November, 2015 | Everything Dinosaur Blog

13 11, 2015

Rocks, Fossils and Dinosaurs with Roald Dahl Class

By Mike|2023-04-08T11:01:19+01:00November 13th, 2015|Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Rocks, Fossils and Dinosaurs with Roald Dahl Class

Mixed Year 5/6 Class Explore a Strange Fossil

Children in Year 5 and Year 6 at Streethouse Primary near Pontefract (Yorkshire, England), have been learning all about rocks, fossils and dinosaurs this term. All the classes at this school have been named after famous authors, we wonder what Roald Dahl would have thought about the class named after him that have been studying giants, which were not all “big and friendly”. Some giant prehistoric sharks were so enormous that they could have swallowed Mrs Richardson (Roald Dahl class teacher), in one bite?

Rocks, Fossils and Dinosaurs

The fossil shark teeth resembled “less than” and “greater than” symbols that the children had been using in their maths work. This provided Everything Dinosaur with an opportunity to send over some pictures of shark teeth so the children could use these fifteen million year old fossils as mathematical symbols. Could the budding palaeontologists of Roald Dahl class use these mathematical symbols to sort some dinosaurs out, listing them in order of size?

A “Wow Wall” with Lots of Prehistoric Animal Information to Help Inspire Key Stage 2

A dinosaur workshop activity - a "wow wall".

An impressive extension activity after a dinosaur workshop. A dinosaur “wow wall”. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Streethouse Primary

One of the walls of the classroom had been set aside so that a display featuring key facts about dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals could be posted up. We look forward to seeing some of the children’s work as they complete their dinosaur study books. A quick glimpse at these books revealed that the teaching team had certainly put together a very creative and challenging scheme of work for the class.

To contact team members at Everything Dinosaur: Contact Everything Dinosaur Team Members.

Over the morning, the dinosaur and fossil themed workshop explored a number of key elements related to the new science curriculum. There were also a number of “pinkie palaeontologists” challenges posed, for example, could the children write a story about having a pet Triceratops?

Lots of Topic Areas Covered

Topic areas covered during the workshop included food chains, extinction (or not in the case of the Coelacanth), exploring fossil evidence and working scientifically. Once back in the office there was just time to sort out some additional resources which were then emailed over to the teaching team.

Lots of Photographs of Fossils were on Display

Lots of dinosaur and fossil pictures on display. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Streethouse Primary

The visit acted as a provocation exercise for the Year 5/6 pupils, enthusing the children and teachers alike. The dinosaurs topic will run until the end of the autumn term, the fossil expert from Everything Dinosaur offered to answer any questions that the children emailed to the company, questions that they could not find the answers to after they had carried out their own investigations and independent research. Looks like Roald Dahl class are going to have a fossil and dinosaur fact filled autumn term.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s user-friendly website: Everything Dinosaur.

13 11, 2015

New from CollectA for 2016 (Part 2)

By Mike|2023-04-08T10:55:12+01:00November 13th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page|0 Comments

CollectA Beishanlong, Lythronax and Struthiomimus New for 2016

You wait ages for an Ornithomimosauria clade model to come along and then, thanks to CollectA, two arrive! These models are part of the exciting 2016 introductions, along with a replica of the “King of Gore” Lythronax (L. argestes), a ferocious tyrannosaurid, fossils of which come from Utah. The CollectA Beishanlong, Lythronax and Struthiomimus models are coming into stock in 2016.

1:4o Scale Deluxe Beishanlong (B. grandis)

Available from Everything Dinosaur in 2016.

Picture credit: CollectA

New Dinosaur Models

Fossils of this giant, member of the “bird mimic” clade come from Gansu Province (China), it was a contemporary of the feathered tyrannosaur Xiongguanlong, (X. baimoensis), a replica of which was introduced by CollectA earlier this year. Beishanlong was one of the largest of the Ornithomimosauria known, although the best preserved specimen represents an immature animal, the fragmentary fossilised bones when compared to more complete specimens suggest that this dinosaur grew to a length in excess of eight metres. Skull material is absent from the fossil record, so CollectA have based their replica on more complete ornithomimids. It certainly is a most impressive figure.

