The new for 2023 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Majungasaurus dinosaur model is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This colourful abelisaurid joins the other recently introduced theropod dinosaur Cryolophosaurus. A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur welcomed the Majungasaurus into stock and stated:
“Majungasaurus puts Madagascar on the map when it comes to Late Cretaceous theropods”.
The new for 2023 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Majungasaurus available from Everything Dinosaur.
This striking theropod measures over 25 cm (10 inches) in length. The majestic head is approximately 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) off the ground. The dinosaur model will be supplied with an Everything Dinosaur Majungasaurus fact sheet.
Wild Safari Prehistoric World Majungasaurus in posterior view.
A Prehistoric World Majungasaurus
The Everything Dinosaur spokesperson praised Safari Ltd for adding a Majungasaurus to their model range and commented that the American company certainly had a great sense of humour, as one of the images of the model depicted this dinosaur devouring a biscuit.
Tea and biscuits with a Majungasaurus.
The colour scheme chosen depicts counter shading and the red stripes give this dinosaur a fearsome appearance. Majungasaurus was the apex predator in its environment. The model has the tiny arms of a Late Cretaceous abelisaurid. It also has a dimpled skin texture. Everything Dinosaur team members are not sure as to whether skin impressions of Majungasaurus are known.
An analysis of a single bone from the arm of a dinosaur suggests that South African sauropodomorphs were more diverse than previously suspected. In addition, the study published in Royal Society Open Science, proposes that the fossil bone represents a new taxon. As an adult, with a body weight of around seventy-five kilograms, this dinosaur is one of the smallest sauropodomorph taxa known to science and the smallest reported to date from Jurassic sediments.
Not a Juvenile Massospondylus carinatus
The fossil bone, a humerus, was found in 1978. It comes from a dinosaur bonebed (Massospondylus Assemblage Zone) associated with the Elliot Formation of South Africa. It had been thought to represent a juvenile Massospondylus (M. carinatus).
A Massospondylus fossil skeleton replica on display at the London Natural History Museum. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Studying the Sauropoda
Sauropodomorph dinosaurs are famously represented by colossal giants like Diplodocus, Patagotitan and Argentinosaurus, reaching body masses up to 70 tonnes. The ancestors of these animals, however, have more humble beginnings.
The first members of the group appear in the Triassic (Carnian period, 233–231 million years ago), with very small sizes (less than 15 kilograms, for example Buriolestes schultzi from Brazil).
As time progressed into the Jurassic (Hettangian period, 200 million years ago), early branching sauropodomorphs evolved a diverse range of body sizes, postures, and ecological adaptations. At this point, sauropodomorphs of less than 1 tonne are rare, although taxa like Massospondylus carinatus (adult body mass of around half a tonne) occur at nearly all dinosaur-bearing localities worldwide and can be locally superabundant.
The Smallest Sauropodomorph
The sauropodomorph fossil humerus BP/1/4732 from the Free State of South Africa was believed to be a juvenile Massospondylus carinatus specimen until now. A recent morphological and osteohistological study found that it was in fact an adult individual of a new species of dinosaur. The latter would have a fully grown body mass of approximately 75 kilograms, making it the smallest known adult sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Jurassic, and the first one weighing less than 100 kilograms.
Left humerus (specimen number BP/1/4732) and stained cross section of bone providing evidence of the dinosaur’s age and maturity. Picture credit: Kimi Chapelle.
Dr Kimberley Chapelle, commented:
“Until now, we were unaware that early sauropodomorphs could reach such small sizes during the Jurassic period, so the smallest skeletons were assumed to belong to juvenile individuals. We can now reassess these skeletons discovered in southern Africa and hopefully find a more complete individual from which we can name a new species.”
Not Possible to Erect a New Genus
With just a single bone it is not possible to erect a new genus. Previously, all sauropodomorph fossils found in that locality were ascribed to Massospondylus. However, more detailed assessments of the fossil material revealed that some of the bones represent different genera. As a PhD student, Kimberley Chapelle worked on a set of fossils that led to the establishment of a new South African sauropodomorph species named Ngwevu intloko.
