Everything Dinosaur has commissioned a Tlatolophus galorum scale drawing. It will be used on a fact sheet being created that will be sent out with sales of Tlatolophus models. The fact sheet is being prepared as the Haolonggood Tlatolophus figures are due to arrive soon.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Tlatolophus galorum
A beautifully preserved and semi-articulated hadrosaur tail was excavated from Campanian-aged deposits of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation (Coahuila, Mexico). Fieldwork revealed extensive fossil material and this duck-billed dinosaur was formally named and described in 2021 (Ramírez-Velasco et al).
The genus name Tlatolophus is pronounced Tlat-to-lo-fus.
This name is derived from a local dialect (Náhuatl), and it translates as “word”. In addition, the genus name uses the Greek lophos “crest”. The etymology relates to this dinosaur’s head crest being similar to a symbol in the Aztec culture resembling an inverse comma that means “word”.
The species or trivial name honours the philanthropist Jesús Garza Arocha and recognises the assistance of the López family, who helped the palaeontologists by providing food and accommodation during the field seasons.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We will complete the Tlatolophus galorum fact sheet shortly. It will be ready for the arrival of the Haolonggood figures which are expected in about twenty days or so.”
With the publication of the scientific paper announcing the discovery of Eoneophron infernalis, we at Everything Dinosaur thought we would take a closer look at the Caenagnathidae. The Caenagnathidae family (pronounced seen-nag-nay-thid-ay), are part of the Oviraptorosauria clade of maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs. They are closely related to the oviraptorids (Oviraptoridae family).
The Maniraptora clade consists of coelurosaurian dinosaurs and is defined as including the birds and the non-avian dinosaurs more closely related to them than to Ornithomimus velox. As well as containing the Oviraptorosauria, this clade also includes several other groups such as the dromaeosaurids, the Troodontidae family and the therizinosaurs.
The Oviraptorosauria clade* is comprised of the Caudipteridae family and two closely related dinosaur families the Caenagnathidae and the Oviraptoridae that together are classified as the Caenagnathoidea. The Oviraptorosauria are united by having very bird-like skeletons, with highly pneumatised bones. In addition, the rostrum is very short, and these dinosaurs have beaks. The beak is often, but not always edentulous (no teeth). These dinosaurs were all probably feathered.
The image (above) depicts an Oviraptor model from the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs range.
The Caenagnathidae Family and Eoneophron infernalis
The family Caenagnathidae, together with its closely related sister family the Oviraptoridae, comprises the superfamily Caenagnathoidea. Virtually all known members of this superfamily are confined to the Late Cretaceous. Taxonomically the Caenagnathidae is defined as Chirostenotes pergracilis and all other theropods more closely related to it than they are to Oviraptor philoceratops.
Most of these dinosaurs tend to be quite small. As a result, they are probably underrepresented in the fossil record. For example, Anzu wyliei was thought until recently to be the only caenagnathid from the Hell Creek Formation. However, there are probably at least three caenagnathids present in Hell Creek strata, including the recently named Eoneophron infernalis.
Caenagnathids Not Closely Related to Ostriches
The Caenagnathidae family was originally erected by Raymond Martin Sternberg (1940), the son of the pioneering palaeontologist Charles Mortram Sternberg. Raymond Martin Sternberg thought that these dinosaurs were flightless birds. He erected the Caenagnathidae family which translates as “recent jaws”. It was mistakenly thought that these theropods were closely related to the Palaeognathae “old jaws” bird family. Extant palaeognath birds include the flightless Kiwi, the Ostrich and the Rhea as well as volant forms such as Tinamou birds. It is now known that the Caenagnathidae family of non-avian dinosaurs are not closely related to palaeognaths.
Caenagnathids are confined to the Late Cretaceous of Asia and North America. They tend to have small heads, long necks and short tails.