Anthony Beeson, the designer behind the CollectA range of prehistoric animal models explained:

“Beishanlong, was an “ostrich mimic” and a Chinese dinosaur. It was amongst the largest of the ostrich mimics and is important as being an earlier relative of Deinocheirus. The CollectA model is based on a skeleton that I admired at Hong Kong’s Science Museum during my last visit.”

Beishanlong

Beishanlong is going to be one of the new additions to the Deluxe scale model range made by CollectA. It will be available from Everything Dinosaur in the spring of 2016, or thereabouts. As it stands an impressive 23 centimetres tall it is going to tower over the smaller CollectA Xiongguanlong replica. This is quite apt, as Beishanlong would have towered over Xiongguanlong when they shared the same Asian habitat some 120 million years ago.

To read an article published in 2009 but the discovery of Xiongguanlong and Beishanlong: Giant Ornithomimid and New Tyrannosaur from Gansu Province.

Lythronax – “The King of Gore”

Available from Everything Dinosaur around the middle of 2016.

Picture credit: CollectA

Lythronax

Approximately, the size of Beishanlong but much heavier and decidedly more dangerous, Lythronax was a top predator of the Middle Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous. The genus name translates as “the King of Gore”. With its wide but short snout and robust jaws, this dinosaur would have been very formidable. Many palaeontologists believe that this theropod was a direct ancestor of the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex. CollectA are beginning to assemble quite a collection of tyrannosaurs – Eotyrannus, Tarbosaurus, the feathered T. rex, Xiongguanlong and another close relative of Lythronax, Bistahieversor that roamed what was to become New Mexico around four million years or so after “the King of Gore” became extinct.

To read about the discovery of Lythronax: “The King of Gore” – New Tyrannosaur from Utah.

The Designer Comments

Anthony commented:

“The early tyrannosaur Lythronax from Utah was chosen really because of its importance in the evolutionary chain of that genus and also because I love the name! One can never have too much gore in play as most boys know. Like Tyrannosaurus , Lythronax had eyes pointing to the front giving it binocular vision and the ability to gauge depth.”

Some nice detail is shown in the photograph of the model, the shaggy, feathered coat, tufts of feathers on the top of the head and evidence of almost pennaceous feathers on the forelimbs.

The CollectA Lythronax replica measures around 18 centimetres long, the head height is a fraction over 8.5 centimetres. It will be available from Everything Dinosaur around the middle of 2016.

The last of the latest batch of dinosaur model pictures to be released by CollectA is another feathered dinosaur. Once upon a time, feathered dinosaur models were the exception, now thanks to the work of the likes of CollectA more and more feathered dinosaur replicas are being produced.

New for 2016 The CollectA Struthiomimus Model

New for 2016 a Struthiomimus dinosaur model.

Picture credit: CollectA

“Ostrich Mimic”

Named almost one hundred years ago (1917), this is the dinosaur that gave rise to the term “ostrich mimic”, as this is what the genus name Struthiomimus means. It is great to see a replica of this fast-running Late Cretaceous resident of North America. Once again, CollectA have to be applauded, as they have given their model, long pennaceous feathers on the forearm, this suggests that they have been keeping up to date with the latest ornithomimid studies, in particular some recently published papers on remarkably well-preserved Ornithomimus specimens.

There are not many models of the Ornithomimidae around, this is a very welcome addition.

Commenting on this, the second of the ornithomimids to be introduced next year, Anthony Beeson said:

“I have wanted to do a Struthiomimus model for a long time and also to produce more ornithomimids or ostrich mimics . In the 1950’s Struthiomimus was well known to dinosaur enthusiasts, but since Jurassic Park, Gallimimus has eclipsed it in popular culture. John Sibbick, the palaeoartist once bemoaned its passing to me. It has not previously featured greatly in the toy record. It was a very common ornithomimid dinosaur that was found in Late Cretaceous North America.”

The model is scheduled to come out at about the same time as the Lythronax replica (mid 2016), it measures 11 centimetres long, and that head stands some 6.5 centimetres off the ground.

CollectA Beishanlong, Lythronax and Struthiomimus.

So that’s the very latest information on new CollectA prehistoric animals for you, in summary, one tyrannosaur, two members of the Ornithomimosauria clade, three feathered theropods and top notch replicas they are too.

