Back at the end of March (2020), Everything Dinosaur team members published news of the discovery of four new taxa of flying reptile from the remarkable Kem Kem beds of south-eastern Morocco. Three of the pterosaurs (all members of the Ornithocheiridae), were dealt with in one scientific paper, which was published in the academic journal “Cretaceous Research”, whilst the fourth, a tapejarid named Afrotapejara zouhrii, was described in a subsequent paper also published in Cretaceous Research.
Afrotapejara zouhrii
Aware of the publication of these scientific papers, Everything Dinosaur was able to put up a blog post, prior to illustrations of the newest member of the Tapejaridae being released. However, thanks to a media release from the University of Portsmouth, we can show a life illustration of Afrotapejara zouhrii in all its glory.
An Illustration of the Recently Described North African Pterosaur Afrotapejara zouhrii
A life reconstruction of the newly described Moroccan pterosaur Afrotapejara zouhrii.
Picture credit: University of Portsmouth
The colours chosen by the artist are speculative, but tapejarids, characterised by their oversized and elaborate head crests, are regarded as some of the “flashiest” and flamboyant of all the Pterosauria, their crests probably played a role in visual communication, so why not make their crests bright and colourful.
The First Tapejarid Known from Africa
Tapejarids were geographically widespread in the Lower Cretaceous. Fossils are known from China, Brazil and Europe. It had long been suspected that these types of pterosaurs would be found in the famous Kem Kem beds, but the fragmentary remains associated with these strata delayed positive identification.
Professor David Martill (School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth), a co-author on the ornithocheirid paper and lead order on the Afrotapejara study, commented:
“The study of Moroccan material shows that we are still far from having found all the paleontological treasures of North Africa. Even fragmentary fossils, like the jaw piece of the new pterosaur, can give us important information about the biodiversity of the past.”
Honouring Professor Samir Zouhri
In our earlier blog post, we stated that the specific or trivial name chosen for this flying reptile honoured Moroccan palaeontologist Professor Samir Zouhri. We can now confirm that this is correct, the professor is being honoured for his contribution to field work over many years and for helping to develop the science of palaeontology in Morocco. Pleasingly, the fragmentary remains of the newest member of the Tapejaridae family are staying in Morocco, they are now part of the collection of the Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, Casablanca Hassan II University.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Portsmouth in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “A new tapejarid (Pterosauria, Azhdarchoidea) from the mid-Cretaceous Kem Kem beds of Takmout, southern Morocco” by David M. Martill, Roy Smith, David M. Unwin, Alexander Kao, James McPhee and Nizar Ibrahim published in Cretaceous Research.
By Mike|2024-02-16T13:50:58+00:00April 3rd, 2020|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Supporting Teachers and Home Educators with Learning Resources
Everything Dinosaur Supporting Teachers and Home Educators
For the staff at Everything Dinosaur, the interests of our customers, our team members and our communities are at the very heart of all that we do. At this particularly challenging time with the continuing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we want to do our best to help all those people having to teach children either at home or in school.
We want to let you know that you remain our top priority and we are doing all we can to assist schools, parents, guardians, nurseries and home educators.
To date, Everything Dinosaur has provided hundreds of free downloads of teaching materials and other resources.
Take for example, this free junior word search and crossword that we have been sending out. Aimed at young children with a fascination for dinosaurs, our word search contains seven words associated with dinosaurs and prehistoric animals, can you find them all?
Everything Dinosaur Providing a Free Dinosaur Themed Crosswords
The Rebor inspired crossword designed by Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Benefits of Word Games
Word games such as word search puzzles and crosswords have many benefits. Firstly, they assist with the development of pattern recognition, a key cognitive function in humans. For young dinosaur fans, our word search also improves spelling, assists in vocabulary development and above all, it is fun.
The word search puzzles (and the answers), can be requested by simply emailing Everything Dinosaur: Email Everything Dinosaur.
A spokesperson for the UK-based company commented:
“Over the last few weeks, we have all been working very hard to support teachers and home educators. With many children now at home and unable to go to school, we have been providing lots of helpful teaching resources and other learning materials to help assist with home schooling.”
