By Mike|2023-12-25T22:04:50+00:00June 30th, 2019|General Teaching|Comments Off on A Dazzling Diabloceratops Drawing from a Dinosaur Fan
A Dazzling Diabloceratops Drawing
Our thanks to Caldey for sending into Everything Dinosaur a superb drawing of the horned dinosaur Diabloceratops. Knowledgeable dinosaur fans like Caldey, know that there were lots of horned dinosaurs (Ceratopsians), in fact, over seventy different species of horned dinosaur have been named to date, numerous new genera have been erected in the last twenty years or so.
Caldey’s Impressive Diabloceratops Drawing
The Schliech Diabloceratops inspired Caldey to illustrate this dinosaur back in 2019.
Picture credit: Caldey
Diablocertops eatoni
Diabloceratops is one of those genera of horned dinosaurs erected this century. It was described and named in 2010 from fossilised skull material found in Utah (Wahweap Formation), back in 2002. Although a member of the Ceratopsia, since it was classified as a member of the subfamily Centrosaurinae, Diabloceratops was only distantly related to the famous Triceratops.
We think the inspiration behind Caldey’s excellent drawing was the recently introduced Schleich Diabloceratops dinosaur model.
The Schleich Diabloceratops Dinosaur Model
The Schleich Diabloceratops dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Our thanks to Caldey for sending into us this fabulous dinosaur drawing.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“It is always a pleasure to receive artwork from fans of dinosaurs. Caldey’s attention to detail and careful illustration of the dinosaur is admirable. It is a dazzling Diabloceratops drawing.”
Our chums at Rebor have provided a little challenge to dinosaur fans and model collectors. As this is the last day of “Jurassic June”, we thought it would be fun to see what those clever and creative people at Rebor have got up to. It seems that they have produced some artwork for collectors to help them customise the next set of Rebor prehistoric animal figures that are due to come into stock.
Ruffs for the Rebor Dilophosaurus Figures
Here is an image of the artwork that Rebor has provided:
Colourful Dinosaur Frills to Customise Dinosaur Models
A pair of frills to thrill Rebor model collectors.
Picture credit: Rebor
Fans of Rebor collectables will know that the next models to be introduced are a pair of Dilophosaurus dinosaurs (Dilophosaurus wetherilli). These magnificent models, nick-named “Oasis” and “Green Day” are coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur in the next few days. Team members will be emailing all those customers on our priority reserve list when these dinosaurs arrive.
Rebor Replicas – Dilophosaurus Dinosaurs (“Green Day” and “Oasis”
The Rebor Dilophosaurus replicas “Green Day” and “Oasis”.
An Early Jurassic Predator
Dilophosaurus was an Early Jurassic, carnivorous dinosaur, so it is appropriate to feature this dinosaur as “Jurassic June” draws to a close. We suspect that the frills could be used to adorn the necks of these beautiful figures, but we couldn’t possibly comment further. After all, Dilophosaurus may be one of the most extensively studied of all the theropods known from the Lower Jurassic, but there is no fossil evidence to indicate that these predators had neck frills that could be “flashed” as part of a visual display.
Rebor Have Produced a Male and Female Dilophosaurus Figure
Comparing the Rebor Dilophosaurus replicas “Green Day” and “Oasis”.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A Male and Female Dilophosaurus
The Rebor models depict a male and female Dilophosaurus. There are subtle variations in the paint scheme used for each model to highlight the differences. For example, the male “Green Day” has crimson markings on the bony crest over the eye (orbit). Most palaeontologists are comfortable with the idea that these archosaurs, like living archosaurs today (birds and crocodilians), had excellent colour vision. Visual signals may have been very important to the Dinosauria.
As to whether Dilophosaurus had an expandable neck ruff, is very much speculation, there is no fossil evidence to support such an idea. However, popular culture such as books, films and television programmes have helped set up notable preconceptions in the minds of the public and who are we to challenge such views.
There is a reptile alive today that has a neck ruff, it is the neck-frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii), native to northern Australian and Papua New Guinea. This relatively large lizard, can when frightened, extend a large ruff of skin out from its neck to produce a startling display, designed to intimidate attackers. The neck frill usually lies folded against the animal’s neck, but by flexing its jaws and gaping, this lizard can engage cartilage supports that extend the skin folds out to produce a mock threat display that makes it look much more fearsome than the lizard actually is.
