A Life Reconstruction of Tsintaosaurus (T. spinorhinus)
Formally named and described sixty years ago (1958), we feature in today’s blog posting the bizarre Lambeosaurine Tsintaosaurus (Tsintaosaurus spinorhinus). This dinosaur, often referred to as a “unicorn-like” dinosaur because of its bizarre crest, comes from the Wangshi Formation of Shandong Province (eastern China).
A Life Reconstruction of the Lambeosaurine Tsintaosaurus (T. spinorhinus)
A life reconstruction of the hadrosaurid Tsintaosaurus by the renowned Chinese palaeoartist Zhao Chuang.
Picture credit: Zhao Chuang
The Anterior Portions of a Hadrosaurid
The picture above was painted by renowned Chinese palaeoartist Zhao Chuang. This great illustrator has produced numerous paintings of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, many of which have been used in scientific papers and reports. Why in this instance only the anterior portion of the dinosaur is shown, we cannot say, although this does give the viewer the opportunity to focus on that bizarre head crest.
The presence of a upright horn-like crest on the snout of Tsintaosaurus has been disputed. Some palaeontologists noted that this sliver of bone that represented the horn could in fact be a piece of the nasal bone (naris), that had become displaced and deformed as a result of the fossilisation process. It was the eminent French palaeontologist Eric Buffetaut, whilst studying skull material who confirmed that this strange process was indeed a horn. Its function remains uncertain. It may have played a role in visual communication and it could have had a flap of skin running down its front edge, a viewpoint supported by Zhao Chuang’s excellent illustration.
The CollectA Tsintaosaurus Dinosaur Model
Models and figures of this Late Cretaceous herbivorous dinosaur are few and far between but CollectA did add a Tsintaosaurus replica to their not-to-scale “Prehistoric Life” model range in 2012.
Several prehistoric animal figures are being retired from the popular Schleich “Dinosaurs” brand in 2019. There are going to be new models added to this range next year, but for the moment, Everything Dinosaur can announce that the following prehistoric animal figures are going out of production and into retirement.
Schleich Prehistoric Animal Model Retirements (2018/9)
Schleich prehistoric animal model retirements (2018-2019). The models being withdrawn are Dimetrodon (top left), the orange Giganotosaurus (top right), the Spinosaurus known as violet (bottom left) and the horned dinosaur Pentaceratops (bottom right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Schleich Model Retirements
Schleich Dimetrodon.
The Schleich Giganotosaurus (orange).
Schleich Spinosaurus (violet).
Schleich Pentaceratops.
Making Room for More Prehistoric Animal Figures
The production team at Schleich are committed to making more prehistoric animal figures and Everything Dinosaur will announce new additions for 2019 shortly, however, some turnover of models is to be expected. The Schleich ethos of combining educational, highly detailed figures that have been painted with great care continues as a central theme to the “Dinosaurs” product offering.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“Model ranges are updated and changed periodically and some older lines have to be dropped to make way for new colour variants and new figures. Our customers can be reassured that we still have all four of these Schleich figures in stock and we have no intention of raising our prices to exploit any rarity value that these figures might soon acquire.”
The Schleich Dimetrodon Model
The jaws of the Schleich Dimetrodon. Picture credit: Everyhting Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Dimetrodon figure was launched just two years ago. This colour scheme is being withdrawn, of all the prehistoric animal figures to be retired this year, the Dimetrodon is the most recently introduced. Fans of Permian reptiles might be disappointed, but Dimetrodon will make a return to the Schleich portfolio very soon.
The Schleich Giganotosaurus (Orange)
Introduced alongside the equally colourful Spinosaurus (violet), the Schleich Giganotosaurus (orange), has proved to be a strong seller, particularly with younger dinosaur fans. Everything Dinosaur team members were given the chance to view this figure before its official launch in 2015. As a model of one of the largest terrestrial carnivores to have ever lived, this brightly coloured dinosaur has proved to be a big hit. It will be replaced by another colour variant Giganotosaurus in early 2019.
Everything Dinosaur Team Members were given a Preview of the Orange Giganotosaurus Prior to its Introduction
“Giant Southern Lizard”. A very colourful Giganotosaurus model introduced in 2015. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Spinosaurus Violet
The Schleich Spinosaurus (violet), was introduced to replace an earlier Spinosaurus figure that came out in 2012. The 2012 figure had depicted this African dinosaur as a more fully bipedal animal, but the body plan of violet did lend itself to the idea that this dinosaur could have adopted a quadrupedal stance. Schleich will introduce a new Spinosaurus figure next year, it will reflect the latest scientific thinking about this theropod.
