All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
11 07, 2013

Dinosaurs Inspire Three-Dimensional Artwork

By |2023-02-19T06:43:24+00:00July 11th, 2013|Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Dinosaurs Inspire Three-Dimensional Artwork

Year 5 and Year 6 Pupils Make 3-D Models of Dinosaurs

Pupils at Weston Primary have been showing their artistic skills by building a set of prehistoric animal sculptures as part of their summer term topic studying dinosaurs and fossils.  All the classes in Year 5 and Year 6 at the school have been learning about prehistoric animals and fossils, under the tutelage of the teaching team.  A member of Everything Dinosaur, who visited the school as part of a dinosaur workshop, was treated to a guided tour of the exhibits, a sort of work in progress.  Part of a classroom had been set aside to display the artwork, some pieces were over one and a half metres in length.

Models of Dinosaurs

Upper Key Stage 2 Pupils Make Dinosaur Sculptures

A T. rex model in production.

School creates T. rex statue.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A team member at Everything Dinosaur, who visited the school in support of the term’s teaching topic, was given a guided tour of the prehistoric themed artworks by the Year 1 and Reception children.  A part of the Key Stage 1 area  had been roped off so that the children could show the “pieces of dinosaur” that had been excavated from a sand pit, as well as the some of the safety equipment that palaeontologists wear when digging up ancient bones.  This was an excellent idea as it gave the children an important example of “Health and Safety” at work.

Dinosaur and Fossil Workshops

During the dinosaur and fossil workshops, each of the classes were given activities which dovetail into the national curriculum.  For example, Year 3 students discovered that they had all technically eaten a dinosaur and Year 2 pupils learned how fossils are formed, what rocks contain fossils and what to do if you should be so lucky to find a fossil.

One of the Completed Dinosaur Sculptures

Stegosaurus model.

School children create model of “Roof Lizard”

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

During the lunch break, in between answering questions from teaching assistants and discussing extension activities, the Everything Dinosaur team member was able to take some photographs of the exhibition area.  The site was beginning to resemble Weston Primary’s own version of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs.

To view the inspirational range of dinosaur themed crafts, toys and games available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur Crafts, Toys and Games.

11 07, 2013

Sharks and Ice Age Monsters Invade The Beacon

By |2023-02-19T06:39:46+00:00July 11th, 2013|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Press Releases|0 Comments

Cumbrian Museum to Play Hosts to Sharks and Woolly Mammoths

Staff at The Beacon, the interactive, family orientated museum at Whitehaven on the Cumbrian coast, are going to have their hands full this summer as not one but two major exhibitions will be taking over their galleries.  Following on from the highly successful “BBC Walking with Dinosaurs Exhibition” in 2011, in which team members at Everything Dinosaur were invited to be the “on the spot dinosaur experts”, the museum will be hosting “Ice Age – Life After Dinosaurs” and “Shark! The Myths and Reality”.

“Ice Age – Life After Dinosaurs” and “Shark! The Myths and Reality”

The Beacon is closed for the next few days as final preparations are made, it is not easy to manipulate life-size replicas of giants such as Woolly Mammoths, Sabre-toothed cats and Great White sharks.  The grand opening is scheduled for this Saturday (13th July), there’s just time for the busy Beacon staff to check all the hands on, educational and fun exhibits before the start of these “monster” exhibitions at 10am Saturday morning.

If you’re looking for ways to entertain your little monsters for the summer holidays, then you don’t have to look too far as visitors to Copeland’s museum will be transported back to a time when the Earth was dominated by a diverse range of magnificent mammals, that our ancestors had to contend with.  The “Ice Age – Life After Dinosaurs”  exhibition features full size replicas of giant prehistoric beasts including the wonderful Woolly Rhino and the savage Smilodon as well as real and replica fossils.

Square up to a Sabre-toothed Cat

Rebor Smilodon model in the Ice Age colour scheme.

A close-up of the head of the Rebor Smilodon populator figure (mouth open head attachment). The exquisite detailing or the teeth and the inside of the mouth can be clearly seen.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Commenting on the exhibition, Mike Walley from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“This is the best chance people have had to go eyeball to eyeball with Ice Age monsters in the last 20,000 years”.

Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur team members who will be running two special weekend events at The Beacon in the summer and October school holidays.  The fossil experts are going to be visiting the exhibitions on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th of August, with a second, special appearance scheduled to coincide with the autumn half-term, the weekend of 26th and 27th of October.