Prehistoric Animals were Show Offs
Just like many animals today, it is quite likely that visual display was very important to the extinct non-avian dinosaurs. Back in 2010, Everything Dinosaur reported on the publication of a study by an international team of researchers which examined the fossil record to find evidence of visual display structures that probably had a primary function in sexual selection and attracting mates.
Rebor model fans might be able to work out what influenced Rebor’s decision to produce these accessories to help customise their models. These colourful additions will be available from Everything Dinosaur free of charge, just drop us an email requesting the dinosaur frills and we will be happy to email them out.
Once you have the download, print it out using a colour printer.
Carefully cut out each of the four sections.
Glue part A and part B back-to-back so that there is colour showing on the front and on the rear of the ruff.
Trim them until you are happy with their look, then use them to customise your Rebor models, for example, you could carefully manoeuvre the ruffs onto the tail, onto a limb or anywhere else on the model for that matter.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur have recently published the first of a string of summer newsletters. In this email, subscribers are updated on Rebor stocks, informed about new PNSO figures and given the opportunity to purchase the new for 2019 new colour variant Papo Stegosaurus.
Top Billing in the Newsletter for the Recent Arrival the Papo Stegosaurus (New Colour Variant)
The new for 2019 Papo Stegosaurus headlines the latest Everything Dinosaur newsletter. Just arrived, the amazing and beautifully painted Papo Stegosaurus dinosaur model.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
An Update on Rebor Stocks
Fans of the Rebor range are aware just how quickly this model portfolio has grown. Not all the figures in stock are being produced again in the near future. For example, the Rebor “War Pig” Ankylosaurus model (mountain), is getting low on stock and no future production run for this armoured dinosaur model has been announced. Stocks of the very popular Rebor “Spring-heeled Jack” Velociraptor figure are similarly under pressure.
Some Stocks of Rebor Figures are Getting Low
An update on Rebor model stocks. The Rebor “War Pig” Ankylosaurus model in the mountain colour scheme and the Rebor “Spring-heeled Jack” Velociraptor model have low stock status at Everything Dinosaur and the company is not certain whether more models can be acquired.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Some exciting news for subscribers, the latest batch of PNSO prehistoric animal figures including the eagerly anticipated Yangchuanosaurus and Chungkingosaurus diorama are coming into stock very soon. These collectables are expected at the Everything Dinosaur website around the middle of next month (July 2019). A reserve list for the Yangchuanosaurus/Chungkingosaurus pair has already been opened.
Expected in July (2019) New PNSO Prehistoric Animal Models
PNSO models and figures coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
PNSO Special Edition Gift Box
Subscribers have also been informed about a special collectors’ edition box set of PNSO models coming into stock. The gift box contains all forty-eight of the PNSO “Toys that Accompany your Growth” model range. Each model is within its own packaging, but the entire series is presented in a special edition gift box complete with a handy carry handle. Only a few of these gift boxes are coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur and newsletter subscribers were the first to hear of this and the first to be given the opportunity to register their interest in this very special item.
First News of Everything Dinosaur Stocking the Special Edition PNSO Gift Box
These periodic newsletters are a fantastic and very convenient way for customers to keep in touch with new products and other developments at Everything Dinosaur.
A spokesperson for the UK-based company stated:
“We have so many new models coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur, new PNSO, Papo, Rebor figures, CollectA and Beasts of the Mesozoic. Subscribing to our newsletter is a great way to keep up to date and get the latest news and special offers.”
Vespersaurus paranaensis – A Desert Dwelling Dinosaur
Roaming the Late Cretaceous of Brazil some 90 to 85 million years ago, was a little, fast-running, carnivorous dinosaur with a unique way of getting about. The dinosaur has been named Vespersaurus paranaensis and at an estimated length of just over a metre (maximum length 1.6 metres), this was no giant, but its discovery will help scientists to work out the taxonomic relationships amongst an obscure group of theropods known mainly from Gondwana and provide new insight into theropod locomotion.
Vespersaurus paranaensis
Writing in the academic journal “Scientific Reports”, the researchers suggest that Vespersaurus supported its weight on just one digit (metatarsal III and toe III), it may have been essentially monodactyl i.e. it had one main, central weight-bearing toe. The other toes associated with support and weight bearing in the Theropoda (digits II and IV), were very much smaller and may even have been held off the ground.