Schleich Spinosaurus (Violet) Retired from the Range
Beautiful Spinosaurus dinosaur model from Schleich. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Goodbye to the Schleich Pentaceratops
The Schleich Pentaceratops model, which first came out in 2014, is also being withdrawn. It is likely to be replaced by a new horned dinosaur figure that may come out in the second half of 2019.
Saying Goodbye to the Schleich Pentaceratops Figure
Schleich Pentaceratops available from Everything Dinosaur whilst stocks last.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The hardworking production team at JurassicCollectables have made a video review of the new for 2018 Papo Quetzalcoatlus pterosaur model. At Everything Dinosaur, the Quetzalcoatlus figure (along with the Papo Compsognathus), represent the last of this year’s models to be introduced by Papo. Although no Quetzalcoatlus flying reptiles appear in the “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World” film franchise, the video narrator makes the point that the model’s colouration, especially around that impressive beak, is very similar to the Pteranodons seen in the various movies.
Papo Quetzalcoatlus
In the brief video, the video is a fraction under eight minutes in length (7.58), the JurassicCollectables narrator reviews this new azhdarchid pterosaur model and compares and contrasts this figure with the aforementioned Papo Compsognathus. Also featured is the classic Papo green standing Tyrannosaurus rex model, even mathematician Ian Malcolm makes an appearance!
JurassicCollectables – Papo Quetzalcoatlus Pterosaur Model Video Review
Video credit: JurassicCollectables
JurassicCollectables have produced videos on a whole range of prehistoric animals including all the figures that Papo have produced, to see these videos and to subscribe to their amazing YouTube channel: Subscribe to JurassicCollectables on YouTube.
The Impressive Papo Quetzalcoatlus Figure
The new for 2018 Papo Quetzalcoatlus figure. It even has an articulated beak!
The Papo Quetzalcoatlus “The Detail is Impressive”
The viewer is given a guided tour of this walking pterosaur figure, the narrator comments that the “detail is most impressive” and praises the texture given to the model by the use of “micro-feathers”, it is the pycnofibres that are being referred to. Palaeontologists now know that many kinds of flying reptile were covered in hair-like filaments. Quetzalcoatlus may have had a shaggy coat!
The designers at Papo have taken great care to give their figure a ruffled and naturalistic appearance, a point picked up in the video review.
To see the range of Papo prehistoric animal models available from Everything Dinosaur (including the Papo Quetzalcoatlus): Papo Prehistoric Animal Models.
In the JurassicCollectables Video the Papo Quetzalcoatlus Figure is Reviewed
JurassicCollectables reviews the Papo Quetzalcoatlus model.
Picture credit: JurassicCollectables
The picture above shows one of the studio shots from the video review of this Papo flying reptile model. One of the great benefits of video reviews such as this, is that potential buyers can take a really good look at a figure before purchase.
A Colourful Crest and a Beautifully Painted Mouth
The narrator comments on the very colourful crest of this pterosaur model and demonstrates how the jaw articulates. Unlike most prehistoric animal models, it is the upper jaw that articulates. Once the beak is open, the video narrator praises Papo for the great skill and care taken in sculpting and painting the inside of the mouth. Size measurements are made and several other figures are used to demonstrate just how big this pterosaur figure is. For example, in one part of the review the recently introduced Papo Compsognathus model is shown in comparison with the Papo Quetzalcoatlus.
The Papo Quetzalcoatlus is Compared in Size to the Papo Compsognathus Figure
Comparing the Papo Quetzalcoatlus (right) with the Papo Compsognathus (left).
Picture credit: JurassicCollectables
Off-colour Alan is Missing
Regular viewers and subscribers to JurassicCollectable’s YouTube channel will know that a figure called “off-colour Alan” usually makes an appearance. However, on this occasion, this human figure was nowhere to be found so a replica of Dr Ian Malcolm from the film Jurassic Park is used to provide an additional size comparison. We hope that “off-colour Alan” is found soon, after all, there are a lot of prehistoric animal models coming out in the next few months, so the video review team at JurassicCollectables are going to be kept very busy.
