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All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
3 06, 2019

Exciting Mojo Fun Prehistoric Mammals

By |2023-12-24T20:31:39+00:00June 3rd, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Mojo Fun Prehistoric Mammals

The excellent “Prehistoric & Extinct” model range (Mojo Fun), contains a lot of dinosaur figures but today, we focus on a couple of prehistoric mammal models.  We have praised this model range before, congratulating the company for producing figures of recently extinct creatures such as the Quagga of southern Africa and the Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine).  The range includes a number of other prehistoric mammals, replicas of some creatures that became extinct millions of years ago and not just within the last 150 years or so as in the case of the Thylacine and the Quagga.

A Scene Featuring Mojo Fun Prehistoric Mammals

A landscape featuring Mojo Fun prehistoric mammal models.
Mojo Fun prehistoric mammals (Hyaenodon gigas and Deinotherium).

Picture credit: Mojo Fun

Hyaenodon gigas and Deinotherium

The picture (above), depicts the fearsome Hyaenodon gigas one of the largest members of the Hyaenodontidae family (foreground).  Some fossil specimens indicate that this cursorial mammal could have weighed as much as 500 kilograms.   The large, elephant-like animal in the background is a Deinotherium, a very popular Mojo Fun prehistoric animal figure amongst collectors, after all, not that many replicas of “gigantic, terrible beast” have been produced.

The Mojo Fun Deinotherium Model

New colour Mojo Fun Deinotherium 2018.
Mojo Fun Deinotherium (new colour 2018).  A new colour variant of this popular prehistoric animal replica was introduced last year.

Wide Temporal and Geographical Ranges

Mojo Fun have taken great care in the creation of their promotional image.  A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It is always a pleasure to post up images depicting prehistoric animal models from the various ranges that we support.   We have some more images kindly supplied by Mojo Fun of some of their new for 2019 prehistoric animals, we are looking forward to posting up these images to, when the figures come into stock.”

A Hyaenodon gigas Scale Drawing Based on the Mojo Fun Hyaenodon Figure

Hyaenodon gigas scale drawing.
A scale drawing of the giant, carnivorous mammal Hyaenodon gigas.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Fossils of both Hyaenodon and Deinotherium genera have a wide geographical and temporal distribution.  H. gigas is known from the Lower Oligocene of south-eastern Mongolia, so it lived long before the first members of the Deinotheriidae evolved and certainly before the first members of this elephant family left Africa and became more widespread.  However, as the Deinotherium genus is believed to have existed from the Miocene to the Pliocene Epoch and as some hyaenodonts persisted until the Late Miocene, it is possible that species of Deinotherium would have been contemporaneous with some of the last members of the Hyaenodontidae.

An interaction between a member of the Deinotheriidae and a carnivorous hyaenodont could have taken place.

To view the range of Mojo Fun models stocked by Everything Dinosaur: Mojo Prehistoric and Extinct Animal Models.

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2 06, 2019

Examining a Jaw Fragment from a Dimetrodon

By |2023-12-24T20:28:15+00:00June 2nd, 2019|Adobe CS5, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Examining a Jaw Fragment from a Dimetrodon

Team members at Everything Dinosaur had the opportunity to examine a jaw fragment from a Dimetrodon whilst on a visit to the National Museum (Cardiff).  This fossil, from a genus not associated with the British Isles, was part of an exhibit highlighting different types of reptile that existed prior to the evolution of the first dinosaurs.  Although, many museums around the world have extensive Dimetrodon fossil collections, it was pleasing to be able to have a really good look at the piece of jaw bone up close.

On Display at the National Museum Cardiff – A Fragment of the Jaw from a Dimetrodon

A Jaw fragment from a Dimetrodon.
A close-up view of a jaw fragment from a Dimetrodon (Dimetrodon spp.). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Examining Dimetrodon

The teeth sockets can be identified and although the bone has some rather ominous looking cracks, two of the teeth have been preserved in situ.  We suspect that this is a piece from the dentary (lower jaw), Everything Dinosaur staff were unable to identify the Dimetrodon species from this fossil.  Unfortunately, the accompanying information panel did not provide details of where the fossil was found or which Dimetrodon species it had been assigned to.

An Illustration of Dimetrodon is Included in the Exhibit

Dimetrodon jaw fragment fossil.
The Dimetrodon jaw fragment exhibit at the National Museum (Cardiff). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dimetrodon not a Dinosaur but Everything Dinosaur Likes to Feature this Pelycosaur

When posting up images of prehistoric animals like Dimetrodon on social media platforms such as Pinterest or Instagram, Everything Dinosaur is sometimes challenged and asked why a company so associated with the Dinosauria should post up images of a creature that was not closely related to dinosaurs?  However, as we provide such as wide variety of prehistoric animal models and figures, there is bound to be a bit of overspill out of the Dinosauria and into other tetrapods, indeed, we also supply models of plants, various extinct mammals and of course, plenty of Palaeozoic critters too!