A Life Reconstruction of the Newly Described Brazilian Theropod Vespersaurus paranaensis
A life reconstruction of the Brazilian dinosaur Vespersaurus.
Picture credit: Rodolfo Nogueira
Affinities with the Abelisauroidea
Analysis of the fossil material, which includes vertebrae, elements from the pelvis and limbs along with fragmentary skull bones suggests that this little dinosaur is a member of the Abelisauroidea, specifically the Noasaurinae, an enigmatic subfamily collectively known from sparse fossil material mostly from southern latitudes. For example, Vespersaurus has the reduced forelimbs which are characteristic of the abelisaurids and it is hoped that these fossils will help palaeontologists to better understand the phylogeny of these Late Cretaceous predators.
Although only about 40% of the skeleton is known, these fossils represent one of the best examples of a member of the Noasauridae family found to date and the most complete dinosaur specimen from the whole of the Bauru Sub-basin. It is also the first dinosaur to be described from rocks that constitute part of this basin, the Caiuá Group.
Frontal (Skull Bone) and Views of an Isolated Tooth (Vespersaurus paranaensis)
Cranial and dental remains of Vespersaurus paranaensis, an isolated frontal and an isolated broken tooth.
Picture credit: Scientific Reports (Langer et al)
A Late Cretaceous Desert Environment
The majority of the strata making up the Caiuá Group represent sandstones that were deposited by the action of wind (aeolian deposits). During the Late Cretaceous, this region of Gondwana was an extensive desert. The fossil record is particularly sparse with only a handful of animals recorded from what probably would have been oases. Arguably, the most famous fossils from this part of the world represent a pterosaur monodominant bonebed (Caiuajara dobruskii). Other than Caiuajara and this new dinosaur, the only other vertebrate fossils known from this area represent a lizard and a turtle.
Pectoral Elements and Limb Bones (V.paranaensis)
Pectoral girdle and limb elements of Vespersaurus paranaensis.
Examination of the foot bones and toes suggests that this dinosaur supported its weight on just a single, central digit. Such an anatomical adaptation (a monodactyl stance), has not been recorded in the Archosauria before, but such a form of locomotion had been inferred by palaeontologists as numerous footprints indicating an enlarged weight-bearing toe in a theropod dinosaur have been found in rocks of the same age as the sediments that yielded the fossils of Vespersaurus.
A Close Up of the Foot Showing the Weight-bearing Toe
A close-up view of the foot of Vespersaurus showing the weight-bearing central toe. Footprints suggesting a monodactyl stance have been found in the same stratigraphic unit that yielded the new dinosaur.
Video image credit: Universidade de Sáo Paulo et al
Helping to Classify the Noasaurinae
The Noasaurinae are a branch of the Abelisauroidea consisting of small, predatory theropods known from Upper Cretaceous strata mostly associated with Gondwana (southern latitudes). Perhaps the best known noasaurid is Masiakasaurus knopfleri, from the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Madagascar, but two other taxa from Argentina described from relatively fragmentary fossil material have been assigned to the Noasaurinae (Noasaurus leali and Velocisaurus unicus).
Other dinosaurs from outside South America have also been tentatively assigned such as an as yet, unnamed specimen from India, Deltadromeus agilis from Morocco and Genusaurus sisteronis from France. It is hoped that this more complete fossil specimen will permit palaeontologists to better understand taxonomic relationships within the Noasaurinae and their wider placement within the Abelisauroidea.
Building a Family Tree of the Abelisauroidea
Vespersaurus is assigned to the Noasaurinae, a sub-family of the Abelisauroidea clade of theropods. The suggested position of Vespersaurus is shown by the red dinosaur silhouette.
Picture credit: Scientific Reports (Langer et al)
Etymology of Vespersaurus paranaensis
The generic name derives from the words “vesper” (Latin for evening/west) and “sauros” (Greek for lizard/saurian), in reference to the name of the town Cruzeiro do Oeste (Western Cross), where the fossils were found. The specific epithet refers to the Paraná state, the authors report that V. paranaensis represents the first non-avian dinosaur from that area of Brazil.
The scientific paper: “A new desert-dwelling dinosaur (Theropoda, Noasaurinae) from the Cretaceous of south Brazil” by Max Cardoso Langer, Neurides de Oliveira Martins, Paulo César Manzig, Gabriel de Souza Ferreira, Júlio César de Almeida Marsola, Edison Fortes, Rosana Lima, Lucas Cesar Frediani Sant’ana, Luciano da Silva Vidal, Rosangela Honório da Silva Lorençato and Martín Daniel Ezcurra published in the journal Scientific Reports.
