A collection of beautiful prehistoric animal illustrations by renowned, British palaeoartist John Sibbick is to be auctioned later this month (September 2022). The pencil and gouache drawings are part of a huge art collection amassed by Anthony Beeson.
A tyrannosaur attacks a hadrosaur. Stunning artwork in the collection of the late Anthony Beeson. Picture credit: John Sibbick.
A Lifetime of Prehistoric Animal Art Collecting
Polymath Anthony Beeson was the creative driving force behind the highly successful, award-winning dinosaur and prehistoric animal figure series manufactured by CollectA. In the attic of his modest home on the outskirts of Bristol, he kept his huge collection of dinosaur books, toys and other prehistoric animal themed memorabilia. He spent nearly four decades as the Art Librarian at Bristol’s central library and his eclectic range of interests from fine art, ceramics, antique jewellery and pottery are reflected in his personal collection. He had a fascination for and a great knowledge of Roman and Greek art and archaeology and amassed an enormous number of artefacts and curios.
With Anthony’s sad passing earlier this year, an auction has been organised by the Estate executors so that some of Anthony’s treasured possessions can be passed onto other collectors to enjoy.
The original pencil drawing of a resting Albertosaurus by John Sibbick, part of the estate of the late Anthony Beeson.
The Auction
Some of this amazing collection, reflecting a lifetime of collecting is being auctioned later this month (September 2022) by the auctioneers Chorley’s, details of which can be found here: Chorley’s the Auctioneers.
The auction featuring Anthony’s collection of John Sibbick palaeoart is to take place on the 20th and 21st September (2022) and on-line bidding will be available. This is an opportunity for fans of prehistoric animal art to purchase original pencil and gouache drawings by John Sibbick.
An illustration of the hadrosaurid Mandschurosaurus by John Sibbick. Part of the estate of Anthony Beeson being auctioned by Chorley’s.
Foraging dinosaurs. Pencil artwork by John Sibbick. This illustration is part of the estate of the late Anthony Beeson.
A Rare Opportunity
Amongst the extensive lots are some original pencil and gouache dinosaur illustrations by renowned British artist, John Sibbick. Anthony often remarked to Everything Dinosaur team members how John Sibbick was his favourite palaeoartist and his work had influenced many of the prehistoric animal model designs that Anthony worked on for the CollectA range.
The auction is a rare opportunity to purchase original, signed artwork from a famous British artist, artwork that has been used to illustrate many books about prehistoric animals and dinosaurs.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of Laura Milne of Chorley’s for her assistance in the compilation of this article and permission to reproduce the images.
Researchers have re-examined the fossilised remains of a Late Triassic, herbivorous dinosaur that had been assigned to the Plateosaurus genus and determined that the fossils represent a new species. The new dinosaur has been named Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum and unlike Plateosaurus it was an obligate quadruped.
Skeletal silhouette of Tuebingosaurus with ascribed fossil bones shown in white. Silhouette of person provides the scale. The attribution of the bone marked in grey (fibula) is uncertain. Picture credit: Omar Rafael Regalado Fernandez / Ingmar Werneburg.
The genus Plateosaurus was erected in 1837 (Hermann von Meyer), before the term Dinosauria was coined, it was one of the first dinosaurs to be scientifically described. It has earned a reputation as somewhat of a taxonomic waste basket with numerous species assigned to it, often based on poorly preserved or fragmentary fossil remains.
Researchers at the University of Tübingen’s Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment in Germany reassessed fossil bones discovered in Trossingen in 1922 and identified several unique anatomical traits leading them to conclude that these remains did not represent Plateosaurus as had previously been thought. Indeed, the bones are so different that they do not belong to a member of the Plateosauridae family, but most likely represent a member of the related clade the Massopoda.
Ingmar Werneburg (left) and Omar Rafael Regalado Fernandez (right) in the archive of the paleontological collection at Tübingen. The hips of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum can be seen in the foreground. Picture credit: Valentin Marquardt/Universität Tübingen.
Broader and More Robust Hips
Writing in the journal “Vertebrate Zoology”, the researchers, Dr Omar Rafael Regalado Fernandez and Dr Ingmar Werneburg demonstrate that the hips are much broader and more robust when compared with plateosaurs. In addition, the limb bones such as the femur are unusually large and the fused sacral vertebrae are characteristic of an obligate quadruped and not Plateosaurus that are believed to have been facultative bipeds (quadrupeds, but capable of walking on their hind legs if the need arose).
