Praising the CollectA Prehistoric Life Fukuiraptor

Japan might not be that famous for its dinosaurs, although several Japanese dinosaurs have been named and described and we are expecting a new hadrosaurid to be announced from a substantial fossil found on the island of Hokkaido shortly*.  Fukuiraptor, from Fukui Prefecture on the largest island that makes up the country of Japan (Honshu), is known from fragmentary remains and its taxonomic affinity remains controversial.  However, those clever and talented model makers at CollectA were undeterred and this year, saw the introduction of a Fukuiraptor dinosaur model into the company’s “Prehistoric Life” model range.

The CollectA New for 2019 Fukuiraptor Dinosaur Model

To view the Fukuiraptor dinosaur model and the rest of the figures in the not to scale, CollectA Prehistoric Life range: CollectA Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models (Prehistoric Life Range).

Fukuiraptor A Lower Cretaceous Predator

The vast majority of the fossil material ascribed to Fukuiraptor (F. kitadaniensis), comes from excavation sites located along the banks of the Sugiyama River.  The strata are estimated to be around 120 million years of age (late Barremian to Aptian faunal stages of the Early Cretaceous).  This dinosaur was scientifically described nineteen years ago (Phil Currie and Yoichi Azuma), in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences.  It had been suggested that these fossils represented a large dromaeosaurid, however, more recent taxonomic assessment has suggested affinities with the Megaraptora.

A CollectA Fukuiraptor Dinosaur Model on Display

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Creating a Favourable Impression

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“The CollectA Fukuiraptor dinosaur model has created a very favourable impression amongst dinosaur fans and model collectors.  Models representing relatively obscure species are always appreciated and this finely detailed and well-painted figure has proved to be very popular.”

Everything Dinosaur has compiled several reviews of this recently introduced dinosaur figure, including one from a French customer who described it as a “beau modèle”.  It is pleasing to note that this figure has such an international appeal.

*A new species of hadrosaurid, assigned to the Edmontosaurini subfamily has been announced.  It has been named Kamuysaurus japonicus and it lived at least forty million years after Fukuiraptor became extinct.  To read Everything Dinosaur’s article about this newly described (September 2019) hadrosaurid: Japan’s Greatest Dinosaur Discovery Gets a Name – Kamuysaurus japonicus.

Perhaps CollectA will make a model of Kamuysaurus in the future.

Update

CollectA did make a model of Kamuysaurus. To see this model and the rest of the items at the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.