Are you looking for an entertaining and colourful story book to help inspire the next generation of young palaeontologists? With the festive season fast approaching, we recommend “The Plesiosaur’s Neck” written by Dr Adam S. Smith and Jonathan Emmett, with lots of superb illustrations by Adam Larkum, a graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art.
Prehistoric Prose, Puns and Palaeontology
Poppy is an Albertonectes plesiosaur. Her neck is seven metres long! This fun book, aimed at young readers sets out to explore some of the theories put forward by scientists as they attempt to explain why some plesiosaurs had super-sized necks.
The rhyming text bounces along and has been devised to help young readers maintain concentration and attention. Alfie the ammonite and Bella the belemnite accompany Poppy on her quest to solve this palaeontological puzzle and they chime in with cheeky comments as Poppy considers whether her neck can zap predators with electricity, helps her pluck off pesky parasites or allows to sneak up on her dinner.
Highly Praised
In the competitive field of children’s books, “The Plesiosaur’s Neck” has been singled out for praise. For example, shortly after it was launched it was “Children’s Book of the Week” in both Books for Keeps magazine and The Independent newspaper.
“The Plesiosaur’s Neck” was included in Teach Primary magazine’s “Fifty Modern Reads Every School Library Needs” and the book was also a finalist in the Sparks! School Book Awards.
“The Plesiosaur’s Neck”
When this delightful book was first published, team members at Everything Dinosaur had the opportunity to review a copy.
We stated:
“This book combines colourful characters with a cornucopia of fun facts. It is an entertaining exploration of a genuine palaeontological puzzle.”
“The Plesiosaur’s Neck” is suitable for ages 5 years plus, this rhyming picture book has thirty-two pages and is published by UCLan Publishing.
Dr Adam S. Smith told Everything Dinosaur that a second publication was in the pipeline, this time the story would evolve around a dinosaur, a tyrannosaur!
Dr Smith exclaimed:
“We’re excited to be working on a follow up book, ‘The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers’, to be published in 2024.”
In the meantime, if you are looking for a children’s book as a gift idea for the festive season, “The Plesiosaur’s Neck” is highly recommended.
Everything Dinosaur has opened a priority wait list for the two Rebor 1:35 adult Deinosuchus hatcheri museum class replicas, two splendid crocodilian replicas, in the estuary and swamp colour schemes. These exciting Rebor scale models are due in stock at Everything Dinosaur in early 2023.
Contact Everything Dinosaur
With Everything Dinosaur, there is no need to pre-order, no deposit is required and there are no fees to pay. Team members have opened reserve, priority wait lists for these two 1:35 scale replicas and customers are encouraged to email Everything Dinosaur so that they can join these lists. Simply Email Everything Dinosaur ensuring that you state your Deinosuchus model preference, (estuary version, swamp version or both) and Everything Dinosaur will ensure that you receive a priority email alert when the figures are in stock (expected early 2023).
Appalachiosaurus montgomeriensis
Each Rebor 1:35 scale adult Deinosuchus hatcheri figure is supplied with a rather bloodthirsty accessory. The Deinosuchus models come with the head and partial torso of a theropod dinosaur (Appalachiosaurus). Appalachiosaurus is known from a single fossil specimen discovered in Upper Cretaceous aged sediments in Alabama, although other theropod fossils found elsewhere in the United States have been assigned to this genus.
Appalachiosaurus was named and scientifically described in 2005 (Carr and Williamson). The exact taxonomic relationship of this dinosaur is disputed, it is hoped that further fossil discoveries will help to clarify the phylogeny of this predator. The size of Appalachiosaurus is uncertain, the Alabama fossils represent a juvenile which measured approximately six metres long. A dinosaur this size coming down to the water’s edge to get a drink would have been a potential target for a Deinosuchus lying submerged ready to attack.