Two phalanges (toe bones) (centre) of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum in a display cabinet at the Württemberg Hall. Picture credit: Valentin Marquardt/Universität Tübingen.
The Swabian Alb Mountains
The fossil bones of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum display characteristics of sauropods, the super-sized, long-necked dinosaurs such as Diplodocus, Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus that dominated terrestrial faunas some fifty million years after Tuebingosaurus roamed. The fossil material is part of Tübingen’s paleontological collection. It originated from a quarry site near Trossingen at the edge of the Swabian Alb mountain range in Baden-Württemberg (Germany). The area is famous for its extensive plateosaur bonebeds and the huge amount of Plateosaurus fossils collected confirm that this lizard-hipped genus was extremely common in the Late Triassic and that Plateosaurus lived in large herds.
Three-dimensional image of a footbone from Tuebingosaurus being made with a handheld laser scanner. Picture credit: Valentin Marquardt/Universität Tübingen.
Following the in-depth analysis, which included scanning limb bones to provide a data source to compare to Plateosaurus fossils, the scientists concluded that these fossils represent a dinosaur more closely related to the Sauropoda than Plateosaurus.
The Trossingen Biota
Examination of the matrix material found in association with the Tuebingosaurus fossils, and the surface condition of the bones suggests that this dinosaur sunk into a swamp when it died. The bones on the left side of the body were exposed on the surface for several years and show signs of weathering.
Several different types of dinosaur are known from the Plateosaurus dominated Trossingen Formation, which dates to the Norian-Rhaetian faunal stages of the Late Triassic. Coelophysoids such as Liliensternus, which at around 5 metres long, could have predated upon Tuebingosaurus juveniles have been found. The Trossingen Formation has also yielded fragmentary fossils of other miscellaneous theropods plus evidence of different types of prosauropod.
The large rauisuchian Teratosaurus (T. suevicus) is also known from the Trossingen Formation and in the image below an unfortunate Tuebingosaurus is being attacked by this six-metre-long, predator from the crocodilian lineage of the Archosauria.
Reconstruction how the death of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum may have occurred. Bones of the predatory archosaur Teratosaurus were also found in Trossingen. However, it has only been proven that Tuebingosaurus fell on its right side. Weathering indicates that the bones on the left side of the body probably lay for several years on the surface. Picture credit: Marcus Burkhardt.
Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum
The individual bones of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum (pronounced Too-bin-go-sore-us my-ah-frits-zor-um), had been stored separately but have now been united in their own permanent display case. The genus name honours the university city of Tübingen and its inhabitants, whilst the specific name pays tribute to two German zoologists, Professor Wolfgang Maier from Tübingen and Professor Uwe Fritz from Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden.
This new dinosaur species has now been described in the latest edition of the Senckenberg Natural Science Society’s journal Vertebrate Zoology, which also pays tribute to Wolfgang Maier on his 80th birthday.
Researchers Ingmar Werneburg (left) and Omar Rafael Regalado Fernandez (right) hold a femur from Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum. Picture credit: Valentin Marquardt/Universität Tübingen.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Tübingen in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “A new massopodan sauropodomorph from Trossingen Formation (Germany) hidden as ‘Plateosaurus’ for 100 years in the historical Tübingen collection” by Omar Rafael Regalado Fernández, Ingmar Werneburg published in Vertebrate Zoology.
The new for 2022 CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Triceratops horridus dinosaur model is now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This dinosaur scale model is based on the most complete T. horridus fossil specimen known to science. The fossils, excavated from Hell Creek Formation deposits in Montana (USA), are now part of a major, permanent dinosaur exhibition at Melbourne Museum (Victoria, Australia).
The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Triceratops horridus is the last of the new for 2022 figures to arrive at Everything Dinosaur and continues a recent trend to have new CollectA figures named after a specific species and not a genus.
Another new for 2022 figure, the pterosaur model Pteranodon sternbergi, which came into stock at Everything Dinosaur a few months ago, also represents a distinct species. This model was introduced in this format to distinguish it from the Pteranodon (P. longiceps) in 1:15 scale.
The new for 2022 CollectA Pteranodon sternbergi model. A very colourful replica of a Late Cretaceous pterosaur sometimes referred to as Geosternbergia. This pterosaur figures continues the CollectA trend to introduce new figures based on a named species within a genus.