To view the current CollectA range of Deluxe models available at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric World Models.

To view the remainder of the CollectA Prehistoric Life range: CollectA Prehistoric World Models.

Note

This article has been amended to ensure more accurate terms related to taxa and classification are used.

12 11, 2015

“The Expeditioner’s Discovery Guild”

By Mike|2023-04-08T10:50:58+01:00November 12th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Main Page|0 Comments

New Blog Covering Science Topics

A new open encyclopaedia project has started that covers the sciences. This new web blog that everyone can contribute to, covers subjects as diverse as biology, botany, geology, mineralogy palaeontology, cryptozoology and speculative evolution. There is even room for xenobiology (the manipulation of biological processes) and astrobiology (naturally evolved life in the universe) on this new site run by enthusiast Destin Bogart and his colleagues.

Providing a Platform for Informed Discussion

Main logo of The Expeditioner’s Discovery Guild

Picture credit: Destin Bogart

The Expeditioner’s Discovery Guild looks at the living world (real and imagined) and aims to provide a forum for like-minded individuals to express their views, publish articles and add to the discussion. Findings and hypotheses most welcome!

A Wide Range of Topics Covered

For the uninitiated, Destin provides a handy, brief explanation of the topic areas the blog intends to cover. Biology is the study of living things, botany is the study of plant life, whereas zoologists study animals. Geology covers the Earth and its processes, mineralogy is the study of crystals and minerals and readers of the Everything Dinosaur blog should need no introduction to palaeontology. At the Guild, the administrator wishes to encourage discussion on cryptids (unknown organisms), so cryptozoologists would concern themselves with beasts of myth or legend, the Yeti, or Scotland’s Loch Ness monster for example.

In Search of the Loch Ness Monster et al

The Elasmosaurus scale drawing commissioned by Everything Dinosaur as the company’s fact sheet is updated. In search of a plesiosaur like an Elasmosaurus in Loch Ness.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Astrobiology, xenobiology, and speculative evolution allow enthusiasts to gain a better understanding the mechanisms of natural selection and evolution as well as providing an entertaining look into what could share this universe with the 8.2 million species or so to be found on our own planet.

Commenting on the inclusion of some of the more “obscure” disciplines within this blogsphere, one of the administrators stated:

“Astrobiology is the search for extraterrestrial life, xenobiology is the study of extraterrestrial organisms, and speculative evolution basically takes an event, or situation in which evolution could take a different path. This blog will focus mainly on the solid sciences and will occasionally delve into these fictitious sciences to prove, disprove, and approve.”

“The Expeditioner’s Discovery Guild”

The team at the Expeditioner’s Discovery Guild will strive to publish only the most accurate and scientifically acceptable information and speculations. Over the time span of this project, readers will learn through videos, presentations, talk-seminars, and info-videos about the Earth, its composition, the life that lived and still lives on it and speculate on the future of our planet and other life carrying bodies in the universe.

The Expeditioner’s Discovery Guild line up includes Brandon Ahrens, Sergio Treviso, Molly Essenburg, Destin Bogart and David Lichliter and this experienced team aims to bring to its readership the very latest developments in scientific literature, providing informed comment but retaining a light touch with a focus on entertaining as well as enlightening.

Publishing Plans

Plans include publishing new articles every week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays), authors, academics and science writers are invited to contribute to what is described as an “experience-heavy project”.

Discussing the need to attract more high calibre writers, Destin Bogart explained:

“We are a small group and we need more members! Scientists and scientifically minded people are invited to submit their contributions and we are also looking for candidates with a gift for narration, to provide the voice overs for our planned video series.”

To contact Everything Dinosaur with questions about prehistoric animals and fossils: Email Everything Dinosaur.

The team intend to base each article on a specific organism, examining how it lives, its biology and so forth. Looking into the future (something we at Everything Dinosaur would expect astrobiologists to be very accomplished at), the Expeditioner’s Discovery Guild intend to create a series of encyclopaedias that contain all the articles published. These encyclopaedias will, at first, probably be made available via a digital download and they will include a directory of the contributors (profiles, avatars and a short biography).

The Expeditioner’s Discovery Guild welcomes new scribes and anyone wishing to participate in this exciting project that has all ready established a Tumblr account as well as a blog and web platform. Soon a dedicated YouTube channel will be added.

