All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
24 08, 2015

Little Finger Points to Changes in Hominin Evolution

By |2023-04-05T11:56:18+01:00August 24th, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Ancestors May Have Come Down From the Trees Earlier than Thought

A tiny, little finger bone, representing the proximal phalanx of the fifth digit of a hominin’s left hand has led scientists to reconsider the date of our ancestor’s descent from the trees.  Put simply, the discovery of one of the world’s oldest little finger bones from a human-like species suggests that at around 1.8 million years ago hands had already become much more readily adapted to using tools than to climbing trees.  The finger bone, is not curved, curved bones in the digits are indicative of a grasping, weight bearing role very typical of apes that live in trees.  The bone is very similar in shape to that of a modern human little finger bone (Homo sapiens).

Various Views of the Little Finger Bone (Proximal Phalanx)

Various Views of the ancient hominin finger bone.

Various Views of the ancient hominin finger bone.

Picture credit: M. Domínguez-Rodrigo

Little Finger Bone from Olduvai Gorge

The bone was discovered in the Olduvai Gorge region of Tanzania and it is estimated to be about 1.8 million years old.  The fossil find suggests that by 1.8 million years ago, a human-like species had already made the transition to terrestrial living whilst co-existing with more arboreal hominins such as Homo habilis and a member of a distantly related sub-branch to the hominin family tree that led to modern humans Paranthropus boisei.

From the Trees to the Ground

According to researchers such as Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo (co-director of the Olduvai Gorge-based project The Institute of Evolution in Africa), this discovery pushes back the origin of dextrous human digits some 400,000 years.

Commenting on the fossil find, Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo, one of the team members who analysed the bone stated:

“This bone belongs to somebody who’s not spending any time in the trees at all.  Hanging from branches tends to bend bones like this one that extend from the knuckle, whereas in modern humans, and in this case they are straighter.”

The Position of the Fossil Proximal Phalanx in a Modern Human Left Hand

The location of the bone in the left hand.

The location of the bone in the left hand.

Picture credit: M. Domínguez-Rodrigo

Evidence Supporting a Change of Behaviour in Ancient Ancestors

The scientist, who has been involved in research projects in Tanzania since 2006 explained that this was evidence supporting a significant change in the behaviour of our ancient ancestors.  If the hands were no longer being used to climb trees, then they could be being used for other purposes such as making tools.

Biological anthropologist Brian Richmond (American Museum of Natural History, New York) and another specialist in early human history commented:

“This provides good evidence supporting the hypothesis that, by about two million years ago, our early ancestors lost the anatomy linked to our tree-climbing past.”

Although the finger bone is a different shape from the bones of contemporary Australopithecines, other scientists, such as Richard Potts of the Smithsonian Human Origins Programme (Washington D.C.) has suggested that a single bone is not enough evidence to conclude that the hand it came from truly resembles that of a modern human ancestor.

Everything Dinosaur stocks a range of early hominin models and figures: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Hominins and Prehistoric Animals.

23 08, 2015

Earliest Baboon Fossil Identified from World Heritage Site

By |2023-04-05T11:50:09+01:00August 23rd, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Earliest Baboon Papio angusticeps – An Ancestor of Modern Baboons

A team of international scientists including researchers from Witwatersrand University (South Africa), have discovered the fossils of the earliest known baboon.  The partial skull of a new species, which has been named Papio angusticeps has been dated to around 2.026 to 2.36 million years ago was found at Malapa, in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, which is located about thirty miles north-west of Johannesburg in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

Earliest Baboon Fossil Discovery

The baboon fossils come from the same site where the partial remains of the early hominin species, named Australopithecus sediba, were discovered in 2010.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s article on the discovery of A. sedibaNew Fossils May Shed Light on Human Ancestry.

Baboons and Hominins May Have Competed for Resources

Commenting on the study, lead author Dr Christopher Gilbert (Hunter College of the City University of New York), explained that the rise of the baboons was contemporaneous with the rise of that part of the hominin family tree that resulted in our own species.

Various Views of the Skull Fossil (Papio angusticeps)

Various views of the baboon skull fossil.

Various views of the baboon skull fossil.

Picture credit: Witwatersrand University

He commented:

“Baboons are known to have co-existed with hominins at several fossil localities in East Africa and South Africa and they are sometimes used as comparative models in human evolution.”

