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

Dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed articles, features and stories.

22 02, 2024

300 5-star Google Reviews for an Award-winning Company

By |2024-02-22T18:56:42+00:00February 22nd, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur has received 300 5-star Google reviews. Every Google reviewer to date has awarded the UK-based mail order company top marks. Earlier today, the company’s 300th Google review was posted up. Team members expressed their gratitude and stated that they were humbled by all the kind comments they had received.

300 5-star Google reviews
Confirmation that Everything Dinosaur has received three hundred Google reviews. Team members are grateful for all the feedback received. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the award-winning and highly rated Everything Dinosaur website: The Everything Dinosaur Website.

300 5-star Google Reviews

The Everything Dinosaur website has thousands of customer reviews on it. In addition, the company has been working with Feefo for many years, gathering customer feedback and comments. It is estimated that Everything Dinosaur has received over 3,500 Feefo reviews.

The company was recently awarded Feefo’s highest accolade – the Platinum Trusted Service Award.

Platinum Trusted Service Award certificate.
The Platinum Trusted Service Award certificate given to Everything Dinosaur in recognition of the company’s outstanding customer service.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“Our thanks to all the wonderful people that have provided feedback. We read every single one and we respond to all those that require a reply. What with the website, Feefo and Google we have received thousands of 5-star reviews from customers.”

300 5-star Google reviews earned by Everything Dinosaur.
Everything Dinosaur has received three hundred Google reviews. Every reviewer has awarded Everything Dinosaur five stars. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Whether it is prehistoric animal figures, clothing or dinosaur soft toys, Everything Dinosaur has got it covered. The feedback from customers demonstrates the team’s commitment to service.

For dinosaur and prehistoric animal models: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

For prehistoric plush and dinosaur soft toys: Dinosaur Soft Toys.

Once again, our thanks for all the wonderful feedback that we have received.

21 02, 2024

New Schleich Stegosaurus (2024) Coming into Stock

By |2024-02-22T18:37:41+00:00February 21st, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The new Schleich Stegosaurus (2024) dinosaur model is coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur. Team members took the opportunity to photograph this new Schleich figure at the Spielwarenmesse.

Schleich Stegosaurus (2024)
The new for 2024 Schleich Stegosaurus dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Schleich Stegosaurus (2024)

Schleich have chosen to give their new ornithischian figure an extremely scaly skin. Schleich prehistoric animal models are known for their tactile qualities. The design team have worked hard on creating the model’s texture. The elaborate, multi-layered plates on the back of the model are intriguing. However, we don’t think these plates are scientifically accurate.

Schleich Stegosaurus (2024)
The new for 2024 Schleich Stegosaurus dinosaur model shown in right lateral view. This photograph was taken at a recent trade show. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Schleich prehistoric animal figures currently in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Schleich Prehistoric Animal Figures.

Stegosaurus is Popular

Schleich have produced several versions of Stegosaurus over the years. This armoured dinosaur is extremely popular with children. It regularly appears in the top five of our surveys examining the popularity of prehistoric animals.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are looking forward to receiving the new Schleich Stegosaurus. It will be stock at Everything Dinosaur very soon. The Stegosaurus joins the new for 2024 Schleich figures that are already in our warehouse. We expect the new colour version of the Schleich Brachiosaurus, the red Brachiosaurus model will arrive at the same time as the Schleich Stegosaurus.”

The new for 2024 Schleich Stegosaurus dinosaur model.
New for 2024 Schleich Stegosaurus model.

The Schleich Stegosaurus (2024) figure measures twenty centimetres in length. Those elaborate hip plates are around ten centimetres off the ground. This figure along with the Schleich red Brachiosaurus model will be in stock soon.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

20 02, 2024

New Lambeosaurine Dinosaur Described from Morocco

By |2024-02-25T07:36:02+00:00February 20th, 2024|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

A new, pony-sized Moroccan lambeosaurine dinosaur has been named and described. The new dinosaur has been named Minqaria bata. It closely resembles the only previously known African duckbill, Ajnabia odysseus. However, the shape of the jaws and teeth are unique, demonstrating it was a distinct species. Minqaria probably occupied a different ecological niche.

Minqaria life reconstruction.
A trio of lambeosaurines (Minqaria bata) wander past the corpse of a large mosasaur. Picture credit: Raul Martin.