“Small ornithischian dinosaurs like Lesothosaurus first appeared in southern Africa during the Early Jurassic, and some scientists suggest they might have outcompeted early sauropodomorphs. I think this is unlikely, as many similarly sized mammals share similar niches today. Instead, it’s possible that sauropodomorphs lost the ability to stay this small as part of the evolution of large size, but we just don’t know.”
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the corresponding author in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Osteohistology reveals the smallest adult Jurassic sauropodomorph” by Kimberley E. J. Chapelle, Jennifer Botha and Jonah N. Choiniere published in Royal Society Open Science.
Whilst on a short visit to the London Natural History Museum team members at Everything Dinosaur took the opportunity to visit the dinosaur gallery. Amongst the dinosaur bones and exhibits of fossil teeth, a trace fossil was spotted. It was a fossil dinosaur footprint, a specimen from the famous Lark Quarry site (Australia).
A fossil dinosaur footprint photographed at the London Natural History Museum. The exhibit features a three-toed print from the famous Lark Quarry track site in Australia. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A Fossil Dinosaur Footprint
The Lark Quarry site is regarded as one of the most remarkable non-avian trace fossils in the world. The site, near the town of Winton (Queensland, Australia) preserves the fossilised footprints of at least three different types of dinosaur. When first extensively studied, it was thought the tracks represented a large theropod disturbing smaller dinosaurs and causing a stampede.
It had been suggested that the big tridactyl prints were made by an ornithopod and not a carnivorous theropod.
Other scientists have suggested that the larger tracks were made by Australovenator. Australovenator (A. wintonensis) was named and described in 2009 (Hocknull et al). It has been classified as a member of the Megaraptoridae family. Australovenator may have been a sister taxon of Fukuiraptor, which is known from Japan.
The CollectA Australovenator replica.
The picture (above) shows a CollectA Australovenator model from the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“The Lark Quarry site is extremely important for ichnologists. The site preserves around 3,300 dinosaur tracks. The tracks have been interpreted in several ways. For example, the largest tridactyl prints could represent an ornithopod, or perhaps they were made by a theropod like Australovenator.”
Everything Dinosaur team members recently visited the Natural History Museum in London to see the enormous Patagotitan skeleton on display. This is the first time this titanosaur exhibition has visited Europe. The huge replica skeleton of Patagotitan (P. mayorum) is twelve metres longer than the skeleton of the blue whale (Hope) on display above the Hintze Hall. The exhibition is entitled “Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur”. Patagotitan mayorum may not be the biggest dinosaur described to date, but it does have one of the most complete fossil records of any member of the Titanosauria.
Sue from Everything Dinosaur poses in front of the colossal Patagotitan skeleton which is being exhibited at the Natural History Museum (London). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Patagotitan mayorum
Named and described in 2017. Patagotitan fossils were excavated from the Cerro Barcino Formation in Chubut Province, Patagonia in southern Argentina. Size estimates vary for this enormous animal. When first studied, the length of the largest specimen known from the fossil quarry was estimated to be around 37 metres.
Last year (2022) Safari Ltd introduced a beautiful replica of this titanosaur.
The new for 2022 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Patagotitan model. This titanosaur model measures over 38 cm long which effectively makes this figure a 1:100 scale model.
“Enormosaurus”
The first fossils were found (2010) and field excavations were undertaken (2012 to 2015). As the fossil material was excavate, the bones were so big the dinosaur was nicknamed “Enormosaurus”.
The enormous body of the titanosaur towers over visitors. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The exhibition will remain open until January 2024.
A new taxon of armoured dinosaur has been described from fossils found on the Isle of Wight. The new ankylosaurid has been named Vectipelta barretti (pronounced Vec-tea-pelt-tah bar-rett-ee). The genus name is derived from the Roman name for the Isle of Wight “Vectis” and “pelta” the Latin for shield. The species name honours Professor Paul Barrett of the London Natural History Museum. This is the first dinosaur named honouring Professor Barrett. The name recognises the on-going contribution Professor Barrett has made to vertebrate palaeontology and his support and mentoring of other scientists who also worked on this study.
