Mike | Everything Dinosaur Blog

13 02, 2022

Prehistoric Croc with Dinosaur Remains in its Stomach

By Mike|2024-10-26T11:37:53+01:00February 13th, 2022|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Scientists have announced the discovery of a new genus of crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia. Named Confractosuchus sauroktonos it is only the second crocodyliform known from the Cenomanian-aged Winton Formation and remarkably, the last meal of this predator has been preserved. The abdominal contents consist of the partial remains of a juvenile ornithopod, thus providing the first evidence of crocodile/dinosaur predation in Australia.

Furthermore, the ornithopod bones represent the first skeletal remains of this group reported from the Winton Formation, previously only known from tracks and shed teeth, the unfortunate dinosaur that was eaten by Confractosuchus may represent a new taxon.

$Confractosuchus sauroktonos attacks a juvenile ornithopod.$

A life reconstruction of Confractosuchus sauroktonos capturing the juvenile ornithopod. Picture credit: Dr Matt White/Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum.

Picture credit: Dr Matt White/Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum

“Prehistoric Croc” High Resolution Scans Reveal Delicate Fossil Bones

The crocodile specimen consisting of a nearly complete skull with post-cranial material representing about 35% of the total skeleton was discovered in 2010, on the Elderslie Station near to the town of Winton (Queensland). A field team was excavating the remains of a titanosaur and during the removal of the overburden the crocodile fossil material was found. Unfortunately, the concretion containing the fossil was partly crushed by an excavator. The small bones contained within the concretion were too fragile to be removed from the hard stone surrounding them so the object was subjected to neutron and synchrotron X-ray micro-computerised tomography so their details could be revealed.

$Confractosuchus skull fossil.$

The skull of the newly desribed Confractosuchus sauroktonos, only the second crocodyliform to be described from Winton Formation fossils. Picture credit: Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum.

Picture credit: Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum

“Broken Lizard Killer”

The diet of fossil crocodyliforms are usually inferred based on distinctive bite marks on fossil bone, although it has long been suspected that just like their extant relatives, ancient crocodiles would have preyed upon a wide variety of other animals. This fossil specimen indicates that young dinosaurs were on the menu for Confractosuchus.

The genus name of the new taxon is derived from Confractus which means “broken” in Latin, a reference to the shattered concretion in which the fossil material was preserved and suchus from the Greek for the Egyptian crocodile god Sobek. The species name is also from the Greek meaning “lizard”, a common word used as a suffix for the Dinosauria and ktonos meaning “killer”.

Although the tail and hind legs were missing, the researchers estimate that this Confractosuchus preshistoric croc individual was around 2.5 metres long, but it was not fully grown. Analysis of the teeth and jaws suggest that it probably had a similar diet to an extant caiman, it probably did not specialise in hunting and killing young dinosaurs, but it would not have turned down the opportunity of catching a young dinosaur or scavenging a corpse.

Analysis of the ornithopod fossils suggest that the crocodile either directly killed the dinosaur or scavenged it quickly after its death.

Confractosuchus sauroktonos is only the second crocodyliform to be named and described from fossils found in Winton Formation strata. The related but much smaller Isisfordia duncani was named and described in 2006.

$Confractosuchus sauroktonos from Queensland$

The concrection (left) that when subjected to high resolution tomography revealed the remains of a juvenile ornithopod within the crocodyliforms body cavity. Picture credit: White et al.

Picture credit: White et al

Both C. sauroktonos and I. duncani have been classified as members of the Eusuchia clade of crocodyliforms. As such, they are distantly related to modern caiman, alligators, gharials and crocodiles as all living crocodyliforms are also eusuchians.

The scientific paper: “Abdominal contents reveal Cretaceous crocodyliforms ate dinosaurs” by Matt A. White, Phil R. Bell, Nicolás E. Campione, Gabriele Sansalone, Tom Brougham, Joseph J. Bevitt, Ralph E. Molnar, Alex G. Cook, Stephen Wroe and David A. Elliott published in Gondwana Research.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Toys.