Everything Dinosaur is keeping what they intend to bring along from their extensive fossil collection under wraps for the moment, however, visitors to The Beacon on these special weekends can expect to get up close to some super-sized marine predators, ferocious hunters that make “Tyrannosaurus rex look like a pussy cat”.  If you have ever wanted to know how to avoid being gored by the two-metre long horn of a giant rhinoceros or to discover how close scientists are to cloning a Woolly Mammoth then don’t forget to book the weekend of August 3rd and 4th and the last weekend of October into your diary.

The Beacon Museum

“Shark! Myths and Reality” will turn everything you thought you knew about sharks upside down, bringing visitors face to face with life size replicas of these ancient hunters, including the Great White.  This exhibition aims to dispel the many myths about sharks as mindless killing machines.  Built in co-operation with The Shark Trust, it tells the real story of these fascinating underwater creatures.

Famous for its Whorl of Teeth – Helicoprion an Extinct Cartilaginous Fish.

PNSO Haylee the Helicoprion anterior view

PNSO Haylee the Helicoprion replica. The stunning emerald eye on the model is reminiscent of the eye of a Chimaera such as the deep water Rabbit Fish (Chimaera monstrosa) to which Helicorprion is distantly related.

For models and replicas of prehistoric animals including Helicoprion (whilst stocks last): PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models and Figures.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained:

“Although sharks have been around for something like 420 million years and there are over 400 species alive today, scientists are still learning  about these incredible creatures.  For example, just this week a new scientific paper has been published that confirms how the Thresher shark uses its amazing tail as a whip to stun its prey.”

Pat Graham, Copeland’s Director of Services added:

“We are proud and delighted that we have managed to again secure a nationally significant exhibition for Whitehaven.  These big events not only attract visitors in the town,  but afford residents  the opportunity to access the best education and fun that museums can offer,  but on our own doorstep.  These are hard times for the Council, and for families, but this is an opportunity for us to celebrate something really great for the town, and we should use this as an opportunity to collectively promote our Borough across the region”.

There will also be weekly drop in family craft days beginning on 31st July.  Be inspired by what you have seen during your visit and create your very own Ice Age creature, shark or other magnificent monster.

But don’t worry if you can’t make it during the summer as both exhibitions will be on display until 5th January.

For more information about the fantastic models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

10 07, 2013

Working on the Logo – Go Go Logos

By |2023-02-19T06:27:56+00:00July 10th, 2013|Adobe CS5|0 Comments

Preparing an Everything Dinosaur Logo for use on a Forum

Having registered as a member of a forum concerning dinosaur models and model collecting a logo is required to enable comments, photos and pictures that are posted up to be associated with Everything Dinosaur.  Time to return to the Adobe CS5 and to get working on a suitable image.  Having used various logos and representations on other social media sites one such logo has been modified and prepared for use on this new site.

Everything Dinosaur

Going to Get a New Logo for the Social Media Pages

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum.

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Of the range of images that was prepared this one got the most votes.  With most of the major platforms such as Youtube, Yahoo, Google plus etc all asking for much more detailed profile information including images, (we suspect this has more to do with selling data than making specific pages look more corporate), team members at Everything Dinosaur are going to be busy modifying their existing profiles and home pages to keep everything up to date.  Adobe CS5 is a powerful tool, none of us are particularly expert but hopefully we can just about make do and create new images to use on these sites.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website to see an extensive range of prehistoric animal models and figures for sale: Everything Dinosaur Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

9 07, 2013

Fragments of Fossilised Teeth Hint at Late Cretaceous Japanese Theropod

By |2023-02-19T06:25:45+00:00July 9th, 2013|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans|0 Comments

Fossilised Teeth Fragments Go on Display

Fossils of dinosaurs from Japan are extremely rare, those that have been found are in most cases extremely fragmentary.  Japan lacks the extensive bone beds that we have had the chance to visit in places such as in Dinosaur Provincial Park (Alberta, Canada).  However, a dedicated team of researchers are slowly but surely piecing together the ancient flora and fauna of the land we now know as Japan.

Late Cretaceous Theropod Teeth

Some of the very latest fossil discoveries are being put on display for the first time today, including two tooth fragments that most likely come from a carnivorous theropod dinosaur that roamed the Nagasaki Peninsula something like 84 million years ago (Santonian faunal stage).