Earliest Baboon

As one of the largest, non-hominin members of the primate Order, these intelligent animals would have competed with our ancestors for food, shelter and other resources.  The skull fossil is very similar to that found in a modern baboon species, (Papio hamadryas), one of five species in the Papio genus and the species of baboon that lives the furthest north.  Its range is from the horn of Africa across the Arabian Sea into the Arabian peninsula.

Despite the record of baboon fossils from a number of hominin sites, the evolution of modern baboons is not well understood and the fossil record for these large Old World monkeys is very poor.

Fragmentary Fossil Record

Dr Gilbert added:

“According to molecular clock studies, baboons are estimated to have diverged from their closest relatives by 1.8 to 2.2 million years ago.  However, until now, most fossil specimens known within this time range have been either too fragmentary to be definitive or too primitive to be confirmed as members of the living species Papio hamadryas.  The specimen from Malapa and our current analyses help to confirm the suggestion of previous researchers, that P. angusticeps may, in fact, be an early population of P. hamadryas.”

A Model of an Extant Male Baboon

earliest baboon fossils (extant baboon)

A model of a male baboon.

Picture credit: CollectA

For CollectA models and prehistoric animal figures: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

Dr Gilbert, a specialist in early primate evolution explained:

“If you placed a number of P. angusticeps specimens into a modern osteology collection, I don’t think you’d be able pick them out as any different from those of modern baboons from East and South Africa.”

In addition, the estimated age of the Malapa specimen (2.026 to 2.36 million years old), is an almost perfect fit with molecular clock analyses for the initial appearance of modern baboons.  The skull may help to solve the evolutionary origins of these highly adaptive mammals.  Furthermore, as monkeys are widely recognised as key time-sensitive elements in the fossil record, the fact that the Malapa P. angusticeps specimen is well-dated allows future studies to better estimate the age of fossil sites where the species is found.

This may prove particularly helpful when attempting to date early hominin sites in South Africa.  The presence of these baboon fossils, may be able to help scientists achieve more accurate age estimates for any early hominin remains found in situ.

22 08, 2015

Little “Scarface” Late Permian Predator May Have Been Venomous

By |2023-04-05T08:08:36+01:00August 22nd, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Ichibengops munyamadziensis – A Nasty Little “Critter”

Researchers at the Field Museum (Chicago, Illinois) in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Utah, The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (Seattle) and the University of Washington have published a scientific paper detailing the discovery of a new genus of mammal-like animals that thrived prior to the Permian mass extinction event.  This little synapsid is the first endemic Zambian member of the Therocephalia to be described in detail.

Late Permian Predator

The fossils, which include a partial skull and upper jaw were discovered in a field expedition back in 2009, to the Madumabisa Mudstone Formation in the Luangwa Basin (north-eastern Zambia), at the time the field team were not aware that they had discovered a new species of mammal-like reptile.  A bizarre groove found on the animal’s upper jaw suggests that this little carnivore could have been venomous.  Potential venom glands and tooth grooves to permit the passage of venom into wounds of prey that had been bitten, have been proposed for some other members of the Therocephalia before, but this interpretation of the fossil evidence remains controversial.

A Picture of the Holotype Skull and Jaw Material (Ichibengops munyamadziensis)

Fossils date from around 252 million years ago (Late Permian).

Fossils date from around 255 million years ago (Late Permian).

Picture credit: Adam Huttenlocker

Ichibengops munyamadziensis

Described as a “little critter” by Everything Dinosaur team members, the fossils are believed to be around 255 million years old (Wuchiapingian faunal stage of Permian).  Ichibengops, (pronounced itc-chee-ben-gops) comes from the local Bemba dialect for scar and the Greek suffix for face, hence this “little critter” has been nick-named “scarface”.

A paper on the 2009 discovery has just been published in the academic publication the “Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology”.  The Therocephalia, believed to be closely related to the cynodonts are referred to as “beast heads”, on account of their robust skulls.  As a group, they survived the End Permian extinction, but were greatly reduced with only a few Families persisting into the Early Triassic.  This group died out at around the time of the very first dinosaurs, but it is unlikely that the rise of the Dinosauria had anything to do with the extinction of the Therocephalia.