An Extension Idea
How about creating your own wordsearch? It could be about dinosaurs or any other subject that you wish. If you are learning about the Romans, why not try creating a Roman-themed word search that you can try out on a family member. Perhaps, you could record the time it takes for each person to complete the challenge and create a chart to display the results.
Mojo Fun Lucky Golden Rat Models – Helping to Spread Smiles
Everything Dinosaur team members want to pay tribute to all those customers who have received a special Mojo Fun lucky golden rat model in with their Everything Dinosaur parcel over the last few weeks. As our stock of these rare Mojo Fun golden rat charms runs out we are having to stop this little gesture of goodwill towards our customers. However, we wanted to respond and acknowledge the level of support that we have received from our customers.
At Everything Dinosaur, we don’t just simply supply Everything Dinosaur toys and games, we send out smiles too.
Everything Dinosaur Sent out a Mojo Fun Lucky Golden Rat Model Each Day to Some Lucky Customer Chosen at Random
Everything Dinosaur was giving away a golden rat lucky charm key ring to one customer every day until the stock ran out.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Sending Out Mojo Fun Lucky Charms
Mojo Fun has produced a limited edition run of golden lucky rat key rings, to celebrate the Chinese year of the rat. In the Chinese zodiac, the rat is the first animal in the cycle of animals and the year of the rat represents a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. People born in the year of a rat are thought to be hard-working and industrious.
In Chinese astrology, those born in the year of the rat are diligent with a positive outlook on life. They also like to collect things and involve themselves with many interests and hobbies. Such a hobby might be prehistoric animal model collecting. Everything Dinosaur certainly has lots of customers in the Far East.
A Triceratops Watch Next to a Mojo Fun Lucky Golden Rat
Lucky golden rat and a Triceratops watch. A photograph taken next to the packing materials used to pack the order and we can also see part of our special thank you note that we sent out with these special parcels.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A customer who made a purchase got a little surprise. Everything Dinosaur has been giving away a Mojo Fun lucky golden rat model each day until our stock of this rare figure ran out. Were you lucky enough to find one in your parcel?
The Battat Terra Acrocanthosaurus Dinosaur Model Sharing a Box with a Mojo Fun Golden Rat
A dinosaur model shares a box with a Mojo Fun lucky golden rat model.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Our very best wishes to every person who has received one of these rather special models. We hope they bring you good future and good luck in these challenging and uncertain times.
New Study Might Help Explain Why Crocodilians Survive Extinction Events
A team of scientists including researchers from the Natural History Museum (London) and the Milner Centre for Evolution (Bath University), have provided fresh insight into how crocodilians are able to survive dramatic changes in climate that cause extinctions amongst other vertebrates. The researchers conclude that extant crocodilians are part of a lineage of great survivors that might cope better than most other large animals when having to face a world with a continuing rise in average annual temperature.
Crocodilians Might Be Better Able to Cope with Global Climate Change
An anterior view of the skull of an estuarine crocodile photographed in the Grant Museum, London. The largest reptile on Earth, the estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) from south-east Asia is also known as the saltwater crocodile or saltie. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Crocodiles Surviving Mass Extinction Events
Writing in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, the scientists suggest that the ability of crocodilians to survive mass extinction events could be due in part, to their approach to reproduction. Modern crocodiles are an ancient lineage. They are grouped into the clade Neosuchia, which first arose in the Late Cretaceous, although related forms are even older, such as the Pseudosuchia, which first arose some 250 million years ago.
Neosuchian crocodilians have therefore survived numerous extinction events, including two mass extinctions, the first that occurred approximately 66 million years ago and saw the demise of their fellow archosaurs – the Dinosauria and the Pterosauria as well as many other different types of organism. Then, there was a second, albeit smaller, mass extinction event towards the end of the Eocene approximately 33.9 million years ago.
The Relationship Between Size of Female Crocodilians and Where They are Found
The relationship between distribution patterns and body size has been recorded and analysed in many kinds of endothermic (warm-blooded) animals. However, evidence to support the idea that there is a correlation between where in the world animals are found and the size of females in ectotherms (cold-blooded animals), has been generally, not that well documented.
No extensive study between the global distribution of crocodiles and the body mass of females has been carried out. The research team examined the relationship between latitudinal distribution and body mass in twenty living species of crocodilians and studied seven other important factors in reptile reproduction such as size of the egg clutch laid, the number of successful hatchings per nest, incubation length and incubation temperature.