An artist’s impression of a pair of Vectipelta armoured dinosaurs from the Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight. Picture credit: Stu Pond.
Vectipelta barretti
Lead author of the paper, published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, Stuart Pond (London Natural History Museum), commented:
“This is an important specimen because it sheds light on ankylosaur diversity within the Wessex Formation and Early Cretaceous England.”
The fossil material consists of a partial skeleton. Cervical, dorsal, sacral and caudal vertebrae have been recovered along with numerous osteoderms, limb elements and a well-preserved but fragmentary pelvic girdle. The first fossils were discovered in the early 1990s, following a landslip west of Chilton Chine (south-western coast of the Isle of Wight). Like many armoured dinosaur fossils associated with the Wessex Formation, the fossils were ascribed to Polacanthus foxii. However, the researchers were able to identify several unique traits in the bones that confirmed that this was a new species.
Vectipelta barretti IWCMS 2021.75 pelvis in dorsal view. Picture credit: Stuart Pond.
Not Closely Related to Polacanthus
A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that Vectipelta was not closely related to Polacanthus. It is more closely related to the geologically younger Chinese ankylosaurids Zhejiangosaurus and Dongyangopelta. This suggests that during the Early Cretaceous there may have been extensive faunal interchange between continents. The picture of ankylosaurid distribution and dispersal may be much more complicated than previously suspected.
Vectipelta is estimated to have measured around four metres in length. It would have been relatively slow-moving with broad hips.
When asked to comment about the spiky, ponderous dinosaur named after him, Professor Barrett stated:
“I’m flattered and absolutely delighted to have been recognised in this way, not least as the first paper I ever wrote was also on an armoured dinosaur in the NHM collections. I’m sure that any physical resemblance is purely accidental.”
A closer view of the new armoured dinosaur from the Isle of Wight (V. barretti). Picture credit: Stu Pond.
More Wessex Formation Armoured Dinosaurs Awaiting Discovery
Although the Wessex Formation is notoriously difficult to date, Vectipelta fossil material is associated with the early Barremian. This armoured dinosaur could have roamed the Isle of Wight around 125 million years ago. The Polacanthus holotype material could be late Barremian in age. This suggests that Vectipelta barretti could be 6-8 million years older than Polacanthus foxii. The other ankylosaurid associated with the Wealden Group is Hylaeosaurus armatus. Hylaeosaurus fossils are associated with even older strata (Valanginian faunal stage). There could be as much as three million years separating Hylaeosaurus from Vectipelta.
The researchers conclude that there were probably lots of different armoured dinosaurs roaming southern England during the Early Cretaceous.
Vectipelta life reconstruction. Picture credit: Stuart Pond.
Historically, the assignment of fragmentary ankylosaurid remains to Polacanthus was probably incorrect. There are likely to be several other armoured dinosaurs awaiting discovery in the rocks of southern England and the Isle of Wight. Recent fossil discoveries have led to the revision of the hadrosauriforms and iguanodontids associated with the Wealden Supergroup. It is likely that the Thyreophora will also have to be revised and more taxa erected.
A single Vectipelta armoured dinosaur. Picture credit: Stu Pond.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the London Natural History Museum in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Vectipelta barretti, a new ankylosaurian dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, UK” by Stuart Pond, Sarah-Jane Strachan, Thomas J. Raven, Martin I. Simpson, Kirsty Morgan and Susannah C. R. Maidment published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Cryolophosaurus dinosaur model is coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur. A spokesperson from the UK-based company confirmed that the Cryolophosaurus figure was due to arrive next week.
The colourful Wild Safari Prehistoric World Cryolophosaurus dinosaur model is expected in stock at Everything Dinosaur.
Cryolophosaurus Dinosaur Model
Cryolophosaurus “frozen crested lizard”, was named and scientifically described in 1994. At around six metres in length, this theropod is thought to have been the apex predator in the Early Jurassic ecosystem associated with Antarctica. The new for 2023 Safari Ltd Cryolophosaurus sports a crimson crest. This thin crest earned this dinosaur the nickname “Elvisaurus”. The crest probably played a role in visual communication or confirming fitness for breeding.
