2011 | Everything Dinosaur Blog

2 05, 2011

A Trip Back to the Carboniferous – Great Day’s Fossil Hunting

By Mike|2023-03-07T10:33:43+00:00May 2nd, 2011|Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Geology, Main Page|0 Comments

Exploring a 330-million-year-old Carboniferous Coral Reef

Every once in a while team members at Everything Dinosaur, get the chance to visit some very special fossil sites, around the world and closer to home. With the day off afforded by the Royal Wedding (congratulations to Kate and William), we took the opportunity to visit an area of the Welsh coast and go fossil hunting in a part of the world which promised the chance to find some Carboniferous aged corals, brachiopods and gastropods.

Fossil Hunting

The geological period known as the Carboniferous lasted from approximately 360 million years ago to around 299 million years ago. It is sub-divided into two main epochs, the earlier Mississippian and the Pennsylvanian. The strata laid down during these epochs are further divided into Lower, Middle and Upper. The Carboniferous is split into seven faunal zones and we were interested in visiting an exposed area of limestone that formed part of a headland. The limestone contained the remains of an ancient coral reef, an environment that would have resembled the coral reefs seen off the coast of Australia, such as the Great Barrier Reef that stretches for more than one thousand miles along the coast of Queensland.

The weather was gorgeous and armed with a few provisions, stout walking boots and a digital camera to record our discoveries; off we set. It took a few hours to locate the fossil bearing rocks, but we were in no hurry, having our picnic lunch staring out to sea whilst perched on the shoreline was a wonderful way to spend part of the afternoon – we could not have wished for a better day.

The Beautiful Welsh Scenery

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

There was not a cloud in the sky, but it was not too hot, perfect walking, hiking and fossil collecting weather, although we were all sensible and made sure that we were protected from the sun with hats and kept applying the sun tan lotion.

Carboniferous Fossils

The fossil bearing rock that we were looking for was laid down in the Visean faunal stage in what is termed the Mississippian epoch. The Carboniferous was a time of great change. Global cooling resulted in a series of major glacial events across much of the landmass that covered the southern part of the planet. In most people’s minds the Carboniferous is associated with the great forests and swamps, these habitats went onto form the immense coal fields that are found all over the world (the geological period is named after the Greek word for coal-bearing).

However, in marine environments, invertebrates and vertebrates diversified immensely, exploiting the opportunities afforded by the changes of climate.

As for Wales, it was part of the southern coastline of a landmass known as Avalonia and it sat almost on the equator. The warm shallow seas teemed with life and the strata we were looking for preserved the fossilised remains of an ancient coral reef and some of its inhabitants. Corals are part of the phylum Cnidaria (pronounced nigh-dare-ee-ah). This group of animals secrete a skeleton of calcium carbonate and it is this skeleton that is readily preserved as a fossil.

There are three main types of coral represented in the fossil record. The first are Rugose corals, these can be either individual animals or colony forming. They evolved in the Ordovician but became extinct as a result of the Permian mass extinction. The second type of coral are known as Tabulate corals (always colonial). These too became extinct at the end of the Permian. All corals found today, are part of a third group, the Hexacorals (can be solitary or form colonies). The Hexacorals appeared in the early Mesozoic, replacing the environmental niches held by the more ancient coral forms.

It took most of the day to locate the area we were looking for. This location is not for the faint hearted and we cannot stress enough that sites such as this should not be visited alone, there are large boulders to clamber over and steep cliffs to negotiate as well as tide times to consider. However, the trip was worth it, the picture below shows the scale of the fossil bearing strata, a team member from Everything Dinosaur provides the scale.

Visiting a Carboniferous Coral Reef

Fantastic coral fossil.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Our colleague, Sue in the picture, is actually sat on the fossil bearing strata. It really was one of those “Eldorado Moments” as we call them, the moment when you realise that you have discovered a fossil rich site. Everywhere we looked we could see fossils of Corals, Crinoids (sea-lillies) and Brachiopods it was really exciting to see so many fossils preserved together. Some of the Brachiopods were very large, we took care not to damage these exposed fossils, removing them was out of the question but we were content to take some pictures.