The Average Size of a Female of the Species was Correlated Against the Latitudinal Midpoint of Where that Species is Found
Plotting the average size of female crocodiles against where the species is found.
Picture credit: Lakin et al (Biological Journal of the Linnean Society)
Statistical Analysis
Using statistical analysis, the study showed that, in general, smaller species of crocodilian tend to live at low latitudes (close to the equator). Larger species tend to live at higher latitudes, still in the tropics but further away from the equator. This is the first study to propose a relationship between where in the world crocodilians live and the effect on adult female body mass.
Previous studies looking at the how well adapted crocodilians are have cited diet, their aquatic nature and their behaviours as factors in helping these types of creatures to survive dramatic changes in environmental conditions. However, this study also identified a unique aspect of crocodilian reproductive biology that may also be a significant factor.
Crocodilians have no sex chromosomes, just like many types of tortoises and turtles, instead the sex of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated. Both crocodiles and most turtles have a threshold temperature at which the ratio of males to females is roughly equal in any given clutch.
Temperature and Crocodiles
In crocodilians, the higher the temperature of the clutch, then more males will be produced. For those members of the Order Chelonia (Testudines), that are biologically subject to temperature controlled sexual determination, the opposite is true, higher temperatures result in more female hatchlings. The increase in average global temperatures is already having a dramatic impact on turtle populations. Our warming world is resulting in some hatchling populations being comprised of 80% females. Such an imbalance in animal populations could have a dramatic impact on those species affected.
Environmental Temperature Affects the Sex of Crocodilians and Most Members of the Order Testudines
In most turtles/tortoises sex of the individual is dependent upon temperature of the clutch. This environmental factor determines the sex of all crocodilians. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The diagram (above), demonstrates that in crocodilians the higher the temperature of the nesting environment, more males are likely to be produced from the nest. For most members of the Order Testudines, the reverse is true – warmer temperatures will lead to more females.
The research team wanted to assess the impact of this aspect of crocodilian reproductive biology on their ability to cope with the impact of climate change.
Twenty Different Species of Crocodile Studied
In total, twenty different species of crocodiles were assessed to see if there was a correlation between their latitude and a variety of biological traits such as female body size and incubation temperature. The researchers conclude (with some exceptions), that smaller species do tend to live close to the equator, whilst larger species generally live in more temperate climates at higher latitudes. Intriguingly, they found that, in contrast to most Testudines, the threshold incubation temperatures don’t correlate with the latitude.
Whilst turtles are critically endangered by the increase in temperatures due to climate change, this research indicates that crocodiles and their close relatives may be slightly more resilient because of the ways they look after their young. For example, sea turtles always return to the same beach to nest and lay eggs regardless of the local environmental conditions, leaving their young to hatch alone and fend for themselves.
The authors hypothesise that the geographical location of the nest doesn’t affect the incubation temperatures as much as in turtles because crocodilians select their nesting sites carefully and bury their nests in rotting vegetation or earth which insulates them against temperature fluctuations.
However, despite being around virtually unchanged for 90 million years, crocodilians are still threatened and several species are critically endangered. Unless adequate steps are taken to safeguard these species, they too, will sadly, end up going the same way as the dinosaurs.
Keystone Species
Lead author of the study, PhD student Rebecca Lakin at the Milner Centre for Evolution (University of Bath) stated:
“Crocodilians are keystone species in their ecosystems. They are amongst the last surviving archosaurs, a group that once inhabited every continent and has persisted for at least 230 million years”.
A model of a crocodile with an articulated lower jaw.
Rebecca added:
“They show a remarkable resilience to cataclysmic climate change and habitat loss, however half of all living crocodile species are threatened with extinction and the rate of vertebrate species loss will soon equal or even exceed that of the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs. Whilst their parenting skills and other adaptations brace them for climate change, they aren’t immune. They are still vulnerable to other human-induced threats such as pollution, the damming of rivers, nest flooding and poaching for meat or skin. Climate change could encourage these great survivors to relocate to other areas that are close to densely human populated areas, putting them at even greater threat.”
