The Isle of Skye might be famous for its dinosaur footprints, but it had been thought that dinosaur trace fossils such as trackways were absent from the Scottish mainland. However, Dr Neil Clark (Vice President of the Geological Society of Glasgow and Curator of Palaeontology at the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow University), has published a report on the first evidence of dinosaur tracks to have been found on the Scottish mainland. Dr Clark and his colleagues are trying to raise funds so that they can continue to map and study this evidence of Scottish dinosaurs.
Dinosaur Tracks
One of the Sauropod Tracks from the Scottish Mainland
Sauropod footprint from the Scottish mainland.
Picture credit: Dr Neil Clark
Sauropod and Theropod Tracks Dating from the Middle Jurassic
The footprints, preserved in sandstone represent three-toed theropod dinosaurs and the larger prints were very probably made by long-necked herbivores (sauropods). The exact location of the trace fossils has not been reported, a precaution in order to protect these extremely important fossils from any would-be fossil hunters, keen to remove a footprint.
Commenting on the significance of this discovery, Dr Clark stated:
“The footprints are the first evidence of dinosaurs found on the Scottish mainland. All the other discoveries are from the Hebrides Basin and in particular the Isle of Skye.”
Fossils of dinosaurs dating from the Middle Jurassic are exceptionally rare. Very few parts of the world have rocks exposed dating from this period in Earth’s history, so any new information about prehistoric animals from this period is extremely important.
A Record of Theropods from the Scottish Mainland
Theropod tracks with an accompanying line drawing.
“The interesting thing about the discovery is that these are the first from the Moray Basin to the east of Scotland and help to build a clearer picture of dinosaurs living here during the Middle Jurassic. Middle Jurassic dinosaurs are scarce worldwide and Scotland is one of the top few localities despite the poor exposure of rocks of that age.”
As these fossils are from a completely new part of Scotland for dinosaurs they will add significantly to our understanding of dinosaurs of that age in Britain.
Crowdfunding to Map the Locality
Dr Clark has set up a crowdfunding page in order to undertake a project to map the prints using a drone and to take measurements of the effects of erosion on the footprints by stormy seas. The Scottish mainland tracks are approximately the same age as the trackways identified from the Isle of Skye – around 170 million years old.
The appeal target is £5,000 GBP, which is required to cover travel, materials and accommodation costs as well as the expenditure on the drone. In addition to Neil, the researchers include members of Edinburgh University’s School of Geosciences and students.
Update
The crowdfunding appeal was successful, a total of £5,200 was raised to permit the mapping of the site to go ahead.
Whilst on a recent visit to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, a team member from Everything Dinosaur took the opportunity to admire a replica skull of the North American member of the Pachycephalosauridae – Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis.
A Replica Skull of the Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis
Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis – A Very Tactile Experience
This exhibit permits visitors to feel a replica skull of a Pachycephalosaurus. It is great to see such sensory engagement in a museum. Feeling the skull of such a strange dinosaur is quite a tactile experience. The first fossils assigned to this genus were found in Montana eighty years ago.
Although the picture that accompanies the replica skull shows a Pachycephalosaurus charging with its head down, the amazing ornamentation, all those bumps, horns and that extraordinary skull remain a mystery. The exact function and purpose of the skull is still debated. Although the dome of bone that sits on top of the head is very thick, research suggests that the cranium would not have stood up to the force of any impacts all that well.
Visitors to the museum can see the large orbit (eye-socket) and the sizeable nostrils. Studies have shown that pachycephalosaurs probably had excellent eyesight and a good sense of smell.
By Mike|2024-05-11T08:07:24+01:00August 19th, 2018|Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Helping Out Year 5 with Free Teaching Resources
Providing Extra Resources for Upper Key Stage 2
Many teachers and teaching assistants are busy planning their forthcoming scheme of work as they prepare for the start of the next academic year. Recently, Everything Dinosaur was contacted by a Year 5 teacher who was working on lesson plans for the science element of the national curriculum, specifically that part of the topic area that covered evolution, natural selection and Darwinism. They intended to look at the geology of their local area and explain what life was like in the very distant past. Around 300 million years ago, the school would have been underwater, covered by a shallow tropical sea that teemed with life.