Accurately Depicting the Head and Neck of a Triceratops
The exhibit at Melbourne Museum is entitled “Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs” and the Triceratops skeleton upon which this exhibition is based has been appropriately nicknamed “Horridus”. The design team at CollectA were able to use the fossilised skull of this dinosaur to help them accurately depict the head and the neck shield of this iconic ceratopsian.
The skull and neck frill of “Horridus” are the most complete of any known Triceratops specimen (more than 99% complete) and the assembled frill measures nearly 1.5 metres wide.
A close-up view of the striking colouration on the head and neck shield of the new for 2022 CollectA Triceratops horridus dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
An Articulated Lower Jaw
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that this new CollectA figure had an articulated lower jaw. The jaw can be a little stiff and it does not open very wide. To ease the jaw, the head can be dipped into hot water for 2-3 seconds to help ease the movement of this articulated component of the model.
The CollectA T. horridus ceratopsian figure in right lateral view. This Triceratops dinosaur model has an articulated lower jaw. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur added:
“The Triceratops horridus figure was one of the dinosaurs designed by the late Anthony Beeson. Anthony had explained to Everything Dinosaur how keen he was to create an updated Triceratops, a figure with skin texture reminiscent of recent fossil discoveries. He was very excited at the possibility of combining the evidence, on T. horridus skin texture, some of which remains unpublished, with the new anatomical details revealed by the Melbourne Museum specimen.”
The new for 2022 CollectA T. horridus dinosaur model in 1:40 scale (anterior view). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
To view the large range of CollectA prehistoric animal scale models available from Everything Dinosaur including horned dinosaur models: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Figures.
Researchers have found evidence of an extraterrestrial impact crater buried in sediments under the North Atlantic. The 5-mile-wide (8.5 km wide) crater, was caused by the impact of a bolide (crater forming body), at least 400 metres across. Detailed stratigraphic analysis indicates the crater was created at or very near the Cretaceous/Palaeogene boundary around 66 million years ago. This would make this collision potentially contemporaneous to the Chicxulub impact event. The scientists postulate that this impact was caused as part of a closely timed impact cluster or by the breakup of a common parent bolide.
Map showing the crater location on the Guinea Terrace with inset world map showing locations of Chicxulub (Ch) in the Yucatan Peninsula, Boltysh (Bo) crater in the Kirovohrad Oblast of Ukraine and the Nadir (Nd). These geological features are thought to be contemporaneous – all impacts occurring approximately 66 million years ago. Picture credit: Nicholson et al.
Buried Below the Seabed
The crater is buried 300 to 400 metres below the seabed some 250 miles (400 km) off the cost of the west African country of Guinea. Writing in the academic journal “Science Advances”, the researchers from Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh), the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Arizona think that this impact occurred at around the same time as the Chicxulub impact that has been linked to the end Cretaceous extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs.
To prove their theory, seabed core samples will have to be taken from the site. Lead author Dr Uisdean Nicholson, a geologist at Heriot-Watt University, has already applied for funding to drill into the seabed to confirm that it’s a bolide impact crater and establish the precise age.
The Cretaceous/Palaeogene Nadir Crater. (A) Seabed depth map of crater showing seismic line locations and the mapped extent of the crater rim and damage zone. (B) west to east seismic section (pre-stack depth migration – depth domain) across the crater, highlighting the crater morphology and damage zone, and the extent of subsurface deformation. Data courtesy of the Republic of Guinea, TGS and Western Geco. Picture credit: Nicholson et al.
Evidence of Impacts Extremely Rare
Evidence for extraterrestrial impact events is rare on planet Earth. Our dynamic geology and the effects of weathering have removed much of the physical evidence of even the largest bolide impact events in our planet’s long history.
However, for Dr Nicholson, seismic reflection data from the seabed immediately highlighted an unusual and unexpected geological anomaly.
Dr Nicholson explained:
“I’ve interpreted lots of seismic data in my time but had never seen anything like this. Instead of the flat sedimentary sequences I was expecting on the plateau, I found an 8.5 km depression under the seabed, with very unusual characteristics. It has particular features that point to an asteroid. It has a raised rim and a very prominent central uplift, which is consistent for large impact craters. It also has what looks like ejecta outside the crater, with very chaotic sedimentary deposits extending for tens of kilometres outside of the crater.”