Deinosuchus Swamp and Estuary
In 2021, Rebor introduced a pair of limited-edition hatching Deinosuchus replicas. Only a few hundred of each figure (swamp and estuary) were produced. The adult Deinosuchus models are due to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur early in 2023, by then, it is likely that the hatching Deinosuchus models will have sold out.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that they were happy to set up priority waitlists for customers, as a way of helping customers manage their finances, with no deposits, or prepayments required.
Everything Dinosaur in conjunction with our friends at CollectA announce the third batch of new CollectA models for 2023. Two new prehistoric animal figures, both marine reptiles, have been announced namely:
CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Mosasaurus with an articulated jaw – due to be available early 2023.
Shastasaurus (Age of Dinosaurs Popular) – due to be available early 2023.
New CollectA Models
CollectA Deluxe Mosasaurus 1:40 Scale
A new 1:40 scale figure of a Mosasaurus, a giant, predatory marine reptile from the Cretaceous that was more closely related to modern snakes and lizards than it was to archosaurs such as the Dinosauria. The model incorporates the latest scientific thinking and includes an asymmetrical caudal fin, with a nick in the top portion as if this Late Cretaceous marine reptile has been bitten by another mosasaur. Inside the beautifully painted, articulated jaw, pterygoid teeth have been incorporated into the roof of the mouth.
The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Mosasaurus will be available from Everything Dinosaur, early next year (2023). This figure is the second Mosasaurus model to be introduced by CollectA, as a not to scale Mosasaurus replica was added to the Age of Dinosaurs Popular range back in 2014.
Articulated Lower Jaw
The new for 2023 marine reptile figure has a smooth, streamlined body, the skin texture has been carefully crafted and the front flippers give the impression of a powerful animal.
CollectA plan to introduce another marine reptile model next year (2023). It is a replica of the primitive ichthyosaur Shastasaurus, a large reptile, possibly gigantic that lived more than one hundred million years before the Mosasauridae evolved.
Shastasaurus was a big, whale-sized marine reptile from the Triassic. The replica has been given a striking black and white colour scheme reminiscent of the Killer Whale (Orca). These markings would have helped this giant hunter hide from its prey, the colour pattern making Shastasaurus less conspicuous from both above and below. The model has barnacles on its flippers and body, just like the barnacles associated with many large, extant cetaceans that swim in our oceans today. The asymmetrical tail fluke has also got a nick in it towards its apex.
The CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Shastasaurus is due to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in early 2023.
CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Mosasaurus with articulated jaw – length 39 cm, height 5.3 cm, width across the front flippers 15 cm (estimate).
CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Shastasaurus – length 25 cm, height of tail fluke 3 cm, width across the front flippers 9 cm (estimate).
This pair of exciting marine reptile figures will be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in 2023.
To view Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the first batch of new CollectA prehistoric animals for 2023 to be announced: New CollectA Models (Part 1).
To read our blog post about the second batch of new CollectA prehistoric animal figures for 2023: New CollectA Models (Part 2).
Having received confirmation from Papo, Everything Dinosaur can now release official details of the new Papo prehistoric animal models scheduled for introduction in 2023.
There are six figures to be added to the “Les Dinosaures” range, two new dinosaurs, two new marine reptiles and two re-introductions of figures that were recently retired.
New Papo Dinosaurs for 2023
Papo intend to add two dinosaurs to their range of prehistoric animal models and figures in 2023. A replica of the Late Cretaceous ceratopsian Einiosaurus is due to be introduced in Q3/Q4 of 2023 and there will also be a replica of a Concavenator (theropod dinosaur) added to the range. The Papo Concavenator will have an articulated lower jaw.
Papo Marine Reptile Models
In addition, Papo will be introducing two marine reptiles. The Mosasaurus figure which was originally scheduled for launch this year (2022) is now scheduled for introduction in early 2023 (quarter 1), whilst the long rumoured Kronosaurus will be added to the range later next year.
Both the Papo Mosasaurus and the Papo Kronosaurus models will have articulated lower jaws.