No “Off-colour Alan” But Plenty of Views of the Papo Quetzalcoatlus Model
JurassicCollectables reviews the Papo Quetzalcoatlus model.
Nine New Beasts of the Mesozoic Figures Set for Spring 2019
November has been a busy time for our newsletters, with so many new models and figures coming into stock, Everything Dinosaur team members have been working hard to update subscribers on all the exciting developments. Take for example, the Beasts of the Mesozoic range. In the spring, this very popular series of “raptor” figures is going to be extended with the addition of another nine articulated replicas, including a limited-edition Velociraptor osmolskae figure “Alpha”.
Reserve lists for all these exciting new models have been opened, but as always, it is our newsletter subscribers and social media followers who get to hear about these developments first.
New Beasts of the Mesozoic Figures Coming to Everything Dinosaur in the Spring of 2019
New Beasts of the Mesozoic models scheduled for spring 2019. Look out for the limited-edition Velociraptor osmolskae figure “Alpha”, an exclusive to Everything Dinosaur in Europe.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
New Beasts of the Mesozoic Dromaeosaurid Figures
The Beasts of the Mesozoic 1/6th scale “raptor” figures are stunning models and in the spring a number of new colour variants will be added to this popular range. There will be a new Saurornitholestes model (Saurornitholestes sullivani), in a striking purple and blue colour scheme. This model has been inspired by the famous “Road Runner” cartoon, the speedy Saurornitholestes is bound to get pulses racing. Furthermore, there will be two new Velociraptor mongoliensis figures, the frightening Velociraptor – black and a new, colourful V. mongoliensis figure, which will replace the original Velociraptor model that came out in the first batch of Beasts of the Mesozoic releases.
There will also be a new Dromaeosaurus albertensis figure coming out in the spring, this too will be replacing the original Dromaeosaurus articulated model that was introduced in the first production run of the “raptor” series.
To view the Beasts of the Mesozoic figures, including the original Dromaeosaurus albertensis figure that is still available (whilst stocks last): Beasts of the Mesozoic Figures.
New for Spring 2019 – Four New “Raptor” Series Figures
Four new versions of dromaeosaurids being added to the Beasts of the Mesozoic model range in 2019. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
“Eastern” and “Western” Model Sets
Breaking news for model collectors, in honour of the temporal and geographical range of these successful dinosaurs, new model sets will be introduced.
New Colour Schemes and “Eastern” and “Western” Model Sets
New Beasts of the Mesozoic “raptors” for spring 2019.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The newsletter features a further four new figures. There will be newly painted models in “Eastern” and “Western” model sets which reflect on the global distribution of these types of theropod dinosaurs. A trio of white hatchings will be launched, another addition to the highly collectable “nestlings” range and Everything Dinosaur will be stocking a second colour variant of an Asian Velociraptorinae subfamily member, the enigmatic Velociraptor osmolskae. Looks like our team members are going to have to prepare a special fact sheet to accompany sales of this figure.
Our newsletter readers are amongst the first to learn about new replicas coming into stock. Subscribers can also be the first to join special VIP reserve lists to ensure that they can obtain new figures. The Everything Dinosaur newsletter is sent out periodically and it is free to join.
To reserve a new for spring 2019 Beasts of the Mesozoic articulated replica figure such as our limited edition and exclusive for Europe Velociraptor osmolskae, or to request a subscription to Everything Dinosaur’s regular newsletter service, simply drop us an email: Email Everything Dinosaur.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur outlined plans for the introduction of these new figures:
“These exciting, new figures should be available to Everything Dinosaur customers in the spring. We have reserve lists open for these new additions to the Beasts of the Mesozoic range and we are giving collectors the chance to ensure that they have priority so that they do not run the risk of missing out.”
Elasmotherium Survived Until Around 36,000 Years Ago
The enormous rhinoceros Elasmotherium sibiricum, sometimes referred to as the “Siberian unicorn”, on account of its massive, single nose horn, survived until much more recently than previously thought. In a new study, published in the academic journal “Nature Ecology and Evolution”, a team of international scientists conclude that E. sibiricum survived in eastern Europe and central Asia until at least 39,000 years ago. It probably finally died out sometime around 36,000 years ago. Furthermore, the study has resolved a long-standing debate amongst palaeontologists as to the taxonomic relationship of rhinos like Elasmotherium with their living, distant relatives.
