All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
14 10, 2019

Stunning and Beautiful Autumn Dinosaurs

By |2023-12-31T12:02:49+00:00October 14th, 2019|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Stunning and Beautiful Autumn Dinosaurs

Dinosaur Display Made from Leaves

Lots of Key Stage 1 children and Reception classes have been learning about dinosaurs this term.  On one of our many school visits a dinosaur expert at Everything Dinosaur spotted a colourful display of prehistoric animals that had been created using leaves.   It seems that dinosaurs are even becoming involved in forest school activities, all part of creative, imaginative and thoroughly engaging teaching schemes of work.

A Dinosaur Created from Autumn Leaves

Dinosaur leaves and outdoor learning.
Dinosaur leaves and outdoor learning. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Dinosaur Leaf Monster

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We come across lots of wonderful and creative curricular during our visits to schools.  We congratulate the teaching team for combining the term topic all about dinosaurs and fossils to learning about the changing environment and seasons.  This really is a great example of creative cross-curricular teaching.”

A Dinosaur Leaf Monster

A dinosaur leaf monster.
A dinosaur leaf monster. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

13 10, 2019

New Rebor Komodo Dragon Preparations

By |2023-12-31T11:35:39+00:00October 13th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Animal News Stories, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Rebor GrabNGo Komodo Dragon Preparations

Team members at Everything Dinosaur are busy preparing for the arrival of the next new Rebor model, the GrabNGo Komodo dragon figure in 1/6th scale.  This model has created quite a lot of interest from herpetologists – those scientists and academics that specialise in the study of amphibians and reptiles.

We have it on good authority that this new Rebor figure has even been discussed at the prestigious Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP), annual meeting in Brisbane, a sizeable reservation list for this lizard replica has been built up over the last few weeks and Everything Dinosaur staff will be very busy contacting all these customers when the models arrive next month.

Rebor GrabNGo Komodo Dragon Models

Rebor GrabNGO Komodo dragon replicas.
A collection of Rebor GrabNGo Komodo dragon models.  We are not sure about the collective noun for a group of Komodo dragons, we have been informed that the collective noun is a “bank”, but there must be a better term for six of these fantastic figures together. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The 1:6 Scale Rebor Komodo Dragon Model

The picture (above), shows production samples ready to be sent out to zookeepers and specialists.  We are not sure what the collective noun for a group of Komodo dragons is called (we have been told it is a “bank of Komodos”), but who knows.  Rebor commented that when all the models were put together it reminded them of Billingsgate fish market, all we know is that the figures look splendid and we are looking forward to receiving our stock in just a few weeks’ time.

One of the models is being used to help us design a new cardboard box for use as packaging.  The model is so long (around 50 cm in length), that we are having to commission a special, double-walled cardboard box to accommodate this model and to provide protection when it is sent out to customers.

The CE Mark is Clearly Shown on the Underside of the Figure

The CE mark on the underside of the Rebor GrabNGo Komodo dragon replica.
Highlighting the CE mark on the underside of the Rebor GrabNGo Komodo dragon model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Production Samples

The production samples will be sent out to various specialists and researchers next week, in the meantime, team members will be working hard to ensure that all is ready in our warehouse for the arrival of the Komodo dragon figures.

To see the current range of Rebor models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Models, Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Replicas

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

12 10, 2019

The King of Siam – Siamraptor suwati

By |2023-12-31T11:23:54+00:00October 12th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

New Basal Carcharodontosaurian from Thailand – Siamraptor suwati

A team of scientists from Thailand and Japan have announced the discovery of a new species of meat-eating dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of north-eastern Thailand.  The dinosaur has been named Siamraptor suwati and around 115 million years ago, this eight-metre-long theropod would have been the “King of Siam”.

An Illustration of the Skull of the Newly Described Carcharodontosaurian Theropod Siamraptor suwati

Line drawing of skull and skeletal material of Siamraptor.
An illustration of the skull of Siamraptor showing the placement of the known cranial material.