Challenging Phylogenetic Assessment
Whilst the fragmentary nature of most caenagnathid specimens makes phylogenetic assessment challenging, in the recent Eoneophron infernalis paper the researchers undertook a time-calibrated phylogenetic analysis of the Oviraptorosauria. Eoneophron was placed as a sister taxon to Citipes elegans and Elmisaurus rarus.
The difficulties involved in classifying oviraptorosaurs is exemplified by this placement. Although skeletal similarities between these three dinosaurs exist, there is a lack of comparable fossil material to study. Citipes elegans is geologically older. Its fossils come from the Dinosaur Provincial Park Formation of Alberta (Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous). In contrast, Elmisaurus rarus probably predates Eoneophron infernalis by a couple of million years. It too is from the Maastrichtian faunal stage of the Cretaceous. However, E. rarus fossils come from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia.
A revision of already described specimens coupled with improved fossil sampling should help palaeontologists to gain a better understanding of the taxonomy of the Oviraptorosauria and specifically the enigmatic Caenagnathidae.
The Oviraptorosauria clade* also includes some other theropods regarded as basal members of this clade. For example, Incisivosaurus gauthieri from the Early Cretaceous of China.
Everything Dinosaur has commissioned a new drawing of Carnotaurus sastrei. The abelisaurid drawing will be used in the company’s updated Carnotaurus fact sheet. The Carnotaurus fact sheet is sent out with sales of Carnotaurus models and figures.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Carnotaurus sastrei
This large theropod was named and described in 1985 by José Fernando Bonaparte. Bonaparte was an extremely influential figure in the development of palaeontology in South America. He is responsible for the scientific description of numerous dinosaurs from Patagonia, and he inspired a new generation of Argentinian palaeontologists.
The Carnotaurus illustration was inspired by the CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Carnotaurus sastrei figure. This popular dinosaur model was introduced in 2019.
A spokesperson for Everything Dinosaur explained that for the vast majority of models and figures that the company supplies a free fact sheet about that prehistoric animal is sent out. Hundreds of fact sheets have been researched and written.
The spokesperson added:
“We continue to add to our free fact sheet inventory. The last two new fact sheets we introduced were for the tyrannosaur Alectrosaurus and the South American theropod Megaraptor namunhuaiquii. We commission illustrations of prehistoric animals such as Carnotaurus and this drawing will be used to update the scale drawing on our Carnotaurus fact sheet.”
Everything Dinosaur would like to thank talented young artist James who sent into Everything Dinosaur a stunning illustration of a Columbian mammoth that he had painted.
Picture credit: James
The prehistoric elephant is shown in lateral view as it moves through a woodland in North America during the Pleistocene Epoch. James has chosen to depict a mature animal given the impressive size of the tusks on this prehistoric elephant.
Columbian Mammoth Artwork
The Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) was among the last mammoth species to evolve. It was also one of the largest with some fossil specimens indicating mature bulls some 4.2 metres high at the shoulders. Body weights of the biggest individuals have been estimated at more than twelve tonnes. The last of these amazing creatures are thought to have become extinct around 12,000 years ago.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur thanked James for sending in the image of his Columbian mammoth artwork and exclaimed:
“We do get sent drawings and paintings of Woolly Mammoths, but we don’t receive many illustrations of Columbian mammoths. Our thanks to James for sending in an image of his superb artwork”.
A student from the University of Bristol has confirmed the presence of Kuehneosaurs in the Late Triassic of southwestern England. These gliding reptiles were part of a rich reptile dominated fauna that lived on a series of sub-tropical islands, part of an ancient archipelago. The biggest island extended from Frome in the east to Weston-super-Mare in the west. It was around eighteen miles (thirty kilometres long). It is referred to as the Mendip Palaeo-island.
Picture credit: Mike Cawthorne
Kuehneosaurs on Sub-tropical Islands
Kuehneosaurs superficially resemble lizards. However, they were more closely related to the ancestors of crocodilians and dinosaurs. They were small animals, which could fit neatly on the palm of a hand, and there were two species present. One species had extensive wing flaps, the second species had much shorter wings. These wings consisted of skin stretched over elongated ribs. Powered flight was beyond them, but they probably were very competent gliders.