Papo Prehistoric Animal Models
In addition to the four new model sculpts planned for 2023. Papo intend to re-introduce recently retired, prehistoric animals. Two reissues are planned, the Papo Archaeopteryx which was originally launched in 2014 and subsequently retired in 2018 and the Papo Woolly Rhinoceros which was introduced in 2013.
Both the Papo Woolly Rhinoceros figure and the Papo Archaeopteryx are scheduled to be available early in 2023 (quarter 1 of 2023).
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that it was good to see Papo increasing the number of new prehistoric animal figures, although they were not able to comment on any potential retirements from the “Les Dinosaures” range.
When asked about the introduction of the Archaeopteryx and the Coelodonta (Woolly Rhinoceros), the spokesperson commented:
“The introduction of previously retired Papo figures gives dinosaur fans and model collectors the opportunity to add these figures to their collections, if they had missed out first time around.”
Prehistoric Times reviewed by Everything Dinosaur team members.
Celebrating thirty years since the first issue of “Prehistoric Times” magazine, it is time to review the latest edition of this quarterly magazine for fans of prehistoric animals and dinosaur models. The stunning artwork on the front cover was supplied by Jaime Chirinos, whose illustrations have adorned the front cover of this popular magazine on previous occasions. In this issue, magazine editor Mike Fredericks interviews the Peruvian-born illustrator and there are lots of fantastic artwork by Jaime included in the article.
Feathered Dinosaurs
It is fitting to have Jaime depict a feathered theropod on the front cover of issue 143 as inside Tracy Lee Ford continues his series of highly informative articles on dinosaur feathers, whilst John Lavas provides part 2 of his biography of the influential Zdeněk Burian. There are no feathered dinosaurs to admire in the artwork associated with this article, but plenty of illustrations produced by Burian associated with other types of commission he received. If you are a fan of Jules Verne, you are in for a treat.
Kunbarrasaurus and the Tasmanian Tiger
Aussie Phil Hore provides a conducted tour of the armoured Australian dinosaur Kunbarrasaurus, and the article includes some amazing, armoured dinosaur artwork, our congratulations to Wade Carmen, Anders Bang, John F Davies and the other contributors. Phil Hore stays in Australia to discuss the enigmatic and recently extinct Thylacine, otherwise known as the Tasmanian Tiger. Thanks to Daniel Navarro, Andreas Forrer and Marcus Burkhardt for their reader-supplied artwork with a special mention for Jaime Martinez for sending in a picture of his Thylacine models, complete with a female with offspring in her pouch.
From marsupials we move to monsters with Bruce Horton’s submission recreating a King Kong versus Allosaurus model diorama by combining two replica kits into a single, stunning display. Mike Fredericks interviews palaeontologist and author Steve Brusatte, who has taken time away from his research based at the University of Edinburgh to pen a sequel to his acclaimed “The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs” entitled “The Rise and Reign of the Mammals”. The piece is peppered with some illustrations from this new book charting the rise of the Mammalia created by the famous palaeoartist Todd Marshall. This beautifully illustrated book is highly recommended.
Prehistoric Times Reviewed
The regular features such as a section covering recent fossil discoveries, classified advertisements, book reviews in “Mesozoic Media” are all included, and Randy Knol provides an update on new model introductions too. The autumn edition provides a fitting tribute to thirty years of magazine publishing.
Everything Dinosaur team members plan to publish details about the next batch of new for 2023 CollectA prehistoric animal models on the morning of Friday 18th November (2022). The next blog post will feature the third set of new for 2023 CollectA prehistoric animal figures, all part of a programme of new model announcements that have been running weekly throughout this month (November 2022).
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
YouTube Videos
In addition to providing a detailed blog post about the figures, team members intend to continue their tradition of creating informative videos featuring each of the new models and posting up these short video reviews on the company’s YouTube channel.
To view Everything Dinosaur’s recent blog post about the first set of new for 2023 CollectA prehistoric animal models (Ceratosuchops, Hadrosaurus and Triceratops horridus – confronting): New CollectA Models (Part 1).