A Life Reconstruction of Elasmotherium sibiricum
A life reconstruction of Elasmotherium sibiricum.
Picture credit: Zdeněk Burian
Climate Change Led to the Demise of Elasmotherium
The research team which included scientists from the Oxford University, the University of New South Wales, Adelaide University, the London Natural History Museum, Groningen University (Holland) and the Russian Academy of Sciences, conclude that although, this more than three-tonne giant lived at the same time as Neanderthals as well as modern humans, hominins probably played very little part in its eventual demise and extinction. Instead, it is likely that climate change, resulting in the reduction of the steppe (grasslands), on which this rhino grazed, led to the extinction of Elasmotherium.
One of the co-authors of the study, Professor Chris Turney, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales stated:
“It is unlikely that the presence of humans was the cause of extinction. The Siberian unicorn appears to have been badly hit by the start of the Ice Age in Eurasia when a precipitous fall in temperature led to an increase in the amount of frozen ground, reducing the tough, dry grasses it lived on and impacting populations over a vast region.”
The “Siberian Unicorn” May Have Persisted Until Around 36,000 Years Ago
Elasmotherium illustrated.
Picture credit: W S van der Merwe/Natural History Museum
A Handful of Rhino Species Today
There are only a handful of rhinoceros species living today, all of which are faced with extinction. The extant rhinos are just the remnants of a huge and very diverse sub-group of “odd-toed” hoofed mammals (Perissodactyla). Elasmotherium is known from numerous fossils from China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. As part of the research, a genetic analysis of collagen extracted from Elasmotherium bones was undertaken. The DNA data revealed that Elasmotherium was the last surviving member of a unique family of rhinos.
The DNA analysis showed that a divergence between the Elasmotherium and other rhino subfamilies started taking place in the Eocene Epoch (between 56 and 34 million years ago).
Adelaide University researcher Dr Kieren Mitchell, who analysed the ancient DNA, the first time that DNA had been recovered from Elasmotherium sibiricum fossil bones stated:
“The ancestors of the Siberian unicorn split from the ancestors of all living rhinos over 40 million years ago. That makes the Siberian unicorn and the African white rhino even more distant cousins than humans are to monkeys.”
This new genetic evidence overturns previous studies that suggested the Siberian unicorn was a very close relative of the extinct woolly rhino (Coelodonta antiquitatis) and the living, but critically endangered, Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).
The Quaternary Megafaunal Extinction Event
It had been thought that Elasmotherium became extinct around 200,000 B.C. well before the last Ice Age event in the northern hemisphere and many tens of thousands of years before the Late Quaternary megafaunal extinction event, which began around 130,000 years ago. Radiocarbon dating of twenty-three individual specimens indicate that E. sibiricum survived in eastern Europe and central Asia until at least 39,000 years ago and possibly as late as 36,000 years ago. Isotope data taken from fossil teeth indicate that this giant rhinoceros lived on the dry steppe and had a highly specialised diet, which probably contributed to its eventual extinction.
As the last surviving member of the Elasmotheriinae, the extinction of E. sibiricum marked the termination of this part of the Rhinoceros family tree.
Other species that shared the Siberian unicorn’s environment were either less reliant on grass, such as Coelodonta antiquitatis, or more flexible in their diet , like the saiga antelope and escaped the Siberian unicorn’s fate, although the C. antiquitatis eventually became extinct some 20,000 years later.
Everything Dinosaur announced earlier this month that they would be stocking a 1:20 scale model of Elasmotherium sibiricum (CollectA Deluxe).
Lisowicia bojani Huge Dicynodont from the Late Triassic of Poland
The Late Triassic of southern Poland was home to a giant “mammal-like” reptile the size of an elephant and weighing some 9 tons. Scientists from the Polish Academy of Sciences in collaboration with colleagues from Uppsala University (Sweden), have published details on the discovery of the fossilised remains of a huge therapsid, specifically a dicynodont, that has been named Lisowiciabojani. This super-sized, distant ancestor of modern mammals is believed to have measured around 4. 5 metres in length and stood more than 2.6 metres tall.
A Life Reconstruction of the Newly Described Giant Dicynodont Lisowicia bojani
A life reconstruction of the giant dicynodont Lisowicia bojani.