Dr Kazunori Miyata of the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum and one of Japan’s leading experts on vertebrate fossils came across the fossils in July 2011 whilst exploring the Mitsuze layer on the western coast of the Nagasaki Peninsula.  It is not possible to ascribe the fossilised teeth to any specific genera of the Theropoda, although the largest fragment (35.4 mm x 26.8 mm x 11.2 mm) probably represents a proportion a six centimetre long tooth (root plus crown).

Unknown Theropod Genus

The other fragment, although smaller measuring 34.2 mm long and 13.6 mm wide probably came from the same species if not the same individual specimen.  Comparisons with other Late Cretaceous theropods suggests a predator in excess of seven metres in length, although whether this animal is a tyrannosaur or possibly a member of some other theropod family remains uncertain.

A Fragment of Fossilised Tooth (Theropoda)

Fossils on display to the public.

Picture credit: KYODO

Serrations (saw-like edges) along one side of a tooth are still visible, this is an indication that these teeth were from a meat-eating dinosaur.  The teeth discovery extends the known range of carnivorous dinosaurs to thirteen prefectures in Japan, from Iwate in the north-east to Kagoshima in the south-west, although these fossil finds do not represent evidence of just a single, carnivorous species.

A Close up of the Fine Serrations (Denticles)

A close up of the serrations on the tooth fragment.

Picture credit: KYODO

The Mitsuze Formation

Fossils from the Mitsuze Formation include pterosaurs, crocodilians, chelonians (turtles) and fragments of herbivorous dinosaur material.  Such is the relative abundance of fossil material associated with this strata that researchers have used this strata to help date other Upper Cretaceous, fossil bearing geological formations in Japan.

The Nagasaki Board of Education in collaboration with staff at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum have created a display of this new fossil material in the city of Nagasaki (Sanwa Gyosei Centre).  The exhibit will than be relocated to the Nagasaki Science Museum until the end of this month.  From here the fragile fossils will be taken to Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum so that they can take part in a temporary exhibition showcasing Japan’s dinosaurs which runs from August through to mid October.  After this, the 84 million  year old teeth will be put on permanent display back in the Nagasaki Prefecture (Nagasaki Science Museum).

To read an article about a Japanese school boy who discovered the fossilised remains of a dinosaur toe bone: Schoolboy finds dinosaur toe bone.

8 07, 2013

Miocene Lizard Preserved in Amber

By |2023-02-18T22:08:35+00:00July 8th, 2013|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories|2 Comments

Scientists Examine New Species of Prehistoric Lizard

Being small has its advantages.  For example, being able to survive a devastating global catastrophe such as an impact by an extraterrestrial object which hastened the demise of the Dinosauria.  As a general rule, if a land-living organism was bigger than a Labrador sixty five million years ago, roughly the time of the disaster, then it would most likely not have survived.  However, small, terrestrial creatures are rarely preserved in the fossil record.

Often their delicate skeletons are lost well before any fossilisation can take place, indeed, the carcase of any small animal is very likely to be scavenged, making a tasty mouthful for any passing predator.  So it is very remarkable to read about the discovery of an entirely new species of lizard dating from the Miocene – a lizard fossil preserved in amber.

Lizard Specimen Preserved in Amber

Lizard specimen preserved in amber.

Lizard specimen preserved in amber.

Miocene Lizard

Researchers studying amber (fossilised tree resin), in the state of Chiapas (Mexico), from a famous location, the Simojovel amber deposits, have uncovered the complete fossilised remains of a small lizard, preserved in an amber nodule.  The little lizard has been assigned to the family Dactyloidae and the genus Anolis, a diverse genera that contains something like 400 extant species.

The lizard specimen measures approximately 4.5 centimetres by 1.3 centimetres and as this little creature was trapped by sticky tree resin the fossilised specimen is virtually complete.  A spokesperson from the National Autonomous University of Mexico’s Physics Institute, Francisco Riquelme stated that the discovery is particularly important as soft tissue and skin has been preserved.  The lizard and a number of other significant amber fossils are on display at the Amber Museum in San Cristobal de las Casas (Chiapas State).

Evolution of Anolis Lizards

Anolis lizards today can be found throughout the south-eastern United States and the Caribbean, most of these lizards are insectivores and the discovery of such a well-preserved specimen will help scientists to understand a little more about the diversity and evolution of this type of lizard.

