2010 | Everything Dinosaur Blog

3 09, 2010

Oceans “Gripped” by Sixth Mass Extinction Event According to New Research

By Mike|2024-04-19T19:06:48+01:00September 3rd, 2010|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Geology, Main Page|0 Comments

Australian Scientist Warns of Marine Environment Mass Extinction Event

Our influence on the climate leading to global warming and the acidification of the oceans, over fishing and other human activities are leading to a sixth mass extinction according to an Australian study.

Extinction is the complete, global end for a species, mass extinctions are major reductions in the diversity of life and the geological fossil record shows that there have been five major extinction events in the Phanerozoic era (visible life – the last 545 million years). In a new paper published in the journal “Science” the fossil record of marine life suggests that this current environmental pressure on the oceans could lead to such dramatic extinctions that the world could take tens of millions of years to recover.

Sixth Mass Extinction

Dr John Alroy from Macquarie University in Sydney analysed the fossil record for oceans, dating back to the Cambrian period (over 500 million years), to study how major changes in marine animal groups take place.

In the Late Ordovician for example, many types of arthropods, molluscs, corals, graptolites and echinoderms became extinct. Extinction events are happening all the time, there is a “background” level of extinction and periodically this “background” rate increases. However, scientists recognise just five major extinction events in the geological record, the last, and perhaps the most famous being the mass extinction event 66 million years ago that saw the end of the dinosaurs.

Dr Aloy used an example from the greatest mass extinction event known to science – the Permian mass extinction, that occurred approximately 250 million years ago. Species of animals known as lamp shells, which had dominated sea-beds, were suddenly replaced by clams and snails.

He stated:

“The lamp shells were all over the place and diverse for a quarter of a billion years, then the biggest mass extinction in the history of life on earth happened – the Permian-Triassic extinction – and they went from being all over the place, to being rare and not very diverse.”

New Research Contradicts Hypothesis

Previously, scientists had thought that these mass extinctions were governed by the slow unwinding of predictable evolutionary “rules” that operated over hundreds of millions of years. However, this new research contradicts this hypothesis.

Dr Aloy commented:

“What my paper shows is that this story is fundamentally wrong, in that it doesn’t take into account the way a big evolutionary innovation or mass extinction can overturn the rules. The change in the balance of groups is not random. It’s not that some groups have good luck and some have bad luck. There has actually been a resetting of the rules of evolution.”

From our own perspective, at Everything Dinosaur we do believe that serendipity does have an effect on evolutionary success. For example, our species, H. sapiens are still around, but the Neanderthals are extinct. To become extinct the Neanderthals did not have to fail, just to be slightly less successful than competing species. Dr Aloy paints a bleak picture for the world’s oceans, human activities such as over-fishing, ocean acidification and the introduction of alien species are threatening to trigger a mass extinction event.

He added:

“It’s not just a mass extinction, but a massive reshuffling of species across the globe. We’re simultaneously ruining the environment and selectively wiping out certain groups.”

The research paper indicates that a combination of pressures and stresses could leave ocean biodiversity devastated, Dr Aloy stated:

“Things are so bad right now in so many different ways it’s very hard to imagine that you wouldn’t have a big long-term overturn in the balance of groups.”

Examining the Geological Record

The geological record shows that life on Earth took many millions of years to recover from such extinction events.

“It will take tens of millions of years before there is a full recovery with respect to the number of species in the ocean and the balance of groups. It will establish a new order that will persist for a very long time.”

Extinction is a consequence of natural selection and the interaction between ecosystems and the environment, a number of studies indicate that a large and diverse range of organisms are endangered or threatened with extinction. Indeed, a rough estimate often quoted is that one species of vertebrate goes extinct every day.

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

2 09, 2010

New Giganotosaurus Model from Schleich

By Mike|2023-01-11T14:31:39+00:00September 2nd, 2010|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

New Scale Model of Giganotosaurus from Schleich of Germany

The long awaited Giganotosaurus model from Schleich has just been launched and Everything Dinosaur, is one of the very first companies to get their stock. This beautifully painted, scale model of Giganotosaurus (giant southern lizard), shows this large allosaurid as a robust and stocky animal, much as depicted by Paul Sereno et al.

Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Model

Schleich Giganotosaurus Model

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Schleich prehistoric animal models and figures in stock at the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Schleich Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

The Giganotosaurus model measures over 36 cm long and the head stands nearly 20 cm off the ground. The model is well proportioned and the teeth and jaws are particularly well painted.

Close up View of Giganotosaurus Model

Schleich Giganotosaurus model. A close view of the head of the dinosaur figure.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

It certainly is a fearsome beast and makes a very nice addition to the Schleich Saurus range. This is the only new dinosaur model Schleich intend to launch this year, but there are plans for new models in 2011 and 2012, dinosaur fans will have to wait and see what comes out but for the time being there is this new Giganotosaurus interpretation to satisfy their appetites for exciting dinosaur figures.

1 09, 2010

Putting the Burgess Shales in the Shade

By Mike|2023-03-06T11:28:42+00:00September 1st, 2010|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Geology, Main Page|0 Comments

Canadian Scientists Discover new source of Cambrian Fossils

A team of Canadian scientists have discovered a treasure trove of Cambrian fossils, including eight new taxa at a location high in the Canadian Rockies, just 25 miles from the famous Burgess Shale sites. This discovery may herald a new era in palaeontology as more Cambrian fossil sites may exist, many more than previously thought.

Cambrian Fossils

It was the famous American palaeontologist Charles Walcott, who first came across a profusion of fossils in shale beds, at the site that was to become known as the Burgess Shale. He found the fossils quite by accident as he walked along a high ridge in the Rockies. The date of his discovery was 31st August 1909, now a team of Canadian researchers exactly, one hundred and one years and one day later, have announced the discovery of a new fossil rich location that could put the Burgess Shale in the shade.

Burgess Shale fossils are so important, as not only are the hard parts of organisms preserved, but in many cases evidence of soft tissues and actual body parts have also been preserved. Many palaeontologists regard the specimens from the Burgess Shale as the most perfectly preserved fossils from any geological period, quite an accolade as the strata dates from more than 500 million years ago.

It had been thought that the Burgess Shale fossils were unique and that no other locations would have the exact geological features that would have permitted such a large amount of fossil material to be preserved. With the discovery of this new fossil rich site, with its own exquisitely preserved specimens, just 25 miles from the original Burgess Shale location, many more such fossil rich areas may soon be discovered.

Burgess Shale Deposits

The creatures entombed in the Burgess Shale deposits inhabited a marine environment directly under a submarine cliff. Mudslides from this cliff buried these animals, but significantly the mud was low in oxygen. Rapid burial in a de-oxygenated environment led to a slowing down in the decomposition of body tissues. Often these tissues were permineralised (replaced by minerals) and consequently much better preserved.

Burgess Shale fossils actually occur in several locations, but they are all contained within a small area of the Rockies, around the little town of Field in Yoho National Park (British Columbia). All the fossils are found in strata belonging to the Stephen Formation, which in some parts is extensively exposed and represents deposits over 250 metres thick.

However, a team of scientists led by palaeontologist Jean-Bernard Caron of the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto) have reported finding Burgess-like fossils in the valley of the Stanley Glacier in Kootenay National Park. At this location, the Stephen Formation is exposed but in much thinner strips, no more than 160 metres thick.

Writing in the scientific journal “Geology” the team report that about 50% of the animal groups represented at the Stanley Glacier site have been found at other Burgess Shale locations, but in different abundances. This information will help the scientists to learn more about the evolution and diversity of arthropods such as the Trilobites for example.

A New Fossil Site

Trilobites were a highly successful Order of marine arthropods, that arose in the Cambrian and eventually became extinct at the end of the Permian approximately 250 million years ago.

A Model of a Trilobite

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view more amazing prehistoric animal models including a trilobite model: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

Commenting on this new site, Peter Allison, a geoscientist at Imperial College (London) stated:

“This new locality adds to our knowledge of the environments where these organisms lived and died and thus adds important context.”

Eight new taxa, previously unknown to science have also been unearthed. These new organisms include a new, as yet unnamed worm, a new member of the anomalocarids, a predatory group of nektonic (actively swimming) predators and another type of arthropod with primitive eyes on stalks that projected from its head shield.

The new anomalocarid has been named Stanleycaris hirpex in honour of the Stanley Glacier. All these creatures inhabited an area of warm, equatorial sea just off the coast of the landmass known as Laurentia.

