Today, Everything Dinosaur in collaboration with CollectA makes the fourth and final announcement about new CollectA models for 2024. We can introduce three new CollectA figures namely:
- Age of Dinosaurs Popular Nanuqsaurus – Stalking.
- CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Diprotodon.
- CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Placerias.
All three of these new prehistoric animal models will be available from Everything Dinosaur in the middle of 2024 or thereabouts.
New CollectA Models for 2024
The last of the figures to be announced this year, include a polar dinosaur, the biggest marsupial that ever lived and a Late Triassic dicynodont. In total, there will be seven new CollectA prehistoric animals plus the mini sauropod set.
CollectA Nanuqsaurus – stalking
The Age of Dinosaurs Popular figure reflects the very latest scientific interpretation of Nanuqsaurus (N. hoglundi). Fossils of this tyrannosaur come from the Prince Creek Formation in northern Alaska. When first described in 2014 (Fiorillo and Tykoski), this dinosaur was thought to be relatively small, perhaps around six metres in length. Subsequent discoveries including cranial and postcranial material has led to a reassessment of this theropod. A scientific paper published in August (2023) postulated that Nanuqsaurus was comparable in size to other Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurs such as Daspletosaurus.
The CollectA figure has been given a robust and powerful body. It is covered in a coat of shaggy feathers. The tail has a plume on its end. Whilst speculative (as is the entire integumentary covering), the plume could have played a role in visual communication, or perhaps this dinosaur wrapped its tail around its body to help keep it warm. This posture has been observed in other theropod dinosaurs. Nanuqsaurus would have had to endure around four months each year of almost total darkness. The paint scheme chosen would have provided excellent camouflage as this predator roamed the polar forests.
View the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Models.
CollectA Deluxe 1:20 Scale Diprotodon
Diprotodon was the first fossil mammal from Australia to be scientifically described (1838). The CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Diprotodon represents a male. This huge animal stood around 1.8 metres high at the shoulder, measured approximately 4 metres in length and weighed over 3 tonnes.
The CollectA Diprotodon has an old scar from an attack by a marsupial lion (Thylacoleo). When fully grown, a healthy male Diprotodon would have been virtually invulnerable.
Related to living wombats, this gentle giant lived during the Pleistocene, becoming extinct less than 50,000 years ago. Climate change leading to extensive droughts may have been a factor, but hunting and habitat destruction by the first Aboriginal Australians cannot be ruled out. It is likely that Diprotodon males fought with each other over social status and mates, hence the fresh bite mark on the cheek and the torn ear which signifies an older injury.
The stripes on the rump are a nod in the direction of the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). Advances in genetic engineering could lead to the de-extinction of the Thylacine and its reintroduction to Australia. CollectA have made a model of an extinct marsupial, and its colour scheme partly reflects the tantalising prospect of the resurrection of another iconic Australian animal.
CollectA Deluxe prehistoric animal figures: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.
CollectA Deluxe 1:20 Scale Placerias
The last figure for 2024 is a Deluxe Placerias. Placerias was a dicynodont and therefore distantly related to modern mammals. Fossils of this Late Triassic herbivore come from the USA, most notably from a single location in Arizona known as the “Placerias Quarry”. The remains of at least forty individuals have been found, suggesting that this herbivore lived in herds.
The CollectA Deluxe Placerias joins the CollectA Lisowicia bojani model that was introduced in 2020. It is likely that Placerias spent much of its time wallowing in shallow water and feeding on bankside vegetation, filling an ecological niche similar to the extant hippopotamus.
Although associated with an equatorial environment, the CollectA Deluxe Placerias has been given a subtle coat of body hair.
Hair remnants found in the fossilised faeces (coprolites) of Permian carnivores indicate that dicynodonts may have been covered in a coat of insulating body hair and therefore endothermic (warm-blooded), with a metabolism similar to a modern mammal. In recognition of this recent discovery and to reflect its mammalian links, the CollectA Deluxe Placerias has been given a sparse patch of bristles running along its back to the chubby tail.
Model Measurements
Here are those all-important model measurements:
- Age of Dinosaurs Popular Nanuqsaurus – stalking (length 15.7 cm, height 4.5 cm).
- CollectA Deluxe 1:20 Diprotodon (length 20.5 cm). We estimate the height at the shoulder to be around 12.5 cm).
- CollectA Deluxe 1:20 Placerias (length 15.7 cm, height 8 cm).
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that these figures will be in stock at Everything Dinosaur by the middle of 2024.
To view the first part of our new CollectA model series: New CollectA Models for 2024 (Part 1).
Part two is here: New CollectA Models for 2024 (Part 2).
The third part of our CollectA new model reveals: New for 2024 CollectA Models (Part 3).
Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.
Maybe I buy the Nanuqsaurus, but overall quite a disappointing year. Too many deluxe sized figures. I’m still waiting for a popular sized carnotaurus.