Picture credit: Chokchaloemwong et al (PLOS One)

Providing an Insight into the Early Evolutionary History of the Carcharodontosauria

The Carcharodontosauria “shark-toothed lizards”, represent a group of theropod dinosaurs that were both temporally and geographically widespread during the Mesozoic.  Some of these dinosaurs were giants, comparable to the largest tyrannosaurids.  For example, the genus Carcharodontosaurus is known from the Cenomanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous of North Africa, some of the larger fossil specimens indicate a length in excess of thirteen metres.

Then there are the giants from South America, dinosaurs such as Tyrannotitan, Mapusaurus and Giganotosaurus, however, little is known about the evolutionary history of the Carcharodontosauria clade.  Writing in the on-line academic journal PLOS One, the researchers state that the discovery of Siamraptor will provide an important insight into the early evolutionary history of the Carcharodontosauria.

A Silhouette of Siamraptor Showing Position of Known Fossil Material

Known fossil material of Siamraptor (scale bar = 1 metre).
A silhouette showing the position of known fossil material for Siamraptor. Scale bar = 1 metre.  The fossils found represent at least four individuals.  Skull material has been scaled up to fit the diagram.

Picture credit: Chokchaloemwong et al (PLOS One)

The Significance of Siamraptor suwati

The fossil material comes from the Khok Kruat geological formation (part of the Khorat Group), in Khorat, north-eastern Thailand an area that has been explored extensively by the Japan-Thailand Dinosaur Project (JTDP) team.  The age of the strata from which the Siamraptor fossil material comes is not known, however, pollen fossil analysis and biostratigraphical indicators support an Early Cretaceous age (Aptian faunal stage).

The Location of the Fossil Discovery and a Stratigraphical Column for the Khorat Group

Stratigraphic column (Khorat Group) and the location of the Siamraptor fossils.
The location of the theropod fossil discovery and a stratigraphic column of the Khorat Group.

Picture credit: Chokchaloemwong et al (PLOS One)

The picture (above), shows (A) a map of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province of north-eastern Thailand and (B) a distribution map of the Khok Kruat Formation in the area.  Picture (C) shows an enlargement of the area where the Siamraptor fossil material was found.  The red star in (C) indicates the fossil quarry.  A stratigraphical column of the Khorat Group is provided (D) and (E) shows a photograph of the dig site.

A Basal Member of the Carcharodontosauria

Two phylogenetic analyses indicate that Siamraptor was a basal member of the Carcharodontosauria.  This taxon is the first definitive evidence of carcharodontosaurian theropods in south-eastern Asia.  The fossil material, although very fragmentary and representative of four individual dinosaurs is also amongst the best preserved theropod fossil material known from this part of Thailand.

The presence of Siamraptor in north-eastern Thailand indicates an extension of the record in the Laurasian landmasses during the earliest stage of the evolutionary history of the Carcharodontosauria.

Three Premaxillae Elements Representing Siamraptor suwati

Fossils (right premaxillae) with accompanying line drawings - Siamraptor.
Three right premaxillae fossils with accompanying line drawings (Siamraptor).

PicturecCredit: Chokchaloemwong et al (PLOS One)

The fossil material includes elements from the jaws, parts of the skull, vertebrae, elements from the hips and hind limbs and a single claw from the hand.  With the formal naming of this dinosaur it reveals that the carcharodontosaurids had spread to Asia as well as Europe and Africa by the Early Cretaceous.

The Fossil Manual Ungual (NRRU-F01020018) – Siamraptor suwati

Views of the manual ungual of Siamraptor.
The manual ungual of Siamraptor suwati.  Note scale bar = 5 cm.  H = lateral view whilst (I) is a palmar view.  Key – pr = plaster reconstruction, vg = vascular groove and ft = flexor tubercle.

Picture credit: Chokchaloemwong et al (PLOS One)

The genus name translates as “robber from Siam”, whilst the species name honours Mr. Suwat Liptapanlop for his financial support of the fieldwork undertaken in Thailand.