Minqaria bata – (Arabic for “Beak” and “Duck” Respectively)

The fossils consisting of a right maxilla with teeth, a partial left dentary and the braincase come from marine phosphate deposits located at Sidi Chennane in the Oulad Abdoun Basin. The size of the fossils, the associated matrix and the lack of duplication of elements suggests that these fossils came from a single, mature dinosaur. They represent a dwarf duck-billed dinosaur, a Late Cretaceous lambeosaurine that was smaller than Ajnabia odysseus, the first hadrosaurid known from Africa (Longrich et al, 2020). M. bata is estimated to have been around 3.5 metres in length and weighed approximately 250 kilograms.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s 2020 blog post about Ajnabia odysseus: The First Hadrosaurid Dinosaur from Africa.

The genus name is derived from the Arabic “minqar” which means beak and the species name is from the Arabic “bata” for duck.

Minqaria skull showing placement of fossil bones.
Approximate life position of skull fossils associated with the newly described lambeosaurine taxon Minqaria bata. Picture credit: Nick Longrich.

The Diversity of North African Lambeosaurines

A humerus and femur also described in the scientific paper appear to represent lambeosaurines too. However, their size indicates that larger lambeosaurines, animals longer than six metres in length were also present in the ecosystem.

The discovery of Ajnabia in 2020 was surprising. During the Late Cretaceous, hundreds of miles of water separated North Africa from Eurasia. The new lambeosaurine fossils not only confirm the existence of lambeosaurines in North Africa, but shows they were diverse, with at least four taxa present.

The dinosaur fauna of Morocco during the Late Cretaceous.
The dinosaur fauna of Morocco during the Late Cretaceous. Picture credit: Nick Longrich.

How Did Duck-billed Dinosaurs Get to North Africa?

This new study published in the journal “Scientific Reports” reveals that not only did duckbills manage to cross the Tethys Sea, but they became highly diverse once they colonised Africa. The duck-billed dinosaurs are thought to have evolved in North America. Africa during the Late Cretaceous was an isolated continent, surrounded on all sides by water. So, how did duckbill dinosaurs, a group that evolved in North America, end up in Morocco?

Anatomical traits of Minqaria are similar to European hadrosaurs. The researchers postulate that duckbills either swam or floated across several hundred kilometres of open water to colonise Africa.

Dr Nick Longrich (University of Bath), who led the study commented:

“These were probably loud, vocal animals. Modern birds vocalise to find mates, or to declare territories. But they’re especially vocal in flocks – a flock of flamingos or a nesting colony of pelicans is extremely noisy, constantly communicating. So, it’s likely that like birds, these duckbills were social animals.”

Part of the dentary (lower jaw) of Minqaria bata.
Part of the dentary (lower jaw) of Minqaria bata. Picture credit: University of Bath.

Social Dinosaurs

The brain is also large by dinosaur standards, a feature associated with social animals like crows and primates.

Dr Longrich explained:

“There were probably very loud, noisy herds – or flocks if you prefer – of these little duckbills wandering the coasts of Morocco 66 million years ago.”

Minqaria bata braincase.
The braincase of the newly described Moroccan lambeosaurine Minqaria bata. Picture credit: University of Bath.

Commenting on the presence of lambeosaurine dinosaurs on the isolated continent of Africa, Dr Longrich added:

“Not only did duckbills manage to reach Africa at the end of the Cretaceous, but once they did, they quickly evolved to take advantage of open niches and became diverse.”

Analogies can be found in the modern world. Animals can sometimes make unexpected and unusual journeys across large bodies of water. During the Ice Age, elephants, deer and hippos were able to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach the island of Crete. Iguanas swept offshore by a hurricane can be transported hundreds of miles to other Caribbean islands as they cling to dislodged vegetation.

Dr Longrich stated:

“It’s extremely improbable that dinosaurs could cross water to get to Africa, but improbable isn’t the same as impossible. And given enough time, improbable things become probable. Buy a lottery ticket every day, and if you wait long enough, you’ll win. These ocean crossings might be once-in-a-million-year events but the Cretaceous lasted nearly 100 million years. A lot of strange things will happen in that time – including dinosaurs crossing seas.”

Remarkable to Discover Fossils of Hadrosaurs Like Minqaria bata in Africa

Co-author Dr Nour-Eddine Jalil (Natural History Museum of Paris and the Université Cadi Ayyad in Morocco) commented:

“Minqaria and its relatives are players that a few years ago we would never have supposed to be on the African continent at that time.”

The doctor added:

“The phosphates of Morocco offers new images on past biodiversity in a key period of the history of life, the last moments of the dinosaur age followed by the diversification of mammals, announcing a new era. Despite their marine origin, these phosphates of Morocco also contain remains of vertebrates that lived on land. They constitute one of the only windows on the terrestrial ecosystems in Africa. The dinosaur remains suggest a great diversity, all the three major groups of dinosaurs are represented, the abelisaurid carnivores and the sauropod and ornithischian herbivores.”

