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 dragonfly has been spotted by Everything Dinosaur team members on a small patch of grass next to a drainage ditch outside the company’s warehouse. This is the first time that a dragonfly has been seen in the vicinity of the Everything Dinosaur warehouse. There is a small area of grass next to a drainage ditch and we suspect the dragonfly, possibly a male Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) emerged from the ditch during the recent hot weather. Our litter picking and tidying up of this small body of water outside our warehouse is paying dividends.
Can you spot the dragonfly? Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A Haven for Wildlife
The ditch is a haven for wildlife, and we have spotted several different species of water snails including the Great Pond Snail (Lymnaea stagnalis) and the Great Ramshorn (Planorbarius corneus). There are also small fish – we suspect Stickleback (Gasterosteidae family). There may also be frogs and newts, although we have not observed any amphibians to date, although we were visited by a young Mallard duck a few weeks ago.
Photographing the dragonfly was tricky, we could not get that close to our subject, but we tried our best.
A close-up view of the dragonfly. We think this might be an immature male Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that it was always exciting to see a dragonfly. Due to loss of habitat and pollution, these magnificent insects are under threat in many parts of the UK. The earliest dragonfly fossils are known from the Carboniferous. Some of these Carboniferous forms (Meganisoptera order) were huge with wingspans in excess of sixty centimetres. Extant dragonflies (Odonata) are distantly related to these ancient, winged insects, the Odonata lineage may have evolved in the Late Permian.
A close-up view of the dragonfly spotted outside the Everything Dinosaur warehouse.
Spotting Dragonflies
The office pond has also produced dragonflies, although no Common darters. As the mature nymphs emerge from the pond, they climb up plant stems and prepare to shed their external skeletons and emerge as winged adults (Ecdysis).
Team members have already spotted several exuviae (shed exoskeletons) around the pond.
A dragonfly that has just emerged from Everything Dinosaur’s office pond. This picture shows a Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) – we think. The photograph was taken in 2020. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Let’s hope we see a few more dragonflies before the end of summer.
Everything Dinosaur has received stock of the new Papo young Smilodon model. This sabre-toothed cat figure was one of two models scheduled to be introduced by Papo last year. However, like many manufacturers, the global pandemic and issues with logistics had delayed the introduction of this prehistoric mammal figure.
The Papo Megalodon (Otodus megalodon) * arrived in September 2021, the young Smilodon was subject to further delays, but this new replica has safely arrived at Everything Dinosaur’s UK warehouse.
Papo young Smilodon figure in right lateral view. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Papo Model Colouration
The actual figures are slightly darker than the studio image supplied by Papo. The colouration of a figure can be influenced by the camera settings, the lighting and even the device on which the image is viewed. However, the young Smilodon figure does tend to be a little darker than the official Papo image suggests.
Papo young Smilodon model.
The image (above), is one of the official Papo product images. In contrast, the image below shows a studio shot of the model taken by a team member at Everything Dinosaur. The difference in colouration could reflect different lighting conditions and camera settings.
A view of the new Papo young Smilodon model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
2109 – The Number of the Beast
The Papo young Smilodon, or to use the term most familiar with our French chums – “le Papo jeune Smilodon”, has the number 2109 stamped on the lowermost portion of the flank. We suspect that this is the batch number, it being a legal requirement so that production batches can be traced, if there ever was a need to recall them.
Papo young Smilodon in left lateral view. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Model Measurements
The Papo young Smilodon figure measures approximately 9.5 cm in length and the ears of this hand-painted figure stand around 5 cm off the ground. This is the third Smilodon (Sabre-toothed cat) replica figure to be added to the Papo “Les Dinosaures” range after the adult Smilodon (2011) and the maned, Papo roaring Smilodon (2017).
Papo young Smilodon figure in right lateral view. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Papo Megalodon (Otodus megalodon) * – to read Everything Dinosaurs review of this prehistoric shark figure from September 2021: Papo The Megalodon Shark Model.
Papo Young Smilodon
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that the figure was proving to be extremely popular with Papo model collectors, the black lines around the eyes of the model reminded team members of the eyeliner used in ancient Egyptian culture. Cats are among the most iconic animals in ancient Egyptian art and culture. The feline goddess Bastet is perhaps the best-known. Bastet is associated with wishes for family well-being and health as well as protection from danger.
A view of the new Papo young Smilodon model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A new species of chasmosaurine horned dinosaur has been described based on a nearly complete skull found in the vicinity of Alamo Mesa in the Bisti/De-na-zin Federal Wilderness Area (New Mexico). The dinosaur has been named Bisticeratops froeseorum and its discovery lends weight to the hypothesis that there was a thriving dinosaur and vertebrate fauna in north-western New Mexico towards the end of the Cretaceous (Campanian stage).