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Milner Centre for Evolution in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “First evidence for a latitudinal body mass effect in extant Crocodylia and the relationships of their reproductive characters” by Rebecca J Lakin, Paul M Barrett, Colin Stevenson, Robert J Thomas and Matthew A Wills published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.
Everything Dinosaur – Providing Support and Free Teaching Resources
The Chinese have a saying “may you live in interesting times”. These are certainly interesting times as we all have to get used to the “new normal” with the coronavirus pandemic to contend with. Team members would like to convey their thoughts and best wishes to all those who have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19).
We have introduced new measures and policies that have enabled the mail order part of our business to keep operating. In these difficult times, having a hobby to act as a distraction can provide great comfort and help to relieve stress. Dinosaur model collecting can have a positive impact on mental health and we have been delighted to receive lots of pictures (and videos too), from collectors who have showcased their collections.
The Mail Order Operations of Everything Dinosaur – Still in Business
Free resources and support from staff. The mail order part of the business is still operating and team members are supporting customers by providing lots of free to use resources and teaching materials.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Helping to Support Teachers and Those Teaching at Home
Everything Dinosaur has been able to put in place contingency plans helping to keep the company operating through these uncertain times. Our outreach work, liaising with museums and other academic institutions has had to be temporarily put on hold and our school visits have been postponed, but team members are doing all they can to support teachers, teaching assistants, parents, guardians and all those people home schooling at the moment.
Free to Use Teaching Materials and Learning Resources All with a Prehistoric Animal Theme
Free learning materials, teaching resources and advice provided by team members.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:
“We do appreciate that the education of many children has been disrupted. We know how challenging this can be, not just for teaching professionals but also for those adults who have children at home who now need to take on a teaching role and to also find ways of keeping their charges entertained. Hopefully, our free to use teaching materials, lesson plans and activity ideas will prove to be helpful in the current situation. We have already supplied hundreds of free downloads and our dedicated school website is geared to handle even more requests in the next few weeks.”
The Everything Dinosaur blog continues to provide a useful source of information regarding science stories and fossil discoveries. Team members are striving to maintain their routine of posting one new article every day. In addition, staff have been busy sending out free puzzles, dinosaur themed quizzes, word searches and even specially compiled dinosaur themed crosswords following requests from fans of prehistoric animals.
The Everything Dinosaur Blog is a Useful Place to Gather Information and We Have Also Sent Out Lots of Free Games and Puzzles
The Everything Dinosaur blog provides lots of helpful resources and team members provide free downloads.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Everything Dinosaur on YouTube and Facebook
It’s not just education, we recognise that in the current situation there is a need to entertain as well as inform. Team members have been busy creating new YouTube videos and posting up several times a day onto the company’s social media pages including the Facebook site.
Everything Dinosaur Providing Lots of On-line Content to Support Dinosaur Fans
Free to access YouTube and Facebook resources including teaching materials, information and learning resources.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
If you wish to subscribe to the Everything Dinosaur newsletter so that you can keep up with company developments, simply email us: Email Everything Dinosaur.
Turntable Tuesday – CollectA Deluxe Microraptor Dinosaur Model
It’s “Turntable Tuesday” and it is time to put another prehistoric animal model on the Everything Dinosaur turntable and give it a spin. Today, we feature the awesome, new for 2020 CollectA Deluxe 1:6 scale Microraptor dinosaur model.
“Turntable Tuesday” The New for 2020 CollectA Deluxe Microraptor Dinosaur Model Goes for a Spin
Video credit: Everything Dinosaur
The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor is in stock at Everything Dinosaur, this fantastic, feathered dinosaur figure and the rest of the CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life collection can be found here: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.
The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor Dinosaur Model
First named and scientifically described twenty years ago, Microraptor has become one of the most studied of all the Chinese dinosaurs from Liaoning Province. It was the first dinosaur specimen found to demonstrate the presence of flight feathers on its hind legs as well as on its arms. Three species have been assigned to this genus, although there is some debate as to their validity as separate species. Microraptor fossils are the most abundant non-avialan dinosaur found in the Jiufotang Formation (Liaoning Province).
All the material comes from the same bedding plane – the Shangheshou Bed. It has been estimated that over three hundred specimens have been collected to date, although it is difficult to verify this figure as a large number of specimens are in the hands of private collectors who are reluctant to come forward due to the difficulties that might arise once these fossils come to the attention of the Chinese authorities.