By Mike|2023-12-25T12:44:35+00:00June 27th, 2019|General Teaching|Comments Off on A Playful New Schleich Plesiosaurus
A Schleich Plesiosaurus – A Flexible Friend
Schleich, the German-based model and figure manufacturer have added a Plesiosaurus to their range of prehistoric animals. This little replica of an animal reminiscent of the legendary “Loch Ness Monster” measures a little over sixteen centimetres in length and it is great for creative, imaginative play.
The New for 2019 Schleich Plesiosaurus Marine Reptile Model
The Plesiosaurus has a beautifully designed skin with very prominent scales, ideal for sensory play. The figure has been designed for children from three years and older and it has been very skilfully painted. Unlike most plastic prehistoric animal figures, this little plesiosaur has a flexible, bendy neck. The head can be manoeuvred into lots of positions, it has certainly proved to be very popular with the budding, young palaeontologists who have had the chance to view this model already.
The Schleich Plesiosaurus Figure Used in a Prehistoric Landscape Display
New models being introduced into the Schleich prehistoric animal model range in July 2019. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“Although Plesiosaurs are famous for their long necks and relatively small heads, the necks of these fish-eaters were not that flexible. The very largest of the Plesiosauria had more than seventy neck bones (cervical vertebrae), that is ten times what we have in our own necks. However, studies have shown that the necks of these Mesozoic marine reptiles were not bendy, they could not hold their head up in a “swan-neck” posture. This anatomical detail notwithstanding, the Schleich Plesiosaurus is great for imaginative play and it will make a lot of young learners very happy.”
Extant theropods (birds) are having a rough time communicating with each other as man-made noise pollution is getting in the way. That is the conclusion from new research from Queen’s University (Belfast). Both urban and rural bird populations could decline as noise pollution prevents effective communication during the mating season.
New Study Suggests Bird Song Badly Affected by Noise Pollution
New study looks at the impact of noise pollution on bird song and behaviour.
Picture credit: Queen’s University (Belfast)
Living Theropods Affected by Noise Pollution
In the spring, birds use song to show aggressiveness and to attain territory for nesting and breeding, but this is becoming much harder for them due to noisy conditions created by our own species. Dr Gareth Arnott, (Senior Lecturer and Researcher from the Institute for Global Food Security), at Queen’s University, studied bird song in detail and found that background noise can mask crucial information. The scientific paper has been published this week in the academic journal “Biology Letters”.
Commenting on the significance of his study for British ornithology, Dr Arnott stated:
“Sound is a great form of bird communication because it can carry beyond where birds can see. Singing is one of the most common ways birds advertise that a territory belongs to them, and birds will perch near the edge of their territory to broadcast their claim to the maximum range. A strong, vibrant song will help defend a territory from intruders and attract a mate.”
The Impact of Noise Pollution
However, Dr Arnott and his colleagues have identified that man-made noise is disrupting birds from being able to hear and understand each other clearly. In effect, thanks to us, birds are losing the ability to communicate orally with each other, this could have dire consequences in terms of breeding success and subsequent population numbers.
Dr Arnott added:
“We found that bird song structure can communicate aggressive intent, enabling birds to assess their opponent, but human-made noise can disrupt this crucial information passed between them by masking the complexity of their songs used for acquiring resources, such as territory and space for nesting. As a result, the birds receive incomplete information on their opponent’s intent and do not appropriately adjust their response.”
Testing the Responses of the Humble Garden Robin
To test how noise pollution might be disrupting avian communication, the researchers used recordings of robins (Erithacus rubecula) to stimulate responses from birds that held territory. Both simple and more complex types of bird song were tested with and without the addition of man-made noise. The behaviour and responses of the subject birds were then assessed.
The scientists discovered that song complexity was used as a signal of aggressive intent, with birds demonstrating higher aggressive intent towards complex versus simple song, reflecting the level of threat perceived by the signal. However, importantly, this assessment process was disrupted by the presence of noise pollution. The team’s findings raise concerns about the ability of birds to cope with a modern, ever more complex human society.
Implications for the Dinosauria
The study also demonstrated that bird song is crucial to the survival and reproduction of birds and there are important implications to consider around noise pollution and the protection of wildlife. This research may have implications regarding how other extinct types of theropod may have behaved including maniraptoran dinosaurs.