To read a blog post about the second set of new for 2023 CollectA prehistoric animal models to be announced (CollectA Deluxe 1:100 scale Ruyangosaurus, Brighstoneus and the CollectA Anomalocaris replica): New CollectA Models for 2023 (Part 2).
Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures
CollectA have built up a strong reputation amongst dinosaur fans and model collectors for the quality and diversity of their model ranges. The range is broadly divided into categories, with some models having a declared scale (CollectA Deluxe) and some having no declared scale (CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular).
Company details of Everything Dinosaur on PNSO boxes. The contact details of Everything Dinosaur, an official partner of PNSO, are prominently displayed on product packaging. Customers can contact our support team if they require assistance or advice concerning a PNSO figure. Team members are happy to help and provide advice, support and assistance, after all, we are model collectors too.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Everything Dinosaur on PNSO Boxes
As well as stunning box art, the contact details for Everything Dinosaur including our website and email address are printed on PNSO Age of Dinosaurs product packaging. We are responsible for “overseas affairs co-ordination, accident transmission, communication and co-ordination, co-operate to deal with all the store matters, and so on”. Whilst we will not comment on the English language translation, in simple terms, as a key supplier of these fabulous prehistoric animal figures we are able to support PNSO and assist them with their sales outside of China.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that they had posted up information on various social media pages such as Facebook and Instagram confirming that Everything Dinosaur is a key partner of PNSO.
Amazing Prehistoric Animal Models
The PNSO Age of Dinosaurs product range has dramatically expanded over the last few years, with the addition of lots of new, amazing prehistoric animal models. For example, Everything Dinosaur recently received into stock the new for 2022 Jacques the Deinocheirus model along with the new PNSO Sinopliosaurus replica.
The spokesperson confirmed that Everything Dinosaur’s contact details were also on the packaging for the Deinocheirus and Sinopliosaurus figures and their website and email address details could also be found on the free prehistoric animal fact sheet that is despatched to customers.
Everything Dinosaur team members are making a YouTube video which will provide more information on the second set of new CollectA models for 2023. The brief video will provide more information on the enormous sauropod Ruyangosaurus, the recently described iguanodontid from the Isle of Wight (Brighstoneus) and the enigmatic Cambrian predator Anomalocaris.
New CollectA Models
Team members have already produced and published a video providing more information on the first batch of new for 2023 CollectA models to be announced (Triceratops horridus – confronting, Hadrosaurus and the recently described spinosaurid Ceratosuchops).
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that CollectA would announce more new models in November and that the first six releases that had been announced would probably be in stock at Everything Dinosaur around February/March of next year (2023).
Everything Dinosaur features PNSO models in newsletter. The latest prehistoric animal models from PNSO are featured in the November Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter. A spokesperson for the UK-based, award-winning mail order company stated that it was wonderful to be able to feature PNSO models in a newsletter emailed to Everything Dinosaur’s database.
PNSO Deinocheirus Highlighted
One of the new figures to arrive is the PNSO Jacques the Deinocheirus dinosaur model. This stunning replica of this bizarre Cretaceous theropod has arrived at Everything Dinosaur’s warehouse and this new PNSO figure is given star billing in the company’s customer newsletter.
Terrific Theropods
One of the other new figures to arrive, Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus is also featured. Sinopliosaurus is the first spinosaurid to have been described from fossils found in China. The Sinopliosaurus is shown alongside another theropod dinosaur, a controversial genus (nomen dubium) – Nanotyrannus.
To ask to join Everything Dinosaur’s customer list to receive free newsletters: Email Everything Dinosaur.
Superb Sea Monsters (PNSO Models)
The newsletter also features two popular models of marine monsters that have just come back into stock. Jeff the Kronosaurus and the placoderm figure, Zaha the Dunkleosteus are also included. Both these superb sea monster replicas have articulated jaws.
PNSO Models in Newsletter
The other two PNSO models in the newsletter are the recently introduced sauropod figure Lingwulong (Chuanchuan the Lingwulong) and the feathered Chinese tyrannosauroid Yutyrannus. In all, seven exciting PNSO figures are featured in Everything Dinosaur’s latest customer newsletter.