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

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur wished the team every success with their new project.

11 11, 2015

The “Highland Giant” of the Karoo Basin

By Mike|2023-04-08T10:48:49+01:00November 11th, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Femur of Giant Dinosaur Put on Display

The fossilised bones of the largest dinosaur ever found in South Africa were put on display at the Witwatersrand University Origins Centre this week. The dinosaur has been nicknamed the “Highland giant”. The fragmentary remains, including a colossal partial femur (thigh bone), represent a plant-eating dinosaur that once roamed the land that is now known as the Lesotho Highlands some 200 million years ago.

Huge Plant-eating Dinosaur

The size of this, as yet, unnamed dinosaur is certainly impressive. At an estimated fourteen tonnes, it was twice as heavy as Tyrannosaurus rex, but its sheer bulk is of limited interest to palaeontologists. What is much more significant is that this specimen indicates the presence of very large dinosaurs in this part of the world during the Early Jurassic (Hettangian stage), it extends the faunal mix that existed in this region of the super-continent Gondwana, just a few million years after the Triassic/Jurassic extinction event.

A Scale Drawing Comparing the South African Sauropod to Well-known Dinosaurs and a Human (with Dog)

Diplodocus, T. rex and Aardonyx celestae are compared.

Picture credit: Witwatersrand University Origins Centre

The picture above also includes Aardonyx, a basal sauropodomorph from South Africa. Aardonyx has been described as a transitional form of lizard-hipped plant-eater, showing a trend in this part of the Dinosauria for heavier and heavier animals that eventually evolved into obligate quadrupeds.

To read an article about the discovery and naming of Aardonyx: South Africa’s Transitional Dinosaur Fossil.

The “Highland Giant”

Nick-named the “Highland Giant” the first fossils of this huge basal sauropod were found during excavations under the Caledon River for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project some twenty years ago. The bones were so bulky that they were stored in separate storage rooms. It was only after the fossil specimens were relocated to new storage facilities that it was realised that the fossils represented the remains of a single, individual dinosaur.

Papo of France have introduced a range of sauropod figures: Papo Dinosaur Models.

Commenting on the fossil find, Dr Jonah Choiniere, a senior researcher at the Evolutionary Studies Institute at Witwatersrand University stated:

“This is the biggest dinosaur we have ever found. We do not know what the species is, hopefully we will know in a year or so. We are not sure if this is a new species.”

Dr Jonah Choiniere with Some of the Fossil Material

Dr Choiniere with the fossils of the “Highland Giant”.

Picture credit: Witwatersrand University Origins Centre

Lower Jurassic Fossils

Other fossils collected in the same region have been associated with this giant sauropod, the picture above shows Dr Choiniere with some of the fossils, having a person in the picture provides a handy scale. Recently, there have been a number of important dinosaur discoveries from South Africa. For example, in August Everything Dinosaur reported on the naming of Pulanesaura (basal sauropod) and in June, team members produced an article featuring Sefapanosaurus.

Pulanesaura article: Pulanesaura – A Case of “Four Legs Being Better than Two”.

Sefapanosaurus article: New Sauropodomorph from South Africa.

Fossils of the Early Jurassic Sauropod Have Come to Light Over Twenty Years

Fossils of the “Highland Giant” include claws and a vertebra.

Picture credit: Witwatersrand University Origins Centre

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a press release from the University of Witwatersrand in the compilation of this article.

10 11, 2015

New CollectA Spinosaurus Models

By Mike|2024-03-10T12:00:44+00:00November 10th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

CollectA Spinosaurus Models (2015)

There is a saying that good things come in threes, a bit like the manual unguals (claws) on a Spinosaurus and thanks to CollectA, dinosaur fans have now got three new models of this super-sized predator to savour. Three Spinosaurus models are coming into stock. Everything Dinosaur have just taken in stock of the CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Spinosaurus and the two smaller Spinosaurus models, one showing the quadruped pose and one depicting this north African dinosaur swimming.

The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 Spinosaurus Replica

Available from Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: CollectA

CollectA Spinosaurus Models

We note there has been some debate as to the scale of this replica. This is a little difficult to estimate, given that all three Spinosaurus models are based on the 2014 interpretation published by Ibrahim et al.