Anomalocarids

Anomalocarids were a group of predatory arthropods, that have no extant relatives. Some of these marine hunters were up to ten times bigger than any other animal living at the time, with some specimens estimated to be approximately 2 metres long. They had large, rotund eyes on stalks and under the head, a circular shaped mouth with sharp interlocking plates that could crush the exoskeletons of Trilobites and other marine creatures.

The curled front appendages had sharp spikes on them and scientists believe that these pincer-like organs were used to grab prey. The name Anomalocaris (pronounced An-oh-mal-low-kar-is) means “odd shrimp”.

The Stanley Glacier fossils were not formed in the presence of a submarine cliff. This suggests that creatures can be fossilised in amazing detail under other geological conditions, giving rise to the possibility of many more Cambrian fossil sites with soft body preservation being found.

The research team state:

“We consider it likely that future exploration and study will continue to yield new taxa from the “thin” Stephen Formation, which is exposed over a broader area regionally than the “thick” Stephen Formation.”

To read more about amazing discoveries and the work of the Royal Ontario Museum: Discoveries from the Cusp of the Phanerozoic.

31 08, 2010

“Stocky Dragon” A Heavyweight version of Velociraptor from Romania

By Mike|2023-01-11T14:26:26+00:00August 31st, 2010|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|1 Comment

Balaur bondoc – “Stocky Dragon” with “Double” Killing Claws

Adorning the front cover of the scientific journal “The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” is Balaur bondoc – a new species of predatory dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous – think Velociraptor but with two killing claws on each hind limb. This beefy dinosaur, estimated at something a little larger than your average Christmas turkey, represents a new type of Theropod, and one of the best preserved from Late Cretaceous Europe.

Fossils from Romania

The partial remains were found in Romania. Although far from complete; consisting of dorsal vertebrae and some elements of the ribs, sacral vertebrae and parts of the pelvis and importantly an almost complete left leg (lower portions), fragments of the right leg plus the arms and parts of the hands, scientists are claiming that this is the most complete theropod skeleton found in Upper Cretaceous European strata to date.

A Replica of the Newly Described Balaur bondoc

The Beasts of the Mesozoic Balaur bondoc replica.

The picture shows an articulated dinosaur model from the highly successful Beasts of the Mesozoic range of “raptors”: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models.

In a joint study carried out by palaeontologists from the University of Bucharest (Romania) and the American Museum of Natural History (New York), this new dromaeosaur gives an insight into how animals living on the archipelago of what was Late Cretaceous Europe differed from their mainland counterparts.

A number of amazing discoveries have been found recently in Romania, including evidence of dwarf versions of titanosaurs and ornithopods, in a part of the Cretaceous landscape known as “Hateg fauna”. Many of these dinosaurs, animals living on relatively small islands with limited food resources did become much smaller in size over subsequent generations when compared to their mainland cousins.

To read more about the Late Cretaceous fauna of Europe: Dwarf dinosaurs on “Dinosaur Island”.

Finding evidence of theropods in this Late Cretaceous environment is especially exciting for the researchers, such finds are extremely rare. Indeed, there is a paucity of theropod specimens from Europe, with many genera such as Eotyrannus and Neovenator being known from just a single specimen.

Commenting on the new European dromaeosaur, Mark Norrell, an author of the research paper and the chair of the palaeontology department at the American Museum of Natural History stated:

“We’ve all been waiting for something like this, and the wait has yielded an interesting surprise.”

Although the fossils were first unearthed nearly ten years ago, by another co-author of the study, geologist Mátyás Vremir of the Transylvanian Museum Society, it has taken a number of years to complete the analysis, as although, this dinosaur has been classified as a dromaeosaur, it has a number of very primitive traits. The lack of any skull material prevents the scientists from making too many suggestions as to this animal’s diet and hunting behaviour, but from the size of the claws on the front and hind feet it was most definitely a predator.

Balaur bondoc

The new dinosaur has been named Balaur bondoc. The name means “stocky dragon” in ancient Romanian, an apt name as the stocky limbs and fused bones suggest that this animal was more robust than the graceful, almost delicate Velociraptors and other small dromaeosaurs. It may well have been feathered, an aid to insulation as heat loss from the body of an active, small dinosaur could have been a major problem.

