Suchomimus Dinosaur Model Reviewed

A new addition to the Wild Safari Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life model series is an updated replica of the East African Spinosaurid known as Suchomimus.  The name means “crocodile mimic” as the long, narrow jaws of this predatory dinosaur reminded palaeontologists of the jaws of Nile crocodiles, however, the design team of Safari Ltd have carried the crocodile analogy further by giving their model typical crocodilian skin texture.

Perhaps this is appropriate, as although skin impressions are not known for this genus, Suchomimus probably did spend a lot of its time in and around water just like today’s crocodiles.

Wild Safari Dinosaurs Suchomimus

The first fossils of this dinosaur , a two-thirds complete specimen with substantial skull material was discovered by an expedition to the Tegama Group Beds of the Elrhaz Formation of Niger in 1997.  In the 1970s, in the same region, fragmentary fossils of the jaws and claw of a large dinosaur had been discovered.

These fossils, now part of the collection of the Natural History Museum of Paris, probably relate to Suchomimus as well.

The design team at Safari Ltd have taken care to accurately reflect the fossil material, from what is one of the better known  of all the spinosaurs.  For example,  the lower dorsal and sacral vertebrae (vertebrae over the hips) had extended neural spines, so this dinosaur probably had a raised hump over its lower back.  This can be seen in the model with a raised area over the hips.

A Picture of the Wild Safari Dinosaurs Suchomimus

Suchomimus dinosaur model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Safari Ltd

The shoulder blade and the arm bones of Suchomimus are particularly well-developed.  Muscle attachment scars preserved on these bones suggest that this dinosaur had very strong, powerful arms and shoulders.

Reflecting Fossil Evidence

This replica mirrors the fossil evidence, the arms are indeed big and robust, however,  when the three fingered claws are examined, the first digit claw is not noticeably bigger than the other two.  Many palaeontologists believe that in common with other spinosaurids the first claw, the thumb claw, was larger than the other two claws on each hand.

The model measures officially about twenty centimetres in length, although as both the neck and tail are curved the model measures nearly 23 cm when these features are taken into account.  It is not really possible to give a scale for this replica, as the only significant fossil material found to date represents an individual dinosaur who although around 11 metres in length was not fully grown.  Scientists are not sure how big this spinosaur could grow to, but maximum size estimates of around 14 metres have been proposed.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s stock of Wild Safari Dinosaurs: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Figures.

This Wild Safari Dinos Suchomimus has been very well painted.  The topside and limbs have been coloured dark green, which contrasts nicely with the sandy coloured flanks, jaws and underside.  This updated version of a member of the Spinosauridae is a wonderful addition to the Wild Safari Dinosaurs model range.