Director of the nearby Chiapas Palaeontology Museum, Gerardo Carbot commented that the age of the strata from which the amber was excavated dates to around 23 million years ago.  A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur suggested that the fossil might be from the Aquitanian faunal stage of the Miocene.  Such discoveries are very important as they give palaeontologists an insight into the smaller creatures that inhabited this part of the world millions of years ago.  Other organisms preserved in amber have included frogs, mites, spiders and insects as well as plant remains and pollen.

To read about the discovery of a one-hundred-million-year-old spider fossil preserved in amber: Spider Fossil Preserved in Amber.

Although the discovery of a lizard fossil such as this is extremely rare, the scientists are confident that other fossils in amber are likely to be found, perhaps feathers, lizard scales and other such debris from these Mexican deposits.

For dinosaur themed toys and prehistoric animal themed gifts: Everything Dinosaur.

7 07, 2013

The Fossil Heritage of Iran

By |2023-02-18T21:56:36+00:00July 7th, 2013|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Geology, Palaeontological articles|2 Comments

Local Farmer Finds Spectacular Ammonite Fossil

With team members at Everything Dinosaur making frequent visits to the “Jurassic Coast” of Dorset on various expeditions you would think that looking at ammonite fossils would become rather “run of the mill” for us, however, I don’t think that any of us will ever lose our fascination for these creatures.  Even the smallest fossil find, perhaps a pyritised Promicroceras spp. from Charmouth, or an example of Arnioceras from further along the coast is greeted with excitement.  There is a real buzz when you first see a fossil, that moment of realisation that you are the first person to see evidence of that living creature for some 180 million years or so.

The Joy of Fossil Hunting

A Typical Ammonite - but not all types of this Cephalopod had coiled shells

A typical ammonite – but not all types of this cephalopod had coiled shells.

Each time we visit Lyme Regis, and get out onto the beaches to search for fossils we meet people who are first time visitors to the area.  We are always happy to answer their questions and provide advice on where to look, we even give most of our fossil finds away, especially to the Mums and Dads so that their children can take something “special” away with them.

The Dorset Coast

To get the best out of a visit to the Lyme Regis and Charmouth areas, we recommend going on an organised fossil walk with one of the local experts and guides.  The cliffs are particularly dangerous, and under the expert guidance and tutelage of a professional fossil collector visitors can be safe and they get the chance to learn about the geology and the fossils that can be found.

To read more about organised fossil walks at Lyme Regis: Lyme Regis Fossil Walks.

However, ammonite fossils are not restricted to the southern coast of England.  These extinct relatives of squid, cuttlefish and octopi are distributed world wide in Mesozoic aged rocks.  We were intrigued to read about the discovery of a large ammonite specimen by an Iranian farmer in the north-eastern province of North Khorassan.  Early reports state that this fossil is approximately 70 million years old (Upper Cretaceous).

The province of North Khorassan in Iran borders Turkmenistan, although fossils from this area have been known about for centuries, some parts of this region remain relatively unexplored and there are many more thousands of fossils awaiting discovery.

Ammonite Fossil

The fossil shows the shell of the ammonite, these creatures are rarely found as fossils with their soft parts preserved.  The animal lived in the outermost chamber of its shell.  Ammonites were pelagic (living above the ocean floor) and like other cephalopods they were active swimmers (nektonic), propelling themselves along by squirting water out of a siphon.  As the ammonite grew, it extended its coiled, tubular shell outwards, laying down new chamber walls behind it. These chambers contained a mixture of gas and water which the animal used to control its buoyancy.  As ammonite fossils are abundant and widely distributed these fossils are used by geologists as zone fossils in the correlation of strata (bio-stratification).

A Model of an Ammonite Showing the Soft Tissues

A model showing an Ammonite.

A model showing an Ammonite.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur team members wrote an article a couple of years ago about the discovery of marine reptile fossils in Iran, much of the fossil material from this region could represent new species.

To read about the discovery of Plesiosaurus fossils in Iran: Plesiosaur Fossils from Iran.

Local farmer Morteza Hemmati, discovered the large ammonite fossil, an internal mould of the shell of the ten-tentacled creature whilst digging.  The fossil which weighs around fifteen kilogrammes is very well preserved and it probably made its way up to the surface as a result of erosion.  The fossil looks to be in excellent condition, and where there is one ammonite fossil there is a strong possibility of a lot more being found in the area.