Permian Predator

Commenting on the research, one of the authors of the scientific paper, Dr Kenneth Angielczyk (Field Museum) stated:

“Discoveries of new species of animals like Ichibengops are particularly exciting because they help us to better understand the group of animals that gave rise to mammals.  One interesting feature about this species in particular is the presence of grooves above its teeth, which may have been used to transmit venom.”

Venomous?

Being venomous is rare in today’s Mammalia, only a few extant species produce venom.  For example, the duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) a monotreme, is now known to be venomous as are a number of species of shrews.  If this little animal was able to deliver a debilitating bite then this might have proved advantageous, helping to despatch victims quickly as well as providing a formidable defence against attack from larger predators.

An Illustration of Ichibengops munyamadziensis

A Late Permian predator.

A Late Permian predator. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur stocks an extensive range of models of animal that lived during the Palaeozoic.  The CollectA range for example, includes models of many Permian animals including Dimetrodon, Edaphosaurus and Estemmenosuchus.

To view the Collect Deluxe range: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Figures.

21 08, 2015

Second Tetrapod Zoology Convention – Date Set

By |2023-04-05T08:04:46+01:00August 21st, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

TetZooCon 2015 (14th November 2015)

We are very lucky in this country to have such a vibrant group of like-minded academics, writers, scientists and artists who are passionate about the living world and life in the past in all its myriad forms.   However, the opportunities to bring such dedicated and well informed people together remain few and far between.

It’s great to hear that the date for a second Tetrapod Zoology Convention has been set, what with the runaway success of the inaugural conference, organisers, renowned science-writer and all round top chap Dr Darren Naish (University of Southampton), aided and abetted by talented palaeoartist John Conway are already finalising the impressive list of speakers for the convention scheduled for Saturday 14th November at the London Wetland Centre.

Tetrapod Zoology Convention

Tickets cost just £40.00 for the day, highlights of which will include short talks on all manner of zoologically-themed subjects, which as we go to press, cover topic areas as varied and diverse as marine reptiles, urban birding, the Pterosauria and crypto-mammals with a focus on pygmy elephants!  There will be time for a little bit of animal watching at the London Wetland Centre as well as a pub trip and a pub-themed social event to round off the event.

TetZooCon 2015 – Bookings Now Being Taken

Click on the logo to visit the Paypal booking service.

Click on the logo to visit the Paypal booking service.

Image Credit: Darren Naish

To book tickets via Paypal: Tickets Can Be Booked Here.

The London Wetland Centre is located in Barnes, London (postcode for satnav purposes: SW13 9WT), coffee and tea will be provided and lunch can be procured from the nearby Water’s Edge Cafe.

Palaeoart Workshop – A Highlight

Building upon the highly successful palaeoart workshop that took place last year, this convention will also give delegates the opportunity to gain an insight into this fascinating area of scientific illustration with the likes of Bob Nicholls, Mark Witton and of course, John Conway leading the way.  There might even be one or two signed prints available to purchase.  So, book the date of Saturday November 14th into your diary.  The London Wetland Centre will once more be the venue for the second celebration of all things zoological and palaeontological.

For information, updates and to access the super weblog written by Dr Naish: Tetrapod Zoology.

And that booking information once again, (tickets £40.00): Book Tickets Here via Paypal.

20 08, 2015

Rebor Hatching Velociraptors Video Review

By |2023-04-05T08:03:23+01:00August 20th, 2015|Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Rebor Club Selection Hatching Velociraptors Video Review

The second replica in the highly sought after Rebor Club Selection series is this excellent set of hatching Velociraptors.  The little theropods have been nick-named Lock, Stock and Barrel and in this ten minute video review, Everything Dinosaur looks at this 1:1 scale replica in detail and provides helpful, scientific insight into the layout and design of this particular collector’s piece.

Rebor Replicas Video Review

Everything Dinosaur’s Video Review of the Rebor Club Selection Hatching Velociraptors

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

Velociraptor mongoliensis

We suspect that the sculpt is based on the first species of Velociraptor to be scientifically named and described (Velociraptor mongoliensis), fossils of which were discovered by an American Museum of Natural History expedition to Mongolia in 1924.  Ironically, the expedition did not set out to intentionally find new dinosaurs, the primary objective was to discover the ancestry of modern humans.