Everything Dinosaur Exploring Limestone Outcrops
Evidence for this can be found in the numerous limestone outcrops in the area. The limestone is used as a local building material and the teacher planned to use these resources to help explain about the area’s geological past.
Setting Out to Explore the Local Geology of the Area
Fossil shell fragments in the oolitic limestone. Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The picture (above) shows a form of limestone called oolitic limestone. The term means “egg stone”, as the texture of the rock’s surface resembles fish eggs. The circular patterns are the remains of ooliths that make up the limestone rock. Fragments of sea shell, or grains of sand are rolled around on the sea floor and as they move they collect CaCO3 (calcium carbonate). Concentric layers of this material are formed and it is these that give the rock its characteristic appearance. The teacher hopes to inspire the Year 5 pupils by showing them the geology on their doorstep.
Lots of Rebor Models Back in Stock at Everything Dinosaur
So many Rebor replicas have come back into stock at Everything Dinosaur, that we dedicated an entire customer newsletter to this popular brand of prehistoric animal figures. Recently arrived at our warehouse is a “pack” of “raptors”. The Rebor 1/18th scale figures “Winston”, “Pete” and “Alex Delarge” have arrived. There are enough Velociraptor figures in stock to keep even the most ardent Jurassic Park fan happy. Also, just in, the new Rebor “Sweeney” Velociraptor figure.
The Rebor Velociraptor Figure “Winston” is Back in Stock at Everything Dinosaur
Celebrating the return of “Winston” the original 1:18 scale “Raptor” figure from Rebor. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Rebor 1:18 Scale Velociraptor Figures
The Velociraptor figure called “Winston” was the first 1:18 scale Velociraptor model to be produced by Rebor, it is great to see this favourite back in stock. In addition, our latest Rebor shipment contained two other, previously stocked Rebor “raptor” figures, namely, “Pete” and “Alex Delarge”. The original Velociraptor figure “Winston” was named in honour of Stan Winston, the American film and television special effects creator who worked on the first three films in the Jurassic Park film franchise.
“Alex Delarge” and “Pete” are members of a violent gang (the droogs), in Anthony Burgess’s novel of 1962 “A Clockwork Orange”, which was later made into a film directed by Stanley Kubrick.
The Leaping Velociraptor Figure – Alex Delarge is in Stock
Rebor Alex Delarge returns to stock. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Rebor Models – Bigger Theropods and Smaller Theropods
Joining the “Raptors” in Everything Dinosaur’s website is the “Cerberus Clan”, three scale models of the larger dromaeosaurid Deinonychus (D. antirrhopus). In addition and sharing the billing with the Rebor “Cerberus Clan” is another Velociraptor figure that is back in stock, the popular Velociraptor “Pete”.
The Rebor Deinonychus Figures “Cerberus Clan” and the Rebor 1:18 scale Velociraptor “Pete” Back in Stock at Everything Dinosaur
Rebor “Pete” and the “Cerberus Clan” in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
To view the range of Rebor prehistoric animal figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur, including all the 1:18 scale “raptors”: Rebor Prehistoric Animal Models.
Rebor Carnotaurus “Crimson King” and the Newly Arrived “Sweeney”
As well as the various dromaeosaurids that have arrived, more stocks of the popular 1:35 scale Carnotaurus figure (C. sastrei) have become available too. Saving the last to the last, Everything Dinosaur has received stocks of the Rebor “Sweeney” Velociraptor model, the last “raptor “for the time being to be introduced by Rebor.
The Rebor “Crimson King” Carnotaurus Replica
Rebor “Crimson King” Carnotaurus dinosaur model.
Rebor “Sweeney” the Latest 1:18 Scale Velociraptor Figure
“Sweeney” a 1/18th scale Velociraptor figure by Rebor.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur, who had helped unpack all the Rebor replicas at the company’s warehouse stated:
“It is great to see more stocks of Rebor models coming into our warehouse. Collectors are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting Rebor Velociraptors, there are just so many high quality figures to choose from. Furthermore, joining the Velociraptors is the Cerberus Clan and the Rebor Carnotaurus figure known as the Crimson King.”