A New Ceratopsian Dinosaur
Bisticeratops life reconstruction. North-western New Mexico during the Campanian, note the tyrannosaur attacking a Bisticeratops in the background. Picture credit: Sergey Krasovskiy.
Furthermore, the formal scientific description of Bisticeratops froeseorum adds to the growing record of chasmosaurine ceratopsids in the south-western USA and provides new information about the taxonomic diversity of ceratopsids.
Farmington Member (Kirtland Formation)
A nearly complete fossilised skull was discovered in 1975 by a field party from the University of Arizona.
The skull (specimen number NMMNH P-50000) and the holotype for Bisticeratops froeseorum exhibits a combination of character states that clearly differentiate it from the closely related Pentaceratops sternbergi and other chasmosaurines.
The fossil material was recovered from strata associated with the Farmington Member of the upper Kirtland Formation. Dinosaur fossils from the Farmington Member are rare and the biota poorly known. However, the discovery of Bisticeratops results in a substantial increase in the stratigraphic and paleogeographic range of the Chasmosaurinae in the Western Interior Basin of North America.
Holotype skull of Bisticeratops froeseorum (NMMNH P-50000) shown in right lateral view. Picture credit: Dalman et al.
Bisticeratops froeseorum A New Ceratopsian Species
Based on the skull material and a comparative analysis using more complete fossils from related members of the Chasmosaurinae, the latest member of the diverse ceratopsid biota associated with Laramidia is estimated to have measured around seven metres in length, with brow horns over a metre long.
Bisticeratops skeletal drawing. The area shaded blue represents the known fossil material. Note scale bar = 1 metre. Picture credit: Dalman et al.
The Evolutionary Development of the Chasmosaurinae in Southern Laramidia
Writing in the “New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin”, the researchers conclude that in southern Laramidia during the Late Campanian, the Dinosauria were thriving and the biota was experiencing a high faunal turnover with lots of new species evolving.
The formal scientific description of Bisticeratops froeseorum adds to the growing record of chasmosaurine ceratopsids known from the south-western United States and provides new information about the diversity of these horned dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous.
Two years ago, Everything Dinosaur wrote a blog post about two newly described chasmosaurines from New Mexico (Fowler and Freeman Fowler, 2020). The two newly named horned dinosaurs Terminocavus sealeyi and Navajoceratops sullivani along with other chasmosaurine specimens from the Farmington and De-na-zin Members of the Kirtland Formation (Taxon C), form a sequence of horned dinosaur evolution, stretching over five million years from Utahceratops to Pentaceratops and on to Anchiceratops.
Bisticeratops roamed the southern region of the North American landmass known as Laramidia approximately 74 million years ago. If the sandstones and siltstones of the Farmington Member were deposited around 74 million years ago, this suggests that Bisticeratops is approximately 2 million years younger than Pentaceratops sternbergi and Titanoceratops ouranos
Furthermore, Bisticeratops is younger by 1 million years than the recently named Navajoceratops sullivani and 750,000 years younger than Terminocavus sealeyi. Additionally, Bisticeratops is nearly 500,000 years older than the De-na-zin Member (uppermost Kirtland Formation) unnamed chasmosaurines NMMNH P-21100 and NMMNH P-41228. It is also noted that Bisticeratops occurs approximately 1 million years before Sierraceratops turneri.
Geographic and stratigraphic position of the type locality of B. froeseorum. Paleobiographic reconstruction by Ron Blakely. Image credit: Dalman et al.
Bisticeratops froeseorum – What’s in a Name
The genus name references the Bisti/De-na-zin Wilderness Area, the area from which the specimen came; whilst “ceratops” is from the Greek for “horned face”.
The species name “froeseorum” honours the late Edgar Froese the founder and leader of the instrumental music band Tangerine Dream and his son Jerome Froese the former member of Tangerine Dream. Tangerine Dream is a German instrumental/electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Edgar Froese having been the only constant member until his death in 2015. The best-known line-up of the group was in mid 1970s consisting of Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke, and Peter Baumann, then in 1979, Johannes Schmoelling replaced Baumann, and after 5 years Paul Haslinger replaced Schmoelling.
In 1986 the Tangerine Dream trio consisting of Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke, and Paul Haslinger performed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The concert took place at Kiva Auditorium in downtown Albuquerque.
Senior author of the scientific paper Sebastian Dalman (New Mexico Museum of Natural History) wrote in an email to Everything Dinosaur:
“According to various reports, New Mexico was a favourite place of Tangerine Dream members and every time they toured U.S. they liked to stop by in New Mexico. Today, Tangerine Dream after the passing of Edgar Froese, continues with new members including Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane, and Paul Frick. I always wanted to honour the band with my scientific work, which their music inspired over the years.”