Rebor are to be praised for introducing such a well thought out and fascinating replica.  In this short, (10:13) video, we comment on the shape of the eggs, explain a little about the sandy substrate that the three models rest upon and discuss ways in which this centre piece could be presented.  In addition, we look at the science behind the sculpt.  For example, although the dinosaurs are presented as scaly reptiles, rather than fuzzy bird-like theropods, we look at the implications for producing model baby dinosaurs that are so well developed.

One glance at those teeth and sharp claws on display would convince you that these young Velociraptors are capable of looking after themselves almost as soon as they have hatched.  What is the science behind Rebor’s thinking?  We try to present some evidence to support Rebor’s interpretation and highlight a couple of aspects of this model such as the vertical pupils in the eyes which might have been over looked by other reviewers.

Rebor Hatching Velociraptors

The Velociraptor Hatchings Have Vertical Slits for Pupils

Why the vertical slit for pupil and not a rounded one?

Why the vertical slit for pupil and not a rounded one?

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture above shows a close up of the hatching Velociraptor nick-named “Stock”.  In our video review, we try to pick up on one or two points and highlight aspects of this replica that might not have been covered by other reviewers.

To see the range of Rebor replicas including the limited edition Club Selection Hatching Velociraptors: Rebor Models and Figures.

19 08, 2015

Saying it with Flowers – but Underwater

By |2023-04-05T08:00:29+01:00August 19th, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Montsechia – Ancient, Aquatic Angiosperm

The origin of, arguably, the most successful of group of plants, the flowering plants (angiosperms), remains something of a mystery.  The fossil record for plants in general is particularly sparse, however, a team of international scientists have identified an Early Cretaceous aquatic plant called Montsechia vidalii as a candidate for one of the earliest flowering plants known.  This research, which involved examining more than a thousand fossil specimens, has implications for the way in which palaeontologists think how flowering plants first evolved and which were the first habitats that they established themselves in.

Montsechia vidalii

Indiana University palaeobotanist David Dilcher, appropriately based at the Bloomington campus, is one of the authors of the scientific study which has just been published in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.”  The fossils in question, come from fine-grained, lithographic limestone formations of the Pyrenees (Montsec Range) on the Spanish side of the border between France and Spain.  The delicate plant fossils have been studied for over one hundred years but it is only very recently that their potential significance and the implications for the evolution of flowering plants has begun to be realised.

A Beautifully Preserved Specimen of Montsechia vidalii

Early Cretaceous flowering water plant.

Early Cretaceous flowering water plant.

Picture credit: Bernard Gomez

Early Cretaceous Freshwater Plant

Using the fossilised remains of freshwater, microscopic algae (Charophytes) the plant fossils have been dated to the Barremian faunal stage of the Early Cretaceous, making these water plants something like 130 to 124 million years old.  This is an example of fossils being used to estimate the relative age of different rock strata (biostratigraphy).

Emeritus Professor David Dilcher explained the significance of identifying M. vidalii as an angiosperm. He stated:

“This discovery raises significant questions about the early evolutionary history of flowering plants, as well as the role of these plants in the evolution of other plant and animal life.”

When Did Flowering Plants Evolve?

As to exactly when the first flowering plants evolved the debate remains, for example, back in 2013, Everything Dinosaur team members wrote an article about a study undertaken by the Geological Consulting & Services of Ober-Ramstadt (Germany) and the University of Zurich which proposed that the first angiosperms could have evolved more than 24o million years ago.

To read this article: Saying it with Flowers 100 Million Years Early.

The scientists who studied the Spanish fossils included researchers from the Universities of Barcelona and Lyon as well as personnel from the Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, (Berlin).  They make M. vidalii contemporaneous with the ancient water plant known as Archaefructus, fossils of which come from north-eastern China.

Emeritus Professor David Dilcher a Leading Authority on Ancient Flowering Plants

A leading researcher into the origins of flowering plants.

A leading researcher into the origins of flowering plants.

Picture credit: University of Indiana

Limestone Matrix Dissolved with Acid

In order to reveal the minute details of the plant’s structures, vital in assigning Montsechia vidalii to the flowering plant Order, the researchers applied tiny drops of hydrochloric acid to dissolve away the limestone matrix.  The plant’s cuticles, the protective film covering the leaves that reveals their shape was carefully bleached away in a separate process using a mixture of nitric acid and potassium chlorate.

A Magnified View of the Plant Structures

A close up view of some of the plant fossils.

A close up view of some of the plant fossils.