12 02, 2022

An Exclusive Schleich Parasaurolophus Video Showcase

By Mike|2024-10-26T11:29:29+01:00February 12th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Product Reviews|0 Comments

The latest product video to be posted up on the Everything Dinosaur YouTube channel features the recently introduced, new for 2022 Schleich Parasaurolophus dinosaur model. This figure is one of five new prehistoric animal figures announced so far by the German model manufacturer. The Parasaurolophus dinosaur model is the first Schleich figure to be given a product showcase video by Everything Dinosaur.

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

Model Measurements and Did this Dinosaur Live in China?

In the short video (it lasts around 45 seconds), viewers have the opportunity to observe the Parasaurolophus figure on a revolving turntable, model measurements are provided and a caption pops up explaining that this lambeosaurine is known from North America. A second caption follows shortly afterwards that indicates that this hadrosaur may have lived on two continents as very similar fossils to those associated with the Parasaurolophus genus have been found in Heilongjiang Province (China).

The new for 2022 Schleich Parasaurolophus dinosaur model. Although mainly associated with strata laid down during the Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous of North America, fossils from younger rocks (Maastrichtian stage) in north-eastern China suggest that Parasaurolophus may have lived in Asia and persisted until the very end of the Cretaceous.

The new for 2022 Schleich Parasaurolophus dinosaur model.

Previous Parasaurolophus Models

Schleich has made replicas of Parasaurolophus before. One of the original figures in the long retired Schleich “Saurus” series was a green Parasaurolophus. Another Parasaurolophus figure was introduced by the German manufacturer in 2007.

The original Schleich Parasaurolophus model in the “Saurus” range.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Our latest product video showcase provides dinosaur fans and model collectors with more information on the recently introduced Schleich Parasaurolophus. Whilst we have to keep these videos short, we try to make them as informative as possible.”

A photograph of the new for 2022 Schleich Parasaurolophus model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Schleich prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Schleich Dinosaurs.

The user-friendly Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

11 02, 2022

Abditosaurus kuehnei – The First New Dinosaur of 2022

By Mike|2022-10-23T18:36:31+01:00February 11th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

The first new dinosaur to be scientifically described in 2022, hails from the Late Cretaceous of the southern Pyrenees of Spain and it’s a giant. At an estimated 17.5 metres long, Abditosaurus kuehnei was probably the largest dinosaur on the European archipelago some 70.5 million years ago (Maastrichtian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous) and its fossils represent the most complete titanosaur known from Europe described to date.

*Abditosaurus kuehnei life reconstruction. Picture credit: Oscar Sanisidro / Museu de la Conca Dellà.*

A Dinosaur That Took Decades to Discover

During the Late Cretaceous sea levels were exceptionally high and much of the continent of Europe we know today was underwater. The landmass of Europe was divided into a series of islands, this archipelago is known to have supported a wide variety of different types of non-avian dinosaur, titanosaurs were present, although none of the scientifically described genera would have matched Abditosaurus in size.

Late Cretaceous Europe. — Europe during the Maastrichtian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous. Abditosaurus roamed the Ibero-Amorican island on the western age of the archipelago. The Ibero-Amorican island consisted of mainly southern France, Portugal and north-central Spain. The researchers propose that this large titanosaur migrated to the island from the south around 70.5 million years ago when sea level regression opened up a temporary land bridge with northern Africa. Adapted from Dalla Vecchia.

Related to Titanosaurs from Gondwana

The new titanosaur taxon demonstrates an unusual combination of characters not seen in other Ibero–Armorican titanosaurs. For example, it had a very robust humerus with a distally expanded deltopectoral crest, an anatomical characteristic typical of the Saltasauridae family of titanosaurs. A phylogenetic analysis carried out by the research team, who included Doctor Albert Sellés, a palaeontologist with the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Museu de la Conca Dellà, nests Abditosaurus within a clade of South American and African saltasaurines and away from European titanosaurs. This suggests that Abditosaurus migrated to the Ibero-Amorican island around 70.5 million years ago when a temporary land bridge united the island with northern Africa.

Further evidence suggesting that dinosaurs migrated from Africa to the island was found at the dig site. Dr Albert Sellés, one of the co-authors of the scientific paper, explained that eggshell fossils from a titanosaurian oospecies known from Gondwana were also discovered.