A Large Fossil Brachiopod

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Surrounded by remains of Coral and Crinoid stems, a large Brachiopod (in-determinant genus) standing proud of the rock. The diameter of this fossil was approximately 10 centimetres. This really was a superb site, one that was breathtaking and we could not have wished for a better day for fossil collecting.

The picture shows the fantastic preservation of the parallel corallites that housed the coral polyps. Having a decent camera whilst fossil collecting is a great idea. Often a picture can be taken in replace of trying to remove the fossil from the rock. Better to leave it in situ so that other people can enjoy it. The geology hammer carefully laid on the fossil provides scale.

We were really impressed with this photograph, the detail on the coral fossil can be clearly made out, we will have to post some of these pictures up on the Everything Dinosaur Facebook page.

It is worth noting that this coastal environment is an important ecosystem today. Granted the sea isn’t quite the warm, tropical paradise of millions of years ago, but it is in itself a thriving habitat for a number of marine animals. We saw plenty of Blennys (small fish) in the many rock pools, as well as sea snails, crabs, mussels and sea anemones. We even found limpets, clinging onto the fossil bearing rock. The last picture we took shows a limpet tucked away in a sheltered crevice right in the middle of the fossil coral formation. Here was a mollusc quite at home surrounded by the remains of ancient members of the Mollusca phylum as well as Corals and Brachiopods.

A Limpet Hiding in the Fossil Bed

Extant species amongst extinct species.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture shows a limpet keeping out of the sun, waiting for the tide to turn and the sea water to return. Some barnacles can also be seen in the photograph.

All in all, an enjoyable day out, our visit to the Carboniferous.

To veiw replicas and models of prehistoric animals from the Palaeozoic: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

1 05, 2011

Dangerous Mudslides – Common Sense should Prevail at Lyme Regis (Providing Helpful Advice)

By Mike|2024-04-21T09:52:30+01:00May 1st, 2011|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|1 Comment

Fossil Hunters Urged to Stay Clear of Dangerous Cliffs

The Lyme Regis Fossil Festival is in full swing, but visitors to the event who decide to try to find their own fossils on the beaches surrounding the town should heed the warning of local fossil experts and keep well clear of the dangerous cliffs. The cliffs on both sides of the Cobb are extremely dangerous and mudslides and rock falls are common. Yet despite the dangers, unwary tourists still venture very close to the cliffs and indeed can be seen clambering over recent rock falls and mudslides in their quest for fossils.

A rock fall on Monmouth beach (west of Lyme Regis) which took place on the 14th April, resulted in many tonnes of debris being scattered across the famous limestone paving. Despite the danger of more rocks crashing down onto the beach, the picture below, taking by local fossil expert Brandon Lennon shows a number of foolhardy beachcombers straying to close to this part of the cliffs. In the picture, a couple of people can be seen actually sitting on top of the rock fall.

The Recent Rockfall on Monmouth Beach

Rockfall onto the Ammonite Pavement on Monmouth Beach.

Brandon Lennon’s public fossil walk on Friday, the first day of the fossil festival, took his party past the recent rockfall. Brandon’s father, geologist Ian can be seen at the far right of the photograph, keeping a sensible distance from the danger area and pointing out just how far onto the shoreline large boulders toppling from the unstable cliffs can reach.

Although fossils can be a source of fascination, and there is nothing as exciting as finding your own fossil, visitors to the beaches around Lyme Regis and Charmouth should take great care and avoid getting too close to the cliff faces, these areas are extremely dangerous.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“Rock falls and mudslides are very frequent along this stretch of the coastline, yet people are still venturing too close to the cliffs and even climbing onto recent rock falls in a fool hardy quest for fossils. The best advice we can give is to go on an organised fossil walk with a local expert.”