The Stunning CollectA Deluxe 1:6 Scale Microraptor Dinosaur Model
The CollectA Deluxe 1:6 scale Microraptor dinosaur model. The iridescent feathers and the bifurcated tail are highlighted in the “turntable Tuesday” video.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Iridescent Feathers and a Bifurcated Tail
In 2012, a scientific paper was published in “Science”, the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, that reported upon a study of fossilised pigment cells (melanosomes), preserved within a Microraptor fossil specimen (BMNHC PH881). The researchers compared the arrangements of the melanosomes to those of extant birds and concluded that although Microraptor feathers were black, the melanosomes were reminiscent of the melanosomes found in birds that have iridescent feathers.
The scientific paper that proposes iridescence in the plumage of Microraptor “Reconstruction of Microraptor and the Evolution of Iridescent Plumage” by Quanguo Li, Ke-Qin Gao, Qingjin Meng, Julia A. Clarke, Matthew D. Shawkey, Liliana D’Alba, Rui Pei, Mick Ellison, Mark A. Norell and Jakob Vinther published in the journal Science.
In Everything Dinosaur’s short “Turntable Tuesday” video, these iridescent feathers on the CollectA Microraptor are highlighted. In addition, the model also sports a bifurcated tailfan, as reflected in fossil discoveries. It has been suggested that this tailfan structure and the iridescent feathers were primarily used for display.
In the last few weeks, a number of scientific papers have been published detailing new pterosaur discoveries and fossil finds. We really do seem to be living in a “golden age” of flying reptile research. For example, researchers have identified the fragmentary fossil remains of three types of pterosaur from the famous Cretaceous Kem Kem beds of Morocco (Anhanguera, Coloborhynchus and Ornithocheirus). Even before the dust had settled on that publication, another scientific paper, published this week, describes Afrotapejara zouhrii, the newest member of the Tapejaridae, fossils of which also come from the enigmatic Kem Kem beds.
The “Golden Age” of Pterosaur Research – Illustration of Three of the New Pterosaur Types Described
The pterosaur Anhanguera soars over the skies of North Africa with Coloborhynchus and Ornithocheirus to keep it company.
The Kem Kem Formation is exposed in south-eastern Morocco and neighbouring Algeria. The extensive deposits represent an inter-tidal, estuarine environment with large, wide lagoons and a broad floodplain criss-crossed by numerous rivers. These sediments were laid down in the Albian to Cenomanian faunal stages of the Cretaceous, approximately 100 to 95 million years ago.
The terrestrial landscape was dominated by dinosaurs, surprisingly, there seems to have been an overabundance of big theropods present – Spinosaurus, Rugops (other abelisaurs), Sauroniops, Deltadromeus, Carcharodontosaurus, potential dromaeosaurids and a wealth of other fossil bones and isolated teeth that represent indeterminate species.
Trouble is, the transport of material due to river and tidal action has resulted in a mixing up of fossil material. Fossil beds contain a vast array of jumbled up, disarticulated material, much of which may also have been re-deposited from its original stratigraphic layer. These deposits have been colourfully described as representing fossils that have been put in a blender, such is their mixing and depositional status.
Typical Isolated and Fragmentary Vertebrate Fossil Remains from the Kem Kem Beds
Assorted vertebrate fossil remains from the Kem Kem beds of Morocco.
Pterosaurs as Piscivores
In the first scientific paper, researchers from the University of Portsmouth, Baylor University (Waco, Texas), the University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit), Leicester University, the Laboratoire Santé et Environnement (Morocco) and the University of Bath report on the discovery of fragmentary jaws and associated teeth that led to the identification of three new types of pterosaur.
The remains suggest three ornithocheirid pterosaurs, a second species of Coloborhynchus and an Ornithocheirus reminiscent of Ornithocheirus fossil material known from the Cambridge Greensand deposits of southern England. In addition, a portion of a lower jaw (mandibular symphysis), closely resembles that of the South American ornithocheirid Anhanguera piscator, fossils of which are known from the roughly contemporaneous Romualdo Member of the Santana Formation (Brazil).