The scientific paper: “A new carcharodontosaurian theropod (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand” by Duangsuda Chokchaloemwong, Soki Hattori , Elena Cuesta, Pratueng Jintasakul, Masateru Shibata and Yoichi Azuma published in the on-line, open access journal PLOS One.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

11 10, 2019

Important News About the Limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus Model

By |2023-12-31T09:20:04+00:00October 11th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus Model Delayed until December (2019)

The eagerly anticipated limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus dinosaur model has been delayed until December (2019), according to information from Papo received by team members at Everything Dinosaur.  Readers of this blog will probably recall that Everything Dinosaur published the first pictures of this spinosaurid figure back in February, however, model collectors and dinosaur fans will have to wait until December before they can get their hands on this Papo replica.

The Papo Limited-edition Spinosaurus Replica has been Delayed until December (2019)

Papo Spinosaurus model has been delayed until December 2019.
The Papo Spinosaurus dinosaur model (limited-edition quadruped Spinosaurus), has been delayed until December 2019. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Papo prehistoric animal models in stock: Papo Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We had been told back in the summer that this figure would be available in October, however, we have just been informed by Papo that this dinosaur will not be available until December.  No reasons have been given for the delay and we don’t want to speculate about the reasons for this delay at this stage.  However, all our plans are in place to contact all those people who reserved a model, everything is ready at Everything Dinosaur for the arrival of this figure.  As soon as it comes in, we will be in touch with all those customers on our reserve lists, even if it means bringing in extra staff to ensure swift communications, at what will be, our busiest time of the year.”

If Everything Dinosaur receives any further information or updates about the Papo Spinosaurus dinosaur model, we will post this up onto this blog and other social media platforms.

Visit Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur.

10 10, 2019

Rebor and New Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models Feature in Newsletter

By |2023-12-31T09:14:48+00:00October 10th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Newsletters, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

New Stock of Rebor Replicas and New Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models in Newsletter

Subscribers to Everything Dinosaur’s newsletter service have received information about the arrival of fresh supplies of Rebor figures and replicas.  In addition, our subscribers have been given the opportunity to join Everything Dinosaur’s priority reservation list for the nine, new for 2020, Wild Safari Prehistoric World models.  It is news about the arrival of more of the eagerly anticipated Rebor foetus replicas that have taken top spot in our latest missive.  Both the Rebor Foetus T. rex and the Rebor Foetus Velociraptor have proved extremely popular with model collectors and Everything Dinosaur is offering the pair at a special price whilst stocks last.

Rebor Oddities – Buy the Pair – Making the Headlines

Rebor Oddities foetus replicas.
The pair of Rebor Oddities Foetus replicas – Velociraptor and T. rex. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Rebor Figures – Rebor Killer Queen T. rex “Plain” Colour Variant

The Everything Dinosaur newsletter also reported that more stock of the Rebor Killer Queen “Plain” Tyrannosaurus rex model had arrived.  Team members have been busy emailing all those customers who wanted one of these theropod figures reserving for them.  Waitlist members on the Everything Dinosaur website will have received notifications about this model’s availability too.

The Rebor Killer Queen Colour Variant “Plain” in Stock at Everything Dinosaur

Rebor Killer Queen - plain colour variant T. rex replica is in stock at Everything Dinosaur
The Rebor Killer Queen T. rex model “Plain” is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view all the Rebor models and prehistoric animal replicas supplied by Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Models and Replicas.

Rebor Oddities – T. rex and Velociraptor Foetuses

For collectors who have been lucky enough to pick up one of the new for 2019 Rebor Oddities foetuses, then do not despair, as our team members have made sure that the Rebor Oddities T. rex foetus along with its counterpart the Rebor Oddities Velociraptor are available separately as well as in a pair.

The Rebor Oddities Tyrannosaurus Foetus (left) and the Rebor Oddities Velociraptor Foetus (right)

The pair of Rebor Oddities, the Velociraptor and the T. rex foetuses.
A pair of Rebor Oddities, the Velociraptor and the T. rex foetuses. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are collectors ourselves so, we try and provide our customers with as much choice as possible.”

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Rebor Figures – Melon and Hazelnut

For fans of slightly smaller figures, some good news.  Fresh stocks of the baby Stegosaurus (Melon) and the baby Triceratops dinosaur (Hazelnut) have also arrived at Everything Dinosaur.  These models, in the very successful Rebor “Scout” series have been joined by more models of “Stan”, the Scout series baby Velociraptor model.