The new interpretation caused a lot of controversy and discussion in academic circles, particularly over scaling in relation to the hind limbs and so forth, but the authors still depicted Spinosaurus in excess of sixteen metres long. If we take the curve of the tail into account and measure the CollectA Deluxe replica from nose to tail it is an impressive 38 centimetres long, perhaps a fraction longer. So, if we compare this replica to the scale used by Ibrahim and colleagues, we do get an approximate 1:40 scale for this beastie.

To view the CollectA Deluxe Spinosaurus at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animal Models.

A Pair of Spinosaurus Models (CollectA Swimming and CollectA Walking Spinosaurus Dinosaurs)

CollectA Spinosaurus available from Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Spinosaurus Models

Just like their bigger counterpart, the two smaller models (both around 23 centimetres in length or so), are very well made. Lots of detail has been added and it is really pleasing to see those cranial crests given prominence. You can really imagine that these two little chaps had the dense bones as proposed in the September 2014 paper*, indicative that here was a theropod with several adaptations to an aquatic lifestyle. Of particular note are the very crocodilian tails of these two models, the base of each tail is broad and deep, providing propulsion through the water just like an extant crocodile today.

The CollectA Swimming Spinosaurus Dinosaur Model

The CollectA swimming Spinosaurus dinosaur model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Scientific Paper

The scientific paper certainly attracted a great deal of attention when it first was published, twelve months on, the debate continues, only recently another review of spinosaurid material from North Africa was published. This review challenged many of the earlier findings, it even added an extra dimension with the inclusion of further studies related to the vertebrae assigned to Sigilmassasaurus, these Kem Kem fossils (Morocco), really have muddied the waters even further when it comes to a reassessment of all things spinosaurid.

To view the not to scale Spinosaurus models from CollectA: CollectA Dinosaurs.

The “Spinosaurus Re-boot” as it has been termed, is going to rumble on, in the meantime, we can enjoy these new dinosaur models.

The full title of the September 2014 paper is “Semi-aquatic Adaptations in a Giant Predatory Dinosaur”, it was published in the journal “Science”.

List of authors: Nizar Ibrahim, Paul C. Sereno, Cristiano Dal Sasso, Simone Maganuco, Matteo Fabbri, David M. Martill, Samir Zouhri, Nathan Myhrvold and Dawid A. Iurino

Getting Along “Swimmingly” – A Pair of CollectA Spinosaurus Models

A pair of CollectA Spinosaurus dinosaur models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

10 11, 2015

Dinosaur Poems

By Mike|2023-04-08T10:30:10+01:00November 10th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Dinosaur Poems

Poems About Dinosaurs with Key Stages 1 and 2

A term topic about dinosaurs, rocks and fossils helps teachers to introduce elements of the science curriculum into the scheme of work for the class. However, with a little planning, this subject area, which generally has a very wide appeal to children, can help to provide support for other areas of teaching.

Dinosaur Poems

Take for example, vocabulary development, reading skills and the ability to write fluently. These are cornerstones of the curriculum for Key Stage 1 and 2 children and by Year 2 for example, teachers are required to continue the focus on establishing the accurate and rapid reading skills of their charges. They should also be ensuring that pupils listen to and discuss a wide range of stories, (fiction and non-fiction), poems, plays and information books.

One of the statements in the recently published Department of Education comprehensive guide to English programmes in these Key Stages explains:

“The sooner that pupils can read well and do so frequently, the sooner they will be able to increase their vocabulary, comprehension and knowledge across the wider curriculum.”

Dinosaur Workshop

Everything Dinosaur’s staff members provide a wide range of resources to support extension activities linked to the English component of the national curriculum. A visit to a school to conduct a dinosaur themed workshop provided the fossil expert with an opportunity to read some of the wonderful prehistoric animal themed poetry that the children had written. Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

Plenty of Prehistoric Themed Poems on Display

Prehistoric animal poems on display. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Helping to Develop Vocabulary

In writing, pupils at the beginning of year 2 should be able to compose individual poems and with dinosaurs the children seemed to be up for the challenge, having to devise rhyming couplets for words such as Triceratops, dinosaur and reptile. All this creativity certainly helped this class cement their learning about literacy and different types of poem, we even saw some examples of Japanese Haiku poems in one school that was visited.