Kuehneosaurs probably occupied a niche in the ecosystem similar to the extant flying lizard Draco from southeast Asia. They most likely wandered about on the ground and climbed trees in search of insects and other small invertebrates. To escape from predators, or to make rapid progress through the trees, they could launch themselves into the air and glide for several metres.
The discovery of Kuehneosaurs in the Late Triassic ecosystem was made by University of Bristol Masters student Mike Cawthorne. He had been examining numerous reptile fossils collected from limestone quarries, which represent deposits associated with the Mendip Palaeo-island.
Picture credit: David Whiteside
No Dinosaur Fossils Found but They Were Probably Present
The research, published in the “Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association”, also records the presence of reptiles with complex teeth, the trilophosaur Variodens and the aquatic Pachystropheus that probably lived a bit like a modern-day otter likely eating shrimps and small fish. However, no dinosaur bones were found. These animals either fell or their bones were washed into caves and cracks in the limestone. This led to their preservation and the development of a fossil assemblage.
Picture credit: David Whiteside
Masters student Mike Cawthorne commented:
“All the beasts were small. I had hoped to find some dinosaur bones, or even their isolated teeth, but in fact I found everything else but dinosaurs. The collections I studied had been made in the 1940s and 1950s when the quarries were still active, and palaeontologists were able to visit and see fresh rock faces and speak to the quarrymen.”
A Home for a Diverse Assemblage of Small Reptiles including Kuehneosaurs
Professor Mike Benton from Bristol University’s School of Earth Sciences added:
“It took a lot of work identifying the fossil bones, most of which were separate and not in a skeleton. However, we have a lot of comparative material, and Mike Cawthorne was able to compare the isolated jaws and other bones with more complete specimens from the other sites around Bristol. He has shown that the Mendip Palaeo-island, which extended from Frome in the east to Weston-super-Mare in the west, nearly 30 km long, was home to diverse small reptiles feeding on the plants and insects. He didn’t find any dinosaur bones, but it’s likely that they were there because we have found dinosaur bones in other locations of the same geological age around Bristol.”
Paying Tribute to the Fossil Collectors
Dr David Whiteside (University of Bristol) praised the work of the amateur fossil collectors and academics who found the fossils stating:
“The bones were collected by some great fossil finders in the 1940s and 1950s including Tom Fry, an amateur collector working for Bristol University and who generally cycled to the quarries and returned laden with heavy bags of rocks. The other collectors were the gifted researchers Walter Kühne, a German who was imprisoned in Great Britain in the second world war, and Pamela L. Robinson from University College London. They gave their specimens to the Natural History Museum in London and the Geological collections of the University of Bristol.”
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Bristol in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Latest Triassic terrestrial microvertebrate assemblages from caves on the Mendip palaeoisland, S.W. England, at Emborough, Batscombe and Highcroft Quarries” by M. Cawthorne, D. I. Whiteside, and M. J. Benton published in the Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur are busy preparing for the arrival of the new Beasts of the Mesozoic figures. They are wave three of the tyrannosaur series and the new figures will include the Asian tyrannosaur Alectrosaurus (Alectrosaurus olseni).
Alectrosaurus is known from hindlimb fossils and fragmentary elements of the hips. Much of the ascribed fossil material was discovered during the Third Asiatic Expedition to Inner Mongolia (China), by the American Museum of Natural History. It was formally described in 1933 (Gilmore).
The fossil material came from deposits associated with the Iren Dabasu Formation. The age of the strata remains uncertain. Relative dating using the abundant ostracod fossils suggest a Late Campanian to Maastrichtian age. However, the vertebrate assemblage represents fauna that indicate that the deposits are much older perhaps dating from the Turonian faunal stage. This would suggest that Alectrosaurus lived around 90 mya (million years ago).