The Rebor Hazelnut (Triceratops) and Melon (Stegosaurus) – Baby Dinosaur Models

Rebor Scout Models Hazelnut and Melon.
Rebor Scout Models Melon and Hazelnut. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Priority Reserve List for 2020 is Open

Newsletter subscribers have also been given special access to Everything Dinosaur’s priority reserve list for the nine new for 2020 Wild Safari Prehistoric World models from Safari Ltd.  Subscribers have been asked to email the company to join their special, priority reservation list for these new prehistoric animal figures.

The Rebor Scout Series Baby Velociraptor “Stan” and the Chance to Reserve New for 2020 Prehistoric Animal Models

Reserving Wild Safari Prehistoric World figures and the Rebor Scout series Velociraptor "Stan".
The Rebor Scout series baby Velociraptor “Stan” and an opportunity to reserve new for 2020 Wild Safari Prehistoric World prehistoric animal models. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Subscribe to Everything Dinosaur!

To request to join the Everything Dinosaur newsletter subscribers list, just simply send us an email: Email Everything Dinosaur.

9 10, 2019

Zhenyuanlong suni – A Large and Significant Liaoning Dromaeosaurid

By |2023-12-31T09:08:01+00:00October 9th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Zhenyuanlong suni

Zhenyuanlong suni, named by Lü and Brusatte in a paper published in the academic journal “Scientific Reports” back in 2015, is one of the larger of the dromaeosaurids described to date from the Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province.  It is known from a single specimen (see below), which is almost complete, just a few elements including the distal portion of the tail are missing.  The exact size of this theropod dinosaur is not known, as the single specimen could represent a sub-adult.

Zhenyuanlong suni

Not much is known about the fossil’s provenance as the mudstone specimen may have been unlawfully removed from a bedding plane in Jianchang County (Yixian Formation).  Palaeontologists estimate that when fully grown this dromaeosaurid measured around 1.6 metres in length.  The nomenclature honours Mr Zhenyuan Sun who helped secure the fossil specimen for scientific analysis.

The Holotype Fossil of Zhenyuanlong suni

Zhenyuanlong fossil.
Large-bodied, short-armed dromaeosaurid from the Liaoning Province of north-eastern China.

Picture credit: Chinese Academy of Geological Science

A Zhenyuanlong articulated figure can be found in the Beasts of the Mesozoic model series.

To view this range: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models.

Everything Dinosaur’s Scale Drawing of Zhenyuanlong suni

Zhenyuanlong suni scale drawing.
A scale drawing of Zhenyuanlong suni. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To read an article about estimating the size of Yixian Formation dromaeosaurids: Updating the Winged Dragon Zhenyuanlong.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

8 10, 2019

Rebor Scout Models in Stock

By |2023-12-31T09:04:02+00:00October 8th, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The Scouts Return – “Melon”, “Hazelnut” and “Stan”

Everything Dinosaur has three of the very popular and very collectable Rebor Scout models back in stock.  Our warehouse has received deliveries of “Melon” the baby Stegosaurus, “Hazelnut” the baby Triceratops and “Stan” the baby Velociraptor.  Fans of the Rebor range will know that the Velociraptor figure is named after the Academy Award-winning special effects creator Stanley “Stan” Winston, who worked on the first three films of the “Jurassic Park” movie franchise.

The Rebor Scout Series Baby Velociraptor “Stan”

1:18 Rebor baby Velociraptor replica.
“Stan” the baby Velociraptor model from Rebor.

Rebor Scout Models “Melon” and “Hazelnut”

Team members at Everything Dinosaur are not sure why the baby Stegosaurus and the baby Triceratops were named “Melon” and ” Hazelnut” respectively, however, why not give these two, highly detailed figures these names?  It seems that unlike scientific nomenclature, anything goes when it comes to creating prehistoric animal replicas.  Both the Rebor baby Triceratops and its Stegosaurus counterpart are in approximately 1:35 scale, whilst the Rebor Velociraptor figure is in 1:18 scale.