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

The scientific paper: “A new small duckbilled dinosaur (Hadrosauridae: Lambeosaurinae) from Morocco and dinosaur diversity in the late Maastrichtian of North Africa” by Nicholas R. Longrich, Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola, Nathalie Bardet and Nour-Eddine Jalil published in Scientific Reports.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

19 02, 2024

New Study Demonstrates Tridentinosaurus Fossil is a Fake

By |2024-02-19T12:35:47+00:00February 19th, 2024|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

A fossil once thought to represent an Early Permian reptile with soft tissue preservation has been proven to be a fake. The fossilised remains of a lizard-like reptile named Tridentinosaurus antiquus were found in the 1930s. It was thought to be an extremely rare fossil with carbonised skin impressions surrounding the articulated fossil bones. However, a detailed analysis of the specimen has revealed that these “soft tissues” were painted on.

Images of the Tridentinosaurus antiquus fossil specimen.
Tridentinosaurus antiquus fossil specimen (A) showing sampling locations with (B) surface map of the fossil. The specimen photographed under UV light (C). Analysis revealed that the purported fossilised soft tissues of T. antiquus were forged. Picture credit: Rossi et al.

Tridentinosaurus antiquus Specimen is a Forgery

Discovered in the Italian Alps near the “Stramaiolo” (Redebus) locality in the Pinè Valley, the fossil was thought to represent one of the oldest, nearly complete and articulated reptiles known to science. Writing in the journal “Palaeontology”, the research team used a variety of techniques to analyse the surface structure of the twenty-centimetre-long fossil.

The results demonstrated that the purported fossilised soft tissues of Tridentinosaurus antiquus are not original. The fossil is a forgery. The paint applied within the prepared area around the poorly preserved bones and osteoderms, produced the shape of a slender lizard-like animal making the specimen look authentic.

Carbonised plant remains are known from the same locality. The forged body outline and soft tissues misled scientists who thought that the soft tissue had been carbonised just like plant fossils from this region. Under ultraviolet light the plant fossils did not fluoresce, however, the reptile fossil outline became fluorescent. Normally, carbonised fossil material does not fluoresce when exposed to UV light. However, artificial pigments, vanishes and glues are likely to become fluorescent.

The Validity of the Taxon is Doubted

Tridentinosaurus antiquus represents one of the oldest fossil reptiles known to science. The taphonomy and the appearance of this fossil had puzzled palaeontologists for decades. It was thought to represent a primitive diapsid reptile, a basal member of the Archosauromorpha that gave rise to the dinosaurs, crocodiles and birds.

The researchers were able to confirm that many of the features of this specimen had been forged. This discovery raises questions about the validity of this enigmatic taxon.

Despite the manipulation of the specimen, it may still have scientific value. The poorly preserved long bones of the hindlimbs seem to be genuine and resemble the quality of preservation of exposed bones of Late Triassic pterosauromorphs such as Scleromochlus. Perhaps, this fossil is an example of the lineage of basal archosaurs that gave rise to the flying reptiles (Pterosauria).

Close-up views of the Tridentinosaurus antiquus fossil specimen.
Close-up view of the shoulder area (D) and an enlargement of the pelvic girdle (E). Although much of the fossil has been altered some bones seem to be genuine and resemble the quality of preservation of exposed bones of Late Triassic pterosauromorphs such as Scleromochlus. Scale bar in (D) equals 5 mm. The scale bar (E) equals 3 mm. Picture credit: Rossi et al.

Why Fake a Fossil?

Fossils are sometimes manipulated to make them more valuable to collectors. If the fossil can be seen to be more complete or rare it can greatly enhance their monetary value.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Museum of Nature South Tyrol (Naturmuseum Südtirol) in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Forged soft tissues revealed in the oldest fossil reptile from the early Permian of the Alps” by Valentina Rossi, Massimo Bernardi, Mariagabriella Fornasiero, Fabrizio Nestola, Richard Unitt, Stefano Castelli, Evelyn Kustatscher published in Palaeontology.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website (there are no fakes here): Everything Dinosaur.

17 02, 2024

The Popular Mojo Fun Woolly Rhinoceros Model

By |2024-02-19T05:52:13+00:00February 17th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur has received some new images of Mojo Fun prehistoric animal models. One of our favourites highlights the recently introduced Mojo Fun Woolly Rhinoceros. This replica of Coelodonta antiquitatis was introduced in 2023. The model has proved to be extremely popular with prehistoric animal model collectors.

Mojo Fun Woolly Rhinoceros model.
The popular and highly praised Mojo Fun Woolly Rhinoceros model.