Visitors should heed the advice of local fossil experts and take notice of the many signs posted up along the beach area, the beaches may look benign but the combination of steep cliffs and saturated strata being constantly undercut by wave action makes more mudslides and rockfalls inevitable.

For models and replicas of prehistoric animals associated with Lyme Regis and the “Jurassic Coast”: CollectA Prehistoric Life Figures.

30 04, 2011

In a Flap over our Feathered Friends

By Mike|2023-03-07T11:29:27+00:00April 30th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

What was the Biggest Creature with Feathers of All Time?

In one of Everything Dinosaur’s frequent trips to school to visit young dinosaur fans and to help them appreciate fossils and all things Dinosaur, we get asked lots of questions from the enthusiastic student palaeontologists. Last week we were asked the rather intriguing question – which was the biggest feathered creature of all time?

Everything Dinosaur

A tricky question, one that can be split up into two answers, the largest bird and the largest feathered animal, they may not be one and the same. In terms of known examples from the fossil record the largest bird could also be split into two. The recently extinct Elephant Bird of Madagascar (Aepyornis genus) was perhaps the largest flightless bird known to science. This huge bird has fascinated the naturalist and broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough for much of his adult life and this was the subject of a recent BBC documentary.

To read more about this documentary: Attenborough – The Elephant Bird and his Fossil Fascination.

The Elephant Bird may have been up to ten feet tall. The largest flying bird known from the fossil record, comes from Argentina. Argentavis magnificens – a giant Condor from the Late Miocene Epoch. Formally named and described in 1981, this giant bird had a wing span of up to eight metres, making it a rival for the largest pterosaurs.

However, in terms of our feathered friends, the largest feathered creature of all time, may have been a dinosaur.

Gigantoraptor (Gigantoraptor erlianensis) is known from one disarticulated and incomplete fossil specimen. It was discovered in 2005 by a team of Chinese palaeontologists from the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology (Beijing). The fossils represent one individual animal and include the lower jaw and elements of the beak, vertebrae, a shoulder blade, parts of the fore-limbs and almost the entire hind-limbs.

This bizarre dinosaur has been classified as a member of the Oviraptor family, but it is approximately five times bigger and much heavier than any other oviraptorid. Gigantoraptor was formally named and described by Xu Xing and colleagues in 2007. The species name honours the area of Inner Mongolia where the fossils were found. It was over 8 metres in length and may have weighed as much as 1.5 Tonnes.

An Illustration of Gigantoraptor (G. erlianensis)

“Big Dino-Bird”.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The illustration above is based on the CollectA Gigantoraptor dinosaur model.

To view the CollectA range of models that features a model of this amazing Late Cretaceous dinosaur and other dinosaur models: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Prehistoric Life Models.

So, Gigantoraptor may be the largest feathered animal of all time, at least the largest one discovered to date, but who knows what wonders lie out in the vast lands of Mongolia and other remote places awaiting discovery.

To read more about this dinosaur’s discovery: New Chinese Dinosaur Discovery – Gigantoraptor.

29 04, 2011

Good luck to Brandon at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival

By Mike|2023-03-07T11:31:33+00:00April 29th, 2011|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

Brandon and his Fossil Walks

The annual Lyme Regis Fossil Festival starts today. It runs from April 29th across the holiday weekend and concludes on May 1st. This has become such an important event in the fossil collector’s calendar that even Royal Weddings are timed to coincide with this event.

Lyme Regis Fossil Festival

Our dear chum Brandon Lennon, is taking a group of lucky people on a guided fossil walk this morning, over the fossil rich rocks on the beaches of Lyme Regis. We are not sure which route the experienced fossil hunter will take, perhaps he will head over to Monmouth beach or maybe he will take the short trip over to Charmouth under the Church cliffs heading over towards the magnificent Black Ven. No matter which route is chosen, those lucky people able to secure a place on Brandon’s guided fossil walk will be guaranteed to find some interesting fossils, as guided by a local expert they really can’t miss.