This strange feature has been named the Nadir Crater, after a nearby seamount that lies to the west.
Other potential causes for this geological feature have already been discounted, Dr Nicholson added:
“The characteristics are just not consistent with other crater-forming processes like salt withdrawal or the collapse of a volcano.“
Impact Crater Potentially Linked to the Chicxulub Impact Event
The researchers suggest that the newly discovered Nadir crater could have formed by the break-up of a parent extraterrestrial body or from a series of Earth collisions by bolides.
Co-author Dr Sean Gulick, (University of Texas at Austin), stated:
“The Nadir Crater is an incredibly exciting discovery of a second impact close in time to the Cretaceous–Palaeogene extinction. While much smaller than the extinction causing Chicxulub impactor, its very existence requires us to investigate the possibility of an impact cluster in the latest Cretaceous.”
Detailed seismic stratigraphic and structural elements of the crater. The central peak is shown and the central uplift resulting from the impact. Picture credit: Nicholson et al.
Devastation of the Region
The researchers ran computer simulations in a bid to assess the consequences of an impact from a 400-metre-wide body crashing into water around 500 metres deep. The researchers suggest that the impact would have generated a tsunami over 1,000 metres high and an earthquake of 6.5 magnitude. Such forces would have had caused devastation.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from Heriot-Watt University and the open access paper published in Science Advances in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “The Nadir Crater offshore West Africa: A candidate Cretaceous-Paleogene impact structure” by Uisdean Nicholson, Veronica J. Bray, Sean P. S. Gulick and Benedict Aduomahor published in Science Advances.
A new species of dinosaur has been described from fossils found in Neuquén Province (Argentina). Named Elemgasem nubilus it is the first unambiguous abelisaurid known from the Coniacian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous.
A life reconstruction of the newly described abelisaurid Elemgasem nubilus depicted with other Late Cretaceous prehistoric fauna associated with the Portezuelo Formation of Patagonia. Picture credit: Abel Germán Montes.
A field team of CONICET researchers have excavated the fragmentary remains of a new species of carnivorous dinosaur from Upper Cretaceous exposures near to the city of Plaza Huincul, in the province of Neuquén in Patagonia (Argentina). The fossils come from the Portezuelo Formation and represent an individual animal around four metres in length and standing approximately two metres tall. Bone histology revealed that this abelisaurid was around eight years old when it died. The histological analysis suggests that Elemgasem probably would not have grown much bigger, making this predator much smaller than related abelisaurids such as Carnotaurus and Ekrixinatosaurus.
Regarded as a sub-adult, the scientists who include co-author Rodolfo Coria (Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Argentina), writing in the journal of The Palaeontological Association conclude that this dinosaur had already reached sexual maturity.
Co-author of the scientific paper Rodolfo Coria (Universidad Nacional de Río Negro) excavating fossils in Neuquén Province. Picture credit: CONICET.
Documenting the Evolution of the Abelisauridae
The Abelisauridae are a diverse group of medium-to-large-sized predatory dinosaurs predominately associated with the landmass of Gondwana. Numerous genera have been described based on fossils found in the Southern Hemisphere and they are known from almost all parts of Gondwana in all the faunal stages associated with the Late Cretaceous, except for the Coniacian (90 to 86 mya approximately).
This period in Earth’s history is marked by a turnover in terrestrial and marine fauna due to global climate change leading to worldwide extinctions.
Explaining the significance of these fossils, co-author Rodolfo Coria stated:
“The identification of a new species is always a scientifically relevant event, especially if the species belongs to an emblematic family of carnivorous dinosaurs such as the abelisaurs. Elemgasem represents a key piece in the puzzle of the evolution of this group, which began to be put together with the first findings of José Bonaparte, the most important Argentinean vertebrate palaeontologist of the 20th century – in the 1980s”
Although the fossil material is fragmentary, a new genus has been erected based on several autapomorphies including notable rugosity on the lateral surface of the fibula and the shape of the tail bones which are different from any other abelisaurid described to date.
Views of the distal portion of the fossilised right femur of Elemgasem nubilus with an accompanying line drawing that shows the position of the bone. Picture credit: Mattia A. Baiano.
