2018 | Everything Dinosaur Blog

22 02, 2018

Ground-Dwelling Birds Provide Clues to Theropod Dinosaur Locomotion

By Mike|2023-09-16T16:24:50+01:00February 22nd, 2018|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Observe How Ground-Dwelling Birds Move to Learn About Theropod Locomotion

Just how fast could T. rex run? Over the years, there have been a number of papers published that looked at the locomotion of big theropod dinosaurs. Computer models, three-dimensional analysis of trackways using state-of-the-art LIDAR (light detection and ranging), biomechanics, kinetic studies, so many disciples and so many areas of research. One way of obtaining a better understanding of the movements of large, bipedal dinosaurs is to take a look at the dinosaurs that are still with us today, the birds. By studying extant Aves, scientists can gain an insight into the locomotion of non-avian members of the Theropoda.

How Did Big Theropod Dinosaurs Move About?

Birds provide clues to Theropod locomotion. — *T. rex locomotion. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Studying Extant Avian Dinosaurs

Writing in the academic on-line journal PLOS One, a team of international scientists, which included Professor John Hutchinson from the Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, set about gaining a greater appreciation of just how birds move by examining in detail the locomotion of twelve types of ground-dwelling bird, some of them flightless, such as the emu and ostrich, whilst others are accomplished flyers such as the Japanese quail and the Australian white ibis.

Aerial ability or the lack of it was not important, the team were interested in examining how birds of various sizes and body weights moved about, effectively recording their body movements using high speed cameras as these birds walked or ran across a track. The species were selected based on the fact that these birds spend a lot of time on the ground. By virtue of spending most of their lives (in the case of the emu and ostrich, all of their lives), on the ground, these feathered friends have well-developed hind limb locomotor systems.

Scaling Up to a Seven Tonne Theropod

There was a considerable variation in body size amongst the participants. The smallest species represented being the Chinese painted quail, that weighed in at around 45 grammes, the largest being the ostrich which at 80 kilos represents a body mass some 1,780 times heavier.

The scientific paper deals with some of the problems of trying to use birds to test the locomotive abilities of big meat-eating dinosaurs. Any studies using an 80-kg ostrich would require nearly a 100 fold extrapolation to equate to the body weight of a fully-grown Tyrannosaurus rex for example. The researchers comment in the paper that the absolute range of body masses encompassed by modern birds is small compared to that encompassed by extinct, non-avian theropod dinosaurs.

They postulate that whilst it may be reasonable to extrapolate to a 200-kilogramme flightless moa from New Zealand, is it reasonable to extrapolate to an eight tonne tyrannosaur?

The Skeleton of an Ostrich (left) Compared to a Dinosaur Skeleton (right)

Ostrich skeleton compared to Guanlong dinosaur skeleton. — *The skeleton of an extant ostrich compared to a theropod dinosaur (Guanlong). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

That point notwithstanding, birds are closely related to the likes of Tyrannosaurus rex and as such they make a better test subject than that other animal that is an obligate biped – us. Data on how humans walk and run was also collated and studied, but Homo sapiens does move differently when compared to ground-dwelling birds, there are some very significant differences. This research looked at the kinetics of bipedal movement, that is, those forces that cause motion (gravity, torque, friction and so forth). It also examined the kinematics of motion, the study of describing movement, usually by measuring the precise motion of parts of the body such as the joints. Kinematics involves looking at acceleration, velocity and braking.

When it comes to examining the differences in terrestrial motion between Aves and ourselves, perhaps the most significant difference is that in birds, all kinematic and kinetic parameters analysed changed continuously as velocity increased, whilst in humans all but one of those same parameters changed abruptly at the walk-run transition. Think of it as birds being able to move through the gears a little more smoothly than their two-legged human counterparts.

Ground Reaction Force (GRF)

Particular attention was devoted to the ground reaction force (GRF), the force that the feet exert upon the ground. The research team confirmed previous assessments of bird locomotion. Birds have a highly continuous locomotor repertoire compared to humans. Our discrete “walking” and “running” gaits are not easily distinguishable based on kinematic patterns alone. If birds have a more continuous locomotion profile based on body mass and the speed of movement, then this means that scientists can develop equations that allows them to predict the potential locomotor capabilities of extinct creatures – Tyrannosaurus rex for example.

Lead author of the scientific paper, Peter Bishop (Queensland Museum) explained:

“Since birds, also known as “avian dinosaurs”, are actually just dinosaurs that didn’t become extinct, they were ideal models to study how their extinct cousins would have moved. So, you’d be foolish to start anywhere else.”

The predictive model that the team has produced is able to explain 79–93% of the observed variation in kinematics and 69–83% of the observed variation in Ground Reaction Forces.

