All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
About Mike
Mike runs Everything Dinosaur, a UK-based mail order company specialising in the sale of dinosaur and prehistoric animal models, He works alongside Sue, and between them they have become the "go to guys" for museum quality prehistoric animal models and figures. An avid fossil collector and reader of dinosaur books, Mike researchers and writes articles about palaeontology, fossil discoveries, research and of course, dinosaur and prehistoric animal models.
A colourful dinosaur wall display was spotted in a classroom when Everything Dinosaur team members conducted a dinosaur workshop at the school. The Year Two pupils had been learning all about prehistoric animals and fossils. The wall display had been produced during the term topic exploring “Would a Dinosaur Make a Good Pet”?
Everything Dinosaur team members are always impressed by school displays that feature dinosaurs and fossils. For example, Oakdene Primary pupils produced a colourful dinosaur wall display during their term topic studying prehistoric animals. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A Colourful Dinosaur Wall Display
Children at Oakdene Primary produced fact sheets featuring their favourite prehistoric animal. There were fact sheets on Velociraptor, Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. The eager, young palaeontologists had illustrated their dinosaur data sheets. The pictures and fact sheets were then posted up onto the “Wow Wall” in the classroom. The dinosaur facts and other learning materials made an attractive and most informative display.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We visited Oakdene Primary some years ago to deliver a dinosaur themed workshop. Everything Dinosaur had been invited into the school to support the children’s learning. At the time we praised the colourful wall display, and we were given permission to take a photograph.”
Learning About Dinosaurs
The spokesperson explained that Everything Dinosaur team members always tried to encourage children and to help them with their studies. Team members were quick to praise the teaching team for their hard work and dedication.
Many schools in England and Wales introduce a dinosaur and fossil themed term topic. Foundation Stage pupils as they transition from Nursery to Reception can find a dinosaur topic helpful. Year 3 pupils often learn about fossils and dinosaurs when studying rocks and soils.
A dinosaur term topic is also enjoyed by the teaching team. It certainly brings out plenty of creativity in the pupils that Everything Dinosaur team members have met.
This year, marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of the ground-breaking dinosaur movie “Jurassic Park”. The film was based on the 1990 novel by Michael Crichton. The film was extremely successful. It was a huge commercial success. It spawned a movie franchise with a further five films following, the original “Jurassic Park”.
The beautiful illustration of a pair of “raptors”. The drawing was inspired by the recent (June 2022) movie “Jurassic World Dominion. The adult Velociraptor Blue and her offspring Beta. Picture credit: Caldey.
Recently, Everything Dinosaur team members were interviewed about the impact of the film and the “Jurassic Park” legacy. The interview will form part of a seven-part, celebratory series being created for a YouTube channel.
The Impact on the Earth Sciences and Palaeontology
Many people working in the Earth sciences today, whether as palaeontologists or in some other related discipline were influenced by the movies. The Jurassic Park franchise is often cited as being a source of inspiration for them. The films and the book helped make up their mind as to their future career. They have watched the films, read the book and decided to become a palaeontologist.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“I do think it is fair to state that the book and these films have inspired and enthused new generations of scientists and academics. The Jurassic Park franchise has cemented the Dinosauria into popular culture and as a result, prehistoric animals are perhaps more popular than ever.”
The Everything Dinosaur spokesperson added:
“Jurassic Park may never exist, but maybe if the book or the films had never happened then perhaps what we term today as the golden age of palaeontology might not have come about.”
We look forwarded to viewing the YouTube videos when they are released later this year.
Whilst tidying up some papers, team members at Everything Dinosaur came across a visual of the CollectA nautilus model which was used in a YouTube video when this invertebrate figure was introduced back in 2020. The nautilus figure was one of seventeen new replicas introduced by CollectA in 2020.
The CollectA Nautilus model, a splendid replica of a living cephalopod. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
CollectA Nautilus Model
The largest extant species is Nautilus pompilius, which is sometimes also referred to as the Emperor nautilus. All living species are confined to tropical waters and these molluscs usually live at depths of more than a hundred metres.
In 2017, all the species of nautilus were afforded protection under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The shells are highly prized and attempts have been made to regulate the trade in shells. However, much of the trade in Asia remains uncontrolled and although not directly threatened with extinction conservationists have expressed concern about their long-term survival unless trade in the shells is better regulated.