Holotype skull of B. froeseorum (NMMNH P-50000) shown in right lateral view with accompanying line drawing. Image credit: Dalman et al.
Our thanks to Tangerine Dream fan Sebastian for his assistance in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “A new chasmosaurine ceratopsid from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Farmington Member of the Kirtland Formation, New Mexico” by Sebastian G. Dalman, Steven E. Jasinski and Spencer G. Lucas published in the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin.
Researchers from the University of Manchester examining the fossilised remains of a Tenontosaurus have revealed new information about this ornithopod as well as evidence to support a trophic relationship (predator/prey or scavenging) with Deinonychus (D. antirrhopus).
A life reconstruction of the iguanodontian Tenontosaurus. A pair of predatory theropods (Deinonychus) are seen in the background and a Deinonychus approaches from the left of the picture (note the raised second toe on the foot). Newly published research lends weight to the argument for a trophic relationship between these two Early Cretaceous dinosaurs. Picture credit: James McKay.
Found in an “Ash Layer” – Cloverly Formation
The fossils of a Tenontosaurus tilletti were discovered on private land in Wheatland County (Montana) in 1994 and acquired by the University of Manchester five years later. The fossils (specimen number MANCH LL.12275) represent one of the most complete and best-preserved T. tilletti known from the fossil record. It was originally described as a mounted, articulated skeleton found with gastroliths and cycad seeds in the stomach region that had been excavated from an ash layer (Cloverly Formation, upper Aptian-lower Albian, upper Lower Cretaceous). In addition, it was stated that two broken Deinonychus teeth had been discovered in association with the cervical vertebrae (neck bones).
The original description of the dinosaur nicknamed “April” was not challenged and the specimen was displayed in the Fossil Gallery of the Manchester Museum, until 2004, when it was replaced with a replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex (“Stan” – BHI 3033).
The mounted skeleton of the Tenontosaurus specimen known as “April”. Picture credit: University of Manchester.
Not an Ash Layer and No Cycad Seeds
The research team used X-ray CT scanning and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to assess so-called “seeds” and “ash” found with the specimen and revealed that they were not seeds after all and that the dinosaur did not die in a layer of ash, as had previously been suggested when it was found. The sediment, originally described when the specimen was collected as volcanic ash is actually lime mud. The team concluded that whilst the deposit might consist of a small proportion of volcanic ash, this dinosaur was not buried in a layer of ash as a consequence of a volcanic eruption.
The cycad “seeds” found with the fossilised bones, measure 25 mm and 35 mm in diameter. When analysed, these spherical structures were identified as inorganic mineral concretions and not evidence of the last meal of this plant-eating dinosaur.
One of the alleged cycad seeds, that when examined proved to be a non-organic mineral concretion. Picture credit: University of Manchester.
Evidence of Gastroliths
When first described for sale, it was stated that twelve gastroliths had been found in the body cavity. Gastroliths are stones found in the digestive tract, they help to grind up plant-material, providing mechanical assistance and aiding the extraction of nutrients from the vegetation consumed. Only a handful of examples of gastroliths being associated with ornithopods have been reported. The research team were able to confirm that the small, smooth pebbles found were most probably gastroliths. These small stones could have been washed into the body cavity of the dead dinosaur, but this idea is not compatible with the muddy sediment (representing a low energy depositional environment), in which the skeleton was entombed.
“April’s” stomach stones are the second oldest occurrence of gastroliths in an ornithopod known to science and the first gastroliths to be identified in a more derived member of the Ornithopoda.
The skeleton of “April” the Tenontosaurus with views of gastroliths, a CT scan of an alleged seed that when examined has been found to be a non-organic mineral concretion and a partial Deinonychus tooth found in association with the Tenontosaurus fossil material. Picture credit: University of Manchester.
The Diet of Tenontosaurus
Whilst gastroliths have been recorded in a wide variety of extinct vertebrates, only three unambiguous records of gastroliths in ornithopods had been reported previously. The earliest known evidence of stomach stones in a member of the Ornithopoda comes from Changmiania (C. liaoningensis) from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province (China), that was formally named and described in 2020 (Yang et al).
The Manchester Tenontosaurus is the largest ornithopod dinosaur known with gastroliths. The confirmation of stomach stones lends weight to the assertion that the teeth and jaws of Tenontosaurus were not as effective at processing vegetation as later, more derived ornithopods such as the Hadrosauroidea. However, the flora and therefore the diet of these herbivores changed dramatically during the Cretaceous as gymnosperms (conifers, cycads and such like) were gradually replaced by angiosperms (flowering plants).