Abditosaurus kuehnei fossil excavation. — Abditosaurus kuehnei fossil excavation (a) the fossils exposed at the Orcau-1 site and (b, c) fieldwork to extract the fossil material. Picture credit: Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont.

The “Forgotten Reptile”

German palaeontologist Walter Georg Kühne found the first fossil evidence of this large dinosaur in 1954 when exploring Upper Cretaceous deposits near the small town of Orcau (Catalonia). These fossils were despatched to the Instituto Lucas Mallada in Madrid. The following year Kühne returned and collected more bones. No further excavations took place until 1986, when the site was opened up again by a field team from the Institut de Paleontologia de Sabadell (Barcelona) which found dorsal ribs and part of the sternum. From 2012 to 2014 the dig site was opened up once more, this time by a joint Museu de la Conca Dellà, Institut Català de Paleontologia and Universidad de Zaragoza expedition and further fossil material was removed.

The generic name is derived from the Latin word “Abditus” (meaning forgotten) and the Greek word “sauros” (lizard), in recognition of the protracted excavation. The specific name honours Professor Walter Georg Kühne.

Abditosaurus kuehnei skeletal drawing. — Skeletal reconstruction and scale estimate of Abditosaurus kuehnei. The different coloured bones indicate which bones were excavated during the different field expeditions. The bones coloured light pink were excavated in the 1950s but have been subsequently lost. Picture credit: Bernardo González Riga.

Cervical vertebrae of Abditosaurus kuehnei. — *The partially complete but articulated cervical vertebrae of Abditosaurus kuehnei. Picture credit: Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont.*

The photograph above shows the neck bones of Abditosaurus recovered from the dig site. Although famous for their long necks, the fossil record of sauropod cervical vertebrae is surprisingly sparse.

To read an Everything Dinosaur blog post that summarises some of the problems of restoring sauropod specimens when palaeontologists have only limited information about the size of the dinosaur’s neck: How Much Do We Know About Sauropod Necks?

The scientific paper: “A titanosaurian sauropod with Gondwanan affinities in the latest Cretaceous of Europe” by Bernat Vila, Albert Sellés, Miguel Moreno-Azanza, Novella L. Razzolini, Alejandro Gil-Delgado, José Ignacio Canudo and Àngel Galobart published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

10 02, 2022

New Research Giving the Arthropoda a Leg Up

By Mike|2024-10-24T08:23:19+01:00February 10th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

A University of Manchester researcher in collaboration with a team of international scientists from China, Sweden and Switzerland has helped invertebrate palaeontologists to resolve the puzzle of how arthropods evolved gills. Dr David Legg from the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Environmental Sciences and his co-authors have published a scientific paper this week that describes a new genus of ancient marine arthropod from the Chengjiang biota of Yunnan Province, China. The newly described Erratus sperare swam in a shallow tropical sea some 518 million years ago (stage 3 of the Cambrian). At around 3 centimetres in length, it was no giant, but it represents a giant leap forward in the evolution of the Arthropoda.

A life reconstruction of the Cambrian Erratus sperare which has helped palaeontologists to improve their understanding of the origin of gills in the Arthropoda. Picture credit: University of Manchester.

Picture credit: University of Manchester

The Evolution of Biramous Limbs

Extant water dwelling arthropods and their extinct counterparts such as the trilobites have biramous limbs, legs that have two distinct parts or branches – one for breathing and one for walking. The inner branch is known as the endopod and the outer branch is called the exopod, together these two branches form the marine arthropod limb.

How such specialised limbs evolved was a mystery. Some of the earliest fossil arthropods, like Anomalocaris, had swimming flaps that may have doubled as gills, but until now researchers didn’t know how arthropods made the jump from these specialised flaps to the biramous limbs of modern arthropods.

The CollectA Anomalocaris model. A fantastic replica of an early apex predator. The CollectA Anomalocaris (Other Prehistoric Animal Models).

The picture (above) shows a model of an Anomalocaris, a large Cambrian predator. This model is part of the CollectA range.

To view the CollectA range of prehistoric animal figures: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

Erratus sperare – A Transitional Form

Erratus sperare fossils come from the UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Yunnan Province, China. The Maotianshan shales exposed in Chengjiang County preserve a record of a Cambrian marine community that existed several million years before the Burgess Shales of British Columbia were laid down. The highly fossiliferous strata have yielded at least 196 different species, with both hard parts and soft tissues preserved.