The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Cryolophosaurus dinosaur model measures twenty centimetres in length. That beautifully sculpted head stands around eight centimetres off the ground. Sales of this dinosaur model will be sent out with a free Cryolophosaurus fact sheet. The fact sheet has been researched and written by Everything Dinosaur team members.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that Safari Ltd, was not releasing details about new models in a single press release. Introductions had been scheduled to take place throughout the year. As a result, Everything Dinosaur team members had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this colourful theropod figure.
The spokesperson added:
“It is a fantastic model. It’s great to have another dinosaur model representing the fauna of the southern part of Gondwana.”
The fossils representing the first, non-avian dinosaur with feather-like structures found in South America has been returned to Brazil. The Ubirajara fossil specimen has been repatriated from Germany. This prized but controversial fossil, was named and described in 2020 (Ubirajara jubatus).
Since the scientific publication, campaigners, including many prominent Brazilian scientists, had requested that this dinosaur be returned home. One of the leading advocates for the repatriation was Professor Aline Ghilardi of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN).
Professor Aline Ghilardi, right, next to Professor Juan Cisnero (UFPI) and the minister of MCTI, Luciana Santos (centre). The Ubirajara fossil specimen is returned to Brazil. Picture credit: Luara Baggi – Ascom/MCTI.
The excitement in Brazil sparked by the scientific publication turned to dismay when it was realised that the fossil had been removed from the country. The materials and methods section of the paper stated that the specimen had been taken out of Brazil in 1995.
The first Brazilian law dealing with the protection of fossils was created in 1942. The legislation permitted fossils to leave the country, but authorisation was required. Subsequently, the law was strengthened, and it outlined how fossils should be collected, exported and insisted that Brazilian scientists should be involved in the study of such artifacts.
Ubirajara jubatus life reconstruction by the very talented palaeoartist Bob Nicholls.
Following a campaign, the paper describing U. jubatus, the first non-avian dinosaur to be found in the Southern Hemisphere with feather-like filaments was withdrawn.
After the allegations of illegal smuggling, it was agreed to return the specimen to Brazil. The scientific name Ubirajara jubatus was removed from the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) registry. The dinosaur’s name currently is regarded as invalid. Whether the scientific name for this little theropod is to be retained has yet to be decided.
UbirajaraBelongstoBR
The repatriation was assisted by a highly successful social media campaign using the hashtag UbirajaraBelongstoBR.
An investigation was launched in Germany. This culminated in the recognition of the misconduct and unethical behaviour of the researchers involved. With that, finally, it was decided to return the dinosaur home in July 2022.
The controversy surrounding Ubirajara highlights a growing trend within palaeontology for assessing the impact of colonialism and the removal of fossil material from countries to America and Europe.
Professor Aline explained:
“Colonialist attitudes influence our science and make it a worse science and the results biased.”
Taking photographs of the Ubirajara fossil (counter slab). Picture credit: Juan Cisneros.
The Return of the Ubirajara Fossil Specimen
The social media campaign played a significant role in the successful repatriation. The return of the Ubirajara fossil specimen was achieved through a collaboration with the public, governments and palaeontologists.
A spokesperson commented that this campaign highlights how the public wants to engage and participate with scientific debate. The return of Ubirajara will hopefully inspire other scientists to engage in such campaigns, helping to improve palaeontology by making it more inclusive, fair and ethical.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in the compilation of this article.
Most ammonites had planispiral shells. However, throughout the course of the long evolutionary history of these remarkable and diverse cephalopods a huge variety of shell forms evolved. Everything Dinosaur team members spotted a stunning example of a heteromorph ammonite on display in the fossils gallery at the Manchester Museum.
A heteromorph ammonite fossil part of an exhibit showing the huge variety of ammonite fossil shells at the Manchester Museum. Most heteromorph ammonites evolved in the Cretaceous. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Heteromorph Ammonites
If asked to draw an ammonite shell, most people would sketch a tightly coiled shell, in a single plane with the diameter of each successive whorl getting bigger. This is a description of a typical ammonite planispiral shell. This would be an example of a homomorph shell. During the Late Jurassic, several new types of ammonite began to appear with varying degrees of uncoiled shells.