An Illustration of Anhanguera (Ornithocheiridae Family)
A typical member of the Anhanguera genus. Note the large and very prominent, conical teeth in the jaw. All three newly described genera are believed to have been primarily fish-eating (piscivores).
Fossils from Morocco
As well as representing a turbulent depositional environment, the fossiliferous beds of south-eastern Morocco provide an additional challenge for scientists. Local residents mine the sedimentary rocks, often using only rudimentary tools and materials, so that they can sell their fossil finds to dealers and collectors. Fortunately, in this case, the fragments of jaw were acquired by scientists enabling a proper academic investigation to be carried out. The teeth of these pterosaurs suggest that they were probably piscivores, the largest of which probably had a wingspan in excess of four metres.
In the paper, the researchers conclude that the Kem Kem fossil assemblage includes at least nine species of pterosaur, of which the majority (five), are members of the Ornithocheiridae. These strata help to support the theory that toothed pterosaurs remained diverse throughout the late Early Cretaceous, before going into decline and eventually disappearing after the Cenomanian faunal stage.
And There’s More – Another Moroccan Pterosaur This Time a Tapejarid
New pterosaur discoveries are behaving a bit like buses at the moment (prior to the coronavirus pandemic), three come along and then shortly afterwards another one turns up. Many of the same scientists from the first academic paper, have published, albeit a little earlier than expected, another paper, this time naming a new species tapejarid pterosaur. Unlike the other three, this flying reptile was edentulous (no teeth in the jaws). The newly described tapejarid has been named Afrotapejara zouhrii, based on yet more fragmentary material including jaw elements.
A Typical Illustration of a Tapejarid Pterosaur
A scale drawing of the tapejarid Pterosaur Tupandactylus imperator. A typical tapejarid – a family of pterosaurs famed for their striking and often over-sized head crests. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Fossils of Pterosaurs from the Kem Kem Beds
Fossil jaws seem to be taphonomically selected for in the Kem Kem beds. Other pterosaur remains have been frequently reported from these deposits, but rarely are the fossils diagnostic. Isolated mandibular material had hinted at the present of tapejarids in northern Africa in the Early Cretaceous, but Afrotapejara is the first genus to be erected. It represents the fourth example of a toothless pterosaur taxon to have been described from the Kem Kem beds and it provides the first unambiguous evidence to support the presence of the Tapejaridae in Africa. The genus name translates as “African tapejarid”, whilst we suspect that the specific name honours Samir Zouhri, one of the authors of the first pterosaur paper reported upon in this blog post.
Based on this evidence, it seems that we really are living in a “golden age” of pterosaur research.
The first scientific paper: “New toothed pterosaurs (Pterosauria: Ornithocheiridae) from the middle Cretaceous Kem Kem beds of Morocco and implications for pterosaur palaeobiogeography and diversity” by Megan L. Jacobs, David M. Martill, David M. Unwin, Nizar Ibrahim, Samir Zouhri and Nicholas R. Longrich published in Cretaceous Research.
The second scientific paper: “A new tapejarid (Pterosauria, Azhdarchoidea) from the mid-Cretaceous Kem Kem beds of Takmout, southern Morocco” by David M. Martill, Roy Smith, David M. Unwin, Alexander Kao, James McPhee and Nizar Ibrahim published in Cretaceous Research.
CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus 1:40 Scale Dinosaur Model Reviewed
Team members at Everything Dinosaur have been busy preparing a bespoke video studio so that they can provide more in-depth video reviews for customers and fans of dinosaur model collecting. The first full-length review of a dinosaur model has been published on the company’s YouTube channel. The dinosaur model reviewed is the beautiful, new for 2020 CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Fukuisaurus.
Everything Dinosaur’s Video Review of the New for 2020 CollectA Deluxe 1:40 Scale Fukuisaurus Dinosaur Model
In our short video we try to combine a little bit of the science behind the study of this Japanese dinosaur with comments about the CollectA Deluxe replica. For example, we discuss the model and its quadrupedal stance but in reality this herbivorous dinosaur probably spent the majority of its time in a bipedal posture (the forelimbs were much shorter than the hindlimbs). In addition, we comment on the beautifully painted mouth and beak of Fukuisaurus. The video then provides information about the unusual anatomical features associated with the skull of Fukuisaurus.