E. sperare appears to be a transitional form, it provides a missing link between arthropods that used specialised flaps such as Anomalocaris and arthropods with biramous limbs. It has both legs and flaps.

Erratus sperare fossils and explanatory line drawing.

Erratus sperare gen. et sp. nov. from the early Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 3), Chengjiang Lagerstätte, China. The fossils are approximately 518 million years old. Photograph (a) NWUS92-310, specimen formerly referred to Isoxys auritus note the carapace with short anterior spine and covering the seven most anterior body segments; the flap margin without setae (arrows); (b) details of flap 6–7; note the smooth margin. XDBZ102 (c), the complete carapace (Ca) of E. sperare in dorsal view, showing anterior spine and straight posterior margin; (d) line drawing of (a) showing cardinal spine (Cs), ventral eyes (Ey) with stalk (Es), and flaps 1–11; the ventral endopods (En) are present in the anterior trunk. Scale bars, 2 mm for (b) and 1 cm for others. Picture credit: Fu et al.

Picture credit: Fu et al

Explaining the significance of this fossil discovery, Dr David Legg commented:

“Fish aren’t the only organisms that have gills! Arthropods have gills too… they just have them on their legs. When it came to arthropods, however, we just weren’t sure where these gills came from. Thanks to this new fossil, Erratus sperare, we now have a much clearer idea. These gills also probably went on to evolve into the wings of insects and the lungs of terrestrial arthropods like spiders so were a very important innovation.”

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Manchester in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “The evolution of biramous appendages revealed by a carapace-bearing Cambrian arthropod” by Dongjing Fu, David A. Legg, Allison C. Daley, Graham E. Budd, Yu Wu and Xingliang Zhang published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

9 02, 2022

A New Super-predator from the Middle Triassic

By Mike|2024-10-24T08:15:41+01:00February 9th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Scientists from the University of Birmingham, Virginia Tech (USA) and the London Natural History Museum have described a new super-predator from the Middle Triassic of Tanzania. The ancient archosaur, a very distant relative of modern crocodiles, has been named Mambawakale ruhuhu, with a skull estimated to be around 75 cm long and a total body length of around 5 metres, Mambawakale is one of the largest terrestrial carnivores known from this period in Earth’s history.

Originally referred to as Pallisteria angustimentum, with the genus name honouring geologist John Weaver Pallister OBE (1912–1985), the researchers writing in the open-access journal Royal Society Open Science, wanted to acknowledge the contribution of local scientists and field team members from Tanzania and Zambia. Once it had been established that the fossils represented a new taxon, advice was sought and the genus name Mambawakale (from the regional Kiswahili language meaning “ancient crocodile”) was erected.

Photographs of the skull of Mambawakale ruhuhu (Holotype)

Photographs of the skull of Mambawakale ruhuhu (NHMUK R36620) in right lateral view (a) and left lateral view (b). Note scale bar = 100 mm. Picture credit: Butler et al.

Picture credit: Butler et al

The Manda Beds of Tanganyika (Tanzania)

The first, major collection of Triassic fossils from the Middle Triassic Manda Beds exposed in the Ruhuhu Basin of southern Tanzania took place in the 1930s. The research was led by the British geologist Gordon Murray Stockley. At the time Tanganyika was still part of the British Empire and the fossils were removed to the UK, Europe and to South Africa (an independent dominion of the British Empire). The archosaur fossils were studied by Alan Charig in the late 1950s, but this work was not published until after his death in 1997.

In 1963, two years after Tanganyika gained independence and was renamed Tanzania, Alan Charig participated in a British Museum (Natural History Museum) expedition to the region to find more archosaur material. This expedition was heavily reliant on Tanzanians and Zambians who helped excavate fossils, locate dig sites and built roads to permit transport of the fossils. Sadly, the efforts of these people were not recognised in published reports and no Tanzanians or Zambians were named in the publications.