When used in extrapolation tests to examine the gaits of extinct animals, the results produced were within expected levels. There are caveats however, this study also found that the location of the whole-body centre of mass may exert an important influence on the nature of the Ground Reaction Forces, some caution is needed before applying this model to a thirteen metre monster like T. rex, after all most extinct theropod dinosaurs had substantial tails, whilst birds have a reduced tail in the form of a pygostyle and the presence/absence of a tail will have a bearing on locomotion. The research team conclude that further investigation of the movement of dinosaurs is required.

A couple of years ago, a group of scientists mounted prosthetic tails on chickens and assessed how the presence of a tail altered their locomotion.

To read an article on this study: Walking Dinosaurs Chicken Run.

Differences in Muscles and the Skeleton

Extant birds also have a very different skeleton compared to theropod dinosaurs such as Allosaurus, Giganotosaurus, Megalosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex. The anatomy of birds varies considerable from that of a dinosaur, although there are striking similarities, the presence of a wish bone and a digitigrade stance for example. Extinct non-avian theropods have different limb proportions and their leg muscles and their position (as influenced, in part by that long tail), are different. Theropod dinosaurs also had a different centre of gravity compared to birds.

For an article that looks at the evolution of the stance of birds from their dinosaur ancestors: Standing Dinosaur, Crouching Bird.

The Research Will Help with the Locomotion of Extinct Flightless Birds (Sylviornis)

Sylviornis from New Caledonia. — *Scale bar = 50 cm, a skeletal reconstruction of the giant, flightless bird from New Caledonia Sylviornis.*

The Queensland Museum scientist Peter Bishop added that understanding the locomotion of giant, extinct theropods such as the Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurids not only excited the curiosity of the public but was crucial to understanding a wide range of scientific questions.

He stated:

“Locomotion is important for understanding other parts of dinosaur ecology, how you find food, how you find mates, how you avoid becoming food yourself? It could also help contribute to models of dinosaur migration and even help settle debates about whether they were warm-blooded. But for me, the most interesting part of dinosaur locomotion is that it’s the most critical part of how dinosaurs evolved into birds. There were a lot of changes in locomotion … including the development of powered flight.”

Next Steps

The research team hope to test their equations on more species of birds and also to develop computer programmes that can model how large bipedal dinosaurs would have moved.

An article published in 2013 that looks at the evolution of the gait of birds: Birds Have the Dinosauria to Thank for Their Crouching Gait.

For dinosaur and prehistoric animal models: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

21 02, 2018

Plants May Have Originated 100 Million Years Earlier

By Mike|2023-09-16T16:09:55+01:00February 21st, 2018|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Pushing Back the Origins of Plants by 100 Million Years

An analysis of the genes of living plants has revealed that the very first plants may have evolved 100 million years earlier than the fossil record suggests. Writing in the academic journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA)”, researchers conclude that the first plants to colonise the Earth evolved around 500 million years ago, whereas, the current known fossil record provides evidence of plant spores from Ordovician-aged rocks and the first Rhyniophytes, Bryophytes and Lycophytes originated in the Silurian approximately 420 to 400 million years ago.

The Research Team Examined the Origins of Early Land Plants

Researching into the origins of early land plants. — *Early land plants would have resembled the flora found in this Icelandic lava field.*

Picture credit: Paul Kenrick (Natural History Museum, London)

Lead author of the study, Dr Philip Donoghue (Department of Earth Sciences, Bristol University) commented:

“Land plants emerged on land half a billion years ago, tens of millions of years older than the fossil record alone suggests.”

Evolved from Pond Scum

The current theory is that true plants, capable of surviving in a terrestrial environment evolved from “pond scum”. Plants play a hugely important role in shaping the climate of our planet through photosynthesis and respiration. The greening of the Earth permitted terrestrial environments to be opened up for exploitation by the first land animals. Plants can help to establish and maintain soils and the roots of plants play a vital role in the physical and chemical weathering of rocks. The breaking down of rocks is a key process in the carbon cycle that regulates the Earth’s atmosphere and climate.

Tracing Evolution Using a Molecular Clock

The scientists, which included Dr Mark Puttick from the Natural History Museum (London), used a molecular clock which analysed the combined evidence of genetic differences between related living species and the fossils of ancient ancestors. The concept of a molecular clock works on the assumption that evolutionary changes occur at regular time intervals. If the rate of genetic change (mutation), in the DNA of an organism can be compared to the genome of a closely related species then their relationship can be tracked back through time, identifying the characteristics of a common ancestor. Tracking back using this methodology, the team concluded that the first plants evolved much earlier than previously thought.