Maybe a Visit to the Spectacular Ammonite/Nautiloid Pavement at Lyme Regis

Falling tides reveal the extensive Ammonite Pavement sometimes referred to as the Ammonite Graveyard. The Lyme Regis Fossil Festival starts today! Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Best of luck to Brandon, hope the weather stays fine for you and here’s hoping that the rest of the Fossil Festival enjoys excellent weather and record breaking crowds.

To read more about Brandon’s walks: Guided Fossil Walks.

As for team members at Everything Dinosaur, this weekend we are heading further back in time…

Polished Ammonite Fossils from Lyme Regis

Polished ammonites from Lyme Regis. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

For models and replicas of ammonites, belemnites and other prehistoric creatures associated with Lyme Regis, take a look at this section of Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Models of Fossil Animals.

28 04, 2011

Removing the Protection from a Crocodile

By Mike|2023-01-18T06:12:01+00:00April 28th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Mexican Crocodile Species Faces Loss of Protection

A number of species of crocodile are listed under international treaties with regards to their conservation status. Although these animals are remarkably hardy, many species have suffered due to loss of habitat and as a result of hunting for their valuable skins. The Mexican crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii), otherwise known as the Central American crocodile or Morelet’s crocodile, after the French naturalist who first recognised this animal as a distinct species, is one such crocodile that has been persecuted over the years.

Crocodile

A native to freshwater habitats of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, this particular crocodile, which can grow to lengths of 4 metres or more, is closely related to the Cuban and the American crocodiles. It has a broad snout and a row of dark bands that run down its flanks, making its skin highly prized. It is very similar in appearance to the now extremely rare Cuban crocodile. Although, attacks by this creature are very infrequent, it is still regarded as highly dangerous and a potential man-eater.

According to a statement from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Mexican crocodile has made sufficient recovery to be removed from the Endangered Species List. The crocodile would remain endangered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, to which the United States is a signatory.

The Difference Between a Crocodile and an Alligator

Crocodile (top) and Alligator (bottom).

The models shown above come from the Mojo Fun model range, to view these figures (whilst stocks last): Mojo Fun Prehistoric and Extinct Models.

This crocodile species, which was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act in 1972, is endemic to fresh water habitats along the Gulf of Mexico, from southern Mexico to Guatemala, although exact numbers of individuals is difficult to quantify. At the time of its listing, the crocodile was endangered by habitat destruction and exploitation through the commercial trade in crocodile skin.

Because the species is not endemic to the United States, its protection under the Act was limited to a ban in the import or export of live animals, the skin from the carcase, or products made from crocodile’s skin. In 2005, the government of Mexico petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the Morelet’s crocodile, arguing that conservation efforts, including farming operations to produce skins for luxury products, made bans on trade unnecessary for the species to survive in the wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for public comment on its proposal to remove the Morelet’s crocodile from the list of endangered species.

Under the international convention for the protection of species, Morelet’s crocodile currently has the status of being “conservation dependent”.

27 04, 2011

What happened to Palaeontology in 1907?

By Mike|2023-01-18T06:06:09+00:00April 27th, 2011|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

Looking for a Dinosaur Formally Named and Described in 1907

The early years of the 20th century saw a huge upsurge in the number of Dinosauria scientifically named and described. Eminent palaeontologists such as Lull, Osborn, Brown, Lambe and the first members of the Sternberg dynasty were publishing papers on a vast number of new dinosaur genera, fossils of which were being unearthed in the United States and Canada.

Dinosauria

Expeditions to Africa were being organised and within a few years after the turn of the century, a number of exciting dinosaur discoveries were being made on this continent as well. However, despite the amount of research that was taking place during the years between 1900 and 1910, finding a dinosaur named and described in the year 1907 proved tricky for the Everything Dinosaur team members.