To view the extensive range of Mojo Fun prehistoric animal figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Mojo Fun Prehistoric and Extinct Figures.

The Mojo Fun Woolly Rhinoceros Model

This Woolly Rhino model measures approximately 18 cm in length. Everything Dinosaur team members estimate its head height is around 7 cm. It is a stunning figure of a prehistoric mammal.

Mojo Fun Woolly Rhino model.
The new for 2023 Mojo Fun Woolly Rhino model is in stock. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur praised Mojo Fun for their excellent Woolly Rhino image and added:

“The Woolly Rhino is synonymous with the Ice Age. However, these magnificent animals were geographically widespread during the Pleistocene Epoch and thrived in grassland habitats.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

15 02, 2024

Digging into the History of Burrowing Vertebrates

By |2024-02-16T08:53:17+00:00February 15th, 2024|Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

A newly published scientific paper documents the evolutionary history of burrowing vertebrates. Many animals alive today are able to live underground. Burrows are used for a variety of purposes. They are used for shelter, protection and for breeding. Understanding the origin and early evolution of fossorial vertebrates and the architecture and function of the burrows they excavate is an important component of the history of life on Earth. However, little research has been done into this area of vertebrate behaviour. A newly published scientific paper reviews the fossil record of vertebrate burrows and fossorial vertebrates.

Jehol mammals Fossiomanus sinensis and Jueconodon cheni
Two new species of Early Cretaceous mammals were described from fossils found in north-eastern China. Fossiomanus sinensis (upper right) and Jueconodon cheni in their burrows. A newly published scientific paper reviews the fossil record of burrowing vertebrates. Picture credit: Zhao Chuang.

Picture credit: Zhao Chuang

The Evolution of Burrowing Vertebrates

Scientists including Dr Lorenzo Marchetti and colleagues from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin analysed both body and trace fossils. The fossil material covered a large interval of geological time, from the Devonian to the Triassic. The research revealed an older appearance of several features related to burrowing behaviour and their relationship with global warming and mass extinctions.

During the Devonian-Carboniferous, burrows were probably used primarily for aestivation or temporary shelter and evidence of fossoriality is restricted so far to European and North American localities. During the Permian, fossoriality became geographically widespread and developed in new, distantly related vertebrate lineages. This is evidence of convergent evolution. Adaptations for burrowing and living underground being identified in both synapsids and diapsids.

The research highlights that lungfish (Dipnoi) were probably the first vertebrates to use burrows. Lungfish excavate burrows so that they have a protected environment in which they can spend long periods in a state of dormancy (aestivation). This behaviour probably first evolved in the Devonian.

Burrows Became Bigger and More Complex

The paper, published in “Earth-Science Reviews” outlines a trend for bigger and more complex burrows during the Palaeozoic and into the Mesozoic. Burrows became permanent shelters and breeding locations. The researchers link these developments to climate crises such as the Cisuralian aridification (Early Permian) and the end-Permian extinction event.

After the end-Permian mass extinction, vertebrate fossoriality became more common and widespread. This behaviour became a feature of continental environments and in more distal floodplain areas, probably as a consequence of changing fluvial regimes. In the Triassic, fossoriality is recorded in even more groups, such as the Temnospondyli and the Procolophonidae. In addition, evidence of burrow sharing by unrelated vertebrates appears. This indicates that burrowers were playing an increasing role as ecosystem engineers.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Origin and early evolution of vertebrate burrowing behaviour” by Lorenzo Marchetti, Mark J. MacDougall, Michael Buchwitz, Aurore Canoville, Max Herde, Christian F. Kammerer and Jörg Fröbisch published in Earth-Science Reviews.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

14 02, 2024

The New Wild Safari Prehistoric World Utahraptor Model

By |2024-03-03T06:42:36+00:00February 14th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Utahraptor dinosaur model is now in stock. This extremely colourful and detailed dromaeosaur model is available from Everything Dinosaur. Team members got the opportunity to photograph the figure whilst visiting a trade show in Europe.

Utahraptor dinosaur model (Wild Safari Prehistoric World).
The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Utahraptor model spotted at a trade show. The soon to be available colourful Kentrosaurus figure can be seen to the left of the Utahraptor. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Wild Safari Prehistoric World figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Safari Limited – Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models.

The Utahraptor Dinosaur Model

This hand-painted Utahraptor replica measures twenty-three centimetres in length. It stands around eleven and a half centimetres tall. It is an extremely colourful dinosaur model. The vivid blue colouration reminds us of a budgerigar. Dromaeosaurids like Utahraptor are, after all, distantly related to modern birds. The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Utahraptor dinosaur model is supplied with an Everything Dinosaur Utahraptor fact sheet.