Let’s  hope that this specimen gets donated to a local museum or university so that it can be preserved and then studied.  Perhaps, it may even be put on public display so that local people can learn more about the geology of their province.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s range of replica fossils including models of ammonites: Models of Ammonites and other Prehistoric Animals.

6 07, 2013

Loch Ness Monster Myth Solved – It was the Faults Fault

By |2023-02-18T21:17:41+00:00July 6th, 2013|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Geology|2 Comments

Sightings of Loch Ness Monster Explained by Geological Fault

Italian geologist Luigi Piccardi claims that activity along a fault line that runs beneath the Scottish Highlands could be responsible for a spate of “Nessie” sightings in the 1930s the reignited the myth of there being a monster in Loch Ness.  Loch Ness itself, was formed around twelve thousand years ago and its dark, cold, peaty waters are more than seven hundred feet deep in places.

Loch Ness Monster

The geologist has postulated that a fault line that runs for 62 miles beneath the Scottish Highlands could be responsible for sightings of “Nessie”.  Loch Ness lies over the Great Glen Fault, a line of weakness in the strata that once marked the boundary between two continents back in the Devonian.  Erosion during the Quaternary led to the formation of many deep basins which after the ice retreated at the end of the last Ice Age, left large bodies of water trapped in these basins, one such body of water became Loch Ness.

Occasional Tremors Mistaken for Monster

As a researcher at the CNR – the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, based in Bologna, ( Italy), Luigi claims that although the fault is now very inactive, occasional tremors would cause surface distortions on the Loch and these could be mistaken for a monster.

The Great Glen Fault was relatively active in the 1920s and 1930s and this led to numerous reports of a strange beast lurking in the Loch’s deep waters.  A number of photographs were taken, apparently showing a large animal with a serpentine head.  The most famous of these, a picture known as the “surgeon’s photograph”, was allegedly taken by a London gynaecologist Dr Robert Kenneth Wilson.  This photograph, showing an image of a head and a long, swan-like neck was taken in 1934.  It caused a sensation when first published but over recent years the photograph has been discredited and many believe that it is a clever fake.

However, the geologist points out that as the Great Glen Fault was particularly active in the 1920s and 1930s the majority of reported sightings could be attributed to disturbances caused by Fault movements.

He stated:

“There are various effects on the surface of the water that can be related to the activity of the Fault.  We know that this was a period [1920-1930] with increased activity of the Fault. In reality, people have seen the effects of the earthquakes on the water.”

“Nessie” as the monster is affectionately known, is thought by some people to be a plesiosaur, a type of marine reptile from the Mesozoic with a small head, long neck, large body and four flippers.  The plesiosaurs are believed to have become extinct at the very end of the Cretaceous geological period around sixty-five million years ago.

A Typical Plesiosaur – Is this Nessie?

Nessie or the consequences of a geological fault?

Nessie or the consequences of a geological fault?

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

British Government Believed in Nessie

Recently released records indicate that the British Government believed in the existence of a monster in the Loch.  Intriguingly, there are a number of large lakes in the Northern Hemisphere which are associated with monster legends.  This phenomenon is not just linked to the Scottish Highlands but Ireland, Sweden, Norway, the United States and Canada all over their own “Lake Monsters”.

To view an article on the British Government’s views on “Nessie”: British Officials Believed in the Loch Ness Monster.

Sightings do still occur and this summer visitors to the Loch will be busy scanning the surface of the water to see if Nessie raises its head out of the depths.  The last photograph, showing a brownish hump in the water, perhaps a monster or as many people have suggested an upturned rowing boat, was snapped in 2010.  With the advent of cameras and film recorders in phones, photographs of suspected monsters are likely to increase once again, as tourists visiting various lakes in the northern hemisphere take snap-shots of the so called beasties.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“One could imagine a large vertebrate living in the vast, largely unexplored depths of the Pacific or Indian Oceans, but it is difficult to imagine a viable population of air breathing, marine reptiles remaining hidden in a body of water such as Loch Ness.  It [Loch Ness] may hold as much water in it as all the freshwater lakes of England and Wales combined, but I really doubt the existence of any large creatures that could be called monsters lurking in Loch Ness.”