Writing poems about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures can be a good way of helping Key Stage 1 and 2 children to extend their understanding of English. To learn more about how Everything Dinosaur helps to educate young people: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

9 11, 2015

CollectA Spinosaurus Models in Stock at Everything Dinosaur (Tomorrow)

By Mike|2023-04-08T10:25:55+01:00November 9th, 2015|Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

CollectA Spinosaurus Models are on their Way!

The eagerly awaited Spinosaurus replicas including the 1:40 scale Deluxe Spinosaurus with an articulated lower jaw are their way to Everything Dinosaur’s warehouse. The CollectA Spinosaurus models are on their way! These eagerly awaited dinosaur models are the last of the 2015 CollectA production to reach us. When the stock arrives and is checked over we shall commence the operation to let everyone who contacted us and wanted to reserve one that these beautiful replicas have arrived.

CollectA Spinosaurus Models

All Three 2015 CollectA Spinosaurus Dinosaur Models

Available from Everything Dinosaur. The CollectA Spinosaurus models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

CollectA Prehistoric Animal Models

Joining the 1:4 scale Supreme Guidraco pterosaur figure and the wonderful Feathered T. rex (also in 1:40 scale like the Deluxe Spinosaurus), will be the three new versions of Spinosaurus (S. aegyptiacus), which represent one of the very latest interpretations, of what is believed to be, the largest meat-eating dinosaur known to science.

The CollectA 1:40 Scale Deluxe Spinosaurus

Available from Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: CollectA/Everything Dinosaur

A Carnivorous Dinosuar at Home in the Water and on Land

These three, hand-painted models are based on the re-examination of the Spinosauridae fossil material that was published last year (Ibrahim et al). In what was a dramatic report, a team of scientists including Paul Sereno, Nizar Ibrahim, Cristiano Dal Sasso, Simone Maganuco, Matteo Fabbri plus others esteemed academics including the UK’s David Martill re-examined all the known Spinosaurus fossil material from North Africa and concluded that Spinosaurus was adapted to a life as an aquatic animal. Put simply, it was a dinosaur that looked like a dragon and decided to live like a crocodile.

The paper, entitled “Semi-aquatic Adaptations in a Giant Predatory Dinosaur”, was published on September 26th 2014, so CollectA have been remarkably quick off the mark to produce this trio of replicas.

To read more about the original Spinosaurus research: Spinosaurus – Four Legs Better than Two.

The Swimming Dinosaur (Popular CollectA Model Range)

Available from Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: CollectA/Everything Dinosaur

A Semi-aquatic Hunter

In essence, the 2014 study depicted Spinosaurus (S. aegyptiacus) as a semi-aquatic hunter, more at home in water than in a terrestrial environment. Although descended from entirely terrestrial ancestors, Spinosaurus had evolved into a supreme specialist, an obligate quadruped of a theropod that was very much a creature of the large rivers and deep lakes of its ancient Cretaceous habitat. In recognition of this research, CollectA created a total of three new Spinosaurus models, a swimming one (pictured above), the Deluxe 1:40 scale replica mentioned earlier and a walking Spinosaurus (see below).

A Walking Spinosaurus Dinosaur Model (CollectA)

A Spinosaurus going for a stroll.

Picture credit: CollectA/Everything Dinosaur

To see Everything Dinosaur’s existing range of Deluxe CollectA models: CollectA Scale and Deluxe Models.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s existing range of CollectA not to scale models: CollectA Prehistoric Life Dinosaur Models.

A spokesperson for the UK based company stated:

“It is great to see these three fascinating depictions of Spinosaurus. CollectA are to be praised for the quick turnaround from the published paper to making this a production model and also for taking on the challenge of depicting this iconic dinosaur in this way, bringing a whole new dimension when it comes to dinosaur model collecting.”

Team members are looking forward to receiving these Spinosaurus models. Plans are in place to get the stock booked into the warehouse quickly. Customers who requested to be notified, will be contacted quickly.

8 11, 2015

Year 2 Learn about Dinosaurs as Pets

By Mike|2023-04-08T10:20:45+01:00November 8th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Year 2 Learn about Dinosaurs as Pets

Why would a Dinosaur Not Make a Good Pet?