Co-lead author of the research, Dr Jennifer Morris (Bristol University), explained:

“The global spread of plants and their adaptations to life on land, led to an increase in continental weathering rates that ultimately resulted in a dramatic decrease the levels of the “greenhouse gas” carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global cooling. Previous attempts to model these changes in the atmosphere have accepted the plant fossil record at face value, our research shows that these fossil ages underestimate the origins of land plants and so these models need to be revised.”

An Incomplete and Sparse Fossil Record

The fossil record of early plants is particularly poor. It is far too incomplete to act as a reliable guide to the evolution and origin of land plants. The molecular clock allowed the team to compare differences in the genetic make-up of extant plant species, these relative genetic differences were then converted into geological ages using the sparse fossil record as a loose framework. This work suggests that the ancestor of land plants was living in the middle of the Cambrian and it is similar in age as the first known terrestrial animals.

A Cross Section of the Devonian Land Plant Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii from Scotland

An image of the early vascular plant Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii (Devonian). — *A cross section of the early vascular plant – Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii.*

Picture credit: Natural History Museum, London

A Taxonomic Conundrum

The research into the origins of land plants has been complicated as the taxonomic relationships between the earliest land plants are not clear and distinct. Using similarities in the shape and structure of land plants, scientists have mapped a number of conflicting outcomes for a cladistic analysis of early plant relationships between the most primitive groups such as the Bryophytes (liverworts and mosses) and the vascular plants (Tracheophytes) and a primitive sub-group of vascular plants, the Lycophytes. Using the molecular clock model to map phylogenetic relationships the team identified several evolutionary family trees for the early plants. The liverworts could be a sister clade to all other land plants, with either mosses, hornworts or a moss-hornwort grouping as the sister group to the Tracheophytes.

Seven Alternative Cladistic Relationships for Early Plants were Considered in the Study

*The possible cladistic relationships between early land plants.*

Picture credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

However, when each of these phylogenetic relationships was tested in turn, against the molecular clock model, the end result still indicated an origin of land plants some 100 million years earlier than previously thought. The researchers conclude that the first land plants may therefore have originated during the Late Cambrian or at the latest during the Early Ordovician.

The scientific paper: “Timescale of Early Land Plant Evolution” by J. L. Morris, M. N. Puttick, J. Clark, D. Edwards, P. Kenrick, S. Pressel, C. H. Wellman, Z. Yang, H. Schneider and P. C. J. Donoghue, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA).

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

20 02, 2018

New Schleich Prehistoric Animals (Summer 2018)

By Mike|2023-09-16T16:02:33+01:00February 20th, 2018|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

New Schleich Prehistoric Animals (Summer 2018)

Here are our first pictures of the second batch of Schleich prehistoric animal models to be released in 2018. Collectors and dinosaur fans will probably be aware that Everything Dinosaur has had in stock the January 2018 Schleich releases for some time, joining these figures are three new prehistoric animals, two dinosaurs and one flying reptile. The models are a juvenile Therizinosaurus, a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex and a Pteranodon replica. All three models are expected to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in July.

The New for 2018 Schleich Juvenile Therizinosaurus Model (Available July 2018)

Schleich juvenile Therizinosaurus dinosaur model. — *Schleich juvenile Therizinosaurus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Schleich Prehistoric Animal Models

This model is slightly smaller than the Therizinosaurus model with the red/black colour scheme that was introduced a few weeks ago, hence the juvenile moniker. Both the arms and the lower jaw are articulated (we think) and the body proportions are slightly different when compared to the adult Therizinosaurus. The sculpt gives the impression of feathers on the body and the blood-red colouration is quite striking. There is much more red on the juvenile figure when compared to the adult Therizinosaurus model (see below).

The Adult Therizinosaurus Dinosaur Model (Schleich)

Schleich Therizinosaurus dinosaur model. — *Schleich new Therizinosaurus (January 2018).*

The head shape and the blood-red colouration gives the Schleich juvenile Therizinosaurus a dragon-like quality.

Schleich Juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex

Also due out in the summer is a second juvenile figure, this time it is a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex. When this new T. rex figure comes out (July 2018), it will become the third large, individual Tyrannosaurus rex model available in the Schleich range.

Available July 2018 The Schleich Juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

This is an interesting sculpt, as although it is very similar to the Schleich T. rex figure that came out last year, it does have a different skull shape and subtle differences in the paint scheme. For example, it has black vertical bands, perhaps to help hide this juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex from other apex predators such as larger members of its own kind or the fearsome, dromaeosaurid Dakotaraptor (D. steini). Recently, it has been proposed that tyrannosaurids may have lived in family groups, if they did, then this implies that they would have probably hunted as a pack.

