Prehistoric Times Magazine Issue 136 (Winter 2021) Reviewed
Time to be cheered up by the arrival of the latest edition of “Prehistoric Times” magazine, the quarterly journal for fans of dinosaur models, prehistoric themed art and collectibles.
Adorning the front cover of issue 136 is a spectacular illustration of Deinonychus (D. antirrhopus) by the talented wildlife illustrator and palaeoartist Esther van Hulsen. The close-up view of the snout of this theropod on the front cover gives the viewer the opportunity to appreciate the details that the artist adds to her illustrations. Inside the magazine further evidence is provided with a series or artworks created by Esther van Hulsen imagining the life story of Ida the Darwinius (D. maxillae) from the Messel bituminous shales.
Can you spot the scratches on the muzzle of this theropod?
The Front Cover of “Prehistoric Times” Issue 136 – Deinonychus antirrhopus
The front cover of “Prehistoric Times” magazine issue 136.
Picture credit: Mike Fredericks
The Forgotten Dinosaur Art of Robert T. Bakker
Some of the dynamic dinosaur illustrations of Dr Robert “Bob” Bakker, who was a student of Dr John Ostrom, who named and described Deinonychus, are also featured in this magazine. Canadian palaeontologists Darren Tanke and Jordan Mallon provide an insightful guide to these influential artworks that challenged the long held assumption that the Dinosauria were slow and sluggish animals. Randy Knol also demonstrates how our views about dinosaurs have changed by looking at some the latest models of Spinosaurus, a theropod that has been completely revised and is now regarded as a semi-aquatic predator.
The Limited Edition Papo Spinosaurus Model from 2019 Features in the Spinosaurus Model Review
Everything Dinosaur stocks the limited edition Papo Spinosaurus dinosaur model. This 2019 Papo dinosaur model is featured in an article that looks how Spinosaurus models have changed over time.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Sauropods
John Lavas continues an exploration of the work of Zdeněk Burian and focuses on his illustrations of sauropods. The author frames the illustrations produced by the ground-breaking Czech artist by summarising the early research into these ground-shaking leviathans. Burian painted a total of five sauropod genera and although the accepted view at the time was that these huge animals were semi-aquatic, Burian chose to depict the main subject of the artwork on terra firma. The enabled him to reveal the shape of the dinosaur’s body more clearly.
Diplodocus carnegii by Zdeněk Burian (Depicting the Fauna and Flora of the Morrison Formation of the United States of America)
An illustration of Diplodocus (D. carnegii) by Burian.
Picture credit: Zdeněk Burian
Phil Hore provides the lowdown on the bizarre Longisquama complete with superb reader submitted drawings by Cody Zaiser, Mike Laudry and Jeff Slack. He also discusses the armoured dinosaur Sauropelta and this article features lots of amazing armoured dinosaur artwork too.
We were particularly impressed with the sleeping Sauropelta image submitted by Marcus Burkhardt. Tracey Lee Ford chimes in, continuing the Thyreophora theme by looking at how to draw Ankylosaurus and if you wanted to know what Scottish scientist and writer Dougal Dixon did in lockdown to keep himself busy, then read the double page spread that starts on page 28.
Recent news stories featuring fossil discoveries are covered in the “Paleonews” section, look out for an update on the hunting strategy of Deinonychus and a stark revision of Dilophosaurus. As always “Prehistoric Times” is crammed full of fascinating stories, artwork and features.
To subscribe to this quarterly magazine: Subscribe to Prehistoric Times.
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