The First Abelisaurid from the Portezuelo Formation (New Abelisaurid)
Elemgasem is the first abelisaurid described from fossils from the Portezuelo Formation and it was part of a diverse dinosaur-dominated terrestrial fauna with several different types of theropod present including dromaeosaurids, alvarezsaurids and megaraptorids.
Phylogenetic analysis indicates the E. nubilus could be tentatively assigned to the Brachyrostra tribe within the Carnotaurinae subfamily, although the limited amount of fossilised material prevented the researchers from making a more positive taxonomic assessment.
The genus name is derived from the name of a god in the regional Tehuelche culture and the trivial name is from the Latin for “cloudy days”, a reference to the strange, foggy conditions that the dig team encountered whilst they worked in the field.
Skeletal reconstruction of Elemgasem nubilus with known fossil elements shown in red. Picture credit: Abel Germán Montes.
Dr Coria added:
“We already knew of abelisaurian forms in older horizons [such as the Cenomanian] or more modern ones [such as the Campanian], so it was predictable that there would be some in intermediate times. What we did not expect was to find a comparatively small abelisaur like Elemgasem, whose size is clearly smaller than the rest of the species in the group, such as Carnotaurus, Aucasaurus or Skorpiovenator.”
It is the first abelisaurid from the Turonian–Coniacian interval and it increases the diversity of this theropod family at a time of marked turnover in the tetrapod fauna of South America.
Rebor has introduced several scale replicas of abelisaurid dinosaurs. To view the extensive range of Rebor models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Figures and Models.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from CONICET in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Elemgasem nubilus: a new brachyrostran abelisaurid (Theropoda, Ceratosauria) from the Portezuelo Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Patagonia, Argentina” by Mattia A. Baiano, Diego Pol, Flavio Bellardini, Guillermo J. Windholz, Ignacio A. Cerda, Alberto C. Garrido and Rodolfo A. Coria published in Papers in Palaeontology.
This year, (2022) PNSO added a replica of the Early Cretaceous theropod dinosaur Acrocanthosaurus to their popular mid-size model range. Say hello, to PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus. It is a wonderful replica of a member of the Carcharodontosauridae known from the United States of America.
The PNSO Acrocanthosaurus has been skilfully modelled and shows superb skin texture and detail. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A Detailed Dinosaur Model
The figure has been beautifully painted, and it has an articulated lower jaw and a clear, plastic support stand to assist with display. The figure measures over 32 centimetres long, and those skilfully recreated lacrimal crests are some 10.5 cm off the ground. It is a stunning replica of a super-sized predator.
A close-up view of the head of the PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model. The model has been given prominent lacrimal crests and the digits are correctly proportioned. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Sci-Art Poster and Colour Booklet
The figure has been so well made that it can stand on a solid, flat surface without the need of the clear, plastic display stand that comes with the dinosaur model. Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus is also supplied with a sci-art poster and a 64-page, fully illustrated colour booklet.
There is much to be admired about this Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model. It is so well balanced that it can stand on a solid surface without the need of the clear, plastic support. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model with its support stand. The figure has an articulated jaw. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are delighted that PNSO have added a replica of an Acrocanthosaurus to their mid-size model range. As far as we at Everything Dinosaur are aware, Acrocanthosaurus atokensis is the only member of the Carcharodontosauridae known from the United States. A theropod named and described in 2012 known as Siats meekerorum might be a member of the related family the Neovenatoridae, which along with the Carcharodontosauridae make up the Carcharodontosauria clade, but the taxonomic position of Siats remains uncertain. However, Acrocanthosaurus was an apex predator, and it deserves to be included in the exciting PNSO model range.”
A view of the new for 2022 PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model. The model is perfectly proportioned and reflects the known A. atokensis fossil material. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
To view the PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model and the rest of the PNSO range of prehistoric animal models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models and Figures.
Mike Fredericks, the editor of “Prehistoric Times” magazine has paid tribute to Anthony Beeson the inspiration behind the CollectA range of prehistoric animal models and figures. Sadly, Anthony passed away on April 1st this year (2022).
On page 5 of the latest edition (issue 142), Mike Fredericks included a short obituary and also remarked on the passing of John Lanzendorf.
Mike Fredericks the editor of “Prehistoric Times” magazine pays tribute to Anthony Beeson who sadly passed away in April (2022).
A Great Friend of “Prehistoric Times” Magazine
Anthony was a great find of the magazine. He enjoyed writing articles and submitting them for publication. He often spoke to team members at Everything Dinosaur about his contribution to this quarterly magazine.