For dinosaur models and prehistoric animal figures: Prehistoric Animal and Dinosaur Models.

A Dramatic Transformation

Palaeontologists know that as T. rex grew, it underwent a dramatic transformation. It changed from a relatively fleet-footed, long-legged animal into a robust, heavy-weight bruiser. Both types of T. rex model are depicted in the photograph above, the juvenile figure is in front of the larger adult model. These two figures could represent two tyrannosaurids in a family, a sub-adult and the larger, heavier fully-grown animal.

Each family member might have had a specialised role in hunting, the faster, more agile juveniles could pursue the intended victim, shepherding them to the large, fully-grown adults that were responsible for bringing the prey down.

Schleich Pteranodon Model (July 2018)

Team members at Everything Dinosaur remember the Pteranodon model with a blue coloured head crest that was part of the old “Saurus” range and was retired around a decade ago. Schleich are bringing back a large, individual Pteranodon model, but the new figure (available July 2018), is radically different.

The New for 2018 Schleich Pteranodon Model

Schleich flying reptile (Pteranodon). — *Schleich Pteranodon model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Pteranodon and Schleich Prehistoric Animal Models

This flying reptile model continues the current Schleich leitmotif for bright and colourful figures. The model is posed as if it is flying and in the examples that we have seen, the painting around the head and that long beak is excellent. We do appreciate that this figure has a somewhat stylised appearance, but we don’t want to quibble as it seems particularly suitable for robust, creative play. Pteranodon remains one of the better-known members of the Pterosauria amongst young fans of ancient life, we suspect the popularity of Pteranodon may have influenced Schleich when it came to bringing back a Pteranodon model into its range.

A Close-up View of the New for 2018 Schleich Pteranodon Model

Schleich Pteranodon replica. — *Schleich Pteranodon model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the current range of Schleich prehistoric animal models available from Everything Dinosaur, including all the early 2018 releases: Schleich Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals.

All three models are expected to be in stock around July 2018.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur praised Schleich for their new models. Everything Dinosaur has an award-winning website. To visit Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur.

20 02, 2018

Helping Out Year 6 on Twitter

By Mike|2023-09-16T15:40:09+01:00February 20th, 2018|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Helping Out Year 6 on Twitter

Working with Year 1 Helping Year 6

Another school workshop successfully conducted, this time working with a class of Year 1 children over the course of a morning as they began their term topic all about dinosaurs. The workshop acted as a provocation to launch the new scheme of work after half-term, it enthused the children and our dinosaur expert was able to provide teaching resources and extension activities to support the teaching team. The Year 6 students at the school had been tasked with managing the school’s Twitter feed. We were happy to give our permission (with the school’s blessing), for some pictures of the morning’s activities to be posted up on-line.

During the course of the morning, the Everything Dinosaur team member took a photograph of a piece of artwork on display. This image was then “tweeted” to the Year 6 children and they were challenged to turn detective to see if they could work out where the photograph had been taken.

Helping to Support Year 6 on Twitter

Foundation Stage Dinosaur Display photographed by Everything Dinosaur. — *The Foundation Stage “wonder wall” full of dinosaur facts and information (Carlton Primary School). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Twitter is Useful for Parents, Guardians and Grandparents

Twitter can be very useful for schools. It allows parents, guardians and grandparents almost instant access to information about what the children at the school have been doing. Examples of work can be demonstrated, a well-written story can be featured, preparations for a school event such as a Summer Fayre can be highlighted. Social media such as Twitter can provide parents, grandparents and guardians with a sense of engagement. Good luck to Year 1 with their dinosaur studies and best wishes to Year 6 as they maintain and grow the school’s presence on Twitter.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

19 02, 2018

Special Dinosaur Poems Helping Children Develop their Vocabulary

By Mike|2024-05-04T18:27:34+01:00February 19th, 2018|Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Main Page, Teaching|0 Comments

A Poem About Parasaurolophus

Whilst delivering a dinosaur and fossil workshop with a Year 1 class, we were asked to help inspire the children by providing some inspirational poems about prehistoric animals. The class had been looking at poetry and its rhythmic qualities, writing poems about animals that lived close to the Poles when they were studying “life in the freezer” during the first part of the Spring Term. The teacher wanted to reintroduce this exercise, but this time to tie it in with the topic for the remainder of the Spring Term – dinosaurs.

A Poem About Parasaurolophus

Parasaurolophus poem. — *A poem about the hadrosaur Parasaurolophus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Poems in the Dinosaur and Fossil Workshop

Fortunately, the Everything Dinosaur fossil expert had spotted numerous dinosaur and fossil themed poems during his many school visits and he was able to share some of these resources with the teaching team. Our team member had even come across a short piece of prose dedicated to the Late Cretaceous duck-billed dinosaur Parasaurolophus, a plant-eater with a bizarre head crest.

