The recently introduced CollectA Deluxe Colossosuchus techniensis model has some remarkable anatomical details. One feature in particular caught our attention. The underside of the throat has been given extensive armour. This represents the Colossosuchus gular shield. One characteristic feature of phytosaurs was a gular shield. This protective structure consisted of multiple, irregular osteoderms covering the underside of the throat. CollectA has carefully reproduced this distinctive armour on the Colossosuchus techniensis model.
Colossosuchus techniensis gular shield. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The CollectA Deluxe range of scale models: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Figures.
The Colossosuchus Gular Shield
Phytosaurs were heavily armoured reptiles. They superficially resembled modern crocodilians. However, they were not closely related. Rows of osteoderms protected the back, but armour also occurred underneath the body. The new CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale model reflects this feature beautifully.
Large, irregular osteoderms cover the throat region of the replica. Together, these bony plates form a protective gular shield. The word “gular” refers to the throat region. Therefore, the term gular shield describes armour protecting the underside of the neck and throat.
This area could have been particularly vulnerable. Consequently, substantial dermal armour would have provided additional protection.
The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Colossosuchus model has an articulated lower jaw, and it is supplied with a free Everything Dinosaur Colossosuchus fact sheet. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
To read a blog post from 2025 about giant phytosaurs: Remarkable Phytosaur Giants.
An Impressive CollectA Deluxe Colossosuchus Model
Colossosuchus techniensis was formally described in 2023. Fossils come from the Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of India. Moreover, the largest individuals may have exceeded eight metres in length. This makes Colossosuchus one of the largest phytosaurs known to science. The CollectA replica is approximately 21 centimetres long and is in 1:40 scale. It also has a movable jaw.
However, it is the attention paid to smaller anatomical details that makes this figure especially interesting. The carefully sculpted Colossosuchus gular shield is an excellent example.
Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“There are not too many phytosaur replicas about. We praise CollectA for introducing this figure. There is much to admire with this phytosaur figure. It demonstrates how fossil evidence can be incorporated into a detailed prehistoric animal model.”
The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Museum Quality Models of Prehistoric Animals.
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