Dr John Nudds, one of the authors of the scientific paper, examining the Tenontosaurus fossil material. Picture credit: University of Manchester.
The Deinonychus Teeth
Writing in the academic journal “Cretaceous Research”, the researchers report that one of the broken teeth was now missing but the other tooth most probably comes from a Deinonychus, providing further evidence to support the long-standing assertion, originally made by John Ostrom in 1970, that Tenontosaurus was a common food item for Deinonychus.
The right foot of “April” the Tenontosaurus. Picture credit: Dr Dean Lomax/University of Manchester.
Dedicated to Dr Jon Tennant
Doctors Dean Lomax and John Nudds from The University of Manchester dedicated this study to their friend, colleague and co-author, Dr Jon Tennant, who sadly died on 9 April 2020, before this study could be published.
Dr Dean Lomax commented:
“Jon completed his Masters at Manchester on this very specimen, in 2010. It was his idea for the three of us to come together and write this paper, which we officially began in 2018. Jon contributed significantly to palaeontology and was a massive advocate for open access. At every opportunity Jon encouraged others and was immensely passionate about palaeontology. This project would not have been possible if it was not for his research on the specimen described herein. Jon leaves a remarkable legacy behind.”
Co-author of the scientific paper Dr Jon Tennant who sadly passed away before the research could be published. Picture credit: University of Manchester.
Whilst predator/prey relationships are often inferred, this specimen provides further evidence to support the hypothesis that Deinonychus fed on Tenontosaurus. The completeness and exceptional state of preservation suggests that further study of “April” may yield yet more information about the life and behaviour of this Early Cretaceous dinosaur.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a press release from the University of Manchester in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Gastroliths and Deinonychus teeth associated with a skeleton of Tenontosaurus from the Cloverly Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Montana, USA” by John R. Nudds, Dean R. Lomax and Jonathan P. Tennant published in Cretaceous Research.
On the 7th of September, 1936 the last known Thylacine died at Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart (Tasmania). Although most of the scientific community believe that the Thylacine, or as it is sometimes called the Tasmanian Tiger, is extinct there are occasional reports of sightings, either from Tasmania or elsewhere in Australia.
Researchers at the University of Melbourne believe that extinction does not have to mean forever, and they are pursuing a Thylacine de-extinction project to bring back one of the last of Australia’s marsupial apex predators.
The research team led by Professor Andrew Pask of the Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research (TIGRR) Lab is confident that a newly signed partnership agreement with Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences will bring the resurrection of the Tasmanian Tiger one step closer.
Professor Pask leading the Thylacine de-extinction project. For the time being, the closest scientists can get to a Thylacine is to examine museum specimens and stuffed animals. Professor Pask is holding the Thylacine pup (specimen number C5757), that played a pivotal role in the sequencing of the Thylacine genome. Picture credit: Melbourne University.
Conserving Australia’s Wildlife Heritage
The new American/Australian partnership will provide access to CRISPR DNA editing technology and allow scientists to pool their resources in their quest to bring back the Thylacine and to prevent many of Australian’s endangered mammals from going the same way.
Commenting on the significance of the new partnership and the access to state-of-the-art gene editing technology, Professor Pask stated:
“We can now take the giant leaps to conserve Australia’s threatened marsupials and take on the grand challenge of de-extincting animals we had lost.”
Stuffed Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) in a museum case alongside other Australian mammals. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The Professor added:
“A lot of the challenges with our efforts can be overcome by an army of scientists working on the same problems simultaneously, conducting and collaborating on the many experiments to accelerate discoveries. With this partnership, we will now have the army we need to make this happen.”
Genome Sequenced
Thylacines (family Thylacinidae) are part of the marsupial order Dasyuromorphia. In 2018, researchers led by Professor Pask sequenced the genome of the Thylacine. This was achieved by extracting DNA samples from the pouch of a young Thylacine preserved in a jar of alcohol (specimen number C5757), part of the marsupial collection at Melbourne Museum. The team were able to read the approximately 3 billion nucleotide “letters” of the Thylacine genome and with the help of powerful computers to sequence them.
Armed with this knowledge, the research team could establish the genetic relationship between the extinct Thylacine and living, closely related members of the Dasyuromorphia such as the Tasmanian devil.
It would be theoretically possible to mimic the Thylacine genome and reconstruct it using marsupial stem cells.
A Focus on Protecting Extant Marsupials
Professor Pask explained that TIGGR will concentrate efforts on establishing the reproductive technologies tailored to Australian marsupials, such as IVF and gestation without a surrogate, as Colossal simultaneously deploy their CRISPR gene editing and computational biology capabilities to reproduce Thylacine DNA. This research will also help in the long-term protection of many of Australia’s indigenous marsupials, study of Thylacine DNA will help scientists to better understand the genetic makeup of closely related, extant genera. This research will influence the next generation of Australia’s marsupial conservation efforts.