The Duck-billed Dinosaur Parasaurolophus

Mojo Parasaurolophus dinosaurs. — *The Mojo Parasaurolophus dinosaur models (biped and quadruped). Note the bizarre head crest.*

The models in the image (above) can be found in the Mojo Fun models range.

To view this range: Mojo Fun Prehistoric and Extinct Figures.

Poetic Parasaurolophus

The role the crest played is debated by palaeontologists. It may have had a flap of skin, attaching the crest to the back of the neck and this might have been brightly coloured, allowing the crest to be used as an effective device for visual communication. The crest itself, could have played a role in signalling, perhaps its size and length demonstrated maturity or fitness for breeding. The dinosaur’s nostrils were connected to the crest by a series of complicated hollow tubes.

Some palaeontologists have speculated that the crest could have acted as an amplifier or resonating device giving these dinosaurs very distinctive calls.

Whatever the purpose of that head crest, it was good to find a poem about a “tooting” Parasaurolophus!

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

18 02, 2018

Everything Dinosaur Adds New Paleo-Creatures Figures

By Mike|2023-09-16T15:23:33+01:00February 18th, 2018|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Paleo-Creatures Arthropleura, Mei long and Scelidosaurus

Just arrived, three new additions to the Paleo-Creatures range of replicas. The new models are a sculpt of the giant Carboniferous arthropod Arthropleura, a model of the little feathered dinosaur from Liaoning Province, north-eastern China, known as the “sleeping dragon” Mei long and a fabulous figure of the early armoured dinosaur from England Scelidosaurus (S. harrisonii).

In Stock at Everything Dinosaur the Paleo-Creatures Arthropleura Figure

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Paleo-Creatures

Paleo-Creatures Arthropleura

Arthropleura is believed to have been one of the largest terrestrial invertebrates to have ever existed. The largest specimens, based on trace fossils (parallel tracks preserved in Carboniferous sediments), indicate animals that were up to 2.6 metres long. These animals resembled gigantic centipedes, but they are believed to have been omnivores or possibly vegetarian. They scuttled around the leaf litter in the dense, humid forests of the Carboniferous, fossil specimens have been found in Europe, North America and the Middle East.

The Paleo-Creatures Arthropleura comes with its own display base and fact card, the invertebrate replica measures a little over seven centimetres in length, so this figure is in approximately 1:35 scale.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Paleo-Creatures Mei long

Mei long is a basal member of the troodontid dinosaurs, it roamed the forests of north-eastern China during the Cretaceous, two specimens are known, both are believed to have perished when volcanic ash engulfed the area and both dinosaurs were found in what was thought to have been a sleeping position, hence the name Mei long which translates as “sleeping dragon”.

The Beautiful Mei long Replica by Paleo-Creatures

Paleo-Creatures Mei long. — *The Paleo-Creatures Mei long figure.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Paleo-Creatures

The specimen that has been declared the type fossil, represents a juvenile, measuring a little over half a metre in length. It is complete and preserved in three-dimensions, a result of the rapid burial by the hot volcanic ash. This dinosaur died with its head tucked under its wing and its legs neatly tucked under its body, a sleeping posture that is reminiscent of extant birds. The similarity in resting postures provides palaeontologists with further evidence to support the theropod dinosaur – Aves link.

Paleo-Creatures Scelidosaurus

The last of the three, new Paleo-Creatures replicas to be added to Everything Dinosaur’s range is the Scelidosaurus figure, a replica of a dinosaur whose fossils are associated with the small coastal village of Charmouth on the Jurassic coast of Dorset.

The Paleo-Creatures Scelidosaurus Figure

Paleo-Creatures Scelidosaurus replica. — *Scelidosaurus dinosaur model by Paleo-Creatures.* Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Paleo-Creatures Scelidosaurus figure comes complete with a beautiful display base. The Scelidosaurus can be displayed on its bespoke base with its prehistoric plant, or the figure can be displayed independently.

The Paleo-Creatures range features a host of amazing figures, all designed and individually sculpted by Jesús Toledo, a very talented artist based in Spain. The Paleo-Creatures range includes dinosaurs and some of the more bizarre and astonishing animals that once graced our planet, incredible creatures such as Tullimonstrum and the giant amphibian Koolasuchus.

To view the models available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

17 02, 2018

JurassicCollectables Highlights the Rebor “Raptors”

By Mike|2023-09-16T15:14:53+01:00February 17th, 2018|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

A Video Showcasing the Rebor “Raptors”

In response to popular demand, those highly talented people at JurassicCollectables have produced a video highlighting the range of “Raptors” that have been made by Rebor. In this highly informative video, the narrator takes the viewer on a tour of the numerous dromaeosaurid models including Velociraptors produced by Rebor. This is a chronological tour, not in terms of the geological age of the fossils, but a timeline that lists the order in which these replicas were produced.