The Mambawakale material consisting of a partial skull, lower jaw, cervical vertebrae and the bones from the left hand (manus), was one of the last sets of fossils from the 1963 expedition to be studied. Once the researchers had identified that these fossils represented a new genus, they wanted to recognise the previously little acknowledged contributions of the Africans, hence, the reference to the Kiswahili language for the genus name. The species epithet makes reference to the Ruhuhu Basin.

Left hand (manus) of the newly described pseudosuchian archosaur Mambawakale ruhuhu (specimen number NHMUK R36620). Picture credit: Butler et al.

Picture credit: Butler et al

One of the Oldest Known Archosaurs

The large skull and heterodont dentition in the anterior portion of the upper jaw, indicate that Mambawakale was a powerful animal and a formidable carnivore.

Corresponding author Richard Butler, Professor of Palaeobiology at the University of Birmingham stated:

“Mambawakale ruhuhu would have been a large and terrifying predator, which roamed across Tanzania some 240 million years ago. At around 5 metres long, it’s one of the largest predators that we know of from this period.”

Analysis of the skull led to the identification of cranial autapomorphies (unique characteristics) that permitted the research team to erect a new genus. The Mambawakale material can be confidently distinguished from all other Manda Bed archosaurs, with the possible exception of the probably very closely related Stagonosuchus nyassicus for which direct comparisons are not possible due to the lack of overlapping fossil bones.

Photographs of the skull of Mambawakale ruhuhu in (a) dorsal view and (b) ventral view. Specimen number NHMUK R36620, note scale bar = 100 mm. Picture credit: Butler et al.

Picture credit: Butler et al

Professor Butler went onto add:

“Our analysis identifies Mambawakale as one of the oldest known archosaurs and an early member of the lineage that eventually evolved into modern crocodilians. It’s an exciting discovery, because identifying this animal helps us to understand the rapid early diversification of archosaurs and enables us to add a further link to the evolutionary story of modern-day crocodiles.”

Life reconstruction of the newly described pseudosuchian Mambawakale ruhuhu. Only the skull, elements from the jaw and fragmentary postcranial material are known so the body shape has been created based on better-known, large pseudosuchian relatives. Picture credit: Gabriel Ugueto.

Picture credit: Gabriel Ugueto

Dating the Manda Beds

Tetrapod fossils associated with the Manda Beds have led palaeontologists to propose that the deposits date from the Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic, however, the age of these rocks remains in dispute. Some recent papers have suggested that the rocks, and therefore the fossils contained therein are actually younger and that the strata were laid down in the Late Triassic (Carnian stage).

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Birmingham in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “A new pseudosuchian archosaur, Mambawakale ruhuhu gen. et sp. nov., from the Middle Triassic Manda Beds of Tanzania” by Richard J. Butler, Vincent Fernandez, Sterling J. Nesbitt, João Vasco Leite and David J. Gower published in Royal Society Open Science.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Models.

8 02, 2022

Rebor Deinosuchus “Swamp” Video Showcase

By Mike|2024-10-23T22:12:52+01:00February 8th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have created another short YouTube video to highlight a prehistoric animal model that they stock. This time, it is the limited-edition Rebor Club Selection: Hatchling Deinosuchus in the swamp colour variant that has been put into the spotlight.

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models.

Highlighting Product Features

The product video showcase is designed to highlight features and show more detail. Whilst images provided by the manufacturer and indeed photographs taken by Everything Dinosaur team members do help, a short video can give potential purchasers an excellent view of the prehistoric animal figure and help them to make a more informed purchase decision.

The Rebor Club Selection: Meta the Hatchling Deinosuchus (swamp variant) video showcase, lasts a little over 40 seconds. The total number of models made in this series is stated along with the replica’s measurements. The unique number on the base of the model is highlighted along with the Rebor packaging.

Rebor Club Selection: Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus - the Swamp Variant

The 2021 limited edition Rebor Club Selection: Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus polystone replica (swamp colour variant).

A Collectable Crocodile Figure

The Rebor Deinosuchus replica in the swamp colour variant is one of two versions available. The other version is the estuary version, which has already featured in an Everything Dinosaur product video showcase. Both limited-edition figures are highly collectable and when current stocks sell out, these models will not be put back into production.