Do you believe in the Loch Ness Monster?

To view the range of plesiosaur models and replicas in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Prehistoric Animal Models including Sea Monsters.

5 07, 2013

Not your Average Game of Golf – Golfer Loses Two Fingers to a Crocodile

By |2023-02-18T21:14:50+00:00July 5th, 2013|Animal News Stories|0 Comments

American Tourist Loses Fingers in Crocodile Attack

An American tourist playing a game of golf with some friends had his round abruptly curtailed when a crocodile bit off two of his fingers.  The fifty-year-old golf enthusiast apparently pretended to feed the predator, perhaps showing off to his mates, however, the crocodile snapped and as a result the poor chap is going to have to re-model his golf swing.

Crocodile

The incident happened on a golf course in the Mexican resort of Cancun (Yucatan peninsula).  Over the last few years, officials at the resort had become increasingly concerned about the large numbers of crocodiles that had been seen around areas frequented by tourists.  Locals are aware of the potential dangers, avoiding crocodiles, but tourists, perhaps keen to get a photograph of these large carnivores may venture too close.

The Difference Between a Crocodile and an Alligator

Crocodile and Alligator comparison.

Crocodile (top) and Alligator (bottom).

There have been a number of incidents reported, one of the most serious occurred when a homeless man was attacked by a crocodile (believed to be a Morelet’s crocodile) on the shores of Nichupte lagoon.  The victim lost his right hand in the attack.  Police spokespersons stated at the time that there were plenty of warning signs posted indicating the presence of these reptiles and they urged people to take great care and to avoid parts of the coast where the crocodile population density was highest.

In a Stable Condition

In a statement made by Civil Protection officer Felix Diaz Villalobos, it was revealed that the golfer was in a stable condition in hospital and medics had recovered one of the severed fingers in the hope of being able to reattach it.

The officer added, that the victim was attacked after he ignored signs warning about the presence of crocodiles.

He stated:

“These animals are generally very peaceful.”

There have been calls recently to re-instate hunting of Morelet’s crocodile (Crocodylus moreletti), also known as the Mexican crocodile as populations have risen since a ban on hunting was imposed.  The area of Cancun is also home to a significant number of American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus), a crocodile very much at home in salt water and an animal capable of growing to more than four metres in length.

These crocodiles can be found as far north as Florida, in Central America and as far south as Peru and Venezuela.  They are distinguished from other large crocodile species by having a pronounced “V” shape to their snouts.  The jaws are narrower than other large Crocodilians.  However, those jaws are still very dangerous and although their diet consists largely of fish, these reptiles will attack and are man-eaters.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur said:

“It is important that people keep vigilant and take heed of any warning notices, even a relatively small crocodile is capable of inflicting serious injury.”

4 07, 2013

Young Palaeontologists Reconstruct a Stegosaurus Skeleton

By |2023-02-18T21:10:35+00:00July 4th, 2013|Educational Activities, Teaching|0 Comments

Children at West Walton Community Primary School Learn about Dinosaurs

Children in the reception class at West Walton Community Primary have been learning all about dinosaurs and fossils this term, under the enthusiastic tutelage of the teaching and support staff at the school.

The budding young palaeontologists have been excavating dinosaur bones out in the school yard, creating pictures and writing stories about prehistoric animals, they even got the chance to produce some lovely artwork.  Spotted in pride of place on one of the walls of the reception classroom was this beautifully constructed illustration of the skeleton of the dinosaur known as Stegosaurus.  When asked, the children were eager to share their knowledge of dinosaurs, explaining that Stegosaurus was a plant-eater, with plates on his back, spikes on his tail and this dinosaur had a very small brain – no bigger than a walnut.

Stegosaurus Skeleton Artwork

The Stegosaurus Illustration in the Classroom

Young children study dinosaurs.

Young children study dinosaurs.

Picture credit: West Walton Community Primary School

Mrs Hughes, one of the reception class teachers explained that the children had been very keen to study dinosaurs this term and when it came to creating the class’s own Stegosaurus skeleton the children were determined to make it as accurate as they could.  She told a team member at Everything Dinosaur who visited the school, that one little boy even measured the ribs in order to make sure they were the right size.