As JurassicCollectables are big fans of the movie franchise “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World”, the figures, most of which are very reminiscent of the Velociraptors seen in the films, the narrator is able to discuss some of his favourite pieces.

JurassicCollectables Reviews the Rebor Raptors to Date (Early 2018)

Video credit: JurassicCollectables

A Timeline of Rebor Velociraptors and Utahraptors

In this video review, which lasts a little over thirteen minutes, the first replica to be discussed is “Windhunter”, the Utahraptor figure (Utahraptor ostrommaysorum), which ironically is geologically much older than the Velociraptors depicted in the video.

The Rebor replicas have proved to be so popular, as not only are they excellent sculpts, but they remind collectors of the Velociraptors from the film franchise. Some of the Rebor models pay tribute to Stanley “Stan” Winston, the American television and film special make-up effects creator responsible for the majority of the dinosaurs seen in the early “Jurassic Park” films. This explains some of the names chosen by Rebor such as the baby Velociraptor figure “Stan” and the 1:18 scale cursorial replica “Winston”, which the narrator heralds as one of his personal favourites.

The Rebor 1:18 Scale Replica Velociraptor “Winston”

Rebor Velociraptor "Winston". — *Rebor 1:18 scale Velociraptor model.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Bronze Effects

It is not only the people behind the films that are honoured by this part of the Rebor range. When the first film in the dinosaur-themed franchise came out, “Jurassic Park”, in 1993, a series of limited-edition bronze dinosaur models were cast. Rebor produced their own limited-edition “Raptors” the bronze-effect “Father and Son” figures which were based on the “Winston and Stan” Velociraptor replicas. In the video, the commentator points out the superb detailing on these figures and even highlights the areas on the models where the bronze-effect has been given a greenish tinge, to mimic the metal as it ages.

The Limited-edition Rebor “Father and Son” Velociraptor Replicas

Limited edition Rebor Velociraptors "Winston and Stan". — *The Rebor replicas “Winston and Stan”.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Only 1,000 of these model sets were produced, still, Rebor fans can view these figures in the JurassicCollectables video. JurassicCollectables have done a good job in discussing the various Rebor models representing “Raptors” in chronological order, from the first to be produced to the latest such as “Gunn” and “Rose”, for completeness here is Everything Dinosaur’s list of Rebor dromaeosaurids from the first model to be produced to the very latest to come off the production line.

The List of Rebor Dromaeosaurids (First to Latest)

Rebor “Windhunter” Utahraptor ostrommaysorum
Rebor Club Selection Velociraptor Triplets (limited edition)
Rebor 1:6 scale Velociraptor Hatchlings
Rebor 1:35 scale baby Utahraptor “Breeze”
Rebor 1:18 scale baby Velociraptor “Stan”
Rebor Velociraptor “Winston”
Rebor “Father and Son” Velociraptor set (limited edition in bronze effect) – “Winston and Stan”
Rebor “Cerberus Clan” a trio of Deinonychus figures (D. antirrhopus)
Rebor 1:18 scale leaping Velociraptors “Spring-heeled Jack” and “Alex Delarge”
Rebor 1:18 scale Velociraptor “Pete”
Rebor 1:18 scale Velociraptors “Gunn” and “Rose”

To view the Rebor model range available from Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Prehistoric Animal Replicas and Figures.

More “Raptors” to Come

Rebor has plans to add more dromaeosaurids to their model range. Collectors will have the chance to add even more figures to their very own raptor pack. As for personal favourites, we agree with the narrator in the JurassicCollectables video, “Winston” is very popular amongst Everything Dinosaur team members, but for the moment, this replica is just pipped by a nose by the excellent Velociraptor “Pete”.

The Rebor 1:18 Scale Velociraptor Figure “Pete”

Rebor "Pete" Velociraptor Model — *A cursorial (running Velociraptor) called “Pete from Rebor.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

JurassicCollectables have produced video reviews of all the models seen in this very well made compilation video. To view these videos, visit JurassicCollectables on YouTube. Everything Dinosaur recommends that readers subscribe to the JurassicCollectables YouTube channel: JurassicCollectables on YouTube.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

16 02, 2018

Lizards Up on Two Feet in the Early Cretaceous

By Mike|2023-09-16T15:04:03+01:00February 16th, 2018|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Lizards Sprinted to Safety to Avoid Predation

A team of international scientists writing in the journal “Scientific Reports”, have described the oldest lizard trackways known to science that record bipedal behaviour. The little lizards lived around 110 million years ago, in what is now South Korea, it has been speculated that just like extant lizards, they took to their hind legs to avoid being eaten.