A Dinosaur Named in 1907

We wanted to find a dinosaur that had been named and described in the same year that a school we had visited was built (hence our interest in 1907). We thought this would have been quite easy, for example, the hadrosaurid and ceratopsian families were being rapidly expanded and surely, all it would have taken would have been a few minutes of searching through the database and we would find a dinosaur named and described in that year.

Not as easy as we thought, nothing came out of our first searches. Yes, there were a number of other ancient reptiles named and described in the year in question, but we could not find any references to dinosaurs scientifically described in 1907. We extended our search to include some pterosaurs and marine reptiles but still no luck. In the end we had to compromise and propose Ankylosaurus magniventris named in 1908.

A Model of Ankylosaurus magniventris

“Sede” the Ankylosaurus dinosaur model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model shown above is “Sede” the Ankylosaurus which is part of the PNSO prehistoric animal model range: PNSO Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Think we may have to do some more looking.

26 04, 2011

Crocodile Blood Could Help People who are HIV Positive

By Mike|2023-01-18T06:02:02+00:00April 26th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Main Page|25 Comments

Crocodile Blood could Hold Key to Improving Human Immune System

Crocodiles, those ancient predators may have a reputation as being man-eaters but new research suggests that their remarkable physiognomy and crocodile blood may prove beneficial to humans when it comes to combating AIDS and other diseases.

Researchers at Kasertsart University (Thailand) have discovered a new medicine to help HIV positive children using crocodile’s blood, which has been successfully tested on rats and is now ready for wider research on people suffering from a number of diseases including those with the HIV positive condition.

Win Cheichomsri, Chief of Crocodile Blood Research, Faculty of Zoology, has conducted an experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of crocodile’s blood in unhealthy rats. For the university, the third oldest in Thailand, these tests mark the beginning of an extensive crocodile blood testing programme. For years, scientists have been aware of the remarkable properties of crocodile blood. These animals live in dirty, stagnant water stuffed full of bacteria but even though they may have open wounds their blood and it’s anti-bodies prevent infections.

The Difference Between a Crocodile and an Alligator

Crocodile (top) and Alligator (bottom).

Crocodile Blood

The researchers experiment involved two rats groups – one fed with supplement capsules made of crocodile’s blood and the other fed without the pills, a control group, as the scientists state.

Win Cheichomsri stated that the results indicate that the controlled group (fed without capsules) have bigger spleens than those in the experimental group.

The experimental rats (fed the crocodile supplements) became healthier and more fertile, reproducing many pups later on, the chief concludes. The Food and Drug Administration committee has certified the crocodile-blood tablets as clean and safe supplements for consumption.

Mr. Cheichomsri believes that the crocodile-blood pills could improve the immune systems and general health of HIV positive children. In fact, the capsules have been offered to twenty-four HIV infected children at Lorenzo Orphanage House in Panusnikom, Chonburi.

These children show remarkable physical changes after the consumption of the pills. They show less fatigue and have more energy to play. Their pustules are also gradually disappearing, Mr. Chiechomsri says.

He adds that those children who have suffered from hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, are presented with decreasing liver and spleen sizes. In particular during cold weather these children do not fall ill, indicating an improvement in their immune systems, according to Mr. Chiechomsri.

Based on the results, Mitri Temsiripong (Manager of Sriracha Tiger Zoo) and Wisachini Rungtaweekchair (Wanithai Part, Ltd) donate the crocodile blood supplements to the children at the orphanage, as accepted by Sister Wichuda Kusub. At the moment, the blood can be taken from the crocodiles without harming them and the crocodiles soon recover.

Perhaps these animals with a reputation for being man-eaters, may soon have gained a reputation for being man-savers as scientists search for new ways of combating disease and bacterial infections.

For models and replicas of crocodiles and alligators (whilst stocks last): Mojo Fun Prehistoric and Extinct Models.