Picture credit: Bernard Gomez/Everything Dinosaur

Careful Observation and Study of Montsechia

This careful examination was particularly important to Montsechia since most modern observers might not even recognize the fossil as a flowering plant.  David, who completed his doctorate at Yale University in 1964, has dedicated much of his research into unravelling the history of ancient plant-life went on to add:

“Montsechia possesses no obvious “flower parts”, such as petals or nectar-producing structures for attracting insects, and lives out its entire life cycle under water.  The fruit contains a single seed – the defining characteristic of an angiosperm.”

Identifying the defining characteristics of an angiosperm is notoriously a tricky business.  Several botanical features common in the angiosperms are also found in many other sub-branches (no pun intended), of the Plantae Kingdom.

The lack of fossils hampers scientists in their bid to help unravel the evolutionary relationship between flowering plants and older types of plant.  For example, a number of palaeobotanists have proposed that some pteridosperms (seed ferns) are ancestral to the angiosperms.  Pteridosperms are regarded as gymnosperms, this term means “naked seed”, as these plants are characterised by not enclosing their seeds in a protective outer covering (the carpel).

However, since the carpel, is designed to protect the unfertilised seeds within it, it tends to be tough and it is these carpel remains that have helped researchers to slowly piece together a fragmentary picture of the origins of flowering plants – a vitally important plant group to us humans as most of the plants we consume are angiosperms.

Resembling a Hornwort

When the visual appearance of Montsechia is considered, David Dilcher stated that it resembles its most modern descendent, identified in the study as Ceratophyllum, commonly known as “hornworts”. Ceratophyllum is a dark green aquatic plant which is often planted in ponds and aquaria as it provides shelter to wildlife as well as oxygenating the water.

An Illustration of Montsechia vidalii Including Seed Diagrams

A hardy Early Cretaceous water plant.

A hardy Early Cretaceous water plant.

Picture credit: Oscar Sanisidro with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

Despite the great difficulties in exposing the fine structures of the plants, the researchers are determined to press on with their studies.  Their next targets are to explore in more detail the phylogenetic relationship between Montsechia and its modern counterparts and to develop a better understanding of precisely when other species of angiosperms branched off from their ancestral forms.

Stressing the importance of this research, the Emeritus Professor concluded:

“There’s still much to be discovered about how a few early species of seed-bearing plants eventually gave rise to the enormous, and beautiful, variety of flowers that now populate nearly every environment on Earth.”

18 08, 2015

Pulanesaura – A Case of “Four Legs Good Two Legs Bad”

By |2023-04-05T07:55:51+01:00August 18th, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

South African Basal Sauropod Sheds Light on Niche Partitioning in Early Jurassic Herbivores

What does a quotation from George Orwell’s famous novella “Animal Farm” that satirises the Soviet system have in common with a newly described South African dinosaur?  Not a lot, you might think, but the slogan “Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad” coined by the animals in the book can be aptly applied to the fossilised remains of a newly described Early Jurassic long-necked dinosaur.

The fossils of Pulanesaura eocollum suggest that this plant-eater spent all its life as a quadruped, that is, it had become adapted to walking around on four legs and feeding on low growing plants, as opposed to the sauropodomorphs that shared its world, dinosaurs like Massospondylus, which were either semi-bipedal for full bipeds.

Basal Sauropod

This four-legged stance would have given this eight metre long, five tonne herbivore a very efficient feeding platform, perhaps, providing it  with a distinct advantage over the other dinosaurs that it shared its habitat with.

A Diagram Showing Suggested Body Shape and Some of the Fossilised Bones of P. eocollum

About 7% of the total skeleton is known.

About 7% of the total skeleton is known.

Picture credit: Witwatersrand University

The picture above shows representative fossil bones of the new sauropod.  The fossils were excavated from a small quarry measuring a little over ten square metres in size from a farm in the Spion Kop locality (Senekel District of the Free State, South Africa).  The close proximity of the fossils and the depositional environment which represents a low energy deposit dominated by poorly bedded sandstones and silts, suggests this site relates to a cut-off channel.

Fossils collected indicate the presence of two sub-adult to adult sized specimens.  Analysis of the almond-shaped teeth found in association with the bones along with the robust forelimbs suggest that Pulanesaura fed close to the ground, whilst its contemporaries, dinosaurs like Massospondylus and Arcusaurus (fossils of which were found at the edge of the same quarry), used their arms to help gather food from across a broad range of the forest canopy.