It may have been related to Velociraptor, and it was approximately the same size at around 150-200 cm in length, but it did have many notable differences.

Stephen Brusatte, a graduate student at Columbia University and an authority on theropods commentated:

“Balaur is a new breed of predatory dinosaur. Its anatomy shows that it probably hunted in a different way than its less stocky relatives. Compared to Velociraptor, Balaur was probably more of a kick-boxer than a sprinter, and it might have been able to take down larger animals than itself, as many carnivores do today.”

Zoltán Csiki (University of Bucharest), stated that this new species, was unlike other meat-eating dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous, although a dromaeosaur, it possessed more primitive features than other dromaeosaurs, so placing it in the dinosaur family tree was problematical. Many European Late Cretaceous dinosaur faunas were peculiar to a particular region and on the ancient archipelagos that made up the landscape of that part of Europe that remained above sea level, it is likely that individual islands had their own distinct and unique flora and fauna, just like the Galapagos islands today.

B. bondoc has twenty unique features when compared to its nearest relatives, including a re-evolved functional big toe with a large claw that can be hyper-extended, presumably to slash prey. This feature, when combined with the large claw on the second toe that is typical of Balaur’s relatives such as Velociraptor makes the new species double-clawed. How the claws were used to attack prey is unknown, the lack of skull material is a serious obstacle to further research in this area but an analysis of the partial pelvis indicates that B. bondoc had very strong, powerful legs. Finally, its hand is atrophied and some of the bones are fused, features that would have made grasping difficult, perhaps this dinosaur lunged at prey with its head, whilst other “raptors” used their agility and grasping hands to capture small animals.

Photographs show the lower left leg of B. bondoc the articulated first and second toes seem to be hyper-extended leading to the conclusion that this particular fearsome predator may have been able to articulate these claws and use them to attack other dinosaurs.

To view the killing claw of a Velociraptor and other dinosaur items: Visit Everything Dinosaur’s Website.

30 08, 2010

Oetzi – The Iceman may not have been Murdered but a Chieftain (New Paper Published)

By Mike|2024-04-19T19:07:23+01:00August 30th, 2010|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

New Research Suggests Ceremonial Burial for Oetzi – The Iceman

The body of a Stone Age tribesman found high up in an Alpine pass, who once was thought to have been the victim of an ambush and killed may have been a Stone Age VIP who was given a ceremonial burial.

The prehistoric hunter known as Oetzi the Iceman may have been ceremonially buried, awarded a great honour by his tribe, rather than murdered as was previously thought, in a new study carried out by the National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography in Rome (Italy).

Oetzi, was found in 1991 by a team of hikers, his body was gradually being exposed as glacial ice melted away. At first, he was thought to be the corpse of a climber or hiker, someone who perhaps got into difficulties on the mountain. It was only later, when the body was properly studied that the true age of Oetzi was discovered.

The research team led by Luca Bondioli of the National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography have put forward a new interpretation of the evidence. They suggest that Oetzi died lower down the valley but was carried up to the 3,200 metre-high Alpine pass for a ceremonial or ritual burial. The number of artefacts found in close proximity and analysis of pollen found at the scene and in the body suggest that far from being killed in an ambush in the Alpine pass, Oetzi was carried to his final resting place. The team speculate that he could have been an important figure in his tribe or village – perhaps even a chieftain.

It is likely that Oetzi did meet a violent end, there is evidence of traumatic injury, an arrowhead lodged in his shoulder for example, but in a report published in the scientific journal “Antiquity” the Italian team state that Oetzi was originally interred on a rock platform before the elements moved his body.

Oetzi – The Iceman

Analysis of pollen from cereals found in his preserved stomach suggest that the mummified Oetzi died sometime in the spring. Pollen found in the ice that entombed him suggests that the body fell there, or was placed during the summer. This would also explain why so many valuable objects were found near his body, had he been ambushed and murdered it is likely his attackers would have taken away these items.

To read a blog post from Everything Dinosaur about attempts to trace the descendants of Oetzi: Tracing the Descendants of Oetzi – the Iceman.

Oetzi lived approximately 5,300 years ago, a time when stone tools were gradually being replaced by metal ones (the Copper Age or Chalcolithic) – an important time in the history of civilisation and the mummified remains of this 45 year-old man (approximately) has provided archaeologists with tremendous amounts of data about our ancestors.