Picture credit: Karolina Suchan-Okulska
More than 1,000 Bones Recovered from a Clay Pit
The first fossil remains were found by Polish geologists Robert Borzęcki and Piotr Menducki in 2005, when they were exploring a clay pit which represented a river deposit from the Upper Triassic. The dig site is close to the village of Lisowice, numerous field teams have been despatched to the area and over the last few years, more than 1,000 bones and bone fragments have been collected, including the fossilised remains of a giant dicynodont. At first the scientists thought they had discovered the fossils of a sauropod, but soon it was realised that the large and robust bones represented a therapsid.
The genus name is in honour of the nearby village, whilst the trivial name honours the German comparative anatomist Ludwig Heinrich Bojanus.
Field Team Members Excavated Fossils from the Clay Pit (Silesia, southern Poland)
Field team members working in the clay pit looking for dicynodont fossils.
Picture credit: Dr Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki (Uppsala University)
Lisowicia bojani – Defining Dicynodonts
Dicynodonts (die-sigh-no-donts), are a group of extinct, synapsids which evolved during the Permian period. These quadrupeds were herbivorous and belong to the Order Therapsida, which includes modern mammals. It had been thought that by the Late Triassic, these animals had died out, the discovery of L. bojani from strata estimated to be around 210-205 million years old indicates that they persisted into the Late Triassic in Europe. The fossilised remains of Lisowicia are at least ten million years younger than any previously described dicynodont fossil material.
Commenting on the discovery, Dr Tomasz Sulej (Polish Academy of Sciences) and one of the researchers involved in this study, stated:
“The discovery of Lisowicia changes our ideas about the latest history of dicynodonts, mammal Triassic relatives. It also raises far more questions about what really make them and dinosaurs so large.”
The Massive and Very Robust Limb Bones of Lisowicia bojani
The huge fossil limb bones of Lisowicia. The large bone above the compass is a humerus (upper arm bone), the bone by the feet is a scapula.
Picture credit: Dr Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki (Uppsala University)
The discovery of Lisowicia provides the first evidence that mammal-like elephant sized dicynodonts were present at the same time as the more well-known long-necked Sauropodomorpha dinosaurs, contrary to previous belief. Lisowicia fills a gap in the fossil record of dicynodonts and it shows that some anatomical features of limbs thought to characterize large mammals or dinosaurs evolved also in the non-mammalian synapsid. Furthermore, these findings from Poland are the first substantial finds of dicynodonts from the Late Triassic in Europe. Lisowicia is at least 40% bigger than any known dicynodont.
A Skeletal Drawing of Lisowicia bojani (Note Scale Bar)
Skeletal drawing of Lisowicia bojani. Note the scale bar = 1 metre.
Picture credit: Dr Tomasz Sulej (Polish Academy of Sciences)
Commenting on the significance of the fossil find, Dr Tomasz Sulej remarked:
“The discovery of such an important new species is a once in a lifetime discovery.”
Everything Dinosaur will be stocking all nine of the new for 2019 Beasts of the Mesozoic “raptors” in the spring. The amazing Beasts of the Mesozoic range of 1/6th articulated feathered dinosaur figures is being extended and Everything Dinosaur will be stocking all the new additions including the limited-edition Velociraptor osmolskae replica “Alpha”.
The Limited-edition Velociraptor osmolskae Figure “Alpha” Coming to Everything Dinosaur in Spring 2019
The stunning limited-edition Velociraptor osmolskae 1:6 scale figure will be available from Everything Dinosaur in spring 2019.
New “Raptor” Figures Flocking Your Way in Spring 2019
The beautiful and skilfully crafted articulated models in this highly sought after range represent several different types of maniraptoran dinosaur and the spring 2019 models will feature new colour variants of popular figures such as Velociraptor mongoliensis and Dromaeosaurus albertensis.
The nine new sets coming into stock 2019:
Limited-edition Velociraptor osmolskae figure.
Dromaeosaurus albertensis new colour variant.
Velociraptor mongoliensis new colour variant.
Velociraptor mongoliensis (black).
Saurornitholestes sullivani new colour variant (road runner) – see picture below.
Velociraptor osmolskae new colour variant.
Eastern “raptor” set featuring new colour versions of Microraptor and Mononykus.
Western “raptor” set featuring new colour versions of Buitreraptor and the young Stenonychosaurus.