Dinosaurs as pets? That was the question at the heart of Year 2’s science based term topic. To help answer this question, the teaching team at Bishop King CE Primary School invited a team member from Everything Dinosaur to deliver a workshop on dinosaurs and fossils to each of the school’s two Year 2 classes.

Dinosaurs as Pets

The dinosaur themed workshop, part of a day of activities organised by Everything Dinosaur, proved to be extremely effective and the children were fully engaged and learned lots of amazing facts about prehistoric animals.

Year 2 Were Challenged to Design Their Own Dinosaur

A big green dinosaur.

Picture credit: Bishop King CE Primary School/Everything Dinosaur

Extension Ideas

As part of a series of extension activities designed to help the children gain confidence with their handwriting, the dinosaur expert from Everything Dinosaur challenged the children to have a go at designing their very own dinosaur. There were some wonderful and very creative examples. The picture above shows a very colourful “Dimetriasaurus” designed by Dimetria.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur praised Dimetria for the prehistoric animal drawing.

To learn more about the team members at Everything Dinosaur: About Us.

Dinosaurs as Pets – An Intriguing Term Topic

The term topic is entitled would a dinosaur make a good pet? It permits the children to explore concepts such as food chains, ecosystems, habitats, life cycles and extinction. With the aid of the expert from Everything Dinosaur, the teaching team were able to utilise some resources provided by the company to challenge the children with some dinosaur themed mathematical challenges.

Everything Dinosaur stocks a variety of prehistoric animal toys and games: Dinosaur Toys, Prehistoric Animal Replicas.

The budding young palaeontologists at Bishop King CE Primary (based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire), certainly rose to the challenge and could not wait to have a go at creating their own prehistoric animals. Lots of lovely drawings with clear, well annotated labels. Well done Year 2!

8 11, 2015

“Fanged Eels” and “Fire Frogs” of the Permian

By Mike|2023-04-08T10:17:40+01:00November 8th, 2015|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

“Fanged Eels” and “Fire Frogs” of the Permian

An international team of scientists led by researchers from the Field Museum of Chicago (USA) and the Natural History Museum (London), have unearthed an large number of vertebrate fossils that provide an insight into the fauna that existed in a huge, lowland swamp that covered a part of the southern portion of the ancient super-continent Pangaea.

The fossils are extremely significant as most of what palaeontologists know about life on Earth some 278 million years ago comes from fossils found in North America and Europe. Vertebrate fossils from South America dating from the Artinskian faunal stage of the Early Permian are extremely rare.

“Fanged Eels” and “Fire Frogs”

Amongst the significant fossil finds, the scientists writing in the journal “Nature Communications” describe fanged eel-like amphibians, hunters with huge mouths that resemble giant salamanders and a reptile which was previously unknown from South America.

A Bizarre Watery World Dominated by Amphibians

Evidence of the fauna of Brazil some 278 million years ago has been unearthed.

Picture credit: Andrey Atuchin

The large lakes and swamps were home to an ancient ecosystem that was like nothing around today. Amphibians dominated this watery world and these newly described fossils from the Parnaiba Basin of north-eastern Brazil provide a detailed record of the fauna that was present in the southern part of Pangaea close to the tropics.

Commenting on the discoveries, one of the authors of the report, Chicago Field Museum scientist Ken Angielczyk stated:

“Almost all of our knowledge about land animals from this time, comes from a handful of regions in North America and western Europe, which were located near the equator. Now we finally have information about what kinds of animals were present in areas farther to the south, and their similarities and differences to the animals living near the equator.”

For example, the lizard-like creature named Captorhinus aguti was previously known from fossils found in the south-western United States, this research extends this animals faunal range by a considerable margin.

The Early Reptile Captorhinus aguti

A resident of Brazil – Captorhinus.

Picture credit: Field Museum (Chicago)

This reptile reached lengths of around half a metre, it had batteries of crushing teeth and it has been suggested that this Eureptile was probably herbivorous.

Fanged Eel-like Amphibians

The fanged amphibian is a new species, it has been named Timonya annae. Measuring up to forty centimetres in length, this amphibian has been described as a cross between a freshwater eel and a Mexican salamander. Although capable of moving around on land, it was very much at home in the water where it hunted small fish, other amphibians and invertebrates.