Oetzi, the objects found with him and even a restoration of the clothes that he wore can be seen at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website for models and figures from the Stone Age: Everything Dinosaur.

29 08, 2010

Chinese Scientists Announce Discovery of New Genus of Horned Dinosaur

By Mike|2023-03-06T11:32:33+00:00August 29th, 2010|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|3 Comments

Sinoceratops zhuchengensis – Rewriting the History of the Horned Dinosaurs

A new genus of horned dinosaur has been announced by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This new genus of ceratopsian (horned dinosaur) has characteristics of both the short-frilled Centrosaurinae and the long-frilled Chasmosaurinae. It could lead to a re-think of the entire horned dinosaur family and this discovery sheds further light on the migration of ceratopsians across northern latitudes.

Horned Dinosaur

The fossils were excavated in January 2008 in Zhucheng City in the eastern part of Shandong Province, a province in the far eastern part of China. In a statement from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this new genus Sinoceratops zhuchengensis – (the name means “Chinese Horned Face from Zhucheng City”) was formally introduced to the press at a special media briefing. This area of China is already well-known for the range of Late Cretaceous dinosaur fossils, including hadrosaurs and tyrannosaurids, but the discovery of a ceratopsian with a huge, neck shield resembling the horned dinosaurs of North America is an exceptional event.

Commenting on the discovery, Research Fellow Xu Xing of the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology (Chinese Academy of Sciences) stated:

“It [Sinoceratops] was identified only quite recently. Its skull is at least 180 cm long and 105 cm wide. It has a 30 cm long horn on its face and at least 10 crooked, smaller horns on the top of its head.”

It was Xu Xing and his team who were given the responsibility of formally naming and describing this new dinosaur, one that has characteristics of both the main types of ceratopsian groups. Sinoceratops has a large single horn over the nose, a characteristic of the centrosaurine type of horned dinosaur, but Sinoceratops also has a large neck frill a characteristic associated with the other group of horned dinosaurs, the chasmosaurines.

An Artist’s Impression of Sinoceratops zhuchengensis (Scale Drawing)

Sinoceratops scale drawing prepared for an Everything Dinosaur fact sheet.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Resembling the North American Centrosaurus, a horned dinosaur whose numerous remains have been found in many bonebeds in Alberta, dating from the Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous, Sinoceratops has been classified as a basal centrosaurine, but it is much larger than other members of this horned dinosaur family.

It is closer in size to the basal Chasmosaurinae. It is the first long-frilled genus of horned dinosaur to be discovered in China. Prior to the discovery of Sinoceratops, the ceratopsians with large neck-frills were exclusively restricted to western North America. This new dinosaur genus has implications for the current theories on the evolution of ceratopsians and it has changed the views held by scientists on the biogeographical distribution of Dinosauria genera.

Sinoceratops zhuchengensis

The basal ceratopsians, animals such as Protoceratops, Bagaceratops and Breviceratops are known from fossil finds from Asia. It seems likely that the horned dinosaur clade evolved in Asia, but some time after these animals evolved they migrated eastwards across Asian/North American land bridges.

The North American migrants diverged into two main types, primitive forms that retained the morphology of the basal ceratopsians of Asia and new types of larger ceratopsian, with more ornate and much bigger horns and neck frills – animals such as Centrosaurus, Chasmosaurus and Triceratops. Scientists have remained puzzled over why some New World ceratopsians retained their primitive traits, perhaps these animals filled a specific niche in North America and had no need to adapt or evolve to any great extent. Now scientists have the added complication of a Chinese ceratopsian that shows the same anatomical and morphological characteristics of the advanced ceratopsians of Canada and the United States.

Sinoceratops Model from PNSO (Age of Dinosaurs)

The box art for the new for 2021 PNSO Sinoceratops figure.

A-Qi the PNSO Sinoceratops packaging.

Commenting on the implications that the discovery of Sinoceratops may have, Xu Xing said:

“It blurs the distinctions between two types of ceratops. It [Sinoceratops] bears features of Centrosaurinae, a group of ceratops that are smaller in size, but its size resembles Chasmosaurinae, the giants of the ceratops.”