The Stunning Rebor Scout Series “Hazelnut” and “Melon” – Baby Triceratops and Baby Stegosaurus

The Rebor Scout Series "Melon" and "Hazelnut" (Triceratops and Stegosaurus).
From the Rebor Scout series “Hazelnut” the baby Triceratops and “Melon” the baby Stegosaurus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Baby Stegosaurus Dinosaur Model

Fans of the Rebor model range will be aware of the potential for a new Stegosaurus replica from this company in the near future.  For the time being, the sole representative of the Stegosauridae is this beautifully crafted figure that comes with its own display base.

“Melon” the Baby Stegosaurus Dinosaur Model – Rebor Scout Series

The baby Stegosaurus model - "Melon" from the Scout model series.
“Melon” the baby Stegosaurus dinosaur figure from the Rebor Scout model series. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Baby Triceratops Dinosaur Model

The Triceratops figure “Hazelnut” is around the same size as the Stegosaurus (approximately 11 cm in length).  It too, comes with a display base and it makes a great addition to any prehistoric animal model collection.

The Baby Triceratops Dinosaur Model – “Hazelnut”

Rebor Scout series "Hazelnut" - baby Triceratops.
“Hazelnut” the baby Triceratops from the Rebor Scout model series. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Rebor Scout Models

It is the attention to detail that makes these Rebor models stand out.  Take for example, the display base that accompanies the 1:18 scale baby Velociraptor figure “Stan”.  The base has footprint depressions that act as a guide to help dinosaur fans position their figure correctly.  The footprints on the base have been carefully sculpted to represent what are thought to be dromaeosaurid prints found in the fossil record.  We are sure ichnologists will approve!

The Model Display Base – Rebor Velociraptor 1:18 Scale Figure

The base of "Stan" the baby Velociraptor dinosaur model.
The beautifully crafted display base for the Rebor Scout series baby Velociraptor model “Stan”. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the Rebor Scout models and the rest of the replicas in the Rebor range: Rebor Models and Figures.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

7 10, 2019

New Pterosaur Species Described from Liaoning Province

By |2023-12-31T06:55:10+00:00October 7th, 2019|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Nurhachius luei – A New Species of Early Cretaceous Pterosaur from China

A team of international researchers including scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Copenhagen and the Fur Museum (both Denmark), along with colleagues based in Brazil, have named a new species of istiodactylid pterosaur from the Liaoning Province of north-eastern China.  This new flying reptile has been named Nurhachius luei, it is the second species in the Nurhachius genus to be announced after the type species Nurhachius ignaciobritoi, which also hails from the Jiufotang Formation, was named and described in 2005.

The Holotype Specimen of Nurhachius luei

Holotype specimen of Nurhachius luei with an accompanying line drawing.
The holotype specimen of Nurhachius luei with an accompanying line drawing.  Note scale bar = 5 cm.

Picture credit: PeerJ

Pterosaur Species Described from Cranial Material and Neck Bones

More than twenty different pterosaur species have been described to date from fossils associated with the Jiufotang Formation of China.  Although, the date of these extensive deposits is controversial, it is thought that Nurhachius luei lived during the Aptian faunal stage of the Cretaceous (125 – 113 million years ago).

The Istiodactylidae family are thought by many palaeontologists to represent the first lineage of the Pterodactyloidea.  They evolved sometime in the Late Jurassic and their thin bone walls, reduced tails, absence of a fifth toe and elongated hand bones (metacarpals), provided the anatomical “blueprint” for all subsequent types of pterosaur.  In essence, these “new” types of flying reptile replaced the long-tailed rhamphorhynchids and their relatives.

Four pterosaur genera and five species (all represented by a single specimen), have been referred to the Istiodactylidae.  Three of the genera are associated with Liaoning deposits, whilst the remaining genus Istiodactylus (I. latidens), the first to be studied at the very beginning of the 20th century, hails from the Early Cretaceous Vectis Formation of the Isle of Wight.