White nestlings.
The New for 2019 Beasts of the Mesozoic Saurornitholestes sullivani Figure
The purple Saurornitholestes sullivani figure (new for 2019).
To view the current range of Beasts of the Mesozoic figures available from Everything Dinosaur, the exclusive European distributor for this range: Beasts of the Mesozoic Collectable Figures.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“It is thought that maniraptoran dinosaurs, just like all the over non-avian dinosaurs had excellent colour vision, so it is very appropriate that such a colourful range of new figures should be added to the already impressive Beasts of the Mesozoic range. These highly-collectable, articulated figures are fantastic display pieces and we heartily recommend all nine new additions to collectors aged fourteen years and older.”
The New Black Velociraptor Beasts of the Mesozoic Figure
The amazing “black” Velociraptor mongoliensis dinosaur figure, due to arrive in spring 2019.
Aimed at Discerning Dinosaur Model Fans and Figure Collectors
The beautiful Beasts of the Mesozoic range of dinosaur figures is aimed at discerning model and figure collectors. Hand-painted, articulated prehistoric animal replicas to display that are ideal for the serious, enthusiastic fan of prehistoric animal figures and palaeoart. State-of-the-art modelling techniques have been utilised to produce fantastically detailed feathered dinosaur figures, with numerous points of articulation. Each Beasts of the Mesozoic prehistoric animal figure is based on the latest scientific research and when supplied by Everything Dinosaur, they come with a fact sheet and scale drawing so collectors can learn more about these fascinating members of the Dinosauria.
Today, we conclude our look at the new for 2019 CollectA models by revealing the last of the figures scheduled to be released next year. We also provide information on a prehistoric animal play set that has an augmented reality (AR) component.
CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Elasmotherium model (available mid 2019).
CollectA Prehistoric Animals Playset with Augmented Reality (available mid 2019).
The New for 2019 CollectA Deluxe Elasmotherium Model
The new for 2019 CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Elasmotherium model.
Picture credit: CollectA
The CollectA Deluxe 1:20 Scale Elasmotherium Model
As one member of the Rhinocerotoidea superfamily is retired and out of production (the CollectA Deluxe Paraceratherium model), so it is replaced by another member of the Rhinocerotoidea, albeit from a different branch of this large taxonomic grouping, the rhinocerotid Elasmotherium and what a fantastic looking replica it is! Several species of Elasmotherium have been identified from the numerous fossils found in Europe and Asia and CollectA have chosen to create a model of the largest known species, and what is thought to be the largest true rhino to have ever lived, the giant, five-metre-long Elasmotherium sibiricum.
Commenting on this new Deluxe figure, designer Anthony Beeson stated:
“I thought that it would be nice to do a toy Elasmotherium sibiricum for a change rather than the usual Woolly Rhinoceros. Our Elasmotherium is quite hefty, I plumped for a hairy animal and have based the presumed horn on the Palaeolithic cave painting from Rouffignac in France that is thought to represent the creature often referred to as ‘the Siberian unicorn’.”
The Rouffignac limestone caves (Grotte de Rouffignac), are located in the Dordogne (south-western France) and this location was given UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1979. The cave walls depict more than 250 drawings attributed to the Magdalenian culture of the Late Pleistocene. Many different types of animal are depicted with Woolly Mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius), predominating but there are a number of cave paintings that show Woolly Rhinos (Coelodonta antiquitatis) and one image that illustrates a powerfully built rhinoceros with a single, very large nose horn that has been interpreted as representing Elasmotherium.
The CollectA Deluxe Elasmotherium Compared to the Stylised Rhinoceros Cave Painting from Grotte de Rouffignac
The CollectA Elasmotherium model compared to the Palaeolithic art from Rouffignac Cave (south-western France).
CollectA will also be introducing a prehistoric animal themed playset in 2019. Sources close to CollectA have stated that this is to be a 38-piece playset with a dozen CollectA dinosaur cards with augmented reality (the figures come to life via the AR technology).
The New for 2019 CollectA Prehistoric Animal Playset
CollectA augmented reality play set. This playset incorporates AR (augmented reality).
Picture credit: CollectA
This playset is believed to consist of, a large playmat (estimated size 37 cm by 29 cm), two prehistoric trees, twelve mini-dinosaur figures, the twelve AR cards and a further ten accessories that permit a degree of playset landscape customisation such as the building of a volcano, a small hill or some coastal features of different shapes and sizes. This cleverly constructed playset comes in a handy carry case and skilfully blends traditional prehistoric animal figures with cutting-edge augmented reality technology.