Did Extinct Theropods Vocalise to Proclaim Territories and to Attract a Mate?
Vocalisation in theropod dinosaurs (Maniraptora).
Picture credit: Nicole Fuller/Sayo Art for University of Texas at Austin
Dr Arnott concluded:
“The study is evidence that human-made noise pollution impacts animal habitats and directly influences their ability to communicate properly, which may have implications for survival and population numbers for birds.”
Trying to Protect Extant Theropods
The research team believe that further investigation is required in order to help to find the best way to protect avian biodiversity.
The scientific paper: “Signal complexity communicates aggressive intent during contests, but the process is disrupted by noise” by Kyriacos Kareklas, James Wilson, Hansjoerg P. Kunc and Gareth Arnott published in Biology Letters.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a press release from Queen’s University Belfast in the preparation of this article.
New Schleich 2019 Prehistoric Animal Models in Stock
The July releases of Schleich prehistoric animal models are now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Now available from the UK-based specialist dinosaur model retailer are the Schleich Diabloceratops, Dracorex, the juvenile Giganotosaurus and the Schleich Plesiosaurus figure. These are the final set of prehistoric animal figures to be introduced by Schleich this year and what a splendid quartet they make.
Now in Stock at Everything Dinosaur the Latest Schleich Prehistoric Animal Figures
Schleich 2019 prehistoric animal figures. Plesiosaurus (top left), Dracorex (top right), Diabloceratops and the juvenile Giganotosaurus model (bottom). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Schleich has moved to a production system whereby new models are released in two main batches. The first release took place in quarter 1, this second batch of new models was not due to be available until next month, but as Everything Dinosaur knows how eager their customers were to get these models, we were able to receive all four of these new replicas a little earlier. In total Schleich have released nine new prehistoric animal figures this year.
A Display Showing Some of the New Schleich Models
New models being introduced into the Schleich prehistoric animal model range. Everything Dinosaur has all these models and more in stock.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Measuring around sixteen centimetres in length with a height measured from the tip of those impressive horns of eleven centimetres, the Schleich Diabloceratops works well when compared in scale with the Schleich Triceratops figure that was introduced in 2018. It is a beautifully painted model and it is great to see a manufacturer producing models of some of the more unusual members of the Ceratopsia.
The Schleich Diabloceratops Dinosaur Model
Schleich Diabloceratops dinosaur model.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Schleich Dracorex Model
Another slightly obscure dinosaur added to the Schleich range is a representation of the pachycephalosaur Dracorex (D. hogwartsia). This dinosaur’s name was inspired by children’s fascination with Harry Potter (Hogwarts School), we suspect the Schleich Dracorex is going to be popular with collectors fascinated with Schleich.
The Schleich Dracorex Dinosaur Model
Schleich Dracorex dinosaur model.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Schleich Juvenile Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Model
Joining the recently introduced adult Giganotosaurus is this eye-catching replica of a juvenile Giganotosaurus. Measuring around twenty-six centimetres in length, this is quite a large Schleich model. Just like the Schleich adult Giganotosaurus figure, the Schleich juvenile Giganotosaurus has an articulated lower jaw.
The Schleich Juvenile Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Model
Schleich juvenile Giganotosaurus dinosaur model. This Schleich dinosaur model has an articulated lower jaw.
Schleich Prehistoric Animal Models – The Plesiosaurus
The last of the four models to be introduced is not a dinosaur, but a marine reptile, a Plesiosaurus. The long-retired Schleich “Saurus” range included a plesiosaur figure, but as far as we can recall it has been many years since this company made a Plesiosaurus.
The Schleich Plesiosaurus Model
Schleich Plesiosaurus. This marine reptile figure has a flexible, bendy neck.
The new for 2019 Papo Stegosaurus (colour variant) is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This repainted figure, is an update on the classical Papo Stegosaurus, (product code 55007), which was one of the very first prehistoric animals to be added to the company’s “Les Dinosaures” model range.
The Stunning Papo Stegosaurus (New Colour Variant)
Papo Stegosaurus (new colour variant) 2019. This is a picture taken by an Everything Dinosaur team member to highlight the spectacular colour scheme on the new for 2019 Papo Stegosaurus dinosaur model.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
To purchase the new for 2019 Papo Stegosaurus and the other models and figures in the Papo range: Papo Prehistoric Animal Models.