As with the estuary colour variant, Everything Dinosaur will include a free Deinosuchus fact sheet with sales of this excellent figure from its website.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“This is the second Deinosuchus product video showcase, the YouTube video featuring the estuary variant was posted up a few days ago. Over the last few weeks, we have made a number of product video showcases that highlight Rebor models. Whilst we can’t put up videos of every single replica in the Rebor range we hope that the short videos that we have made provide customers with more information and allow them to appreciate the high level of detail associated with the Rebor range.”

To view the range of Rebor models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Models and Figures.

7 02, 2022

The New PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus

By Mike|2024-10-23T07:32:30+01:00February 7th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

PNSO will introduce a model of the fearsome Late Cretaceous Chinese tyrannosaur Zhuchengtyrannus in early spring. The PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus will be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in March (2022). Team members were aware of this tyrannosaur model going into production and arranged to delay the loading of their shipping container on the vessel leaving China until the new Zhuchengtyrannus figure was available from the factory.

The PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus dinosaur model.

Zhuchengtyrannus magnus

News of the discovery and scientific description of a new taxon of giant tyrannosaur from Asia (eastern China), began to appear in media outlets around the 1st of April 2011. The discovery of a giant, Late Cretaceous predator that may have rivalled Tyrannosaurus rex in size was thought by some to be an April Fool’s joke. A point alluded to in Everything Dinosaur’s blog post announcing the discovery: A New Tyrannosaur Taxon is Described.

The new for 2022 PNSO Zhuchengtyrannus model.

Zhuchengtyrannus Model Measurements

The PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus dinosaur model, pronounced “zoo-cheng-tie-ran-us” measures 28.5 cm in length and it stands 11.5 cm high. PNSO have introduced two other tyrannosaurs into their mid-size model range, both were launched in 2021. There is a replica of Tarbosaurus (Chuanzi the Tarbosaurus), which is thought by many palaeontologists to represent a sister taxon to Zhuchengtyrannus (Loewen et al, 2013) and a model of the controversial genus Nanotyrannus (N. lancensis).

Model Size Comparisons

PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus (2022) – length 28.5 cm and height 11.5 cm.
The PNSO Chuanzi the Tarbosaurus (2021) – length 31 cm and height 11 cm.
PNSO Logan the Nanotyrannus (2021) – length 17 cm and height 6.5 cm.

The PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus model measurements.

Colour Posters, Booklet and a QR Code

The new for 2022 PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus replica is supplied with colour posters, a 64-page booklet and the packaging has a QR code on it that links to a short video that explains how the figure was developed.

PNSO Zhuchengtyrannus supplied with booklet and posters.

The new for 2022 PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus dinosaur model is supplied with colour posters, a 64-page information booklet and the packaging has a QR code that links to a short video that explains how the figure was developed.

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

Evidence of a Second Large Tyrannosaur from Shandong Province

The fossil material ascribed to Zhuchengtyrannus consists of a left dentary (lower jaw) and a nearly complete right maxilla (bone from the upper jaw). Both were found in a hadrosaur bonebed deposit. Calculating the size of this fearsome theropod has proved difficult, although it has been described as an apex predator.

Intriguingly, other tyrannosaur bones were found in the same bonebed. A lower jaw and a maxilla from suspected other tyrannosaurs (specimen numbers ZCDM V0030 and ZCDM V0032 respectively), were discovered. Both fossils differ from the equivalent material ascribed to Z. magnus and from all known tyrannosaurs. This suggests that at least one other large tyrannosaur was present in the palaeoenvironment.

The PNSO Zhuchengtyrannus model has been equipped with an articulated lower jaw.

PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus has an articulated lower jaw.

The PNSO Lu Xiong Zhuchengtyrannus model has an articulated lower jaw.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that they were looking forward to the arrival of Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus dinosaur model and this figure should be in stock in March (2022).

To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.

6 02, 2022

Rebor Deinosuchus “Estuary” Video Showcase

By Mike|2024-10-23T07:25:10+01:00February 6th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur team members have produced a short video highlighting the features of the Rebor Deinosuchus model in the estuary colour scheme. The brief video, which is up on the company’s popular YouTube channel has been created so that potential customers can get a really good look at this limited-edition figure.