Head Down Browsers

The dinosaur, described by University of Witwatersrand PhD student Blair McPhee and colleagues in the journal “Scientific Reports” provides evidence of niche partitioning in Early Jurassic sauropods. Niche partitioning is defined as the process by which natural selection drives competing species into different patterns of resource use or different niches.

Niche partitioning in this way permits a number of similar animals to co-exist in an environment as each species does not directly compete with the other.  In simple terms, the stocky, heavy-set Pulanesaura may have specialised in grazing upon low growing plants such as ferns and horsetails, a “head down” approach to finding its dinner as described by one member of the Everything Dinosaur team.  In contrast, sauropodomorphs which could behave as facultative quadrupeds (mostly adopting a bipedal stance but able to go down on all fours if they desired), would feed on taller plants and trees, a “heads up” feeding strategy.

Niche Partitioning

This concept of niche partitioning in the Sauropoda has been applied before, notably when the extensive Late Jurassic sauropod fossil material from the Morrison Formation of the western United States is considered.  In the Late Jurassic, brachiosaurids and diplodocids lived side by side, along with camarasaurids.  Different dinosaur body shapes and neck lengths permitted each type of plant-eater to specialise on feeding on particular parts of the available flora.

Niche Partitioning in Late Jurassic Sauropods

Long necks for different feeding envelopes.

Long necks for different feeding envelopes.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Other authors of the paper include Dr Matthew Bonnan (Stockton University), Dr Jonah Choiniere (Evolutionary Studies Institute at Witwatersrand University), Dr Adam Yates (Scientist at the Museum of Central Australia) and Dr Johann Neveling (Geologist from the Council of Geoscience).  The scientists conclude that Pulanesaura was an early member of the long-necked sauropod lineage of dinosaurs, distantly related to the super-sized Sauropoda that evolved later in the Jurassic and an early exponent of the “four legs good” lineage of plant-eating dinosaurs that were to dominant terrestrial habitats for much of the Jurassic.

Commenting on the significance of this dinosaur discovery, student Blair McPhee stated:

“This dinosaur showcases the unexpected diversity of locomotion and feeding strategies present in South Africa 200 million years ago.  This has serious implications for how dinosaurs were carving up their ecosystems.”

Pulanesaura eocollum – A Basal Sauropod

The exact date of the strata from which the fossils come from is difficult to determine.  The rocks containing the Pulanesaura material are associated with the Upper Elliot Formation, precise dating remains controversial with broad estimates of the age of these rocks ranging from 200 million years to around 180 million years old.

Dr Jonah Choiniere added:

“We used to think that only two species of sauropodomorph dinosaur were present in South Africa.  Now we know that the picture was much more complicated, with lots of species present. But Pulanesaura is still special because it was doing something that all these newly discovered species were not.”

The Teeth of the Plant-Eating Dinosaur

Scale bar = 1cm

Scale bar = 1cm.

Picture credit: University of Witwatersrand

There are two broken teeth associated with the fossil bones.  They are very similar to the teeth found in most basal sauropods.  The dinosaur’s name Pulanesaura eocollum is derived from the local language “Pulane” meaning rain-maker/bringer, a reference to the very wet conditions that the field team encountered when excavating the fossils.

What’s in a Name?

The species name means “dawn neck”, a direct reference to the anatomical modifications in the neck identified by the scientists which probably meant that this dinosaur did not have to move its body around too much in order to feed.  Less movement equates to less energy being expended to gather food, an efficient method of feeding that was to be taken to extreme lengths by the gigantic Sauropods that evolved later.

Stockton University’s Dr  Matthew Bonnan summed up the importance of this fossil discovery by explaining:

“The traditional picture of sauropod evolution is that when they came onto the scene, the other Sauropodomorphs were pushed aside.  Pulanesaura turns this notion on its head.  Sauropod evolution was occurring alongside and influenced by competition with their sauropodomorph brethren.”  

For models and replicas of Jurassic sauropods and other prehistoric creatures: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animal Figures.