In paying tribute to Anthony, Mike Fredericks, the editor wrote:
“There is nothing I hate to have to report more than the death of great people that had a positive influence on this magazine or the world of dinosaurs or both. Anthony Beeson passed on April 1st, 2022. From his home in England, Anthony designed the prehistoric animal figures that CollectA produced.”
Examples of the huge range of prehistoric animal models designed by Anthony Beeson. There are around 160 models in the CollectA Prehistoric World model range.
Mike Fredericks went onto add:
“You would read his comments whenever Randy or I reviewed their new figures because he was always kind enough to send us descriptions which we often repeated to you. He was talented and a great friend to this magazine.”
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that a reader had suggested that the magazine provide short obituaries to commemorate the passing of influential figures in the world of palaeontology, palaeoart and prehistoric animal model collecting. Anthony was a fan of this publication, and he enjoyed reading the comments about the models that he had designed.
The thousands of articles on the Everything Dinosaur blog cover a huge variety of subjects. For example, prehistoric animal fossil finds, dinosaur discoveries, geology and updates on palaeontological research. Whilst reviewing our extensive database it was noted that in the earliest blog posts the extinction of the dinosaurs and the end of the Cretaceous and with it the termination of the Mesozoic Era, was stated as occurring approximately 65 million years ago. However, more recent posts refer to the end Cretaceous as occurring around a million years earlier.
When did this change occur?
The K-Pg extinction event was exacerbated by the high levels of sulphur at the extraterrestrial impact site that led to prolonged global cooling, but when did this extinction event occur? Picture credit: James McKay
The K-Pg Extinction Event
Whilst there is been much debate as to the causes of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event, accurately dating the extinction of the Dinosauria, the Pterosauria et al has always been controversial. If our blogsite is anything of a record, the first instance we have detected of a change in the date stated for the end of the Cretaceous occurs in a blog post from the 10th of December 2013. Our blog post for that day makes reference to the end of the Mesozoic occurring approximately 66 million years ago.
Geochronologists, most notably Professor Vincent Courtillot, have redefined the extensive volcanic activity that led to the formation of the Deccan Traps in India. It is now thought that the entire igneous emplacement took place in a relatively short geological interval (about one million years), and this volcanic activity occurred during the latest Maastrichtian and the early Danian. The Danian is the first stage of the Palaeocene Epoch that marks the beginning of Palaeogene Period of the Cenozoic Era. In addition, recent detailed analysis of the Chicxulub crater has indicated a formation date of 66,038,000 million years ago (plus or minus 11,000 years as a margin of error).
A geophysical map of the Chicxulub impact crater. Picture credit: NASA.
The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS)
It is a committee within the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), that decides on the dates of geological boundaries, and during 2012/2013 revisions of the geological timeline took place including a change from the end of the Maastrichtian faunal stage from 65.5 mya (+/- 0.3 million years) to 66 mya.
Geological boundaries are subject to change. The development of consistent, extremely accurate numerical dating techniques and the continued acquisition of new numerical ages will continue to lead to refinements of the geological timescale.
As dating techniques become more sophisticated, it is to be expected that almost all the ages in the international chronostratigraphic chart will be subject to further revisions.
Earlier this week, team members at Everything Dinosaur attended an event at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and whilst we were there, we took the opportunity to take some pictures of “Deadly Doris” the nickname given to the life-size Pliosaurus replica which is suspended from the Museum’s ceiling.
The life-size replica of the pliosaur (P. carpenteri) suspended from the ceiling at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Pliosaurus carpenteri was formally named and described in 2013 (Benson et al). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Everything Dinosaur attended a special evening opening of the Museum to celebrate the life and works of Anthony Beeson, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Fans of dinosaur models will know of Anthony through his work with CollectA helping to design the prehistoric animal figures in the award-winning “Prehistoric World” model range.
However, Anthony was a true polymath with a huge range of interests and a very wide circle of friends. He was an expert on Greek and Roman art and architecture, a skilled painter, an archivist of the Association for Roman Archaeology, an author and the former art librarian at Bristol City Libraries.
He often talked about the fossils and other exhibits on display at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and although the museum was officially closed, we were able to take some photographs of the life-size replica of the “Westbury pliosaur” that is suspended from the ceiling in the Museum’s main atrium.