Instagram Pictures of Dimetrodon Models Often Get Commented Upon

A large Dimetrodon model.
A large Dimetrodon model, although not a dinosaur, this type of animal is frequently featured in Everything Dinosaur’s social media posts. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

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1 06, 2019

Update on the Limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus

By |2023-12-24T20:23:22+00:00June 1st, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|1 Comment

Update on the Limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus

The limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus model has been delayed and the original launch date for this eagerly awaited dinosaur figure has been put back with a release date now estimated at August/September.  Everything Dinosaur remains heavily committed to this figure and by delaying this figure by a few weeks, this does permit both Papo and ourselves to ensure a successful roll out of other new for 2019 Papo models such as the Gorgosaurus, the new colour variant Stegosaurus and the Pentaceratops model.

Latest news:  Now likely to be in stock in October.

Papo Spinosaurus Figure Delayed

Spinosaurus dinosaur model from Papo
The awesome Papo Spinosaurus dinosaur model.  Delayed until August/September 2019. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Technical Issues

Technical issues have been cited as the reason for the delay.  With such an eagerly anticipated dinosaur figure, we are confident that design team at Papo and the production staff would be wanting to create the very best, most detailed model possible and therefore it may be sensible to take a little longer with the production process and the design of the special box that this figure will be presented in.

Everything Dinosaur team members have been involved in detailed discussions concerning the boxing of this figure.  As a business, we are trying to cut down on single use cardboard as part of our environmental policy, aiming to maintain our excellent record when it comes to recycling cardboard and paper.  However, a spokesperson from Papo’s senior management commented that the gift box “really highlights the premium value of this limited-edition item” and added that “it’s also a good protection against shocks during the shipment.”

Papo Spinosaurus aegyptiacus Part of the French Technical Document

Papo Spinosaurus en Francais,
Papo limited-edition Spinosaurus, technical document.  The model has been delayed a release date is now expected August/September 2019.  The design of the gift box can be seen on the right.

Same Papo Spinosaurus Model – New Delivery Date

Team members at Everything Dinosaur are hopeful that the first production samples will be ready for inspection in late July.  The expected delivery of models ready for sale to the wider public should be August/September, if Everything Dinosaur receives further information and updates, these will be published on this blogsite as well as on the company’s various social media platforms.

The Papo Spinosaurus (S. aegyptiacus) Dinosaur Model is Expected August/September

Papo Spinosaurus model due August/Septermber 2019.
The Papo Spinosaurus (S. aegyptiacus) dinosaur model is now expected August/September. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“All those people who are on Everything Dinosaur’s priority reserve list will still be offered a model, nothing has changed for them in terms of being guaranteed the chance to purchase this limited edition figure.”

The spokesperson went onto add:

“We have a meeting with Papo in a couple of weeks’ time, we hope to receive further information and if there is any additional news regarding this model or indeed any of the other new for 2019 figures such as the Papo Pentaceratops, the Gorgosaurus or the new colour variant Stegosaurus, we shall be sure to pass this information onto our customers”.

To view the range of Papo prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Papo Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

Update – now likely to be in stock in October 2019.

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1 06, 2019

The Six Stages of Play Explained

By |2023-12-24T20:17:52+00:00June 1st, 2019|General Teaching|Comments Off on The Six Stages of Play Explained

Outlining the Six Stages of Play

As teachers, we know that creative, imaginative play is very important to help young minds develop.  Our congratulations to Safari Ltd for helping to promote the six stages of play as identified by the American sociologist Mildred Parten who defined six stages of play during her extensive research examining how children develop their social skills.

Helping to Educate and Inform about the Importance of Play

The first three stages of play.
Outlining the stages of play.

Picture credit: Safari Ltd

Play is Very Important

Researchers such as Dr Parten noted that as children develop, their style of play alters.  She identified six, distinct stages of play, the first four or which are focused around individual play.  As children grow-up the way that they play changes.  The latter stages (Associative and Co-operative), involve more complex play with much more interaction with other children.

The Second Set of Play Stages (Stage 4 to Stage 6)

The stages of play.
The stages of play (stage 4 to stage 6).

Picture credit: Safari Ltd

The Stages of Play and their Importance in the Classroom

Teaching teams working with Early Years (EYFS), know the importance of play.  It is not just a way for children to have fun but it is extremely important to help them develop and practice personal and social skills.  When we visit schools, we observe many examples of creative play having been devised by the teachers and their teaching assistants.  Structured play helps young minds to mature and helps children to interact with others and the wider world.

Our congratulations to Safari Ltd for publishing helpful literature on this important subject.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

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