Look out for more updates and information from Everything Dinosaur. Rebor are planning to introduce some new models before Christmas and as always, Everything Dinosaur team members will be doing their very best to make sure that dinosaur model fans and prehistoric animal figure collectors are kept informed and up to date.
Subscribing to Everything Dinosaur’s Newsletter
Subscribing to the Everything Dinosaur newsletter is very simple and it’s free! The Everything Dinosaur newsletter provides lots of updates and information on new model releases, company production updates and figure retirements. We post out these emails from time to time, helping to keep our dedicated and enthusiastic customers informed.
To request a subscription to Everything Dinosaur’s regular newsletter, simply email: Email Everything Dinosaur.
Safari Ltd introduced into their range of prehistoric animal models a tube (toob) of Cambrian lifeforms, a set of eight figures that represent different types of creature that existed more than 500 million years ago. This skilfully crafted and well-designed range of replicas has proved to be extremely useful for researchers as they study the enigmatic animals that existed during the Cambrian and the preceding geological age, the Ediacaran.
Sometimes it can be challenging for scientists to illustrate their fossil finds. Many fossil specimens can be difficult to make out to the untrained eye and a model of the animal placed in close proximity to the fossil, can help to demonstrate what sort of creature the fossil represents. A few days ago, Everything Dinosaur supplied a Safari Ltd Cambrian Toob to a researcher at Bristol University who wanted to use one of the models in this set for just such a purpose – to illustrate the ancient Cambrian arthropod Sidneyia.
The Cambrian Fossils Next to a Model of Sidneyia
Fossil arthropods preserved in a 520 million-year-old rock with a model of one of the creatures – Sidneyia.
The slab of rock (above) comes from northern Greenland, it contains a preserved impression of the Cambrian arthropod known as Sidneyia. At around six centimetres in length, the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Sidneyia replica provides a useful scale. The scientist explained to Everything Dinosaur that the rock comes from a locality called Sirius Passet and it was collected on a recent expedition to this remote part of the world during the summer.
The fossil site was discovered in 1984 by a field team from the Geological Survey of Greenland. Several thousand specimens have been collected over the years, the Sirius Passet locality is a Cambrian Lagerstätte, a very fossil rich area that preserves marine fauna from the, as yet, not formally defined “Stage 3” of the Cambrian geological period. The Sirius Passet biota is often compared to the biota associated with the Burgess Shale deposits of British Columbia, but the Greenland rocks are at least ten million years older and therefore more comparable in age to the Maotianshan shales from Chengjiang, from Yunnan Province in south-western China.
The Safari Ltd Cambrian Toob Models
Examples of the Cambrian biota.
Safari Ltd Cambrian Toob Contents
The eight colourful figures in the Safari Ltd Cambrian Toob represent a variety of different marine organisms, including the nektonic predator Anomalocaris, Vauxia (a sponge) and the bizarre worm-like creature Ottoia. Several arthropods are featured too, including Sanctacaris, Sidneyia, Naraoia and a Trilobite (Tricrepicephalus).
Sidneyia from the Safari Ltd Cambrian Toob
Details about the Cambrian arthropod Sidneyia. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Believed to have been a predator feeding on molluscs and other hard-shelled creatures, Sidneyia probably scuttled along the sea floor (benthic). It was named after Sidney Walcott, the eldest son of Charles Walcott, the American scientist who discovered the Burgess Shale deposits in 1909. The scientist who requested the Safari Ltd Cambrian Toob wrote to say that the rock slab contains three arthropods, a well-preserved Sidneyia, a well-preserved, undescribed arthropod that they were working on and another indeterminate arthropod.
A fossil bone, a partial femur, found in the 1950s and originally regarded as “dinosaur” bone has been reassessed and confirmed as coming from a bizarre marine mammal, a member of the Desmostylia Order, a group of mysterious animals that looked like a cross between a sea-going hippopotamus and a sealion with hooves. Writing in the open access journal of the Royal Society (Royal Society Open Science), the research team were able to track down the fossil site using the original hand-written note kept with the fossil in combination with interviews of relatives of construction workers who were involved in the original fossil find.