25 04, 2011

Hylonomus Returns Home (Important Fossils Returned to Nova Scotia)

By Mike|2024-04-21T09:53:54+01:00April 25th, 2011|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|5 Comments

Oldest Reptile Fossil Returns to Nova Scotia

The coal deposits of Nova Scotia, laid down in the Carboniferous Geological period, some 310 million years ago, preserve a remarkable fossil record of the swamps and forests of this ancient time in Earth’s history. Giant clubmosses and horsetails shared the landscape with strange tree-like Sigillaria and tall Lepidodendrons. The climate was equatorial and the fossils at perhaps the most important site in Nova Scotia (Joggins, 150 miles north-west of Halifax) also preserve evidence of the animals that lived in this swampy domain.

More than 190 fossil skeletons of small amphibians and reptiles have been discovered at the Joggins site. The Joggins cliffs were declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2008, such is their importance to science. Now one of the best preserved fossils of a tiny reptile, no more than 20 centimetres long is being returned to Canada for the first time since it was sent to London, more than a century ago.

The fossil is of Hylonomus lyelli an insect eating reptile, that is believed to be one of the first of its kind. Its head was proportionally much smaller than the amphibians from which it was descended. However, the structure of the skull shows a significant advance over an amphibian skull as it allowed more space for the attachment of stronger jaw muscles.

Hylonomus lyelli

This fossil was uncovered by Nova Scotian geologist John William Dawson in 1859 but was handed over to the British Museum around the turn of the century. The British Museum is now known as the Natural History Museum. The fossil is going to be on display at the Joggins Fossil Centre for the next six months.

The Joggins Fossil Centre’s chief palaeontologist Melissa Grey commented:

“If you look closely, you can see elements that you would recognise. Bits of the jaw with teeth and the backbone and the tail and some of the legs as well.”

The fossil is so delicate and precious, it had to be delivered by hand. Such a cargo cannot be trusted to even the most conscientious of courier firms. A number of small reptile and amphibian fossils have been discovered at the site, many have been recovered from the tree-sized stumps of large Carboniferous plants. How or why these creatures ended up preserved in the remains of ancient plants is a mystery.

A number of theories have been proposed, for example these small vertebrates may have made such tree stumps their homes. Or perhaps small creatures fell into the rotten stumps and found themselves stuck, unable to crawl out again – an example of a natural “bottle trap”.

Whatever the explanation, these fossils are very important to scientists as they attempt to piece together the story of how vertebrates came to conquer the land.

Melissa added:

“This is the world’s oldest known fossil reptile. So it is very important to our understanding of vertebrate life, animals with a backbone and that includes us.”

The fossil will form part of a special display and will be on show until October 31st.

For models and replicas of prehistoric animals from the Palaeozoic: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

24 04, 2011

Dinosaurs on the Beach

By Mike|2023-01-18T05:55:10+00:00April 24th, 2011|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Dinosaur Fossil Sand Mould

Young palaeontologists can create their own Tyrannosaurus rex fossils with this super dinosaur fossil sand mould set. Ten robust and sturdy plastic pieces that when filled with sand and laid out form the impression of a skeleton of a mighty Tyrannosaurus rex. Available in two bright and cheerful colours (red and blue), this handy dinosaur fossil casting kit is ideal for the beach and makes a change from building sand castles.

The Dinosaur Fossil Sand Mould Set

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The geological hammer provides a scale just like we do when we find real fossils including dinosaur bones. When the dinosaur fossil sand mould is laid out it produces a sand sculpture that is over ninety centimetres long.

To view the extensive selection of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed toys and gifts in stock, visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

Let your young dinosaur fans be the envy of other children on the beach with this fun, dinosaur themed item. The dinosaur fossil sand mould set is also available in blue.