17 08, 2015

Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings

By |2023-04-05T07:49:37+01:00August 17th, 2015|Educational Activities, Teaching|0 Comments

Pictures of Prehistoric Animals

As part of Everything Dinosaur’s outreach activities supporting summer schools we challenged one group of Key Stage Two children to have a go at designing their very own dinosaur.  We explained how diverse the Dinosauria were and the various ecological niches occupied by this group of ancient reptiles then we set the children to work.  Everything Dinosaur team members wanted to help encourage their creativity as well as to get them considering such aspects as adaptation, diet and habitat.  We received some very colourful and indeed, very creative illustrations.

Dinosaur Drawings

Children Design Their Own Prehistoric Animals

Dinosaur drawings.

Colourful and carefully thought out dinosaur designs.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings

This assignment was part of a wider project which Everything Dinosaur team members were involved in.  The focus was on literacy and coming up with imaginative and fun ways in which we could help the children with their writing.  The dinosaur topic and related scheme of work certainly proved very popular with the children.  The teaching team and volunteers were extremely enthusiastic too.

Lots of Different Prehistoric Animals were Created

dinosaur drawings.

We explained the link between dinosaurs and birds.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Link Between Dinosaurs and Birds

With our dinosaur expert having explained the link between birds and dinosaurs and shown examples of feathered dinosaurs such as Microraptor, Beipiaosaurus, Therizinosaurus and Caudipteryx, naturally we got a lot of feathers in the children’s dinosaur designs.

Meat-eating dinosaur creations proved the most popular, especially with the boys, but there were also plenty of plant-eating dinosaurs created as well.  Lots of long-necked dinosaurs, dinosaurs with horns, even armoured ones.  It certainly was a very creative exercise.

Contact Everything Dinosaur

To request further information about Everything Dinosaur: Contact Us.

Commenting on the work undertaken by company, a teacher praised Everything Dinosaur for the provision of some inspiring resources.

A spokesperson for Everything Dinosaur stated:

“It has been fun to examine the wonderful and very imaginative dinosaur creations and we were really impressed with the amount of labelling that had also been going on.  Lots of colourful dinosaurs on display along with numerous adjectives.”

To view the extensive range of dinosaur toys and gifts available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

16 08, 2015

Schleich Giganotosaurus (orange) Reviewed

By |2023-04-05T07:46:29+01:00August 16th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

A Review of the Schleich Giganotosaurus (orange)

Carefully crafted with robust, creative play in mind, Schleich have produced another very attractive dinosaur model.  The figure in question is the recently introduced Schleich Giganotosaurus (orange) dinosaur model, one of two new models added to the company’s “World of History” model range this summer.  For prehistoric animal figure collectors it might be a case of “déjà vu” as this is the third Giganotosaurus model introduced by the German company in the last five years.  Of the three, it is certainly the most colourful.

Schleich Giganotosaurus

The Schleich Giganotosaurus (orange) Dinosaur Model

Giant Southern Lizard.

“Giant Southern Lizard.”

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Giganotosaurus has grown in popularity since its formal naming and description by Argentinean palaeontologist Rodolfo Coria  back in 1995.  Each year, Everything Dinosaur produces a list of the most popular prehistoric animals and in 2014’s survey “Giant Southern Lizard” remained at number eight for the second year running.

To view the Everything Dinosaur 2014 survey: Everything Dinosaur’s Top Ten Prehistoric Animals 2014.

A Popular Cretaceous Meat-eating Dinosaur

This model will do a lot to retain the popularity of this Cretaceous meat-eating dinosaur.  It is very sturdy, the model weighs close to half a kilogramme and it is very well sculpted.  The weight of the replica gives it a real feel of quality.  The feeling of quality is enhanced when the fine details of the skin texture including traces of skin folds are considered.  Unlike many inferior replicas, the detailing is continued on the underside of the model.

The Underside of the Schleich Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Model (Giganotosaurus orange)

Skin folds and texture on the underside of the model.

Skin folds and texture on the underside of the model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Beautifully Painted Schleich Giganotosaurus

The model is beautifully painted with a striking bright orange down the flanks (it is this colour that gives this dinosaur model its name and helps it to distinguish it from the other two, earlier Schleich Giganotosaurus replicas).  The orange colouration is off-set by a light green band that runs down the body and a stripe of cobalt blue that starts as a small line on the tip of nose and runs down the top of the skull, down the back to the tip of the tail where it broadens out to give this model a dark tail colour.