The Fukuisaurus Video Review Provides Plenty of Close-up Views of the Dinosaur Model
The Everything Dinosaur video review of the new for 2020 CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus dinosaur model (close-up views). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A 1/40th Scale Model?
The video also provides the opportunity for the Fukuisaurus to be measured. Viewers can see that the figure measures approximately 14 centimetres long. CollectA have included this model in their CollectA Deluxe range and it is described as being in 1:40 scale. However, team members at Everything Dinosaur advise collectors to take a more relaxed approach to stated scales when it comes to prehistoric animal models, especially dinosaurs. Most dinosaurs are known from relatively scrappy and incomplete skeletons, therefore, it is often very difficult to provide accurate information about the size and weight of the animal.
In the Everything Dinosaur Fukuisaurus fact sheet that accompanies sales of this model, we state that Fukuisaurus (F. tetoriensis), was approximately 4 to 4.5 metres in length. Based on these dimensions, we estimate that the model is in approximately 1:30 or 1:32 scale.
The CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus Dinosaur Model
The new for 2020 CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus dinosaur model 1:40 scale, or perhaps 1:32 scale? Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Our video review permits us to explain a little more about the size and scale of this dinosaur model.
Fossils Found in Close Association with Fukuiraptor (F. kitadaniensis)
The bedding plane from where the fossils of Fukuisaurus were found (the lower portion of Bonebed I at the famous Kitadani Quarry on Honshu Island, Japan), also contain the fossilised remains of a theropod dinosaur. This dinosaur is the similar-sized Fukuiraptor, which was actually formally described some three years before Fukuisaurus. The phylogeny of Fukuiraptor remains open to debate, although numerous vertebrate palaeontologists support the idea that Fukuiraptor was a member of the enigmatic Megaraptora clade.
Fukuiraptor may have hunted Fukuisaurus. In the Everything Dinosaur video review, the narrator comments upon this possibility and discusses the lack of evidence to support this notion.
Sharing the Same Bonebed and Now Sharing the Same Video
The CollectA Fukuiraptor dinosaur model (left) and the CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The dinosaur model video review also provides the opportunity to discuss some of the unique anatomical traits associated with Fukuisaurus. Ornithopod skulls were remarkable examples of natural selection. These dinosaurs evolved the ability to chew their food. In order to process the tough stems of cycads, pine needles and horsetails, these dinosaurs evolved pleurokinetic skulls. To process food in their mouths, the lower jaw moved up and against the inner surface of the teeth in the upper jaw, to produce a scissor-like cutting action. To achieve this, the top part of the skull had to accommodate the movement of the lower jaw. The skull could flex slightly in several places allowing the skull to be hinged (pleurokinetic joints).
In our video review, we discuss this and point out that the maxilla (part of the upper jaw), was closely associated with a facial bone in the skull. This suggests that the skull of Fukuisaurus either could not flex, or that it was hinged in a different way to the skulls of related ornithopods.
Our YouTube Channel
The Everything Dinosaur YouTube channel is jam-packed with lots of prehistoric animal model reviews and information, we also post up lots of hints and tips about dinosaur model collecting along with reading recommendations, new book reviews and we have introduced “turntable Tuesday”, our once-a-week short video review of a prehistoric animal figure.
By Mike|2024-01-20T12:57:18+00:00March 28th, 2020|General Teaching, Key Stage 3/4|Comments Off on Rare Fossil Skull Reveals Origin of Modern Birds
“Wonderchicken” Fossil Reveals Origin of Modern Birds
The oldest fossil of a modern bird yet found, dating from the very end of the Cretaceous, has been identified by an international team of palaeontologists led by researchers from the University of Cambridge. Sophisticated CT scans (computerised tomography), of a limestone rock, not much bigger than a pack of cards, revealed the exquisitely preserved fossil skull. Fragments of bone exposed on the rock’s surface suggested that there were more bones buried deep in the rock, but the scientists were not expecting to find the near perfect fossilised skull of a modern bird (neornithine), once the CT scans had been completed.
Fossil Skull Study
The bird has been nicknamed “wonderchicken” as its skull shows characteristics found in modern ducks and chickens. This suggests it is close to the last common ancestor of these types of birds.