The size of Alectrosaurus olseni is unknown. Its body length has been estimated at between five and six metres. Analysis of the limb bones and their ratios (femur to tibia), indicate that this dinosaur was a fast runner. It was probably a pursuit predator. The weight of A. olseni has been estimated to be around six hundred kilograms.
An Everything Dinosaur Scale Drawing
As part of our preparations for the arrival of the new Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs, we have commissioned an Alectrosaurus scale drawing. This illustration will be incorporated into the free fact sheet that we will send out with the Alectrosaurus olseni model.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained that they were looking forward to the arrival of these new articulated figures.
Ten years ago team members at Everything Dinosaur created a series of illustrations of prehistoric animals to help schoolchildren in a project. A total of twelve different drawings were produced illustrating life on Earth in prehistoric times. These drawings were then made into a calendar. The children could colour in or paint these illustrations to create their own unique prehistoric scene. The January 2014 artwork featured a Quetzalcoatlus drawing.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Quetzalcoatlus Drawing
The huge Quetzalcoatlus is pictured flying over a dense conifer forest. Despite the emergence of angiosperms, conifers still made up a substantial proportion of the trees to be found on the landmass of Laramidia. These drawings were created to help the children with their Key Stage 2 term topic. The term topic focused on dinosaurs and fossils, however, giant pterosaurs featured too. The scheme of work also involved looking at the career of a famous palaeontologist and introduced the children to the work of Mary Anning.
The model (above) is a Quetzalcoatlus figure from the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range. It has been praised by collectors for providing an excellent representation of an azhdarchid pterosaur.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur recalled the time and effort that went into the term topic and praised the teaching team for constructing such an innovative scheme of work for the children.
Our thanks to editor Mike Fredericks who emailed Everything Dinosaur an image of the front cover of the next edition of “Prehistoric Times”. This quarterly magazine is published in the USA, but it has a worldwide readership and devoted following.
“Prehistoric Times” is aimed at dinosaur enthusiasts and collectors of prehistoric animal models and toys. Every issue has around sixty to seventy pages and it includes updates on the latest research, news and reviews of models and model kits plus interviews with artists and palaeontologists. Readers can submit their own dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed artwork and illustrations too.
The Winter Edition of “Prehistoric Times”
The winter edition of “Prehistoric Times” contains an article on dinosaur eggs by the influential American palaeontologist Kenneth Carpenter. The amazing German Neanderthal Museum (Mettmann, Germany), is explored including the recently opened Höhlenblick tower. This museum charts the emergence of humankind from our beginnings in eastern Africa to the rise of our species Homo sapiens. This fascinating museum is sited close to the location where the first fossils recognised as Homo neanderthalensis were found.
Issue 148 will include regular contributions from Phil Hore, Tracy Lee Ford and Randy Knol. The featured prehistoric animals are the early, amphibious cetacean Ambulocetus and the megaraptoran theropod Australovenator. In addition, there is a special feature on the trendsetting palaeoartist Eleanor Kish, also known as Ely Kish. This prominent artist sadly passed away a decade ago, but she leaves behind a rich legacy of wildlife art and illustrations of prehistoric animals.
We look forward to receiving the next issue of “Prehistoric Times”. It should be with us in a short while.
Yesterday, Everything Dinosaur published an article about the newly described Cambrian marine worm Timorebestia (T. koprii).
Thought to be a stem chaetognath (arrow worm), Timorebestia may have been an apex, pelagic (active swimming) marine predator during the Early Cambrian. The authors of the scientific paper proposed that these marine worms may have been top of the food chain for millions of years. The evolution of arthropods, specifically the Radiodonta and predators like Anomalocaris may have led to their decline.
Examination of what was thought to be the gut of one specimen, revealed the remains of an arthropod (Isoxys). Hence, the theory that Timorebestia was an active predator placed high in the marine food web.
Amazing Artwork Depicting a Scene from the Cambrian
As part of the media release, a fantastic and dramatic artwork showing Timorebestia attacking a shoal of Isoxys was included. This illustration was produced by the very talented palaeoartist Bob Nicholls. A variety of taxa were included in the superb painting. These animals are associated with the fossil site, located in Greenland. The location is known as the Sirius Passet Cambrian Lagerstätte.