Views of the Fossil Femur – The “Dinosaur” Bone
Views of the Desmostylia femur with a taxonomic illustration in the form of a line drawing.
Picture credit: Kumiko Matsui et al./Royal Society
The picture above shows the fossil femur (top) with an accompanying line drawing (bottom). Cranial view (A), interior view (B), caudal view (C) with an exterior view (D). Note the scale bar is ten centimetres.
Scientists Turn into Detectives
Yuri Kimura, the Curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the National Museum of Nature and Science (Tokyo) and one of the co-authors of the scientific paper, found an old wooden box when exploring the archives of the University of Tsukuba last year. The box contained the proximal end of a right femur. The scientist then set about identifying the location of the fossil find. Yuri and the other collaborators on this project, a combination of anatomical assessment, taphonomy and detective work, learned that the fossil was discovered during construction of a debris flow barrier and that it was recognised as a “dinosaur” bone among the locals and displayed in a village hall until the town experienced a fire disaster in 1954.
During the research, one of the interviewees confirmed that the bone had been described as coming from a member of the Desmostylia, but if it had been examined by a scientist/palaeontologist, it had not been reported or the find officially documented.
A Skeletal Drawing of Paleoparadoxia (Desmostylia) Showing the Anatomical Position of the Bone
A skeleton of Paleoparadoxia showing the location of the fossil bone (in red).
Picture credit: Kumiko Matsui et al./Royal Society
Paleoparadoxia (Desmostylia)
Comparisons undertaken with other fossil specimens, led the research team to conclude that the right femur was from the Paleoparadoxia genus, a member of the Desmostylia, an extinct Order believed to be distantly related to Sea Cows.
This study provides an excellent example of historical and scientific information being extracted from long-forgotten and uncatalogued specimens so long as the original information is retained with the specimens.
A Life Reconstruction of Paleoparadoxia
A life reconstruction of the bizarre Miocene mammal Paleoparadoxia.
Picture credit: Kumiko Matsui et al./Royal Society
The latest Rebor replica figure, a 1/18th scale model of a running Velociraptor, nicknamed “Sweeney” has arrived at Everything Dinosaur. This figure joins the range of Velociraptor figures offered including “Pete”, Spring-heeled Jack”, “Winston” and “Alex Delarge”.
The Latest Rebor “Raptor” The Velociraptor Called “Sweeney”
The Rebor Velociraptor figure “Sweeney”.
A Striped Dromaeosaurid
This 1:18 scale replica of a running Velociraptor has an articulated lower jaw and articulated forelimbs. The model’s colouration has been inspired by the extant tiger and with its stripes it is a very striking and colourful scale model.
The name “Sweeney” comes from “Sweeney Todd”, a very unsavoury fictional character from Victorian literature, a barber by trade who has a side-line in making pies out of the customers he kills with his cut-throat razor. The sharp, sickle-shaped killing claw on the second toe of each foot of Velociraptor makes a suitable analogy for “Sweeney Todd’s” razor, however, whether this claw could be used to slash prey is debated. Many palaeontologists believe that the enlarged toe claw that was held off the ground, could have helped to pin prey down, but it was not used as a slashing weapon, although the tip would have been quite sharp.
A Close View of the Enlarged Second Toe Claw of Velociraptor
As Velociraptor ran the second toe claw was held off the ground.
The picture (above), shows a close-up view of the feet of the running Velociraptor “Sweeney”. Note the fine detail on the model and the way in which the second toe of each foot is held off the ground as the dinosaur ran. This would have helped to keep the sickle-toe claw sharp.
The spectacular Rebor Velociraptor figure measures approximately twenty-two and a half centimetres in length. The head height (when perched on its sand texture base), is around eleven centimetres and the base itself, reminiscent of the sandy, desert environment in which Velociraptor mongoliensis lived, measures nine centimetres by four centimetres.