An Early Bird in the Hand – Confuciusornis Model
“A bird in the hand”, the Confuciusornis model from PNSO. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The picture (above) shows a PNSO early bird model (Confuciusornis).
The fossil comes from a limestone quarry on the Netherlands-Belgium border, making it the first modern bird from the age of dinosaurs to have been found in the Northern Hemisphere.
Named Asteriornis maastrichtensis, this quail-sized bird (to which it is distantly related), exhibits a previously undocumented combination of galliform-like (landfowl) and anseriform-like (waterfowl) anatomical traits. Its presence alongside a previously reported Ichthyornis-like bird from the same quarry provides direct evidence of the co-occurrence of crown birds and avialan stem birds.
Small Size Could Have Saved Modern Birds from Extinction
Asteriornis was quite small, certainly much smaller than the pterosaurs that it shared the skies with. The fossil has been dated to 66.8-66.7 million years ago, a few hundred thousand years before the dinosaurs and lots of other animals including many types of bird, died out.
The authors of the scientific paper (published in the journal Nature), speculate that as it was small and it lived by the sea, this way of life, fitting a particular niche in the Late Cretaceous ecosystem, may have helped the ancestors of today’s birds to survive the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
New for 2020 CollectA Prehistoric Animal Models in Stock
The first batch of new for 2020 prehistoric animal models from CollectA are now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. The first six prehistoric animal figures are available from Everything Dinosaur. These figures are the 1:40 scale CollectA Deluxe Fukuisaurus, the CollectA Deluxe Bajadasaurus (also in 1:40 scale), the 1:6 scale Microraptor and the Protoceratops in the same scale. We also have the Baryonyx model along with the new rearing Diplodocus colour variant (grey).
Deluxe CollectA Prehistoric Animal Models
Six new CollectA Dinosaur Models are in Stock at Everything Dinosaur
Six new for 2020 CollectA dinosaur models. Top left, the new rearing Diplodocus colour variant, top right the CollectA Baryonyx. Middle row the 1:40 scale Bajadasaurus and the Fukuisaurus. Bottom row the 1:6 scale Protoceratops and the Microraptor.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Six of the Best!
CollectA intend to introduce a total of eighteen prehistoric animal figures in 2020. Due to coronavirus production plans have been interrupted, but Everything Dinosaur has been able to receive stocks of the first six models to be released. These six new dinosaur figures help to demonstrate the great variety of body plans within the Dinosauria. As for the models, we could say that they represent “six of the best”.
The Beautiful 1:40 Scale Fukuisaurus Dinosaur Model (CollectA Deluxe)
The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Fukuisaurus dinosaur model. A wonderful model of an ornithopod from the Early Cretaceous of Japan. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The CollectA Prehistoric Life Baryonyx Dinosaur Model
The new for 2020 CollectA Prehistoric Life Baryonyx dinosaur model. The figure has been placed on a display base so that the feet can be kept in proportion with the rest of the dinosaur’s body.
New CollectA Figures
The Rearing Diplodocus – New Colour Variant (Grey)
New for 2020 CollectA rearing Diplodocus – grey. The model is the same sculpt as the rearing Diplodocus figure which was introduced in 2013. It is likely that the 2013 Diplodocus will now be retired, but at the time of writing, this had not been confirmed by CollectA.
CollectA Deluxe Scale Figures
Four of the newly arrived CollectA dinosaur models are scale figures. As well as the 1:40 scale Fukuisaurus (pictured earlier), there is a 1:40 scale replica of the recently described (2019), sauropod Bajadasaurus (B. pronuspinax).
The 1:40 Scale CollectA Deluxe Bajadasaurus Dinosaur Model
The new for 2020 CollectA Bajadasaurus dinosaur model is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. That’s a very impressive set of spikes on the neck of this herbivorous dinosaur.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
CollectA 1:6 Scale Protoceratops Dinosaur Model
The new for 2020 CollectA Deluxe Protoceratops dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The CollectA Deluxe 1:6 Scale Microraptor Model
The CollectA Deluxe Microraptor model (1:6 scale).
The award-winning and user-friendly Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.
The new CollectA Baryonyx and the rearing Diplodocus can be found at this section of the Everything Dinosaur website: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.