The colourful heteromorph ammonoid model – CollectA Pravitoceras. This model was introduced by CollectA in 2021.
The picture (above) shows the colourful CollectA Pravitoceras ammonite model. This figure was added to the CollectA model range in 2021. The CollectA Age of Dinosaurs series includes numerous extinct invertebrates. Trilobites, nautiloids, belemnites and ammonites are included in this substantial range.
These types of ammonites (heteromorph ammonites), became increasingly abundant during the Cretaceous and by the Late Cretaceous they were widespread and extremely diverse with a myriad of different types occupying marine environments.
Important Zonal Fossils (Heteromorph Ammonite Types)
Heteromorph ammonites were extremely numerous by the end of the Cretaceous. Many genera have become important zonal fossils. Both homomorph and heteromorph ammonites are used extensively by geologists for zoning strata and for relative dating of rock formations.
The first tetrapods (land living animals) were amphibious. It had been thought that the development of an egg with a semi-permeable shell (amniote egg) was a fundamental step in the development of life on land. This adaptation meant that land animals did not have to return to water to breed and spawn. Freed from having to return to the water, early tetrapods could explore new environments and expand into new habitats.
However, a new paper written by researchers from Nanjing University (China) and the University of Bristol challenges this view of evolution.
The researchers conclude that the earliest reptiles, birds and mammals (Amniota), may have borne live young.
What is an Amniote?
Amniotes lay eggs that have a semi-permeable shell that protects the embryo from drying out. A tough, internal membrane called the amnion surrounds the growing embryo as well as the yolk, the food source. Development of the embryo in a shelled egg meant that for the first time in history, the tetrapods were no longer tied to water to breed. We as mammals are amniotes, along with the birds and reptiles.
The amniotic egg, showing the semipermeable shell and the extraembryonic membranes. Picture credit: M. J. Benton (University of Bristol).
Studying Extinct and Extant Species
However, a study of 51 fossil species and 29 living species which could be categorised as oviparous (laying hard or soft-shelled eggs) or viviparous (giving birth to live young) suggests that the earliest reptiles, mammals and birds probably were capable of bearing live young.
The findings, published today in the academic journal “Nature Ecology & Evolution”, show that all the great evolutionary branches of the Amniota, the Mammalia, Lepidosauria (lizards and relatives), and the Archosauria (dinosaurs, crocodilians, birds) reveal viviparity and extended embryo retention in their ancestors.
Extended embryo retention (EER) occurs when the young are retained by the mother for a varying amount of time, likely depending on when conditions are best for survival. While the hard-shelled egg (amniote egg), has often been seen as one of the greatest innovations in evolution, this research implies it was extended embryo retention that gave this particular group of animals the ultimate protection.
Professor Michael Benton (School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol) explained:
“Before the amniotes, the first tetrapods to evolve limbs from fishy fins were broadly amphibious in habits. They had to live in or near water to feed and breed, as in modern amphibians such as frogs and salamanders.”
Professor Benton added:
“When the amniotes came on the scene 320 million years ago, they were able to break away from the water by evolving waterproof skin and other ways to control water loss. But the amniotic egg was the key. It was said to be a “private pond” in which the developing reptile was protected from drying out in the warm climates and enabled the Amniota to move away from the waterside and dominate terrestrial ecosystems.”
Challenging the Standard View About Amniote Egg Evolution
Project leader and corresponding author Professor Baoyu Jiang (Nanjing University) stated:
“This standard view has been challenged. Biologists had noticed many lizards and snakes display flexible reproductive strategy across oviparity and viviparity. Sometimes, closely related species show both behaviours, and it turns out that live-bearing lizards can flip back to laying eggs much more easily than had been assumed.”