The Rebor range now contains a total of seven models of fully-grown Velociraptors in 1:18 scale. “Sweeney” joins “Alex Delarge”, “Winston”, “Gunn”, “Rose”, “Pete” and “Spring-heeled Jack”, collectors have the opportunity to create their own “Raptor” pack, their very own magnificent seven!
Flocking This Way! The Rebor New for 2018 Velociraptor Figure “Sweeney”
The Rebor “Sweeney” Velociraptor figure.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“It is wonderful to see another dromaeosaurid figure added to the exciting range of models manufactured by Rebor. “Sweeney” is the last of the Velociraptor figures to be made for the foreseeable future, these 1:18 scale figures have proved extremely popular with discerning model collectors and we expect that “Sweeney” will soon become a firm favourite too.”
The Beautiful Rebor Velociraptor Figure “Sweeney”
The Rebor range is certainly something to get your teeth into.
Rebor and Everything Dinosaur will be announcing more additions to the Rebor range shortly, some of which will not be dinosaurs. Check out this blog site and Everything Dinosaur on social media for more information.
A Video Review of the Eofauna Straight-Tusked Elephant
Those talented and clever people at JurassicCollectables have produced a video review of the second figure in the range of prehistoric animal figures made by Eofauna Scientific Research. The video provides viewers with an up-close and detailed examination of the superb Eofauna Straight-tusked elephant replica (Palaeoloxodon antiquus). A prehistoric animal model inspired by the scientific study of fossil remains.
JurassicCollectables Reviews the Eofauna Scientific Research Straight-Tusked Elephant
Video credit: JurassicCollectables
Palaeoloxodon antiquus (Old Slanting Tooth)
This prehistoric elephant has a long history of research and scientific study. It was first thought to be closely related to the extant Asian elephant (genus Elephas) and was initially named Elephas antiquus. Subsequent studies in the 19th and 20th centuries refined this large herbivore’s taxonomic position and in 1924, the Japanese palaeontologist Hikoshichiro Matsumoto erected the genus Palaeoloxodon when examining elephant fossils found in his native Japan. Several species of Palaeoloxodon have been described, with the species in the video review, P. antiquus, associated with warm temperate forest and scrubland habitats of Europe that existed during the Pleistocene inter-glacial phases.
Size estimates vary for Palaeoloxodon antiquus, however, bulls could have had shoulder heights in excess of 4.5 metres and weighed in excess of sixteen tonnes. It is great to see the various models used by JurassicCollectables in this video review, viewers can really appreciate the size of this figure. Our thanks as always to “off-colour” Alan for his contribution.
Available from Everything Dinosaur – the Eofauna Scientific Research Straight-Tusked Elephant Replica
Eofauna Scientific Research Straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus).
Eofauna Straight-Tusked Elephant Video Review
JurassicCollectables outlines how the model was produced. This stunning 1:35 scale replica is based on actual fossil specimens that were studied by Eofauna Scientific Research team members. This is a scientifically accurate model and in the JurassicCollectables video review, the narrator gives viewers a guided tour of the figure and provides a close-up examination of this detailed model. The beautiful skin texture is marvelled at and the narrator even picks out the carefully sculpted veining to be found on those large ears.
Everything Dinosaur’s Illustration of Palaeoloxodon antiquus (Straight-Tusked Elephant)
A drawing of a Straight-tusked elephant, commissioned by Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Sales Helping to Fund Scientific Research
Eofauna Scientific Research is a non-profit organisation and revenues from sales of this figure are invested back into scientific research and the dissemination of knowledge about extinct animals. It this wasn’t reason enough to add this splendid, 1/35th scale model to your collection, it has already attracted numerous 5-star Feefo reviews on Everything Dinosaur’s website, for example:
Doug wrote to say: “Top quality model. Anatomical detail totally convincing. Detail in skin texture & features outstanding. Perfect posture, not too aggressive.”
Anthony added: “Magnificent replica. The sculpting and paint job was of the highest quality. Great pose. It was a good learning experience to find out that elephants once lived in Europe. This is the second Eofauna replica I’ve purchased, and I look forward to seeing what they offer next year.”
To purchase the Eofauna Straight-tusked elephant model and their first figure the excellent Eofauna Steppe Mammoth replica: Eofauna Scientific Research Models.