A Makeover for the Papo Stegosaurus
The sculpt is as per the original Papo Stegosaurus figure but the model has been completely re-painted with the characteristic plates on the back and running down to the tail an almost “blood red” colour. This works well with the countershading highlighted on the figure’s body and the overlying dark stripes that provide a reticulation-like effect. As collectors would expect from a Papo figure, the painting is excellent and the detailing around the open beak and the eye is particularly remarkable. Eagle-eyed readers will observe tiny round spots of lighter paint in amongst the darker stripes, a nice touch from the design team at Papo.
The “Classic” Papo Stegosaurus and the New for 2019 Version
The “classic” Papo Stegosaurus (left) and the new for 2019 Papo Stegosaurus (right).Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are not certain about the future of the original Papo Stegosaurus figure. It, for the moment is included in the latest 2019 collector’s booklet and the main Papo catalogue. However, we note that earlier this year, Papo introduced a new colour variant Allosaurus model and this new figure has effectively replaced the original Allosaurus. The first Allosaurus model to be made by Papo has been withdrawn from catalogues and company promotional materials. If we receive news about the original Papo Stegosaurus we will make sure we post this information up onto our social media sites to help keep everybody informed.”
A Stunning New Stegosaurus Dinosaur Model from Papo
The new for 2019 Papo Stegosaurus dinosaur model.
More Papo Models Coming Soon
The new colour variant Papo Stegosaurus is the third new figure to be introduced this year, it follows the brown running Tyrannosaurus rex and the new version of the Papo Allosaurus that was mentioned earlier. There are still two figures to come, the eagerly awaited Papo Pentaceratops and the Papo Gorgosaurus, both figures are expected to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur soon.
Yesterday, we featured a drawing of a Smilodon which was inspired by the Papo Smilodon (Sabre-toothed cat) model. Today, we feature another prehistoric animal illustration inspired by a Papo figure, but from a different artist. Ian very kindly sent into us a pencil sketch of the Papo Carnotaurus dinosaur model and what a splendid illustration it is! It is a super Carnotaurus drawing.
A Carnotaurus Drawing
Illustrating a Carnotaurus
A beautiful illustration of the abelisaurid dinosaur Carnotaurus.
Picture credit: Ian
Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website for more creative ideas: Everything Dinosaur.
A Late Cretaceous Hunter
Carnotaurus (C. sastrei), was a very bizarre and atypical carnivorous dinosaur. It is known from a single, well-preserved specimen from Upper Cretaceous strata (Argentina). Measuring around eight metres in length, this meat-eater was relatively lightly built, with a slender jaw, bull-like horns above its eyes and proportionately long legs.
At the time of its scientific description by the Argentinian palaeontologist José Bonaparte, very little was known about the enigmatic Abelisauridae, however, something like twenty abelisaurids have been named and described to date. Although Carnotaurus was one of the first abelisaurids to be named, it is not a very good representative of the group. The skull is extremely short and blunt and it has very different proportions when compared to the skulls of other abelisaurids. It has been suggested that Carnotaurus was a very specialised hunter attacking small, fast-running (cursorial) dinosaurs.
Ian’s illustration has been heavily influenced by the Papo Carnotaurus dinosaur model (see below), can you see the resemblance?
The Papo Carnotaurus Dinosaur Model
With an articulated lower jaw – Papo Carnotaurus. Helping to inspire talented artists.
Our thanks once again to Ian for sending in such a splendid illustration, of what is one of the most peculiar of all the theropod dinosaurs described to date.
Our thanks to Maurizio for sending into us a beautiful illustration of the Papo Smilodon model. We have been lucky to have received several drawings from Maurizio in the past but this is the first illustration of a prehistoric mammal that we have been sent.
Maurizio’s Smilodon (Sabre-Toothed Cat) Drawing
An illustration of the Papo Smilodon model.
Picture credit: Maurizio
Our thanks to Maurizio for sending in this drawing, we were able to recognise which model the drawing represents, we have posted up a picture of the actual Papo Smilodon figure (see below).
In Maurizio’s illustration the cat has its claws out ready for action, Smilodon, like most species of big cat were able to retract their claws, the exception in the big cat family is the Cheetah (Acinonyx spp.), Cheetahs can only partially retract their claws. The genus name “Acinonyx” is an approximate translation from two Greek words that together mean “immobile claws”.