Nurhachius luei

A few years ago (2011), a jaw tip found in Canada was interpreted as being from an istiodactylid pterosaur.  This pterosaur was named Gwawinapterus beardi.  It seemed both geographically and temporally removed from all the other known members of the Istiodactylidae and a revised description was published in 2012.  Gwawinapterus was actually a fish, it just happened to have closely spaced teeth that superficially resembled the dentition of istiodactylid pterosaurs.

To read more about Gwawinapterus beardiA New, Unique Species of Canadian Pterosaur is Described.

The scientific paper: “Nurhachius luei, a new istiodactylid pterosaur (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province (China) and comments on the Istiodactylidae” by Xuanyu Zhou​, Rodrigo V. Pêgas​, Maria E.C. Leal and Niels Bonde published in the academic journal PeerJ.

For pterosaur models and figures: The Everything Dinosaur Website.

6 10, 2019

New Species of Crocodile Honours Researcher

By |2023-12-30T20:51:11+00:00October 6th, 2019|Animal News Stories, Geology, Main Page, Photos|0 Comments

Crocodylus halli – A New Species of Crocodile is Announced

The crocodile family has undergone yet another revision.  It seems that the Crocodylidae are a more specious family than previously thought.  The New Guinea Crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae), is actually two species and not one and the second species has been named Crocodylus halli after Philip Hall, a University of Florida researcher who sadly, passed away before his work on these three-metre-long reptiles could be completed.

A New Crocodile Species has been Discovered – Hall’s Crocodile (Crocodylus halli)

New crocodile species discovered.
A new crocodile species has been discovered.  The picture (above), shows Jen Brueggen, Park social media manager, researchers Caleb McMahan, Christopher Murray and John Brueggen, Park director, with a specimen of Crocodylus halli, that seems rather reluctant to pose for a photograph.

Picture credit: Southeastern Louisiana University

Crocodile Nesting Behaviour Hinted at Different Species

The late scientist Philip Hall, noticed subtle differences in osteoderm patterns on the backs of crocodiles and in the nesting behaviours of crocodile populations in the north and the south of the island of New Guinea.  He speculated that there could be two species living on New Guinea, but unfortunately, he died before his research could be completed.  Southeastern Louisiana University Assistant Professor of Biology Christopher Murray and his co-author Caleb McMahan (Field Museum, Chicago), were inspired to continue this research and they have published their findings in the academic journal “Copeia”, the journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

A chain of high hills and mountains known as the Central Highlands divides the island of New Guinea.  It is thought this geological feature was formed in the last 8 million years or so.  Geographically isolated crocodile populations, each living on different drainage basins that came about as a result of the uplift, have been identified as different species.

The Island of New Guinea 

Distribution of crocodile populations on New Guinea.
The Central Highlands of New Guinea permits two distinct drainage basins to form. This geographical barrier has led to the evolution of two distinct species of crocodile.

Picture credit: Copeia/Murray and McMahan with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

The illustration of the island of New Guinea (above), shows the location of the Central Highlands and the red dots south of the mountain chain denote sampling areas for C. halli in the study, whilst the brown dots north of the chain indicate sampling sites for C. novaeguineae.

Careful analysis of museum specimens along with a study of the crocodiles kept in captivity at the St Augustine Alligator Zoological Park (Florida), confirmed the hypothesis.  Subtle differences in the shape of bones and the observed behaviour differences indicates the presence of two distinct species on the island.  This has been confirmed by molecular analysis.

Difference in the Shape of the Skull and Jaws

Comparing Crocodile Skulls from Papua New Guinea.
Dorsal view of skulls from  New Guinea crocodiles.  Crocodylus novaeguineae (left) with its extended maxilla and proportionately reduced postcranial elements compared with two examples of Crocodylus halli (middle and right).  In contrast, the C. halli skulls show much shorter maxillae and proportionately enlarged postcranial elements.

Picture credit: Copeia/Murray and McMahan

The Importance of Museum Specimens

The researchers comment that this new insight into the Crocodylidae would not have been possible without access to the collections from numerous museums.  The museums involved in this research included The Field Museum (Chicago), the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, the American Museum of Natural History (New York), Queensland Museum, Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science and the Florida Museum of Natural History.