A scale drawing of an extant nautilus (Nautilus pompilius). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The editor of “Prehistoric Times” magazine sent team members at Everything Dinosaur a preview of the front cover of the next edition of the quarterly magazine. The dramatic front cover artwork, which features a South American “Terror Bird” attacking a sabre-toothed cat, was created by southern California artist Kurt Miller.
The front cover of Prehistoric Times magazine issue 145 (Spring 2023). Picture credit: Mike Fredericks.
Picture credit: Mike Fredericks
“Prehistoric Times”
The spring issue features artwork and information on two prehistoric animals, the dinosaur Hypsilophodon and the giant Kelenken (K. guillermoi) a “Terror Bird”, that we suspect was the inspiration behind the stunning front cover artwork.
Kelenken is known from the Middle Miocene of Argentina. Standing more than 3 metres tall, it is the largest member of the Phorusrhacidae to have been described to date. Body mass estimates vary, but some palaeontologists have suggested that this giant flightless bird weighed around 200 kilograms.
Spring 2023 Edition
The next edition of “Prehistoric Times” is due out in a few weeks. The magazine will also feature an article from the distinguished Canadian palaeontologist Phil Currie. Professor Currie will examine the key dinosaur discoveries that took place more than a century ago.
The new for 2023 Papo Mosasaurus model is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This marine reptile figure is the first new Papo prehistoric animal model to be introduced this year (2023). The model has an articulated lower jaw. It displays some amazing details such as pterygoid teeth located in the roof of the cavernous mouth.
The new for 2023 Papo Mosasaurus model is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. The Papo Mosasaurus figure has an articulated jaw. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
An Articulated Lower Jaw and Pterygoid Teeth
The Papo Mosasaurus marine reptile model measures around 25.5 cm (10 inches) in length and it has an articulated lower jaw. The impressively painted mouth reveals two rows of pterygoid teeth located towards the back of the mouth. These teeth, known in living members of the Squamata such as snakes, helped to grip prey and enabled these large predators to swallow their victims whole.
The Papo Mosasaurus figure has pterygoid teeth located in the roof of the mouth. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Papo Mosasaurus Model
This new marine reptile figure has been given an asymmetrical tail fin, referred to as a hypocercal tail. One lobe, the lower lobe of the tail, is much larger than the upper lobe. The model has also been given powerful front flippers and a dorsal fin.
There are examples of soft tissue preservation in mosasaur specimens, most notably in a specimen reported in the journal “Nature Communications” by Lindgren et al (2013). A mosasaur fossil specimen from the Upper Cretaceous sediments of central Jordan provided evidence of the shape of the tail and the flippers as soft tissue impressions were preserved.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur are not aware of any direct fossil evidence to indicate that these reptiles had dorsal fins.
The Papo Mosasaurus was due to come out at the end of 2022, it was expected quarter 1 of 2023 and it is now in stock at Everything Dinosaur.
An Intriguing Marine Reptile Figure
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“The new Papo Mosasaurus is an intriguing marine reptile figure. A second marine reptile model from Papo is due out later this year. It is a Kronosaurus and we look forward to comparing the two models.”
Our thanks to William who sent into Everything Dinosaur his comprehensive review of the Beasts of the Mesozoic Yutyrannus huali model.
William explained that he had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaur figures. He was particularly excited about the Y. huali model. In his review, he states that the nostrils are very well sculpted with nice texture. The eyes are vivid with accurate postorbital crests and the nasal crest’s midline sweeps upwards towards the postorbital crests. The jaw is praised for its accuracy.
The Beasts of the Mesozoic Yutyrannus huali articulated dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Commenting on the Model
The Yutyrannus was an early prototype for the large-bodied tyrannosaurs that were to evolve later. The body sculpt is carefully thought out and the model has a robust body. The articulation of the figure, the model has twenty-two points of articulation, is highlighted and praised.
William comments:
“Pose as you wish without fear of a toppling figure. You have a stable figure like the real Yutyrannus was in life.”
The reviewer explained that the fully articulated, jointed tail is easy to add to the figure. He found the fully articulated jaw complete with the tongue a delight, and stated that swapping over the feet was easy, but recommended care when making model adjustments.
Attaching the figure to the stand peg is easy.
The Beasts of the Mesozoic Yutyrannus huali model comes complete with a display base.