A spokesperson for the UK-based mail order company confirmed that they were planning to make more product showcase videos and to post them up onto Everything Dinosaur’s website.

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

Highlighting the Deinosuchus Model

The product video showcase features the limited-edition Rebor Club Selection: Meta the Hatchling Deinosuchus in the estuary colour scheme. The short video (it lasts a little over forty seconds), provides information on the number of replicas made, the model’s measurements and highlights the packaging as well as the unique product number located on the base of the Deinosuchus figure.

Rebor Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus model (Estuary Variant0

The Rebor Club Selection: Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus is about to leave its egg! It’s very keen to get to the safety of the water.

Collecting Collectable Crocodilian Figures

The Rebor Deinosuchus replica in the estuary colour variant is one of two versions that have been manufactured. The other replica is the swamp version, which will feature in a forthcoming Everything Dinosaur product video showcase. Both limited-edition figures are highly collectable and when current stocks are sold, these models will not be put back into production.

The Rebor Club Selection Deinosuchus figures – the box contents. The limited edition Estuary variant (right) and the limited edition Swamp variant (left). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Models and Toys.

As with the swamp colour variant, Everything Dinosaur team members will include a free Deinosuchus fact sheet with sales of this excellent figure from the company’s website.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“This is the first Rebor Deinosuchus Club Selection product video showcase, the YouTube video featuring the other version, the swamp variant will be posted up onto Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel in a few days. Over the last few weeks, we have made several product video showcases that highlight Rebor models including the recently introduced Smilodon populator figures. Whilst we are unable to put up videos of every single item in the Rebor range we hope that the short videos that we have made provide customers with more information and allow them to appreciate the excellent quality of the models within this particular product portfolio.”

To view the range of Rebor models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Models and Figures.

5 02, 2022

A Remarkable Miocene Fish Skull Fossil Filled with Fossil Worm Poo

By Mike|2024-10-23T07:18:40+01:00February 5th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

The famous marine sediments of the Chesapeake Group, which outcrops across North Carolina, Delaware, Virginia and Maryland in the USA are regarded as some of the most extensively studied Cenozoic marine deposits in the world. The first fossil described from North America (Ecphora quadricostata) a marine snail which was scientifically described in 1685, comes from deposits associated with the Chesapeake Group (St Marys Formation)

A Miocene Fish Fossil

Many different types of fish and marine invertebrates have been named from fossils found at locations such as the Calvert Cliffs on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay (Maryland). Cetacean fossil material is also associated with these strata, along with sea cows and many seabirds such as gannets and fulmars. Marine turtles and the remains of land tortoises and freshwater crocodiles are also known.

A researcher from the Calvert Marine Museum (Maryland), is one of the authors of a recently published scientific paper that highlights a first for these Miocene-aged deposits. The partial skull of a fish has been found crammed full of tiny, fossil poo probably created by scavenging worms that once feasted on the head of the fish.

Invertebrate faecal matter in fossil fish braincase.

Photograph (left) of the partial skull of the Miocene Stargazer fish (ventral view). Some of the bone has broken away revealing hundreds of fossilised faecal pellets filling the braincase. A close-up view of the faecal matter (right). Picture credit: Calvert Marine Museum.

Picture credit: Calvert Marine Museum

Stargazer Skull (Astroscopus spp.)

The specimen represents the first skull completely infilled with faecal pellets ever recorded, the fossil poo (micro-coprolite) is an example of the coprulid ichnospecies Coprulus oblongus. The pellets range in size from 1 mm to 5 mm in length and the skull comes from a Stargazer fish (Astroscopus), a genus of bottom living fish that bury themselves in soft sediment lying in wait to ambush small fish and invertebrates that come within striking distance.

A fossil of worm faecal pellets from Miocene-aged deposits from southern Maryland (USA). Each pellet is approximately 3 millimetres in length. Picture credit: Calvert Marine Museum.

Picture credit: Calvert Marine Museum

Crocodile Coprolites Studied Too

Writing in the academic journal “Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia”, the researchers also describe a series of trace fossils found in preserved crocodile coprolite from the Miocene Calvert Formation. The fossil crocodile poo was tunnelled into, presumably evidence of the faeces being consumed (coprophagy). The scientists are unable to identify the organism(s) responsible for producing the burrows although the sides of the burrows preserve evidence of scratches which are thought to be feeding traces.