Xu and his colleagues said the discovery provided proof that supported the hypothesis of the horned dinosaurs’ migration from Asia to North America.

Chinese scientists have found at least ten dinosaur species in Zhucheng City in three rounds of excavation since the 1960s including tyrannosaurs and hadrosaurs.

Xu Xing has been responsible for the naming and describing of a number of Chinese dinosaurs including the bizarre Gigantoraptor which was discovered when Xu Xing was filming a television documentary featuring another dinosaur genus he was working on.

To view a model of Gigantoraptor and other dinosaur models including a Sinoceratops: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models.

28 08, 2010

Chinese Fossils Make Debut at Cincinnati Museum

By Mike|2023-01-11T14:14:45+00:00August 28th, 2010|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Fossils from the Henan Province (China) on Display at Cincinnati Museum Centre

Some huge vertebrae from a recently discovered titanosaur and the remarkably preserved nest of an Oviraptor are on display at the Cincinnati Museum Centre from August 27th until mid October. The museum, located on Western Avenue, Cincinnati (Ohio) has developed a strong partnership with Henan Geological Museum and as a result they have been able to obtain permission to display some of the spectacular finds from Henan, putting Chinese dinosaur fossils on display.

Henan Province is in eastern China, and is one of the most heavily populated administrative regions on the planet. It has provided a huge range of dinosaur and other vertebrate specimens over the last fifty years or so, with much of the material unearthed from strata dating from the Lower Cretaceous. The fossils on display include a 3 metre long rib bone and some of the huge caudal vertebrae (tail bones) of an enormous titanosaur (long-necked dinosaur). Palaeontologists assigned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences from the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology (Beijing) uncovered the fossils with the help of local residents. The remains were identified as a new species and this animal has been formerly named and described (Huanghetitan ruyangensis). Scientists estimate that this Chinese titanosaur measured over 30 metres long, although such estimates are difficult to make from the remains uncovered so far (sacral vertebrae, ten proximal caudal vertebrae, part of the pelvis).

A Fossilised Dinosaur Egg (Theropod) Dinosaur

Chinese dinosaur fossils. A fossilised dinosaur egg.

A fossilised dinosaur egg (Theropoda). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Chinese Dinosaur Fossils

Photographs show, the Curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the Cincinnati Museum Centre, Glenn Storrs and Stephanie Lowe viewing the huge tail bones of the gigantic titanosaur, a dinosaur that is unique to Henan Province. This is the first time these fossils have been put on display in the United States.

Also part of the exhibit is a fossilised Macroenlongatoolithus nest. This particular fossil, one of the best preserved examples of a dinosaur nest in the world, contains twenty-six eggs arranged in pairs. Although, scientists cannot be certain what dinosaur laid the eggs, it is likely that Macroenlongatoolithus was a member of the Oviraptorosauria. Oviraptor fossils are known from the Northern Hemisphere, most of them have been found in China. These dinosaurs were extremely bird-like, not only in their general anatomy but also in the presence of a beak and the shoulders were strengthened by a collarbone. Some palaeontologists have suggested that these animals may actually have been birds instead of dinosaurs.

An Illustration of an Oviraptorid Dinosaur

Huge oviraptorid. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The fossils on display highlight the Cincinnati Museum’s international partnership with Henan Geological Museum. A number of dignitaries, including the Henan Geological Museum president; toured the Museum yesterday when the exhibition opened.

Dr Glenn Storrs commented:

“This international partnership represents a new collaboration between the Henan Geological Museum and the Cincinnati Museum Centre, and highlights the scientific and educational benefit we can derive from sharing specimens. By sharing discoveries and insight with one another, we can both grown as institutions of education and innovation.”

For models and replicas of Chinese prehistoric animals take a look at the: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Range.

27 08, 2010

Unique Everything Dinosaur Blog Featured in “Fifty Best Blogs for Palaeontology Students”

By Mike|2024-04-19T19:08:02+01:00August 27th, 2010|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur Blog – One of the Fifty Best for Palaeontologists

The Everything Dinosaur web log, our little creation (not so little now with 1,200 articles), has been included in a list compiled by bachelorsdegree.org as one of the best places on the Internet to find information on palaeontology and related subjects.