Lizard Trackways

The mudstone slab preserves a total of twenty-nine prints, representing four trackways made by lizards. The lizard trackways occur in the same horizon as the pterosaur ichnotaxon, Pteraichnus koreanensis, it has been speculated that these small animals were taking to their hind legs and sprinting away to avoid the attention of marauding flying reptiles.

A Lizard Escapes from a Pterosaur (Early Cretaceous of South Korea)

A lizard takes to its hind legs to avoid the attentions of a Pterosaur. — *A lizard sprints away from an attacking Pterosaur (Pteraichnus koreanensis).*

Picture credit: Zhao Chuang

Rare Lizard Trace Fossils from the Hasandong Formation

The researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Seoul National University, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources along with Anthony Fiorillo of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dallas, Texas) studied the mudstone slab, which measures approximately seventy centimetres by thirty centimetres in size and identified the tiny tracks, as that of a basal member of the Iguania Infraorder of lizards.

The team came to this conclusion as living iguanians, such as those in the Basiliscus genus (basilisk lizards), have strong hind legs and are facultative bipeds, that is, capable of running on their back legs when the need arises. The fossil record also shows that these types of lizards were present in Asia during the Early Cretaceous.

The Mudstone Slab with Trace Fossils and Accompanying Line Drawing

Fossilised lizard tracks and line drawing. — *Photograph of the fossil slab with accompanying line drawing.*

Picture credit: Scientific Reports

The trace fossils were excavated from an old quarry adjacent to Hadong power station in Hadong County, in south-central South Korea. It is believed that the strata in this area (Hasandong Formation) was laid down around 112 to 110 million years ago (Aptian/Albian faunal stages of the Early Cretaceous). The well-preserved lizard trackways have allowed the scientists to examine in detail the hand (manus) and foot (pes) anatomy of the ancient lizard.

When Did Lizards Develop Bipedal Capabilities?

Although, bipedal locomotion is known today and the Squamata (lizards and snakes), are the most specious of all the living reptile types, the fossil record for these creatures is particularly sparse. Palaeontologists, remain uncertain as to when bipedal locomotion in lizards arose, although it has been inferred based on the relative proportions of front and hind limbs as seen in Tijubina pontei, an Early Cretaceous lizard, whose fossils are associated with the Crato Formation of Brazil.

The lizard trackways discovered in South Korea suggest that bipedal locomotion in ancient lizards is deeply rooted in the phylogeny of lizard evolution.

Hand and Foot Tracks (Manus and Pes)

Picture credit: Scientific Reports

Sauripes hadongensis

The foot prints (pes) are plantigrade, indicating that this lizard walked on its toes and heels, just like us and all lizards today, as opposed to the digitigrade locomotion of the Dinosauria. Although the individual prints are very small, around two centimetres in length, the five toes (pentadactyl), are clearly defined.

The lizard tracks appear in the same horizon as the pterosaur ichnotaxon Pteraichnus koreanensis and it has been speculated that the lizards could have been escaping from a flying reptile. Behaving as a facultative biped, would also have elevated the head and this would have permitted the lizards to keep a better look out for aerial predators.

The scientists have estimated the ancient lizard’s body length by comparing the trackways to the extant lizard Tropidurus torquatus, a living member of the Infraorder Iguania. The ichnotaxon has been named Sauripes hadongensis which translates as “lizard foot from Hadong County”.

An Illustration of the Bipedal Locomotion of the Ancient Lizard

An illustration of the running lizard (bipedal running). — *An illustration showing the bipedal interpretation of the lizard trackway (SVL – snout to vent length and PL – pes length).*

Picture credit: Scientific Reports

The Palaeoenvironment of Lower Cretaceous South Korea

The mudstone strata has produced tridactyl (three-toed) dinosaur tracks as well as trace fossils representing the tracks of small pterosaurs. Fossilised plants are also associated with these layers of rock. It is suggested that the mudstone represents deposits from a swampy area or possibly the margins of a lake.

The Hasandong Formation has yielded numerous body fossils including several different types of vertebrate (turtles, pterosaurs, crocodilians and dinosaurs). These fossilised bones are isolated, broken and highly fragmentary, indicating that they may have been exposed on the surface for some considerable time prior to subsequent burial. They also may have been transported for some distance before deposition. This taphonomy suggests that large rivers crossed this location, the mudstone slab may have been sited in an area away from a main river channel, that was subjected to periodic flooding by water with low energy, otherwise the delicate prints may not have been preserved.