A replica of a female Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). Perhaps in the next decade or so this iconic Australasian species will be resurrected.
This partnership with Colossal follows a significant philanthropic donation of $5 million AUD for the TIGGR Lab earlier this year.
Sharing Expertise
Colossal’s experience in CRISPR gene editing will be partnered with TIGGR’s work sequencing the Thylacine genome and identifying marsupials with similar DNA to provide living cells and a template genome that can then be edited to recreate the genetic instructions required to resurrect the extinct marsupial.
Professor Park added:
“The question everyone asks is ‘how long until we see a living Thylacine’ – and I’ve previously believed in ten years’ time we would have an edited cell that we could then consider progressing into making into an animal. With this partnership, I now believe that in ten years’ time we could have our first living baby Thylacine since they were hunted to extinction close to a century ago.”
The TIGRR Lab is believed to be close to producing the first laboratory-created embryos from Australian marsupial sperm and eggs.
Marsupials have a much shorter gestation period when compared to placental mammals. It is conceivable to produce a marsupial without the aid of a surrogate mother. Growing a marsupial, even a Thylacine in a test-tube from conception to the stage at which it would have been born.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Melbourne in the compilation of this article.
With the announcement of the new PNSO spinosaurid figure Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus earlier this week (Monday, 15th August), team members at Everything Dinosaur thought it might be helpful to outline the taxonomic history of this enigmatic theropod. Fragmentary fossils that led to the establishment of the Sinopliosaurus genus were originally thought to represent a marine reptile. One that had lived in a huge freshwater lake during the Early Jurassic around 180 million years ago (Toarcian faunal stage).
Everything Dinosaur expects this dinosaur model to be in stock in the autumn.
PNSO are adding a second member of the Spinosauridae family to their mid-size model range. Joining Essien the Spinosaurus is Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus. The taxonomic history of Sinopliosaurus is somewhat complicated.
PNSO Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus – an Explanation
Fragmentary bones including three vertebrae, a tooth, elements from the hips (the ischium) and a femur (thigh bone) found in Lower Jurassic (Toarcian faunal stage) Ziliujing Formation exposures at Weiyuan (Sichuan Province, China) were thought to represent a freshwater pliosaur. Although very little of the skeleton was known, the fossil bones that were found were preserved in three-dimensions and not flattened and the pliosaur species Sinopliosaurus weiyuanensis was confidently erected (1944). The femur for example, was described as being of the “usual Plesiosaurian type”, robust, rather squat and not elongated. The ischium was noted as being reminiscent of the Late Cretaceous Canadian plesiosaur Leurospondylus ultimus, which had been erected by Barnum Brown in 1913. L. ultimus itself is a disputed taxon, classified as “incertae sedis”. This marine reptile was described based on fossil material most likely from a juvenile and the material might represent an elasmosaurid.
The taxonomic status of Leurospondylus ultimus remains unresolved.
The Elasmosaurus scale drawing commissioned by Everything Dinosaur as the company’s fact sheet was updated. When Sinopliosaurus weiyuanensis was described, the ischium was thought to closely resemble the hip bones associated with Leurospondylus (L. ultimus). This helped to confirm the diagnosis that S. weiyuanensis fossil material represented a marine reptile – a member of the Plesiosauria clade.
The genus name (Sinopliosaurus) means “Chinese more lizard”, reflecting the assumed close taxonomic relationship with pliosaurs found elsewhere in the world.
Who Named the Pliosaurus Genus?
It was the English anatomist Sir Richard Owen who first used the genus Pliosaurus (Pliosaurus brachydeirus) back in 1841. Owen mistakenly believed that Pliosaurus was “more” closely related to “saurians” (including crocodilians) than it was to Plesiosaurus.
A scale drawing of a Pliosaurus. Fossils from the Lower Jurassic Ziliujing Formation and later fossil discoveries from the geologically much younger Xinlong Formation (sometimes referred to as the Napai Formation), were originally thought to represent a freshwater pliosaur. Only later did some of these fossils become ascribed to a species of spinosaurid theropod dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The scientific description of S. weiyuanensis was published in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of China in 1944 by the eminent, Chinese palaeontologist and zoologist C.C. (Chung Chien) Young. Regarded as the “Father of Chinese vertebrate palaeontology”, his diagnosis was not challenged or questioned.
Spinosaurid fossils from Asia were unknown, the only substantial research into this enigmatic family of dinosaurs had been taking place in Germany (Stromer – Spinosaurus aegyptiacus). As the fossils were similar to those fossils ascribed to pliosaurs, it was thought that these Chinese fossils too, also represented a marine reptile.
