators that we know of from this period.”

Analysis of the skull led to the identification of cranial autapomorphies (unique characteristics) that permitted the research team to erect a new genus. The Mambawakale material can be confidently distinguished from all other Manda Bed archosaurs, with the possible exception of the probably very closely related Stagonosuchus nyassicus for which direct comparisons are not possible due to the lack of overlapping fossil bones.

Photographs of the skull of Mambawakale ruhuhu in (a) dorsal view and (b) ventral view
Photographs of the skull of Mambawakale ruhuhu in (a) dorsal view and (b) ventral view. Specimen number NHMUK R36620, note scale bar = 100 mm. Picture credit: Butler et al.

Professor Butler went onto add:

“Our analysis identifies Mambawakale as one of the oldest known archosaurs and an early member of the lineage that eventually evolved into modern crocodilians. It’s an exciting discovery, because identifying this animal helps us to understand the rapid early diversification of archosaurs and enables us to add a further link to the evolutionary story of modern-day crocodiles.”

Mambawakale ruhuhu life reconstruction
Life reconstruction of the newly described pseudosuchian Mambawakale ruhuhu. Only the skull, elements from the jaw and fragmentary postcranial material are known so the body shape has been created based on better-known, large pseudosuchian relatives. Picture credit: Gabriel Ugueto.

Dating the Manda Beds

Tetrapod fossils associated with the Manda Beds have led palaeontologists to propose that the deposits date from the Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic, however, the age of these rocks remains in dispute. Some recent papers have suggested that the rocks, and therefore the fossils contained therein are actually younger and that the strata were laid down in the Late Triassic (Carnian stage).

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

The scientific paper: “A new pseudosuchian archosaur, Mambawakale ruhuhu gen. et sp. nov., from the Middle Triassic Manda Beds of Tanzania” by Richard J. Butler, Vincent Fernandez, Sterling J. Nesbitt, João Vasco Leite and David J. Gower published in Royal Society Open Science.

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