The careful curation and collection of a large number of specimens permitted the scientists to build up a substantial database on crocodilian skull morphology that allowed them to tease out the subtle differences between the two species.

Crocodylus halli – Hall’s Crocodile

Newly described crocodile species from New Guinea Crocodylus halli.
One of the residents at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park – Crocodylus halli.

Picture credit: Copeia/Murray and McMahan

Implications for Crocodile Conservation

Identifying a separate species has important implications for the conservation of both populations of crocodile.

Commenting on the significance of this discovery, Caleb McMahan stated:

“Now that we know the evolutionary history of these species, we need to re-inform the conservation status of them given that the distribution has changed and conservation threats are different in different areas.”

5 10, 2019

The First Skeletal Remains of Phoebodus (Prehistoric Shark)

By |2023-05-01T18:36:39+01:00October 5th, 2019|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

The First Skeletal Remains of Phoebodus (Prehistoric Shark)

Morocco might be famous for its trilobite fossils, but this North African country has a very rich fossil heritage, one that covers a lot more fauna than just arthropods.  Take for example, the discovery of the first ever skeletal material associated with the ancient shark Phoebodus.  A team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Zurich (Switzerland) and the University of Chicago, have published a paper describing fossil material from a shark that was previously only known from its teeth (only three teeth in total).

Skeletal Fossil Material (Cranial and Postcranial) – Phoebodus saidselachus

Phoebodus saidselachus, views of a tooth and line drawings.

Phoebodus saidselachus sp. nov., (a–d) PIMUZ A/I 4712 and (e) PIMUZA/I 4656.  (a) Ferruginous nodule containing cranial and postcranial remains; (b) drawing, scale bar, 200 mm; (c) detail of visceral skeleton, scale bar, 100 mm; (d) tooth, scale bar, 5 mm; (e) tooth (various views).

Picture credit: Proceedings of the Royal Society B. (Linda Frey and Christian Klug – University of Zurich)

Phoebodus saidselachus

The fossil material was found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the fossil is remarkably well preserved considering that the skeleton of the animal was comprised of soft cartilage and not hard bone.  Around 370 million years ago, this part of north Africa was covered by a warm, shallow tropical sea.  The researchers were able to identify several skulls and parts of another species of Phoebodus from the same fossil deposits.  Writing in the academic journal the “Proceedings of the Royal Society B”, the scientists were able to provide a full description of Phoebodus and speculate on what this small shark might have preyed upon.

Speculating on the Body Plan of Phoebodus saidselachus

Possible life reconstruction of P. saidselachus.

Possible body reconstruction of (a) P. saidselachus sp. nov., Late Devonian, (b) T. gracia [11], Early Carboniferous, and (c) picture of the extant frilled shark Chlamydoselachus anguineus.

Picture credit: Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

What Did Phoebodus Look Like?

The researchers note that sharks like Phoebodus went extinct in an early part of the Carboniferous, a very long time before many of its features evolved in other modern sea creatures.  The fossil reveals an eel-like body (anguilliform), a specialised braincase, a hyoid arch and elongated jaws.    These features corroborate a likely close taxonomic relationship with the Carboniferous shark species Thrinacodus gracia (shown above in the picture (b).

A Similarity to Living Sharks

In addition, the fossilised material suggests a similarity between the long extinct Phoebodus genus and the living frilled shark Chlamydoselachus anguineus.  The teeth of P. saidselachus are very similar to the teeth of the frilled shark.   They are rounded and pointy and Phoebodus may have hunted and fed in the same way as frilled sharks.  The research team also noted that the ancient shark resembles a modern gar (family Belonidae), as well.   Whilst gars are not closely related to sharks, they might make a plausible marker for inferring behaviour in Late Devonian shark genera.

Now that palaeontologists have a better understanding of what Phoebodus actually looked like, this material and the other fossilised skulls found at this Moroccan locality can help them to map the radiation of the earliest elasmobranchs and to infer what sort of ecological niches in the ancient marine ecosystem they occupied.

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