Sinopliosaurus fusuiensis (Hou et al) 1975
Five isolated teeth from the Early Cretaceous Xinlong Formation (sometimes referred to as the Napai Formation) found in Fusui County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (South China), were described by Chinese palaeontologist Hou Lian-Hai and colleagues and a second species of Sinopliosaurus was erected – S. fusuiensis (1975).
The strata associated with these fossils is difficult to date accurately, but the consensus is that these sediments were deposited around 120 to 100 million years ago (Aptian-Albian faunal stage of the Early Cretaceous). The fossils ascribed to S. fusuiensis were around sixty million years younger than the fossil material associated with S. weiyuanensis.
PNSO Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus has an articulated jaw. The genus was originally erected under the presumption that the fossil material including isolated teeth represented a pliosaur (marine reptile).
The Emergence of Asian Spinosaurs – Siamosaurus suteethorni
Fossil teeth collected from the Lower Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation (Barremian faunal stage) in north-eastern Thailand by a joint Thai/French team in the early 1980s led to the conclusion that they represented an unusual theropod dinosaur or possibly an, as yet undescribed crocodyliform. A reassessment of the fossil material in 1986 led to the establishment of the Asian spinosaurid species Siamosaurus suteethorni. Subsequently, other fossil material has been described and assigned to this genus, principally fossils excavated from the slightly geologically younger Khok Kruat Formation of Thailand.
Siamosaurus was the first Asian spinosaur to be described and following its scientific description (Buffetaut and Ingavat, 1986), teeth and other material found in Asia has been reassigned to the Spinosauridae.
In 2008, Buffetaut and colleagues published a scientific paper (Cambridge University Press), that challenged the placement of Sinopliosaurus fusuiensis as a marine reptile. It was concluded that the conical teeth assigned to S. fusuiensis were not typical of a member of the Plesiosauria. Specifically, it was noted that these teeth bear carinae (sharp edges) on the plane of the crown’s curvature, a characteristic not seen in Plesiosauria teeth. Buffetaut et al subsequently re-described the material and stated that the teeth came from a spinosaurid theropod closely allied to Siamosaurus suteethorni.
The exact taxonomic position of S. fusuiensis remains unresolved, although the discovery of potential spinosaurid fossil material in Japan and the naming of the spinosaurid Ichthyovenator (I. laosensis) by Allain et al in 2012 confirms the presence of this enigmatic family of theropod dinosaurs in the Early Cretaceous of Asia.
“Fish Hunter” from Laos. A scale drawing of Ichthyovenator laosensis.
PNSO Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus
The PNSO Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus (S. fusuiensis), is expected in stock at Everything Dinosaur in the autumn of 2022.
The PNSO Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus is depicted walking close to a river. Fossils now ascribed to this theropod come from a fluvial/lacustrine palaeoenvironment (Xinlong Formation).
The PNSO Chuanchuan the Lingwulong and six other PNSO prehistoric animal figures feature in the latest Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter. Lingwulong, the first replica of this Chinese diplodocoid dinosaur to be made by a mainstream manufacturer has arrived in stock at Everything Dinosaur along with replenishment stocks of other PNSO prehistoric animal models in the latest shipment to reach Everything Dinosaur’s warehouse.
The new for summer 2022 PNSO Lingwulong sauropod model features in the latest Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter.
PNSO Chuanchuan the Lingwulong
This large model (the figure measures over forty-seven centimetres in length), is a replica of the dicraeosaurid from the Middle Jurassic of China. It is the earliest known diplodocoid and the first of this type of sauropod dinosaur to be reported from Asia.
Fresh supplies of the Kronosaurus figure (Jeff the Kronosaurus) and the stegosaur pair (Biber and Rook) have arrived at the Everything Dinosaur warehouse.
PNSO Kronosaurus and Biber and Rook (Stegosaurus Pair)
Team members at Everything Dinosaur have been busy unloading and checking the latest PNSO product delivery. The PNSO Jeff the Kronosaurus and the stegosaur pair (Biber and Rook) are now back in stock. These figures would make a welcome addition to the model collection of a prehistoric animal fan.
To join the subscription list for the free Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter: Email Everything Dinosaur.
A fantastic pair of short-armed theropod dinosaurs. Wilson the T. rex (latest version) and Domingo the Carnotaurus dinosaur model are now in stock at Everything Dinosaur.
PNSO Wilson the T. rex and Domingo the Carnotaurus
The shipment also contained Wilson the T. rex dinosaur model (latest version) and the popular PNSO Domingo the Carnotaurus figure.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur welcomed these fine examples of a tyrannosaurid and an abelisaurid back into stock at the company’s warehouse.