We were given the opportunity to say a few words to the audience who had gathered to show their appreciation for Anthony, as the pliosaur replica nicknamed “Deadly Doris” looked on.
A close-up view of the pliosaur that is suspended above the ground floor at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (Bristol, England). The life-size replica was nicknamed “Deadly Doris”. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The partial remains of an eight-metre-long pliosaur were discovered in Lower Kimmeridge clay sediments at Westbury (Wiltshire) in 1994. The fossils representing a single animal, included a skull and jaws that were nearly two metres in length. The pliosaur was formally named and described in 2013 (Benson et al) as Pliosaurus carpenteri. The fossils are on display at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and artist Tony Hitchcock was commissioned to produce a life-size replica as part of the marine reptile exhibit.
As we gave our speech about Anthony and his contribution to the CollectA range, “Deadly Doris” looked down on proceedings. We are sure Anthony would have approved and been delighted with a pliosaur in attendance.
An international team of scientists have unearthed the remains of Africa’s oldest dinosaur skeleton. The fossils represent a sauropodomorph, which has been named Mbiresaurus raathi. The fossils were excavated from Pebbly Arkose Formation exposures in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. This basal sauropodomorph and the associated vertebrate fauna discovered to date is helping scientists to better understand the dispersal and distribution of early dinosaurs and their contemporaries.
A life reconstruction of the sauropodomorph Mbiresaurus raathi (foreground) with examples of the Zimbabwean biota of the Upper Triassic Pebbly Arkose Formation. Two rhynchosaurs (front right) are not disturbed by the as yet, unnamed herrasaurid dinosaur pursuing a cynodont (back right). An aetosaur observes the goings on from the opposite bank (left). Picture credit: Andrey Atuchin.
Mbiresaurus raathi
The research team led by palaeontologists from Virginia Tech in collaboration with colleagues from the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, the Universidade de São Paulo, (São Paulo, Brazil) and the Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre, (Mfuwe, Zambia) have explored the extensive Upper Triassic sandstone exposures of the Pebbly Arkose Formation. As well as finding the nearly complete and articulated sauropodomorph specimen (M. raathi), the team have been documenting the vertebrate fauna associated with these 230-million-year-old deposits.
The first evidence of Africa’s oldest dinosaur known to science was found during fieldwork in 2017. Two years later, the team returned to excavate more of the specimen and to work on the fossilised remains of an as yet, unnamed theropod dinosaur discovered nearby.
Christopher Griffin in 2017, carefully excavating part of the Mbiresaurus raathi skeleton, wrapped in a plaster field jacket. Picture credit: Stephen Tolan for the Paleobiology & Geobiology Research Group at Virginia Tech.
The holotype (NHMZ 2222) consists of a considerable portion of the entire skeleton including skull material. A second specimen (NHMZ 2547), representing a larger individual was discovered in close proximity to the holotype. The research team estimate that Mbiresaurus was around two metres in length and weighed approximately 25 kilograms.
Christopher Griffin holds in his hand portion of the lower jaw of Mbiresaurus in Virginia Tech’s Derring Hall. Picture credit: Zach Murphy for the Paleobiology & Geobiology Research Group at Virginia Tech.
Commenting on the significance of this dinosaur discovery, field team member Christopher Griffin, who graduated in 2020 with a PhD in geosciences from the Virginia Tech College of Science, stated:
“The discovery of Mbiresaurus raathi fills in a critical geographic gap in the fossil record of the oldest dinosaurs and shows the power of hypothesis-driven fieldwork for testing predictions about the ancient past.”
Documenting the Early Dinosauria
South America is regarded by many palaeontologists as the cradle of dinosaur evolution. As far as scientists are able to deduce; based on the fossil record, the dinosaur dynasty began with the evolution of small, agile meat-eaters in South America. However, as landmasses at the time mostly consisted of a single, super-sized continent (Pangaea), it is perfectly feasible to propose that the Dinosauria arose elsewhere and spread across Pangaea.
Herrerasaurus – potentially an early, carnivorous dinosaur from the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation of north-western Argentina. The evolutionary origins of the Dinosauria remain ambiguous, it is hoped that further exploration of the Upper Triassic (Carnian) deposits of the Pebbly Arkose Formation will help palaeontologists to better understand dinosaur evolution and dispersal. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Dr Griffin added:
“These are Africa’s oldest-known definitive dinosaurs, roughly equivalent in age to the oldest dinosaurs found anywhere in the world. The oldest known dinosaurs, from roughly 230 million years ago, the Carnian Stage of the Late Triassic, are extremely rare and have been recovered from only a few places worldwide, mainly northern Argentina, southern Brazil, and India.”