Phylogeny of amniotes, showing known reproduction mode and eggshell mineralization, and EER of 80 modern and extinct species, and the estimated ancestral states for all branching points. The dominant inferred state at the origin of amniotes is viviparity with extended embryo retention (EER). Picture credit: M.J. Benton, University of Bristol.
Many Marine Reptiles were Live-bearers
Co-author Dr Armin Elsler (University of Bristol) commented:
“Also, when we look at fossils, we find that many of them were live-bearers, including the Mesozoic marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. Other fossils, including a choristodere from the Cretaceous of China, described here, show the to-and-fro between oviparity and viviparity happened in other groups, not just in lizards.”
The picture (above) shows the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Temnodontosaurus model. The ichthyosaur is giving birth, demonstrating viviparity within the Ichthyosauria.
In many types of extant vertebrate extended embryo retention (EER) is quite common. The developing young are retained by the mother for a lesser or greater span of time. The mother delays giving birth until conditions are most favourable to permit the survival of her offspring. The mother deliberately gives birth at the most propitious time.
Co-author of the paper, Dr Joseph Keating commented:
“EER is common and variable in lizards and snakes today. Their young can be released, either inside an egg or as little wrigglers, at different developmental stages, and there appears to be ecological advantages of EER, perhaps allowing the mothers to release their young when temperatures are warm enough and food supplies are rich.”
Skeleton of a baby choristodere, Ikechuosaurus, from the Early Cretaceous of China, found curled up inside the remnants of a parchment-shelled egg. Picture credit: Baoyu Jiang (Nanjing University).
Profound Implications for our Understanding of Tetrapod Evolution
Professor Benton summarised the study:
“Our work, and that of many others in recent years, has consigned the classic ‘reptile egg’ model of the textbooks to the wastebasket. The first amniotes had evolved extended embryo retention rather than a hard-shelled egg to protect the developing embryo for a lesser or greater amount of time inside the mother, so birth could be delayed until environments become favourable.”
The professor implied that this study had profound implications for our understanding of tetrapod evolution. He added:
“Whether the first amniote babies were born in parchment eggs or as live, snapping little insect-eaters is unknown, but this adaptive parental protection gave them the advantage over spawning earlier tetrapods.”
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Bristol in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Extended embryo retention and viviparity in the first amniotes” by Baoyu Jiang, Yiming He, Armin Elsler, Shengyu Wang, Joseph N. Keating, Junyi Song, Stuart L. Kearns and Michael J. Benton published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.
Our thanks to young artist Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur her drawing of a pair of azhdarchid pterosaurs. A Hatzegopteryx pair illustrated, a drawing inspired by the recent television series Prehistoric Planet II.
Two Hatzegopteryx pterosaurs illustrated. The drawing inspired by a scene from the recently aired Prehistoric Planet II. Picture credit: Caldey.
A Softer Side to Azhdarchids
Described by the narrator Sir David Attenborough as the apex predator in Europe during the Late Cretaceous, Hatzegopteryx shows a softer side. A male lands on a remote island and builds a display from driftwood in a bid to attract a female. The giant pterosaur is successful and a female lands to inspect his work. The five-metre-tall reptile offers the female a Tethyshadros that he has recently caught.
A second, smaller male arrives and threatens to break up the courtship display. However, the larger male soon deals with the interloper. The female impressed with her partner’s prowess allows herself to be mated. The female leaves and the inference is that the male will play no part in the raising of the young.
A drawing of the huge pterosaur Hatzegopteryx inspired by the CollectA Prehistoric Life Hatzegopteryx model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The drawing (above) is an illustration of Hatzegopteryx inspired by the CollectA Prehistoric Life Hatzegopteryx figure that was introduced in 2011.
Hatzegopteryx is one of the largest of the Pterosauria. The wingspan of this huge animal is estimated to be in excess of ten metres. The enormous skull was three metres in length.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur thanked Caldey for her drawing and commented:
“Prehistoric Planet has inspired lots of young artists. It is great to see the wonderful drawings. Our thanks to Caldey for sending into us her beautiful and incredibly detailed drawing of the pterosaur pair. We congratulate Caldey on her Hatzegopteryx illustration.”