The huge Nick the Ceratosaurus and the equally impressive Brook the Ophthalmosaurus are also back in stock at Everything Dinosaur.
Favourites Back into Stock Too
The enormous Nick the Ceratosaurus dinosaur model is back in stock. Brook (the not quite so big but still an impressive 48 cm long), Ophthalmosaurus is also available once more.
The spokesperson confirmed that Everything Dinosaur was committed to stocking older PNSO products as well as the latest additions to the PNSO Age of Dinosaurs model series.
PNSO have announced that they will be adding a replica of the Chinese spinosaurid Sinopliosaurus to their range of mid-sized prehistoric animal models. This new for 2022 dinosaur model is expected in stock at Everything Dinosaur in the autumn (2022).
PNSO Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus measures 29.3 cm long and stands 8.5 cm high.
Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus
Say hello to Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus, a genus of spinosaurid dinosaur with a rather convoluted and complicated taxonomic history. This is the second member of the Spinosauridae family to be added to the company’s mid-sized model range after Essien the Spinosaurus was announced back in quarter 4 of 2020.
The Sinopliosaurus measures an impressive 29.3 cm long and it stands around 8.5 cm high. As with other figures in the PNSO mid-size model range, it has no declared scale (helpful as the size estimates for Sinopliosaurus are speculative).
It has been given a deep, broad tail, in keeping with some of the latest research associated with the Spinosauridae, specifically Spinosaurus aegyptiacus.
The broad, deep tail of Sinopliosaurus can be seen in this image of the new PNSO dinosaur model.
Spinosaurid Supplied with Posters and a Full-colour Booklet
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that this exciting, new dinosaur figure would be in stock in the autumn and that it would be supplied with a 64-page, fully illustrated booklet and an animal poster. The model would also have an articulated lower jaw.
The PNSO Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus dinosaur model is supplied with an animal poster and a 64-page, full-colour illustrated booklet.
Spectacular Spinosaurid – Sinopliosaurus
Known from highly fragmentary fossils, once thought to represent a pliosaur (marine reptile), Sinopliosaurus (S. fusuiensis) was named and scientifically described in 1975 (Hou, Yeh and Zhao), but eventually assigned to the Spinosauridae family when evidence of Asian spinosaurids emerged.
It is the only spinosaur described to date from China. The spectacular Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus will have an articulated lower jaw.
PNSO Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus has an articulated jaw. The genus was originally erected under the presumption that the fossil material including isolated teeth represented a pliosaur (marine reptile).
Expected in Stock – Autumn 2022
The PNSO Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus dinosaur model is expected to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in the autumn (2022).
Why does a spinosaurid have a name that sounds like Pliosaurus – a genus of marine reptile? The taxonomic history of this theropod is both convoluted and complicated. It involves Early Jurassic fossils, Sir Richard Owen and his mistakes, Early Cretaceous fossil material, excavations in Thailand and Laos plus a lot of confusion. We will post up an explanation on Wednesday 17th August (2022), that hopefully, sheds some light on all this.
To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Age of Dinosaurs (PNSO).
Our thanks to model collector and keen bird watcher Elizabeth who sent into Everything Dinosaur a fantastic photograph of a Kingfisher with its lunch. The lack of rainfall in most areas of the UK in recent months has led to water levels in rivers and lakes dropping. This has concentrated fish (the preferred prey of the Kingfisher), into ever decreasing pools and fish-eaters such as the beautiful Kingfisher have been taking advantage of the easier access to prey.
The “King of the River” one of the most spectacular of Britain’s birds – a close-up view of the beautiful plumage of a Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). Picture credit: Elizabeth.
The drought could have long-term implications for local Kingfisher populations, particularly if ponds and other water sources dry up. Team members at Everything Dinosaur do occasionally catch the glimpse of a pair of iridescent wings, or a splash of orange colour, as they walk along the canal and the river on their way to work. There are Kingfishers in our neighbourhood, but these short-lived birds are notoriously difficult to spot.
Our thanks to Elizabeth for sending in her superb photograph. We think this might be a male. Female Kingfishers have an orange/pinkish tinge to their lower beak. In contrast, the males tend to have black beaks. A tip to help you remember the difference between male and female Kingfishers is to think of the female birds wearing pink lipstick on their lower mandibles.
It is a superb, close-up view of one of our country’s most colourful birds.
Researchers have announced the discovery of a new species of Late Cretaceous armoured dinosaur from fragmentary fossils found in North Patagonia, (Río Negro Province, Argentina). It may represent an entirely new and previously unknown branch of the armoured dinosaur family tree from South America (Gondwana). Named Jakapil kaniukura (pronounced Jack-a-pil can-nee-ook-your-rah), it is the first definitive thyreophoran species from the Patagonia of Argentina and it might have been a biped with short, stumpy arms reminiscent of the abelisaurid theropod dinosaurs.