We are very honoured to be awarded this accolade, one of many that have come our way since we started writing back in May 2007. Bachelor’s degree.org is an American based organisation that compiles information to help students work out which degree is best for them and supports a data-bank about on line colleges and other educational establishments that can help.

Everything Dinosaur

Working as a sort of “one stop shop” for degrees, Bachelor’s degree.org sets out to furnish students with the best information available on the range of degrees that on line institutions offer, in a recent blog post they focused on the Earth Sciences and nominated the Everything Dinosaur blog as a resource site for palaeontology students.

We were recommended as a website to visit:

“To read the latest palaeontology news and commentary on big issues in the field.”

The Everything Dinosaur web log aims to provide a resource for students, parents, teachers, scientists and dinosaur fans providing information on the latest discoveries and news. It is nice to know that our work is appreciated, with something approaching 150,000 page views each month we certainly have a popular web log.

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

26 08, 2010

Beautiful Triceratops Art Spotted at a School

By Mike|2024-04-19T19:10:13+01:00August 26th, 2010|Dinosaur Fans, Photos|0 Comments

Talented Artists Show Off Their Dinosaur Drawing Skills

Team members at Everything Dinosaur came across this super Triceratops dinosaur artwork, created by Australian artist Kate Rohde. As a supplier of dinosaur books, including dinosaur colouring books, we do get sent lots of dinosaur drawings but nothing quite as colourful as this particular picture.

Dinosaur Artwork (Triceratops Artwork)

Colourful school Triceratops. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Clever Melbourne based artist Kate Rohde, a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, has been inspired by feathered dinosaurs to create some unique pieces of artwork in support of an Australian fashion event. We loved this very colourful, predominately pink Triceratops. It certainly is one of the most visually stunning interpretations of “Three-horned Face” that we have come across.

View Everything Dinosaur’s range of prehistoric animal themed craft ideas to inspire young artists: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Toys and Gifts.

26 08, 2010

Feathered Dinosaurs Inspire Australian Artist to Create Unique Art

By Mike|2024-04-19T19:11:39+01:00August 26th, 2010|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Main Page|0 Comments

Feathered Dinosaurs Inspire Artist (Renaissance Dinosaur)

Melbourne based artist Kate Rohde, a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, has been inspired by feathered dinosaurs to create some unique pieces of artwork in support of an Australian fashion event.

Working in collaboration with Sydney based fashion label Romance was born, Kate has helped create an elaborate installation of lurid, feathered, paper mache dinosaurs, prehistoric animals and other creatures inspired by the clothing company’s designs.

Feathered Dinosaurs

Part of the fashion collection is based around a Jurassic colour scheme and Kate’s vibrant sculptures made from synthetic fur, fabric and other modern materials provide an excellent accompaniment to the art/fashion installation.

The exhibition brings together sculpture, clothing, wall-paper, material and other unique objects of interest in a display where a fusion of art and creative activities meets fashion.

Whilst scientists are quite confident that dinosaurs had colour vision and many of them were indeed feathered, no one can be sure for certain what colour dinosaurs were. Kate’s interpretations certainly paint a picture of bright and colourful creatures from the Mesozoic – but nobody can tell her she is wrong, her interpretation is as good as the most accomplished palaeontologist.

Her characteristic intricate resin detailing is located in a number of pieces and her own fantastical and imaginative use of materials is perfectly combined and complemented in this project.

Photographs show the beautifully crafted pterosaur, whilst one could perhaps point out one or two anatomical inaccuracies there is no denying that this is a striking piece.

The favourite sculpture amongst team members at Everything Dinosaur is the pink Triceratops. There have been a number of news stories featuring Triceratops recently, most prominent of which is the view that this iconic dinosaur may actually be a immature Torosaurus and therefore not a unique dinosaur genus at all. However, it is great to see Triceratops featured in the art exhibition, and we do know that some dinosaurs could flush blood into the skin to turn pink and red, so you never know – after all, protofeathers have been found on fossilised skeletons of the ornithischian dinosaur Psittacosaurus, an ancestor of Triceratops.

To read more about the Triceratops/Torosaurus controversy: The Extinction of Torosaurus – Second Time Around.

These amazing prehistoric animal sculptures are on display at an exhibition called “Renaissance Dinosaur” at the KW Gallery (Karen Woodbury Gallery, Richmond, Victoria, Australia) which runs from August 25th until September 18th.

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