CollectA Achelousaurus Reviewed

CollectA, the toy and replica company are earning a well-deserved reputation for their excellent models of horned dinosaurs.  Over the past couple of years, this company has introduced a number of horned dinosaurs into their dinosaur model range, there is of course a Triceratops (several in fact); but in addition Styracosaurus, Torosaurus, Koreaceratops, Utahceratops and Chasmosaurus have been included.  Today, we review a relatively recent edition, the CollectA Achelousaurus model.

CollectA Achelousaurus model

All these models are very well designed and accurately depict the prehistoric animals they represent, this review concerns one horned dinosaur (ceratopsian) – Achelousaurus and what a very good model it is too.

Achelousaurus Dinosaur Model from CollectA

Horned dinosaur model – the CollectA Achelousaurus model.

The Achelousaurus model measures fifteen centimetres in length, although this is not supposed to be a scale model, as palaeontologists estimate Achelousaurus to have grown to about six metres, this makes the model approximately 1:40 scale.  This Cretaceous herbivore was named Achelous’s Lizard after the Greek horned river God Achelous.  The name is pronounced Ak-ee-low-saw-us.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s dinosaur models including CollectA horned dinosaur figures: CollectA Dinosaur Models and Figures (Prehistoric Life).

Achelousaurus is known from several partial skulls and a single fragmentary skeleton discovered in the upper layers of the famous Two Medicine Formation of Montana (United States).  Achelousaurus is a medium-sized horned dinosaur related to Pachyrhinosaurus and Centrosaurus.

Named by the Canadian palaeontologist Scott Sampson in the mid 1990s, the species name “horneri” honours the American palaeontologist John “Jack” Horner who was born in Montana and has worked extensively on dinosaur fossils found in that American State.  As several fossil elements from the type species (Achelousaurus horneri) and other individuals were found in close proximity, palaeontologists believe that this plant-eating dinosaur lived in herds.

A Close up of the Head of the CollectA Dinosaur Model showing the  Fine Crest

Brightly coloured features on this horned dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture above shows the fine details on this Achelousaurus dinosaur replica, even the dinosaur’s pink tongue can be clearly seen.

A Model of a Late Cretaceous Ceratopsian

The model is very well made and depicts a sturdy, Late Cretaceous ceratopsian, a member of the centrosaurine group of horned dinosaurs, known for their relatively short neck frills and the presence of a horn or large bump on top of the naris bone.  The model is painted a sandy, brown colour with subtle bands of black colouration running from the back of the neck along the body and down to the stumpy tail.  The substantial and prominent bump on the nose is painted a vivid red.  There are also red paint markings on the front of the neck crest.

Scientists believe that visual communication was very important to dinosaurs, a brightly coloured frill with a distinctive nose horn may have acted as a signalling device between herd members or perhaps for visual display to permit disputes to be settled.  The eyes are particularly well painted as are the large nostrils of this heavy-set dinosaur.

This replica of one of the more unusual of the horned dinosaurs will make an excellent addition to a dinosaur model collector’s collection, it is also likely to prove to be a firm favourite amongst dinosaur fans.