In the Video, the Eofauna Straight-Tusked Elephant is Compared in Size with the Eofauna Steppe Mammoth Figure
The Eofauna Steppe Mammoth (left) compared to the Eofauna Straight-tusked elephant (right).
Picture credit: JurassicCollectables
JurassicCollectables have developed an amazing YouTube channel packed full of prehistoric animal model reviews and other entertaining and informative videos. They have just achieved 74, 000 subscribers, that’s an astonishing achievement, our congratulations to the JurassicCollectables team.
Visit the YouTube channel of JurassicCollectables here: JurassicCollectables, Everything Dinosaur recommends that dinosaur model fans subscribe to the JurassicCollectables YouTube channel.
In the meantime, take a look at the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.
By Mike|2023-10-27T14:20:34+01:00August 14th, 2018|General Teaching|Comments Off on A Beautiful Edaphosaurus Model
A Stunning 1:20 Scale Edaphosaurus Model
Our thanks to prehistoric animal model fan, Elizabeth, who sent us in this wonderful replica of an Edaphosaurus, a reptile that lived many millions of years before the dinosaurs evolved but is often mistaken for a dinosaur.
A Beautiful 1/20th Scale Replica of a Edaphosaurus
Edaphosaurus a customised CollectA model.
Picture credit: Elizabeth
The figure is part of the CollectA Deluxe prehistoric life model series. It has been customised and provided with a display base.
Edaphosaurus, like Dimetrodon, is sometimes referred to as a “sail-backed reptile”. It is sometimes included in dinosaur model sets. However, Edaphosaurus was not a dinosaur. This reptile was a synapsid, a member of a group of reptiles that has a single opening (fenestra) just behind the eye socket in the skull. Dinosaurs, along with lizards, crocodiles, Aves (birds) and marine reptiles such as the Plesiosauria, were diapsids. Diapsids have two holes on each side of the skull. Mammals are also synapsids, so Edaphosaurus was ironically more closely related to mammals like us than to the Dinosauria, although the term “mammal-like” reptile that is often applied to this ancient reptile is very misleading and not accurate.
Edaphosaurus Lived During the Permian Geological Period, Long Before the First Dinosaurs
A customised Edaphosaurus model complete with display base.
Picture credit: Elizabeth
Our thanks to Elizabeth for sending in to us some photographs of her fabulous Edaphosaurus diorama.
Visit the award-winning and user-friendly Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.
A team of scientists have published a paper in the journal “Nature Ecology & Evolution”, detailing the discovery of a new type of Triassic pterosaur. The exquisitely preserved fossils, including skull and jaw material excavated from strata laid down at a desert oasis that existed around 210 million years ago, has got vertebrate palaeontologists in a flap.
Caelestiventus hanseni
Firstly, only around thirty fossils of Triassic pterosaurs are known, most of these from only fragmentary remains and secondly, as this flying reptile fossil is associated with a desert environment, it suggests that by the Late Triassic the Pterosauria were very specious and had already adapted to a variety of different habitats. If all this wasn’t enough to get scientists excited, the exceptional state of preservation has revealed anatomical features previously obscured in other early pterosaurs and shows that this new flying reptile from Utah, was closely related to Dimorphodon macronyx which is known from Lower Jurassic rocks from Dorset (southern England).
The flying reptile was large, very large for a Triassic pterosaur, it had an estimated wingspan of 1.5 metres. It has been named Caelestiventus hanseni (pronounced Sel-less-tees-vent-us han-son-eye).
A Life Restoration of the Newly Described Late Triassic Pterosaur Caelestiventus hanseni
Caelestiventus hanseni illustration. Study of the fossil bones suggests the presence of a throat pouch.
Picture credit: Michael Skrepnick
From Saints and Sinners Quarry (Utah)
The fossils come from a vertebrate bone bed located in the Saints and Sinners Quarry, within sandstone deposits in north-eastern Utah. Numerous vertebrate fossils have been associated with this locality including crocodylomorphs and theropod dinosaur material.