Sterling Nesbitt, an associate professor at the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech and co-author of the scientific paper published this week in the journal “Nature”, explained that basal sauropodomorphs such as Mbiresaurus demonstrate how the early evolutionary history of the Dinosauria is being rewritten with every new discovery.
Some of the 2019 expedition team photographed in Harare (Zimbabwe), prior to the fieldwork. From left are Kudzie Madzana, Edward Mbambo, Sterling Nesbitt, George Malunga, Christopher Griffin, Darlington Munyikwa. Picture credit: by Zach Murphy for Virginia Tech.
An Ancient Triassic Biota
The Carnian-aged fossils are providing scientists with evidence of a diverse reptilian biota which co-existed with the earliest dinosaurs. The fieldwork has revealed evidence of cynodonts, aetosaurs (armoured archosaurs more closely related to crocodylians than to the archosaur lineage that led to the birds and the dinosaurs), and rhynchosaurs.
The team also unearthed fossilised remains of an as yet, unnamed theropod dinosaur (herrerasaurid). These archaic animals are similar to the biota associated with contemporaneous deposits found in South America and India.
Sterling Nesbitt (left) and Christopher Griffin excavate the fossilised remains of an as yet, unnamed herrerasaurid dinosaur in 2019. Picture credit: Murphy Allen for Virginia Tech.
What’s in a Name?
The genus name Mbiresaurus is from the local Shona language for the name of the district “Mbire” where the fossils were found and from the Greek for lizard. The species name honours palaeontologist Michael Raath for his pioneering work studying vertebrate fossils found in Zimbabwe. The research team conclude that Mbiresaurus was probably bipedal and from an analysis of its small, serrated teeth, it was probably herbivorous although omnivory cannot be ruled out.
A New Theory on the Early Dispersal of the Dinosauria
The researchers have postulated a new theory on dinosaur dispersal. As Africa was once part of the colossal super-continent Pangaea, the distribution and dispersal of the Dinosauria was constrained by climatic conditions across the landmass.
The central portion of Pangaea was dominated by extremely arid environments. These deserts acted as a barrier, the earliest dinosaurs were restricted to southern Pangaea. Only later in their evolutionary history, during a period of climate change resulting in a much wetter climate (Carnian Pluvial Event) did the Dinosauria disperse worldwide.
The fossils from the Upper Triassic deposits of northern Zimbabwe from a geographical bridge between contemporaneous fossil bearing deposits in India and southern Brazil. The red stars demonstrate the link between the three locations with Zimbabwe in the centre. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The research team deliberately targeted Zimbabwe for fieldwork as the northern part of the country would have been located at roughly the same latitude as southern Brazil and India during the Late Triassic.
They conclude that the distribution of the first dinosaurs is correlated with palaeolatitude-linked climatic barriers, and dinosaurian dispersal to the rest of the super-continent was delayed until these barriers were removed. The distribution of the earliest members of the Dinosauria remained restricted by the climatic conditions that prevailed in southern Pangaea.
An Exciting Development for Palaeontology in Zimbabwe
The discovery of a nearly complete specimen of one of the earliest dinosaurs known to science provides a major boost to the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe and demonstrates that palaeontologists from southern Africa have a major role to play in obtaining evidence about early dinosaur evolution.
Michel Zondo, a curator and fossil preparator at the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe commented:
“The discovery of the Mbiresaurus is an exciting and special find for Zimbabwe and the entire palaeontological field. The fact that the Mbiresaurus skeleton is almost complete, makes it a perfect reference material for further finds. It is the first sauropodomorph find of its size from Zimbabwe, otherwise most of our sauropodomorph finds from here are usually of medium- to large-sized animals.”
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from Virginia Tech in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Africa’s oldest dinosaurs reveal early suppression of dinosaur distribution” by Christopher T. Griffin, Brenen M. Wynd, Darlington Munyikwa, Tim J. Broderick, Michel Zondo, Stephen Tolan, Max C. Langer, Sterling J. Nesbitt and Hazel R. Taruvinga published in Nature.