Crocodile coprolite fossil with feeding traces.

Crocodile coprolite broken open showing trace fossil burrows made by a coprophagus organism. Feeding gouge marks can be seen on the walls of the burrow. Length of crocodile coprolite 17.5 cm approximately. Picture credit: Calvert Marine Museum.

Picture credit: Calvert Marine Museum

Whilst these remarkable fossils might not be as awe-inspiring as the whale bones that have been found in these rocks, they provide important evidence with regards to the recycling of nutrients from faecal matter in Miocene-aged marine environments.

The scientific paper: “Coprolites from the Calvert Cliffs: Miocene fecal pellets and burrowed crocodilian droppings from the Chesapeake Group of Maryland, USA” by Stephen J. Godfrey, Alberto Collareta and John R. Nance published in Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia.

4 02, 2022

Ice Age Animal Remains Found in Devon

By Mike|2024-10-23T07:08:51+01:00February 4th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

The remains of several different types of Ice Age mammal that inhabited south-western England have been recovered from a cave in Devon. The fossils, which are estimated to be between 30,000 and 60,000 years old provide scientists with a unique perspective on the fauna that existed during the Devensian, or the Last Glacial Period (LGP). Although ice sheets did not reach south-western England, Devon would have experienced extreme cold, tundra-like conditions.

Animal remains found in the cave include the partial remains of a Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), bones from a Woolly Rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), the skeleton of a wolf, plus hyena, red fox, horse, reindeer and mountain hare fossils.

Ice Age Prehistoric Animal Remains found in Devon

The jumbled up bones of Ice Age animals found in a Devon cave. Picture credit: Historic England.

Picture credit: Historic England

An “Exceptional” Fossil Site

A substantial new town consisting of over 5,000 new houses and related infrastructure is being built close to Plymouth. The Sherford Consortium, the developers, state that the cave was located close to old lime kilns and Sherford Quarry. Commenting on the significance of the discovery, Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England stated that these fossils were “exceptional” and added:

“To have found partial remains of such a range of species here in Devon gives us a brilliant insight into the animals which roamed around Ice Age Britain thousands of years ago, as well as a better understanding of the environment and climate at the time.”

Part of a mammoth tusk carefully being packed into a box for transport off the dig site. Picture credit: AC Archaeology.

Picture credit: AC Archaeology

Ice Age Animal Remains

A team of experts have been brought in to carefully document and record the fossil finds. The fossils, including an exceptionally preserved lower jaw from a Woolly Rhinoceros (C. antiquitatis), are currently being studied. It is hoped that this collection of Ice Age remains will be able to stay in the county, with the most likely final destination for the fossils being “The Box”, a recently opened museum in Plymouth close to the University.

A lower jaw from a Woolly Rhinoceros with some teeth in situ with two additional teeth. Picture credit: AC Archaeology.

Picture credit: AC Archaeology

The Mammoth Gallery

Proposals have been made to put the fossils on permanent display in the Mammoth Gallery of The Box Museum. Plymouth’s former Museum and Art Gallery was re-opened as “The Box” in 2020 following extensive development and renovation. The Mammoth Gallery at the museum explores the natural history of Devon and includes many fossil specimens of the Ice Age fauna associated with south-western England.

The excavation and removal of the fragile fossils involved specialist archaeologists such as those from AC Archaeology, independent archaeological consultants and contractors who provide advice on historic environment issues to developers, local authorities and national bodies.

The CollectA Deluxe Woolly Mammoth model in 1:20 scale and the CollectA Prehistoric Life Woolly Mammoth calf. Woolly Mammoths roamed Devon. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

About Mike

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“Broken Lizard Killer”

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Previous Parasaurolophus Models

A Dinosaur That Took Decades to Discover

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Highlighting Product Features

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Colour Posters, Booklet and a QR Code

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Highlighting the Deinosuchus Model

Collecting Collectable Crocodilian Figures

A Miocene Fish Fossil

Stargazer Skull (Astroscopus spp.)

Crocodile Coprolites Studied Too

An “Exceptional” Fossil Site

Ice Age Animal Remains

The Mammoth Gallery