Dinosaurs in the Sand (Dinosaur Fossil Sand Mould)

Fun on the beach with dinosaurs.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Suitable for children from three years and upwards this is a super dinosaur themed beach accessory

23 04, 2011

Review of March of the Dinosaurs

By Mike|2023-03-07T13:03:27+00:00April 23rd, 2011|Main Page, TV Reviews|0 Comments

Jurassic Parka! – A Review of March of the Dinosaurs

Yes, we know that this two hour animation was set in the Late Cretaceous but we could not help ourselves going for the “Jurassic Parka” pun. Narrated by Stephen Fry and directed by Matthew Thompson, this CGI documentary (March of the Dinosaurs), tells the story of Scar, a young Edmontosaurus (duck-billed dinosaur) and his herd’s migration away from the high north of the Americas down the western shores of the huge inland sea that effectively cut North America in two for much of the Cretaceous.

Herds of herbivores would gorge themselves on the abundant vegetation in northern latitudes which would have had almost perpetual sunlight to permit plants to grow through the summer months. However, as the year passed, so the sun would dip lower and lower each day until it would no longer emerge above the horizon and the long night of winter would prevail. The summer migrants would be heading south to avoid the worst of the winter, whilst the resident dinosaurs such as a troodontid known as Patch would stay put.

March of the Dinosaurs

The trek made by Scar and his herd, plus the perils of winter survival for Patch, form the basis of this CGI documentary which runs for 87 minutes in total. The storyline is loosely based on our knowledge of the Dinosauria and other creatures from fossil remains found at locations that would have been near the High Arctic during the Cretaceous. The behaviour of the dinosaurs and many of the dramatic twists and turns in the plot are based on conjecture and assumptions. For example, there is no proof that Gorgosaurus (a tyrannosaurid) was a specialist nocturnal hunter.

The story starts at the end of the summer and the first signs of a change in season for the herd of duck-billed dinosaurs. Soon the darkening skies begin to limit the amount of available plant food and the great herds of plant-eaters are forced to head south to avoid the worst of the winter and to find enough food to feed their massive bulk.

Dinosaurs and Pterosaurs

Along the way, Scar and the other dinosaurs face predation, natural disasters and death from starvation. It was interesting to see the Azhdarchidae pterosaurs such as Quetzalcoatlus depicted as scavengers circling high above the sparse plains waiting to feed on the dying and the dead. Although fossils of some Azhdarchidae pterosaurs such as Quetzalcoatlus are associated with inland areas and not marine environments, whether or not these huge flying reptiles really filled the same ecological niche as vultures do today is a moot point.

For Patch and the rest of the residents of the Arctic forest they have to survive as best they can in the perpetual darkness. The armoured dinosaur referred to as an ankylosaur which shared the frozen forest with the troodontids, had no tail club. This fact would not have gone unnoticed by young dinosaur fans watching. The animal depicted was actually a member of the Nodosauridae, a family of the Ankylosauria that lacked a bony club on the end of their tails. Whether or not such an animal once flipped on its back could right itself again is open to speculation once more.

A Diverting and Entertaining Tale

All in all, a diverting and entertaining tale, loosely based on scientific knowledge. Certainly, lots of dinosaurs migrated and lived in herds, these herds in turn, would have been pursued by predators such as packs of Albertosaurus (fossils of these tyrannosaurs have been found in close proximity to each other suggesting a pack behaviour). The CGI although impressive in parts reminded us of the sort of computer graphics seen in computer games, the landscape and details of the undergrowth could have been much better.

As for the mosasaurs lurking in rivers and frozen lakes, as far as we know there is not a lot of fossil evidence to support this and troodontids laying eggs on compacted snow in the depths of winter, we thought this most unlikely. Our team members suspect that most if not all animals would lay eggs during the period when the sunlight had returned and the temperature had begun to rise. After all, most modern birds do this (excluding some species of penguin). So a little bit of a mixed bag or keeping our Dinosaurian/Avian thinking caps on should we refer to this documentary as a bit like the curate’s egg.

For models and replicas of many of the prehistoric animals featured in the programme: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.