Picture credit: Bob Nicholls
A Key to the Other Marine Fauna in the Timorebestia Artwork
Such is the complexity of the artwork used to highlight a potential hunting strategy of Timorebestia, Everything Dinosaur team members decided to publish a helpful key. Readers and therefore identify the different animals feature in the painting.
Identifying the Prehistoric Animals
We have highlighted several of the marine prehistoric animals featured in the Bob Nicholls artwork.
The Key
1 = Timorebestia koprii (a pair of these stem chaetognaths), possibly apex predators in the water column.
2 = Siriocaris a primitive arthropod.
3 = Kiisortoqia a primitive arthropod.
4 = Kerygmachela a gilled lobopodian, probably closely related to the Radiodonta. It was probably a predator, but its mouthparts were very small indicating it probably ate animals much smaller than it.
5 = Kleptothule – an elongated trilobite.
6 = Isoxys – a primitive arthropod with semi-circular, bivalved carapaces. A very common fossil in the Sirius Passet Lagerstätte.
7 = Pauloterminus – an arthropod that resembled a shrimp.
8 = An amplectobeluid – an as yet, undescribed radiodont known from the Sirius Passet Lagerstätte. It was probably a predator and distantly related to Anomalocaris.
9 = Tamisiocaris a large radiodont that was probably a filter feeder.
Royal Mint in collaboration with the London Natural History Museum and palaeoartist Bob Nicholls have unveiled a trio of new dinosaur coins. The 50p coins feature iconic dinosaur genera. There is a Diplodocus dinosaur coin, along with a Tyrannosaurus and a Stegosaurus.
Picture Credit: The Royal Mint
A Dinosaur Coin Collection
Each design featuring the iconic dinosaur specimens has been created by palaeoartist Robert Nicholls and depicts a scientifically accurate reconstruction of the dinosaur and the environment in which it lived.
Picture credit: The Royal Mint
Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint commented:
“We are excited to reveal the roar-some new collectable 50p coins by The Royal Mint, featuring some of the most legendary and mighty dinosaurs of all time – including Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Diplodocus. For nearly 200 million years, dinosaurs roamed the Earth so it’s fitting that they are honoured forever on an official UK coin. Seeing these dinosaurs on a 50p coin we hope it will delight and inspire both current and budding palaeontologists for years to come.”
Tyrannosaurus on a 50p Coin
This trio of dinosaur coins are part of a series entitled “Tales of the Earth”. These coins celebrate the amazing diversity of prehistoric animals. According to the media release, although Tyrannosaurus is a famous genus, this is the first time this iconic animal has featured on a UK fifty pence piece.
Picture credit: The Royal Mint
All three dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus, Diplodocus and Stegosaurus feature in the Natural History Museum model series.
Each design is a scientifically accurate reconstruction of the dinosaur and the environment in which it lived. Professor Paul Barrett acted as scientific consultant on the project. A selection of the coins available will feature colour, bringing the dinosaur to life on an official UK coin, depicting the dinosaur and its environment as it would have looked like.
Designer Bob Nicholls stated:
“I have dedicated my life to bringing extinct animals back to life through art, I started drawing dinosaurs as soon as I could hold a pencil – it is my obsession. Any project that allows me to work with long-dead animals is a joy but having an opportunity to create collectable coins for The Royal Mint, with royal approval, is very special indeed.”
Picture credit: The Royal Mint
This prestigious 50p dinosaur coin series is available to purchase from The Royal Mint’s website. There are special colour editions too. Prices start from £11 (at time of publication).
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur exclaimed:
“What a fantastic collaboration! A new dinosaur coin collection featuring iconic dinosaurs has been created. It is great to see institutions such as The Royal Mint, the London Natural History Museum working with top designers like Bob Nicholls. Dinosaur fans will be delighted.”