Model Measurements
The CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Elasmotherium – length 25.5 cm, height 13.6 cm.
CollectA Prehistoric Animal Playset – length of playmat 37 cm, width 29 cm.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“CollectA have continued to innovate and extend their range of replicas. Over the next few months they will be adding scale models of Edaphosaurus, Baryonyx, Carnotaurus, the amazing pterosaur Caiuajara and a scale model of Elasmotherium. In addition, we can expect to see Fukuiraptor and Borealopelta make an appearance plus a new mini-set of prehistoric animals and a prehistoric animal playset in which to place them. Next year is going to be an exciting year for model collectors.”
To view the other three articles that introduce the rest of the new for 2019 prehistoric animal models from CollectA.
Macrocollum itaquii – Oldest Long-necked Sauropodomorph is Described
A team of scientists based in Brazil have described the fossilised remains of three Triassic dinosaurs that lived some 225 million years ago that shed light on the evolution of long-necks in plant-eating dinosaurs. The new species, a member of the Sauropodomorpha, has been named Macrocollum itaquii, the genus name comes from the Greek for “long neck”, an appropriate moniker for a prehistoric animal that is helping to unravel the developmental history of the long-necked dinosaurs bauplan.
Macrocollum itaquii
Although Macrocollum is estimated to have measured about four metres in length and weighed approximately 100 kilograms, a lot smaller than later sauropods, some of which were the largest terrestrial animals to have ever lived, it is considerably bigger than older dinosaur fossil specimens found in South America, some of the earliest dinosaurs known, that lived around ten million years earlier and represent some of the very first dinosaurs to evolve.
A Life Reconstruction of Macrocollum itaquii
A life reconstruction of the newly described Macrocollum itaquii from southern Brazil.
Picture credit: SWNS
The Rise of the Sauropodomorpha
Despite a number of recent fossil discoveries, palaeontologists have a relatively poor understanding of the rise of the sauropodomorphs, a group that includes some of the most famous of all the dinosaurs, giants such as Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus.
The fossil material, representing three individuals, was collected from the upper portion of the Candelária Sequence of the Paraná Basin, from a site in Agudo, Rio Grande do Sul (southern Brazil). Nearby strata have been dated to the Norian faunal stage of the Late Triassic. Writing in the academic journal “Biology Letters”, the researchers, which included biologist Rodrigo Müller from the Federal University of Santa Maria (Brazil), conclude that these three animals died together and therefore provide the oldest evidence of herding behaviour in sauropodomorphs described to date.
The proposal that the three individuals died together and as such, indicate gregarious behaviour, has been challenged by a number of academics. It is possible that these three herbivores died at different times and the carcases just happened to be transported and ended up in association.
Commenting upon this, Rodrigo Müller explained:
“There are three articulated skeletons in five tons of rock. This is unique. It suggests these animals probably died together, as they share the same degree of disarticulation. So, if they died together, these dinosaurs probably lived together.”
Long Necks and Long Thigh Bones
Two of the specimens include skull material, the holotype (CAPPA/UFSM (Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia) 0001a), is virtually complete and articulated. It is one of the best preserved Triassic dinosaur skeletons ever found. With such exceptionally well-preserved specimens the scientists have been able to conduct an analysis looking at how the long-neck of these types of dinosaurs evolved and study the femur (thigh bone), length to give an indication in the change of body size since the first plant-eating dinosaurs evolved. In addition, these fossils have shed light on how these animals adapted to a fully herbivorous diet.
Macrocollum Fossil Material Has Helped Shed Light on Important Evolutionary Developments within the Sauropodomorpha
Mapping the phylogeny of Macrocollum itaquii.
Picture credit: R T Müller et al in Biology Letters
The table above shows the phylogenetic position attributed to the newly described M. itaquii. Based on this assessment it has been assigned to the Unaysauridae family, basal members of the Sauropoda, that are known from Triassic-aged rocks from the Southern Hemisphere (India and South America). The discovery of Macrocollum has helped palaeontologists to gain a better understanding of the evolution of the long-neck of sauropods. The cervical vertebrae (neck bones) of M. itaquii are already much more elongated than seen in earlier representatives of the Sauropodomorpha known from around 233 million years ago. The teeth are more spatulate in shape, indicating an adaptation to a plant-eating diet and over this 8 million year period (233-225 million years ago), femora measurements demonstrate that sauropodomorphs increased in size by 230%.