The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Utahraptor dinosaur model.
A Wild Safari Prehistoric World Utahraptor dinosaur model.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur welcomed the arrival of the Utahraptor dinosaur model. Other new figures from Safari Ltd will be available later in the year.

The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Utahraptor dinosaur model unpacked in the Everything Dinosaur warehouse.
Unpacking the new Wild Safari Prehistoric World Utahraptor dinosaur figure. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the extensive range of prehistoric animal figures and dinosaur toys available from Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

11 02, 2024

Mojo Fun Pays Tribute to Dinosaurs in the Movies

By |2024-02-19T06:24:23+00:00February 11th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Our thanks to Mojo Fun for sending Everything Dinosaur some new images of the Mojo Fun prehistoric life dinosaur models. The images we received includes a clever illustration of a Mojo Fun Tyrannosaurus rex model.

We think this T. rex dinosaur model was introduced into the Mojo Fun prehistoric and extinct range in 2020. It has certainly proved to be popular with dinosaur fans and model collectors. The manufacturer has paid tribute to dinosaurs in films by mimicking a famous scene from the “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World” franchise.

Mojo Fun Tyrannosaurus rex model in the spotlight.
Mojo Fun pays tribute to the “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World” franchise with this clever piece of artwork featuring a Mojo Fun T. rex model.

Mojo Fun Tyrannosaurus rex

The Mojo Fun T. rex figure is escaping from captivity. The image parodies scenes from the famous Universal Studio’s film franchise.

To view the Mojo Fun prehistoric life model range available from Everything Dinosaur: Mojo Fun Prehistoric Life Figures.

The Mojo Fun Tyrannosaurus rex Deluxe figure measures around 30 cm in length. Team members at Everything Dinosaur estimate its head height to be approximately 11 cm.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Every dinosaur fan will get the connection between the Mojo Fun T. rex image and the movies. There are rumours circulating that a new film in the “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World” franchise will be released in 2025. Mojo Fun’s timing of the release of this new image is apposite.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

10 02, 2024

Getting to Grips with the Enigmatic Caenagnathidae

By |2024-02-07T10:13:48+00:00February 10th, 2024|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

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).

Anzu wyliei scale drawing.
A scale drawing of a dinosaur (Anzu wyliei). This dinosaur is a member of the Caenagnathidae family, and its fossils come from the Hell Creek Formation (Maastrichtian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To read the recent article about Eoneophron infernalis: University Student Discovers New Dinosaur Species.

Defining the Maniraptora and the Oviraptorosauria

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.

A model of an Oviraptor.
An Oviraptor dinosaur model (CollectA Age of Dinosaurs).

The image (above) depicts an Oviraptor model from the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs range.

To view this range of prehistoric animal figures: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs/Prehistoric Life Models.

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.

Eoneophron infernalis limb bones
The femur (left) and right tibia (right) of Eoneophron. Picture credit: Kyle Atkins-Weldman.

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.

Time-calibrated Oviraptorosauria clade consensus tree showing the position of Eoneophron infernalis. Picture credit: Atkins-Weltman et al.

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.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

9 02, 2024

A Delightful Deinonychus Duo on Display at a Museum

By |2024-02-18T16:43:45+00:00February 9th, 2024|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos|1 Comment

Team members at Everything Dinosaur took the opportunity to photograph the life-size Deinonychus replicas on display at the London Natural History Museum. These animated figures can be found in the Blue Zone of the Museum.

Visiting Deinonychus

Team members are not sure when the duo were installed in the Dinosaurs Gallery, but we estimate that these life-size replicas have been at the Museum for more than a decade.

Life-size Deinonychus replicas on display.
Life-size Deinonychus replicas on display at the London Natural History Museum. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Animated Deinonychus Dinosaur Models

The robotic armature permits these figures to move. The models can lift their heads, open their jaws and make a bow-like gesture to visitors. There is audio too. The Deinonychus replicas make a hissing sound. It reminds us of the sound a cat makes when it is frightened or being threatened.

The new for 2020 the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Deinonychus dinosaur model.
New for 2020 the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Deinonychus dinosaur model. A replica of this large dromaeosaurid.

The picture (above) illustrates Deinonychus. This model is from the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range of replicas.

To view this range: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models at Everything Dinosaur.

Looking Out for the Animatronic Dinosaurs

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“There are lots of amazing exhibits at the London Natural History Museum. However, we always like to say hello to the pair of Deinonychus figures. A visit is not complete until we have spent a little time in their company.”

On the subject of a visit, take a look at the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website.

An award-winning and user-friendly dinosaur themed website: Everything Dinosaur.

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