The Feather Sculpt
The details on the model, particularly the feathers are described as “truly awe inspiring”. The reviewer exclaims that from “start to finish”, this is one of the best feathered dinosaur figures currently on the market.
William explains that as Yutyrannus was an early member of Tyrannosauroidea, the arms are powerful and equipped with strong hands and three fingers. He points out that the arms should be held downwards with palms facing inwards. William comments on the powerful legs with the toe claws blunted through wear.
The colour scheme chosen for the figure is based on Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus). The reviewer describes the model and comments that stability is 100% with either sets of lower limbs fitted.
The model is supplied in a window box with packaging art and the data card illustration created by Shannon Beaumont. The articulated model is supplied with two sets of interchangeable feet with closed and open toe versions. There is a rock and snow display base, with a peg to secure the figure.
As with William’s other model reviews he provides some information about the dinosaur.
Time Period: Early Cretaceous (125 million years ago) from the Yixian Formation.
Location: Liaoning Province, China.
Yutyrannus huali Model (Dinosaur Details)
Three fossil specimens are representing three individual animals of different sizes. The fossil material was originally recovered from a fossil dealer. This dinosaur was formally described in 2012.
Clade: Theropoda Superfamily: Tyrannosauroidea Family: Proceratosauridae Type species: Yutyrannus Species: Y. huali
Weight: 1.2 tons Length: 29.5 feet Height: 9 feet
William explained that during the Early Cretaceous northern China had a climate similar to British Columbia, with coastal forests dominated by conifers. He also highlighted some of the coeval dinosaurs that shared this cold, harsh habitat. The discovery of three individual animals of different sizes found together supports the theory that these dinosaurs were social, pack animals.
In concluding his review, William exclaimed:
“For my first Beasts of the Mesozoic figure I decided upon their 1/18th Yutyrannus huali. It has great articulation, and you are purchasing the Rolls Royce of dinosaur figures.”
Our thanks to William for sending Everything Dinosaur his comprehensive review.
In January, Everything Dinosaur received an order for two PNSO Sinosauropteryx models. These are popular prehistoric animal figures but we did contact Claire, the customer, just to check that they had not purchased an additional figure in error. Claire replied to our email and reassured us stating:
“Thank you for emailing! No, the purchase of a second PNSO Sinosauropteryx figure was not a mistake. My fiancé and I are planning to use them as cake toppers for our wedding.”
Intrigued, we asked Claire would it be possible for her to send us a picture of her dinosaur themed wedding cake.
Sure, enough over the weekend we were sent a photograph of the fabulous cake.
PNSO Sinosauropteryx models used as cake toppers for a spectacular dinosaur themed wedding cake. Picture credit: Claire.
Picture credit: Claire
PNSO Sinosauropteryx Wedding Guests
What a spectacular wedding cake. Even the two PNSO Sinosauropteryx models have been dressed up for the occasion. The cake looks beautiful, and we love the little flourishes such as the ammonite fossils on the side and the cascading waterfall made from blue icing.
Claire and her husband Bradley cutting the dinosaur themed wedding cake. Picture credit Claire.
Picture credit: Claire
We at Everything Dinosaur would like congratulate the happy couple. We wish Claire and Bradley every success and happiness as they build their new lives together.
To view the Sinosauropteryx figures that featured on the wedding cake and the rest of the PNSO prehistoric animal replicas: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.
Today, it is Mothering Sunday here in the UK. The fourth Sunday in Lent following the Christian calendar, a day dedicated to celebrating motherhood. Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the Northern Hemisphere spring months of March through to May.
Maiasaura
As we consider mums, maternal bonds and the contribution of mothers to society, our thoughts turn to the ornithischian dinosaur Maiasaura. Named and described in 1979 (Horner and Makela), this hadrosaurid dinosaur (Maiasaura peeblesorum) is synonymous with motherhood and maternal behaviours.
The first fossils of this dinosaur were discovered in the Badlands of Montana (USA), by a team of American scientists led by palaeontologist Jack Horner. The site the team uncovered consisted of a number of dinosaur nests, eggs, baby Maiasaura, juveniles and adults. The fossil site was renamed “Egg Mountain” and represents the fossilised remains of a Maiasaura colonial nesting area.