When inspecting the underside of this model, it is sensible to check the CE mark and manufacturer authentication which can be found on the belly.  We expect there will be a lot “Chinasaur” replicas being made so we advise collectors to purchase from an authorised Schleich distributor such as Everything Dinosaur.

Authentic Models Should Have the Manufacturer Details on the Underside

Look for the manufacturer's marks.

Look for the manufacturer’s marks.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Oversized Feet

The feet are a little oversized but these help with the bipedal stance of this replica and like all the other large Theropod dinosaur models currently made by Schleich, this replica features an articulated jaw.  The excellent paint work continues inside the mouth, even the palate area, the roof of the mouth, has been sculpted and painted with care.  No soft tissue preservation from the skull area is known for Giganotosaurus (G. carolinii), but we appreciate the work of the design team at Schleich to include these details on their dinosaur model.

To view the range of large prehistoric animal models available (World of History): Schleich World of History Dinosaur Models.

The Schleich Giganotosaurus Model (orange) Even Shows Details of the Roof of the Mouth

Details of the mouth of the Schleich Giganotosaurus (orange).

Details of the mouth of the Schleich Giganotosaurus (orange).

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur

On the Everything Dinosaur website, we give this model’s length as approximately twenty-four centimetres, but as the tail curls round on itself and the neck is slightly bent to the right, it is difficult to provide an extremely accurate measurement of this replica’s size.  When measured with one of Everything Dinosaur’s field tape measures, the model comes out at around thirty-three centimetres in length, but in our video review of this dinosaur model, to be published shortly, we retain the more conservative measurement and calculate a 1:58 scale size for this Giganotosaurus.

A Close up of the Head of the Schleich Giganotosaurus (orange)

Well painted model has an articulated lower jaw.

Well painted model has an articulated lower jaw.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The row of horns running along the length of the body and along the top of the snout may not exactly match the known fossil record, and the fenestrae in the skull are a slightly unusual shape (but at least the sculptors have indicated the skull of this dinosaur had large holes behind and in front of the eye socket).  All in all, this is an excellent model, one that we recommend for young dinosaur fans and collectors alike.

15 08, 2015

Dinosaur Summer School A Roaring Success

By |2023-04-05T07:42:33+01:00August 15th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Dinosaur Summer School A Roaring Success

School Children Study Dinosaurs with a Literacy Focus

Pupils at Kingswood Primary Academy got to grips with dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals in a two-week long fossil themed summer school aimed at helping the children to improve their reading and writing skills.  The teaching experts at Everything Dinosaur were invited to take part helping to inspire and enthuse the pupils.  The ages of the children participating ranged from seven years to eleven years of age, the newspapers that they produced at the end of the fortnight which detailed their dinosaur discoveries were very professionally produced.

Dinosaur Summer School

The fossils and other objects that Everything Dinosaur brought to the school proved to be very effective teaching aids and the children loved “picking the brains” of our dinosaur experts and showing off their writing.  The fossil hunt organised for the second week of study was especially popular with the school children able to take home the fossils they had found.  The fossils were donated by Everything Dinosaur and come from various dig sites that the Cheshire based company had been involved in.  There were ammonites, sharks teeth, fossilised wood, pieces of fossilised bone, belemnite guards and even some super fossilised worm casts to discover.

We used a dinosaur soft toy from our wide range of prehistoric plush to teach about the properties of materials: Soft Toy Dinosaurs.

Feedback from the teaching team was extremely positive, comments received included:

“Very interactive, fascinating and relevant the children loved these activities”

Dinosaur Themed Summer School a Roaring Success!

Feedback from Blackpool Science Conference

5 stars for Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Feedback Received

The picture above is a copy of the feedback form returned to Everything Dinosaur after the company’s participation in the summer school.  All too soon it was time to pack up but the team members did take time out to inspect some of the wonderful writing work that had been created by the children.  There were dinosaur posters, dinosaur fact cards, fact sheets all about extinction and even a marine reptile scene.

One of the teachers responsible for conducting the two-week long summer school stated:

“The Everything Dinosaur team member spent time with the children and answered all their questions.  Everything Dinosaur had a brilliant attitude with the children and they were really enthusiastic.  The team went out of their way to find extra information to answer one of the children’s questions.  Super resources.”

It seems that Everything Dinosaur’s work over the summer has been a roaring success.

To learn more about the company’s extensive product range: Everything Dinosaur.

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