A Close up of the Newly Described Permian Amphibian Timonya annae

A fanged amphibian from the Early Permian.

Picture credit: Andrey Atuchin

Lurking in the background of the picture above is a large, predatory amphibian, a member of the Rhinesuchidae family. As far as we at Everything Dinosaur are aware, the genera or species has not been identified within the scientific paper. It would have been one of the top aquatic predators in the lake system perhaps reaching lengths in excess of 1.2 metres.

The Beautifully Preserved Skull of Timonya annae

A close up of the Timonya skull.

Picture credit: Juan Cisneros

Fire Frogs

The other new species of amphibian has been named Procuhy nazarienis (pronounced pro-coo-ee naz-ar-ee-en-sis), the name means “fire frog” in the native Timbira language of this part of Brazil. It was closely related to T. annae and the name was inspired by the Pedra de Fogo Formation (Rock of Fire), where the fossils were found.

The strata in the Lower Pedra de Fogo Formation (the stratigraphic zone that contains the fossils), are well known as they contain flints which were used to make fires. The term “frog” is also misleading, these amphibians were not closely related to extant frogs or indeed to that branch of the Amphibia that gave rise to the frog lineage.

CollectA have recently introduced a range of Palaeozoic animal replicas in their CollectA Prehistoric Life model range: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the contribution of the Field Museum in the compilation of this article.

7 11, 2015

TetZooCon 2015 and Everything Dinosaur

By Mike|2023-04-08T08:34:03+01:00November 7th, 2015|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

TetZooCon 2015 and Everything Dinosaur

It’s full steam ahead with just a few days to go to the second annual TetZooCon, a convention dedicated to Tetrapod Zoology and what an amazing day it’s going to be. The London Wetland Centre is the venue and on Saturday 14th November, the great and the good in the TetZoo-verse will descend on Barnes, London SW13 to enjoy a variety of speakers covering subjects as diverse as pterosaurs to pygmy Elephants?

TetZooCon 2015

Keeping to the all things beginning with “P” theme, renowned palaeoartists Mark Witton, Bob Nicholls (he of the famous Nigersaurus eye-lashes illustration, ask him about this whilst you are there) and John Conway will be holding a special palaeoart workshop. If you have ever wondered how artists are able to create such stunning illustrations of long, extinct creatures now’s your chance to find out.

Countdown to TetZooCon 2015

Click on the logo for more information!

Image credit: Darren Naish

Organised by Darren Naish, vertebrate palaeontologist, acclaimed science writer and all round good guy, and the super talented John Conway, Saturday’s event provides an amazing opportunity to meet top academics and to learn all about the comings and goings in terms of some of the latest thinking regarding the astonishing creatures that share our planet, plus of course, lots of information on those animals that have dropped out of the gene pool.

Animals such as the ichthyosaurs which will be covered in a talk given by the University of Southampton’s Jessica Lawrence-Wujek. So, if “fish lizards” are your thing, head down to the London Wetland Centre on the 14th.

For further information and to book: TetZooCon 2015.

An Exciting Event

The event starts at 9am and Everything Dinosaur are proud to be associated with this wonderful day out. Look out for some super prehistoric animal models that we have donated for the quiz that will round off the fun filled and very informative day. There will be lots of prizes to win.

Look out for our Logo at TetZooCon 2015

Proud to sponsor TetZooCon 2015.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Tea and coffee are provided, and lunch can be purchased at the nearby Water’s Edge Cafe. TetZooCon promises to be the best thing to hit this part of London since the Ice Age!

Commenting on the event, a spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained:

“Events like TetZooCon provide those with a general interest in science with a marvellous opportunity to converse with leading scientists, artists and science writers. Sadly, these opportunities, are few and far between and it is great to see such a convention taking place. We wish the organisers and everyone attending the very best and we look forward to hearing more about this exciting event.”

Everything Dinosaur Slides Between Speakers at the Conference

All ready for the 14th November.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

We note that the day is to be concluded with a visit to a local hostelry. A trip to the Red Lion Pub! Fantastic planning Darren et al, choosing an inn with a tetrapod connection. Sounds like it is going to be a great day!

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.