Happy Mother’s Day
Studies of Maiasaura provided unequivocal proof that dinosaurs raised their young and fed them at the nest (altricial behaviour). Maiasaura translates from the Greek meaning “Good Mother Lizard”, an appropriate epithet for a dinosaur that demonstrated that these reptiles, looked after their offspring.
The extensive fossil remains of this hadrosaur have enabled palaeontologists to undertake large scale studies of dinosaur ontogeny (growth rate studies). In addition, scientists have been able to determine the mortality rate of Maiasaura based on the Montana “Egg Mountain” fossils. A study of fifty Maiasaura peeblesorum tibia revealed that 90% of all Maiasaura hatchlings died within their first twelve months. If the dinosaurs survived into their second year, the mortality rate would fall to around 13%.
Today, March 18th, we at Everything Dinosaur commemorate the life of the American palaeontologist Othniel Charles Marsh. The eminent professor and president of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences passed away on this day in 1899.
Othniel Charles Marsh
Regarded as one of the great pioneers of American palaeontology he described more than a dozen new genera of dinosaurs, based on fossils excavated from the Western United States. He was responsible for naming and scientifically describing many of the most famous of all the Dinosauria. Brontosaurus, Apatosaurus, Triceratops and Stegosaurus were all named by Marsh.
A view of the anterior of “Sophie” the Stegosaurus stenops specimen on display at the London Natural History Museum. Othniel Charles Marsh named and described the first Stegosaurus species in 1877. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Theropod Dinosaurs, Prehistoric Birds and Pterosaurs
Marsh also named and described the theropod dinosaur Allosaurus (1878), named and described toothed-birds, early horses and studied the first pterosaur fossils known from the USA.
For all his academic and scientific achievements, perhaps O. C. Marsh is best remembered for his bitter rivalry with his fellow American scientist Edward Drinker Cope. A rivalry that became known as the “Bone Wars”.
A Lund University student researching the cognitive abilities of animals was given a Rebor Oddities “Extinction” figure as a gift on completion of her PhD. Everything Dinosaur was contacted by an academic from The Cognitive Zoology Group at Lund University (Sweden), when the pair of limited-edition Rebor Oddities “Extinction” figures were first publicised. Associate Professor Mathias Osvath, wanted to gift a figure to his PhD students as they completed their doctorates.
Student Claudia of The Cognitive Zoology Group (Lund University) having successfully completed her PhD with her coveted Rebor Oddities “Extinction” Victorian neoclassical marble version figure. Picture credit: Associate Professor Mathias Osvath (Lund University).
Rebor Oddities “Extinction” Figure
Rebor produced two versions of their Oddities “Extinction” figure. Both figures are cast in elastic resin and polystone and feature a Velociraptor in contemplation holding a human skull in its right hand. The beautifully detailed dromaeosaurid is perched on a stack of twenty-three books, one book for each of our twenty-three pairs of chromosomes.
The books represent an eclectic range of publications. They are a combination of fiction and non-fiction and include titles such as The Divine Comedy, the Poems of Longfellow, Gray’s Anatomy and the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.
Such was the interest from academics and collectors that Everything Dinosaur compiled a list of the books featured on the models in an earlier blog post: The Rebor Extinction Library.
The Rebor Oddities Extinction models. Left the bronze effect version and the Victorian neoclassical marble (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Dinosaur Cognition
Cognitive studies of the Dinosauria constitute an intriguing area of scientific enquiry. Everything Dinosaur expects to see several papers on dinosaur cognition being published in the near future. We wish Claudia and the other successful PhD students every success as they pursue their careers.
When asked about the special dinosaur present, Associate Professor Osvath commented:
“The gift was a success! During the party people started to notice that more or less every book the dino is sitting on had titles on the back, or even front covers. It can only be seen when shining bright light from the sides and using magnifying glasses. It must have been educated people, with a sense of humour, who designed these figures.”
“Le Penseur”
There are two variants of the Rebor “Oddities” Extinction figure. The Victorian neoclassical marble version was despatched by Everything Dinosaur to Lund University but there is also the same figure in a Renaissance bronze finish.
The Rebor “Oddities” Extinction figures remind Everything Dinosaur’s team members of Auguste Rodin’s famous sculpture “The Thinker”, also known as “Le Penseur”.
To view the range of Rebor figures and replicas in stock at Everything Dinosaur including the extinction figures (whilst stocks last): Rebor Models and Replicas.