Stegosaurus Illustration

It is certainly a very commendable effort and Stegosaurus is one of the most iconic of all the members of the Dinosauria.  As for the small brain size, the walnut metaphor seems to be universally accepted and team members at Everything Dinosaur have come across it on many occasions.  It is true that when the brain to body size ratio for a large number of dinosaurs is considered, then in comparison with their huge bulk, a lot of dinosaurs do seem to have possessed very small brains indeed.  Using a walnut to describe the brain size of a dinosaur, seems to date back more than one hundred years.

One of the earliest examples, of the “walnut phrase” being used comes from a illustrated book “Mighty Animals”, first published in 1912.  The description was applied to the Late Jurassic dinosaur Diplodocus, not Stegosaurus.

There is a reference to the eminent American palaeontologist Edwin Colbert describing the Stegosaurus brain as “being not much bigger than a walnut” back in 1945 and within Everything Dinosaur’s extensive reference library, we have come across one description from shortly after the Second World War that describes the brain of Stegosaurus as being “only as big as a prune”.

A Scale Drawing of Stegosaurus

An illustration of Stegosaurus (S. stenops).

An illustration of Stegosaurus (S. stenops).

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Knowledge of Neuroanatomy

As our knowledge of neuroanatomy has developed so our interpretation of intelligence has changed.  The crude measure of body size to brain size, does not necessarily give an indication of “intelligence”, as different behaviours in animals can be seen as a form of intelligence.  For example, the brain of the grey squirrel is small, these little rodents that leap about in the trees at the back of Everything Dinosaur’s warehouse, still exhibit remarkable feats of memory far superior to our own when it comes to locating nuts that they have buried.

Another method of estimating relative  intelligence is the Encephalisation Quotient (EQ).  This analysis is based on the principle of comparing the brain volume of the animal being studied to the brain volume of a control animal with approximately the same body weight.  Here too, the assumption is that animals with larger brains to body ratios are more intelligent than animals with smaller brains to body size ratios.

Cold-blooded bony fish such as the Pacific Salmon have a brain size just one tenth of that of a similar sized mammal, yet these fish are capable of navigating thousands of miles and making their way upstream, overcoming all sorts of obstacles and obstructions.

Although, the likes of Stegosaurus had very small brains, these animals were clearly well adapted to their environments and we as a species have much more to learn about when it comes to estimating relative intelligence and defining intelligent behaviours in the rest of the Animal Kingdom.  After all, Homo sapiens has been around as a species for over two hundred thousand years, but the Stegosaurs as a group may have existed for more than thirty-five million years.

Stegosaurus – Well Adapted to its Environment

A remarkable dinosaur.

A remarkable dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Perhaps the budding palaeontologists inspired by the teaching staff at West Walton Community Primary will one day carry out some research the helps improve our understanding and interpretation of intelligent behaviours in the Kingdom Animalia.

To view models of stegosaurs and other other armoured dinosaurs take a look at the PNSO model collection: PNSO Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

3 07, 2013

New Cover Artwork for Prehistoric Times (Issue 106)

By |2024-01-01T17:28:10+00:00July 3rd, 2013|Dinosaur Fans, Prehistoric Times|0 Comments

20th Anniversary of Prehistoric Times Magazine

Twenty years in geological time is merely the blink of an eye but today team members at Everything Dinosaur are looking forward to receiving the next edition of “Prehistoric Times”, the magazine for dinosaur model collectors and fans.  The next issue will mark the 20th anniversary of this quarterly publication – my how time flies.

The Cover Artwork on “Prehistoric Times” (Summer 2013)

Marking the 20th anniversary of the magazine.

Marking the 20th anniversary of the magazine.

Picture credit: Prehistoric Times

“Prehistoric Times”

Mike Fredericks, the highly talented editor of “Prehistoric Times” and his contributors have compiled a super summer edition, jam-packed full of the latest news in the world of vertebrate palaeontology, new model releases, top interviews, product reviews and artwork.  There is a special feature on Tyrannosaurus rex, the number one when it comes to Everything Dinosaur’s annual survey to find out which is the favourite prehistoric animal of all our readers, fans and customers.

To read more about “Prehistoric Times” magazine: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

The life of the great stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen is commemorated with a special tribute, Ray the amazingly gifted and talented creator of many of the monsters seen in such classic films as Clash of the Titans (1981), the Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973), One Million Years B.C. (1966) and Jason and the Argonauts (1963) sadly passed away in May.

Team members, can’t wait for their next issue of Prehistoric Times to arrive.

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

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