The bones come from silty, fine-grained sandstones laid down in near-shore waters of an oasis, that was surrounded by arid desert. More than 18,000 individual bones representing a total of nine tetrapod taxa (including two theropod dinosaurs), have been found. The flying reptile bones described in the scientific paper are the only ones known from this deposit and Caelestiventus hanseni is the first Triassic pterosaur from the western hemisphere from outside Greenland.
Whether this flying reptile was a resident of the oasis is unclear, but it is possible that this individual was an occasional visitor, to what would have been, an isolated oasis surrounded by extensive dune fields.
One of the Delicate Skull and Jaw Fossils Held by Professor Brooks Britt (Brigham Young University)
Professor Brooks Britt (Brigham Young University) holds one of the pterosaur fossils (jaw and skull fossils). His finger is pointing to roughly where the eye socket would have been.
Picture credit: Brigham Young University
The picture above, shows a prepared piece of the fossilised skull of C. hanseni (maxilla and other elements from the jaws and skull), the specimen is held by Professor Brooks Britt of Brigham Young University and the lead author of the scientific paper. It is not possible to remove the delicate, three-dimensional fossils from the matrix, the fossils would collapse under their own weight, but CT scans in conjunction with computer modelling enabled the production of precise plastic replicas of the fossil pieces, that gave the researchers the opportunity to reconstruct the skull.
Related to Dimorphodon (D. macronyx)
The beautiful state of preservation enabled the research team to gain fresh insights into the morphology of skull and jaws of Late Triassic pterosaurs. The reconstructed brain case reveals that those parts of the brain responsible for processing vision were particularly well-developed, reinforcing the theory that flying reptiles had very keen eyesight.
A phylogenetic analysis undertaken by the researchers reveals that Caelestiventus is a sister taxon of Dimorphodon macronyx, which is known from Lower Jurassic rocks from Dorset.
A Three-Dimensionally Printed Skull of Caelestiventus hanseni
C. hanseni model skull and line drawing comparisons between C. hanseni and D. macronyx.
Picture credit: Brigham Young University with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur
The use of CT scans and computer software to digitally remove the fossils from their matrix without damaging them has enabled the scientists to produce extremely accurate three-dimensional images of the specimen, these data files can then be shared with other vertebrate specialists across the world.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“The scans permitted the production of finely detailed and extremely accurate three-dimensional models of the individual bones. When these were fitted together this gave the scientists the opportunity to study the entire skull and to share this information very easily with other palaeontologists. The use of technology is now helping scientists to gain much easier access to important fossil finds.”
The Geographical Significance of Caelestiventus hanseni
Not only is Caelestiventus hanseni the first record of a Triassic pterosaur from North America, the discovery suggests that by the Late Triassic, flying reptiles were not only quite large but also that they may have already adapted to a wide variety of habitats. Similarly aged fossils from Greenland and Europe indicate pterosaurs living in forested areas and coastal environments on the super- continent of Pangaea.
This fossil discovery demonstrates that early pterosaurs were geographically widely distributed and ecologically diverse, even living in harsh desert environments. C. hanseni is the only record of a desert-dwelling, non-pterodactyloid pterosaur and predates all known desert living pterosaurs by more than sixty-five million years.
The Geographical Significance of the Utah Pterosaur Fossil Discovery
The location of the Triassic pterosaur find from Utah plotted against a map of Pangaea during the Late Triassic and other pterosaur fossil discoveries from Triassic strata.
Picture credit: Brigham Young University
The picture above shows (top left), the location of Utah in the United States and (insert), the geological formations associated with north-western Utah. The world map shows the location of Triassic pterosaur fossil discoveries superimposed on an illustration of Pangaea with a colour key to indicate different habitats. Caelestiventus is the first Triassic pterosaur identified from a desert environment.
The genus name is from the Latin for “heavenly wind”, in recognition of the volant capabilities of this reptile. The trivial name honours geologist Robin L. Hanson of the Bureau of Land Management, who has played a crucial role in the excavation of the Saints and Sinners Quarry material.
Photographs Showing Some of the Fossil Material Associated with the Caelestiventus Genus
Views of the pterosaur fossil material – Caelestiventus hanseni.