Everything Dinosaur in collaboration with CollectA announces the second batch of new CollectA models 2023. Three new prehistoric animal figures have been announced namely:
Ruyangosaurus (1:100 scale Deluxe model) – due to be available early 2023.
Brighstoneus (Age of Dinosaurs Popular) – due to be available in early 2023.
Anomalocaris (CollectA Other Prehistoric Animals) – due to be available in early 2023.
New CollectA Models
CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus (1:100 Scale)
The first CollectA Deluxe scale model to be announced for 2023 is this stunning replica of the enormous Chinese titanosaur Ruyangosaurus. Named and described in 2009 (Ruyangosaurus giganteus), this huge sauropod is estimated to have been around thirty metres long and to have weighed in excess of fifty tonnes. It is one of the largest dinosaurs known from Asia.
The CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus has been given a grey, almost elephant-like colouration in recognition of the sheer size of this leviathan. The neck is thick, but the cervical vertebrae (neck bones) of these huge dinosaurs were quite delicate and there were numerous air sacs to help lighten the neck.
The skin texture is very detailed, and this herbivorous giant has been given rows of dermal armour (osteoderms), which are most prominent over its vulnerable hips. The CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus will make an interesting partner to the mostly geologically older genus Mamenchisaurus, a model of which (CollectA Deluxe 1:100 Mamenchisaurus) was introduced by CollectA in 2021.
CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Brighstoneus
Hot on heels of the Ceratosuchops model announced last week, comes Brighstoneus an iguanodontid from the Isle of Wight that was, coincidently, formally named and described just a few weeks after Ceratosuchops in late 2021.
The reassessment of fossil bones found in 1978 close to the village of Brighstone on the south-western coast of the Isle of Wight, which had been thought to represent the genus Iguanodon, led to the naming of Brighstoneus (B. simmondsi).
Examination of the naris bone indicated that this dinosaur had a bulbous snout, and this feature has been incorporated into the new CollectA figure. The patterning on the model would have helped to camouflage this eight-metre-long herbivore and the white flash around the eye suggests that visual communication was very important to this animal that probably lived in herds.
This recently described dinosaur suggests that there are probably several different iguanodontids still awaiting discovery in the Wealden Group strata. It is great to see this model representing another member of the Wealden Group dinosaur biota added to the CollectA range.
CollectA Anomalocaris
The third in this trio of new CollectA models to be announced this week is a replica of the apex Cambrian predator Anomalocaris. This superb model of Anomalocaris canadensis from the famous Burgess Shale deposits of British Columbia joins a growing number of CollectA invertebrate models that represent iconic animals from the fossil record.
Anomalocaris is distantly related to extant crustaceans such as lobsters and shrimps. It is considered to be at the top of the earliest marine food chains because of its large body size, formidable grasping claws armed with sharp spikes and a ferocious-looking circular mouth positioned under the head. Once thought to measure more than a metre in length, most Burgess Shale specimens indicate a typical body length of thirty centimetres, still much bigger than virtually all of the other animals known from these Canadian Cambrian-aged deposits.
Model Measurements
CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus (1:100 scale) – length 40 cm, height of head 29.5 cm.
CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Brighstoneus – length 14.8 cm, height of head 4.8 cm.
CollectA Anomalocaris (Other Prehistoric Animals) – length 13 cm, height 3 cm.
This trio of fantastic CollectA figures are scheduled to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in the early part of 2023.
To view Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the first batch of new CollectA prehistoric animals for 2023 to be announced: New CollectA Models for 2023 (Part 1).
We will post up more details about new for 2023 CollectA models next Friday and a brief video about these three CollectA figures will shortly be posted up on Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel.
The Age of Dinosaurs Popular Brighstoneus and the stunning Anomalocaris model will be placed in the CollectA Prehistoric Life section of Everything Dinosaur’s website: CollectA Prehistoric Life Replicas.