Photographs of Individual Hind Foot Prints (Pes) with Digits Highlighted

Pes tracks of Sauripes hadongensis. — *Photographs of the foot prints of Sauripes hadongensis with the digits highlighted.*

Picture credit: Scientific Reports

To read Everything Dinosaur’s 2014 article about the discovery of a tiny Theropod dinosaur from South Korea: Tiny Terror from South Korea.

The scientific paper: “Lizards Ran Bipedally 110 Million Years Ago” by Hang-Jae Lee, Yuong-Nam Lee, Anthony R. Fiorillo and Junchang Lü published in Scientific Reports.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

15 02, 2018

Everything Dinosaur Wins Special Gold Trusted Service Award 2018

By Mike|2024-05-04T18:28:35+01:00February 15th, 2018|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Gold Trusted Service Award 2018

Everything Dinosaur has been awarded the Gold Trusted Service Award (2018) by FEEFO. FEEFO is an independent global ratings company that operates worldwide. Everything Dinosaur has partnered with FEEFO since the new company website went live around twelve months ago. Over this period, we have been able to maintain very high customer ratings for our service and products, this has resulted in FEEFO recognising Everything Dinosaur’s efforts by awarding the most prestigious accolade of all.

When it comes to dinosaur toys, models and games, it looks like Everything Dinosaur’s service can’t be beaten.

For dinosaur toys and gifts: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

Everything Dinosaur is Awarded FEEFO’s Highest Accolade – Gold Trusted Service Award

Everything Dinosaur wins top award. — *FEEFO Gold Trusted Service Award (Everything Dinosaur).*

Picture credit: FEEFO

Top Marks for Everything Dinosaur for Customer Service

In an email sent by Andrew Mabbutt, the Chief Executive Officer of FEEFO, we were informed that we had achieved the highest grade of customer service and as a result, Everything Dinosaur had been recognised with the awarding of this prestigious accolade. To be afforded the honour of Gold Standard, a company has to maintain an average service score of 4.5 out of 5 over a sustained period. Everything Dinosaur has a 5 out 5 (100%) customer service rating.

Gold Trusted Service Award from FEEFO

Everything Dinosaur awarded Gold Trusted Service accolade. — *FEEFO Gold Trusted Service Award.*

Picture credit: FEEFO

Collecting Customer Reviews

Collecting feedback and reviews from customers is a powerful way of engaging with Everything Dinosaur’s customer base. It helps Everything Dinosaur to maintain trust and to have a bigger on-line presence. Real customers providing real feedback about our products and customer service.

A spokesperson for the UK-based dinosaur company stated:

“We are delighted to have been awarded the highly respected Gold Trusted Service accolade from such a reputable company as FEEFO. We feel very honoured and would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers who have taken the time and trouble to provide feedback to FEEFO.”

Over 1,500 Customer Comments

Since Everything Dinosaur partnered with FEEFO twelve months ago, the company has received around 1, 500 customer reviews and comments. In the first six weeks of 2018, Everything Dinosaur has received nearly 100 customer feedback reports and the company’s service rating has been maintained at 100% (five out of five stars).

Our thanks once again to all our customers and dinosaur fans who have taken the time and trouble to provide feedback about our products and customer service.

To view the range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed toys, games and models available from Everything Dinosaur: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

14 02, 2018

The Very First Edition of “Prehistoric Times”

By Mike|2023-09-16T14:26:07+01:00February 14th, 2018|Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews, Main Page, Movie Reviews and Movie News, Photos, Prehistoric Times|0 Comments

“Prehistoric Times” First Edition

Two years ago, Everything Dinosaur was informed that Aardman Animations, the company behind such iconic characters as Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and films such as “Arthur Christmas”, had approached our chum Mike Fredericks, the editor of the quarterly magazine “Prehistoric Times” to request permission to utilise his magazine in a forthcoming movie. The film entitled “Early Man” was premiered in the UK last month and is due to be released in the United States later this week.

A Still from the Animated Film “Early Man” Showing the Prehistoric Times

“Prehistoric Times”

Everything Dinosaur contacted Aardman Animations and they very kindly agreed to release a still from the movie, showing one of the lead characters, Lord Nooth, the greedy leader of the Bronze Age folk, voiced by British actor Tom Hiddleston, perusing an edition of “The Prehistoric Times”.

The modern version of “Prehistoric Times” (an unintended oxymoron), is a quarterly publication which has been in circulation for more than a decade, but clearly the magazine was popular much earlier. From this evidence, it seems that this magazine has been in vogue since the New Stone Age.

For further information about “Prehistoric Times” – the quarterly, not the scroll version: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

You can even read it in the bath should you wish to do so, although the prehistoric Wild Boar is optional.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.