Life reconstruction of Jakapil kaniukura, the first thyreophoran dinosaur of its kind from Argentina and South America. Picture credit: Mauricio Álvarez and Gabriel Díaz Yanten (paleogdy).
Fossils from the “La Buitrera Paleontological Area” (LBPA)
Writing in the academic journal “Scientific Reports”, researchers from the Universidad Maimónides (Buenos Aires, Argentina) in collaboration with a colleague from the Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (Bilbao, Spain), report the discovery of a fragmentary, disarticulated skeleton representing a sub-adult animal, from the upper beds of the Candeleros Formation (early Late Cretaceous 94-97 million years ago). The sandstone exposures represent aeolian (wind borne) sand dunes indicating an arid to semi-arid palaeoenvironment in what is now termed the “La Buitrera Paleontological Area” (LBPA). The holotype (MPCA-PV-371), consists of skull elements including bones from the jaw, rib fragments, bones from the shoulders, two partial upper arm bones (humeri), a possible partial right ulna and other assorted fragmentary limb bones. Fifteen partial teeth were also recovered along with numerous osteoderms (dermal armour).
Skeletal reconstruction of Jakapil kaniukura with known fossil material in white. Fragmentary fossil material pictured, note scale bar = 40 cm. Picture credit: Riguetti et al.
The sub-adult animal is estimated to have had a body length of less than 1.5 metres, perhaps weighing around 4.5 to 7 kilograms.
Commenting on the significance of this fossil discovery, lead author of the paper Facundo Riguetti (Universidad Maimónides), stated:
“Our finding is important for several reasons. On the one hand, Jakapil expands the fossil record known in the region and allows us to know a little better the prehistoric ecosystem of our land, and specifically of the ancient Kokorkom desert, today northern Patagonia.”
First author of the scientific paper, Facundo Riguetti at the dig site. Picture credit: Sebastián Apesteguía.
The PhD student went onto add:
“Moreover, this new species represents a lineage of thyreophoran dinosaurs previously unknown in South America. The Thyreophora originated about two hundred million years ago and evolved rapidly into several species distributed throughout the world. However, of these early thyreophorans, the lineage represented by Jakapil was the only one that persisted until at least a hundred million years ago.”
A Survivor from an Ancient Armoured Dinosaur Line
Phylogenetic analysis recovers Jakapil kaniukura either as a basal member of the Thyreophora or a stem ankylosaur, closely related to Scelidosaurus, fossils of which are associated with the Lower Jurassic Charmouth Mudstone Formation of Dorset, England. Its discovery suggests that early thyreophorans had a much broader geographic distribution than previously thought and that an ancient lineage persisted into the early Late Cretaceous.
Fossilised fragment of dermal bones that act as armour for the plant-eating dinosaur. Picture credit: Facundo Riguetti.
A Bipedal Armoured Dinosaur
Evolutionary trends observed in armoured dinosaurs suggest a transition between small, cursorial, light-weight species to much larger, heavily armoured quadrupedal forms epitomised by the likes of Stegosaurus in the Late Jurassic and Ankylosaurus and Edmontonia in the Late Cretaceous. The relative dimensions of the forelimb and hind limb bear a greater resemblance to those of bipedal theropods and basal ornithischian dinosaurs than they do to members of the Thyreophora.
The reduced nature of the upper arm, indicated by the fragmentary humeri resembles the arm bones of abelisaurids – famous for their tiny, almost vestigial front limbs.
A life reconstruction of the newly described Cretaceous thyreophoran Jakapil kaniukura. Picture credit: Daniel Boh with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur.
Etymology
The genus name is from the northern Tehuelchean language meaning “shield bearer”, whilst the species name is derived from the Mapudungun language for “crest” (kaniu) and “stone” (kura) which references the diagnostic bony crest on the lower jaw.
Co-author of the scientific paper Sebastián Apesteguía at the Jakapil dig site. Picture credit: Pablo Destito.
The researchers, including co-author Sebastián Apesteguía (Universidad Maimónides) speculate that Jakapil, if it was a biped, resembled Scutellosaurus, which is known from the Early Jurassic of Arizona. However, they caution against defining this little armoured dinosaur as bipedal. They observe that it still retains some anatomical characteristics associated with a quadrupedal stance and they comment that more complete limb bones are required to make a more accurate assessment of its locomotion.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “A new Cretaceous thyreophoran from Patagonia supports a South American lineage of armoured dinosaurs” by Facundo J. Riguetti, Sebastián Apesteguía and Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola published in Scientific Reports.
