Drawing of Sauropelta (Shield Lizard)

Sauropelta Illustrated

As we prepare for the 2015 introduction of the Sauropelta dinosaur figure in the Wild Safari Dinos model series (Safari Ltd), our team members have been working on the fact sheet that will accompany sales of this dinosaur model.  This large, early representative of that branch of the Ankylosauridae known as the nodosaurids was certainly a spectacular animal.  It had four pairs of spines projecting upwards and outwards from the neck and its body armour consisted of rows of bony studs interspersed with small, pebble-like osteoderms.  Sauropelta (S. edwardsorum) certainly needed its armour, as it shared a habitat with some very formidable theropod dinosaurs.

Sauropelta edwardsorum Illustrated

As part of Everything Dinosaur’s preparations ,we have commissioned an illustration of this nodosaurid.  The drawing will help us to create a scale drawing, to give readers the chance to gauge just how big this dinosaur was.  It will also permit us to add “shield lizard” to our large collection of dinosaur drawing materials and downloads.

Everything Dinosaur’s Sauropelta Illustration

Primitive nodosaurid from the United States.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Sauropelta Replica (Safari Ltd)

Available from Everything Dinosaur in early 2015.

Picture credit: Safari Ltd

Sauropelta

We think our illustration captures the anatomy of Sauropelta quite well, we shall add a human figure to the final drawing to provide scale.  One thing that has been pointed out to us, however, both the model and drawing with their small, down-turned snouts look unhappy.  Happiness is not an emotional state that is readily applied to the Dinosauria and we certainly should not anthropomorphosize, but perhaps the Sauropelta will look a little happier when these models start being snapped up by collectors and dinosaur fans alike.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s range of prehistoric animals from Safari Ltd: Safari Ltd – Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Models.