Views of Skull Material Associated with M. itaquii
(a) Skull in left lateral view (CAPPA/UFSM 0001a – holotype), (b) Skull in dorsal view (CAPPA/UFSM 0001a – holotype) and (c) part of a skull in ventral view (CAPPA/UFSM 0001b).
Picture credit: R T Müller et al in Biology Letters
The typical long neck was also established, becoming proportionally twice as long than those necks of basal taxa. Indeed, the new dinosaur is the oldest-known sauropodomorph with such an elongated neck, suggesting that the ability to feed on high vegetation was a key trait achieved along the early Norian.
Skeletal Reconstruction and Significant Bones Including Elongated Cervical Vertebrae
Skeletal reconstruction of Macrocollum itaquii. Known fossil material shaded white, scale bar = 5 cm. The elongated neck bone is (d).
Picture credit: R T Müller et al in Biology Letters
The species name honours Mr José Jerundino Machado Itaqui, one of the main drivers behind the creation of the Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia and the Federal University of Santa Maria.
To read about the recent discovery of an Early Jurassic sauropod from China (Yizhousaurus sunae), that is helping palaeontologists to learn more about how some types of dinosaur were able to evolve into giants: Helping to Give Sauropod Evolution a Head Start.
The scientific paper: “An Exceptionally Preserved Association of Complete Dinosaur Skeletons Reveals the Oldest Long-necked Sauropodomorphs” by Rodrigo Temp Müller, Max Cardoso Langer and Sérgio Dias-da-Silva published in Biology Letters.
Canada is a very big country and at this time of year, delays can occur in their national postal network due to adverse weather conditions and the pressure on the network from having to deal with increased volumes of parcels as the build up to the festive season continues. However, ongoing industrial action has led to significant delays and we are writing to inform our Canadian customers that Royal Mail has suspended the despatching of parcels to Canada.
Royal Mail Have Suspended Despatching Parcels Destined for Canada
Royal Mail has received a request to suspend the sending of all mail including Christmas parcels to Canada until further notice.
Picture credit: Press Association/Royal Mail
Affecting All International Post Operators
The strike action has been going on for several weeks. A large back-log of undelivered mail and parcels has built up in the Canadian network. A series of rolling strikes across the Provinces has led to a build-up of over five hundred trucks, all with parcels that have to be delivered before the network can handle any more mail. As a result, all international postal operators, including Royal Mail in the United Kingdom, have been requested to stop sending more mail to Canada.
Canada Post are aware of the huge impact this is having, especially with Christmas approaching and they are continuing to attempt to reach a settlement with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Royal Mail has recommended that companies like Everything Dinosaur consider delaying any parcels bound for Canada in the coming days and as this situation is likely to continue, it is not possible to say when the dispute will be settled or if the back-log will be cleared anytime soon.
Royal Mail is still accepting parcels, but they are not moving in the network, there are being held in the UK international distribution hubs until further notice.
Impact Across the Whole of the Canadian Mail Network
Negotiations between the parties are continuing but the rolling strikes have had an impact on the entire mail distribution network of Canada and at the time of writing, there seems little prospect of the industrial action over pay and conditions coming to an end.
Our Royal Mail account managers have promised to keep us informed regarding the progress and outcome of any negotiations. If no break-through is achieved, then services to Canada are likely to remain suspended. If the strike action is ended soon, there is still going to be a large amount of mail to be cleared before the Canadian mail network can return to normal operating conditions. Customers sending parcels to Canada can expect their items to be subjected to many weeks of delays.
Delays Expected in Parcel Deliveries to Canada
Customers in Canada can expect considerable delays with regards to parcel deliveries.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Everything Dinosaur Comments
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We have been kept informed by Royal Mail about the ongoing industrial action. Unfortunately, this dispute will have a very significant impact on Christmas gifts being sent from the UK to Canada. Team members have been exploring alternative postal routes and courier networks to try to expediate deliveries. It might be helpful to contact Everything Dinosaur before placing an order for prehistoric animal items that are destined for addresses in Canada.”
