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.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur have been most impressed with the new for 2022 CollectA deluxe 1:40 scale Triceratops horridus dinosaur model. This new, horned dinosaur figure is largely based on the fossil specimen nicknamed “Horridus” which is on display at Melbourne Museum (Victoria, Australia).
CollectA Triceratops horridus dinosaur model (left lateral view). This 1:40 scale dinosaur model is based on the fossilised remains of a Triceratops that is the centrepiece of an exhibition at Melbourne Museum in Victoria, Australia. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Triceratops horridus
The Museums Victoria Triceratops fossils, representing some 87% of the bones from an individual animal, were excavated from Upper Cretaceous (Hell Creek Formation) deposits in Montana (USA). The bones from the tail (caudal vertebrae) were almost all present, and for the first time palaeontologists were able to accurately re-create the tail of this iconic dinosaur. The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Triceratops figure reflects the data, and the tail is in proportion with the rest of the dinosaur model.
In addition, the excellent condition of the skull bones and the frill of this dinosaur enabled the design team at CollectA to accurately reconstruct the head of a Triceratops. The Montana specimen has the most complete skull and neck frill of any Triceratops found to date. The bones make up more than 99% of the skull skeletal material. CollectA have been able to use this skeleton to accurately depict the head and the neck frill on their dinosaur model.
The Skin of a Triceratops
The beautifully detailed skin of the CollectA T. horridus model is based on a second Triceratops fossil nicknamed “Lane” from the Lance Formation. These fossils (specimen number BHI-6273) include stunning skin impressions that indicate that Triceratops had a skin like no other known ornithishcian. Triceratops was covered in large scales, many of which were hexagonal in shape. In addition, this dinosaur had raised, conical tubercles embedded in its skin some of which were over 10 cm in diameter.
A close-up view of the skin texture on the new for 2022 CollectA Deluxe Triceratops horridus model. The texture accurately reflects the known fossil record. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
No formal scientific paper has been published yet on the skin of “three-horned face”. These fossils are on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (Texas).
Team members at Everything Dinosaur congratulate CollectA for creating such a magnificent Triceratops horridus dinosaur model.
Everything Dinosaur has continued to maintain its 5-star customer service rating with the independent ratings agency Feefo. The UK-based company that specialises in the sale of dinosaur models, toys and games has maintained its extremely high rating for customer service, despite the current economic difficulties and global supply issues.
Everything Dinosaur’s certificate confirming the Platinum Trusted Service Award. Everything Dinosaur has been able to maintain its extremely high customer service rating throughout the first three quarters of 2022.
There are currently over four hundred independent, genuine customer reviews about Everything Dinosaur on Feefo’s website. The feedback and comments come from customers from all over the world, from Europe, the USA, Canada, Asia and Australia/New Zealand.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are grateful for all the feedback and comments that we receive. We are truly humbled to have been able to maintain top marks for our customer service and product quality despite the unprecedented difficulties surrounding the trading environment at the moment.”
Recent Examples of Customer Feedback
Typical examples of customer feedback received by Everything Dinosaur include this comment from long-time customer Mary:
“Everything Dinosaur did their usual trick of making us feel like their only customers, keeping us advised where the order was at all times, and in general making buying dinosaurs absolutely painless!”
Linda provided feedback stating:
“Great people to deal with. Always answer all questions nearly immediately. The products are such high quality. Love everything dinosaurs you’re the best!!!!!!”
Fabrizio wrote from Italy:
“Really good service.”
A few days earlier we heard from Rafael from Brazil who sent feedback stating:
“Ótimo serviço. Em relação ao produto estava tudo nos conformes. Comprarei novamente.”
Team members at Everything Dinosaur replied in Brazilian Portuguese thanking him for his comments which roughly translate as:
“Great service. In relation to the product everything was in compliance. I will buy again.”
Everything Dinosaur wins the Platinum Service Award in 2022. Everything Dinosaur has won numerous awards for its customer service.
The spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur added that team members were working hard to maintain customer service standards as they prepare for the busy fourth quarter trading period. He thanked all the customers who had taken the time and trouble to leave feedback.
An analysis of the teeth of a small shrew-like animal known as Brasilodon quadrangularis from Upper Triassic strata in the Paraná Basin of Brazil indicates that its fossils might represent the lineage towards true mammals. As such, it pushes back the origins of Mammaliaformes by 20 million years.
Analysis of three lower jaws from B. quadrangularis, each jaw representing a different growth stage demonstrates diphyodont dentition, a key characteristic of mammals.
A life reconstruction of Brasilodon quadrangularis a contemporary of some of the oldest dinosaurs, one of which can be seen in the background. Picture credit: 2022 Anatomical Society Wiley.
Diphyodonty a Trait of Mammals and Their Near Relatives
Brasilodon is the oldest extinct vertebrate with two successive sets of teeth which includes only one set of replacements (diphyodonty). The first set starts developing during the embryonic stage and a second and last set of teeth develops once the animal is born. The dental replacement pattern occurs with the same temporal and morphological pattern that is a key feature of mammals. This differs from that of reptiles who regenerate new teeth multiple times during their lives, (polyphyodonty).
Researchers from the London Natural History Museum and King’s College London contributed to this international research programme which was led by scientists from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
Corresponding author of the paper, published in the “Journal of Anatomy”, Dr Martha Richter (Earth Sciences Department, Natural History Museum), commented:
“Comparative studies with recent mammal dentitions and tooth replacement modes suggest that this [B. quadrangularis] was a placental, relatively short-lived animal. Dated at 225.42 million years old, this is the oldest known mammal in the fossil record contributing to our understanding of the ecological landscape of this period and the evolution of modern mammals.”
20 Million Years Older than Morganucodon
The genus Morganucodon had been thought to represent the earliest mammaliaform, its fossils having been found in Europe (Wales), China and North America. Morganucodon fossil material is associated with the very latest Norian and the Rhaetian faunal stages of the Late Triassic. However, the genus Brasilodon is associated with much older Triassic deposition which took place around 225 million years ago.
A model of the Late Triassic mammaliaform Morganucodon. Picture credit: University of Birmingham.
Mammalian Characteristics
Diphyodonty is a complex and unique phenomenon that along with tooth replacement involves profound, time-controlled changes to the skull anatomy, for instance the closure of the secondary palate (the roof of the mouth) that permits the young to suckle, while breathing at the same time. It has also been shown to be linked to endothermy and even placentation (live birth) and that other significant mammalian trait, the growth of hair and fur.
Brasilodon comes from the Caturrita Formation which preserves a rich assemblage of fossil vertebrates including sphenodonts, lepidosaurs, rhynchosaurs, dicynodonts and numerous cynodonts as well as silesaurids and dinosaurs (theropods and sauropodomorphs). Fossils also found in this formation hint at an ancestor of the Pterosauria (Faxinalipterus).
Brasilodon probably lived in burrows like many rodents today.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a press release from the Natural History Museum (London) in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Diphyodont tooth replacement of Brasilodon—A Late Triassic eucynodont that challenges the time of origin of mammals” by Sergio F. Cabreira, Cesar L. Schultz, Lúcio R. da Silva, Luiz Henrique Puricelli Lora, Cristiane Pakulski, Rodrigo C. B. do Rêgo, Marina B. Soares, Moya Meredith Smith and Martha Richter published in the Journal of Anatomy.
The two CollectA deluxe 1:15 scale dinosaur models are back in stock at Everything Dinosaur. The 1:15 scale Triceratops and the 1:15 scale T. rex are available once again. These popular figures are the largest figures in the CollectA Prehistoric World model series.
The 1:15 scale Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur model from CollectA.
The CollectA 1:15 scale Tyrannosaurus rex Dinosaur Model
The CollectA 1:15 scale Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur model is huge! It measures 93 cm long and the end of the tail is around 44 cm off the ground. The T. rex figure is estimated to be approximately the size of a baby Tyrannosaurus rex at around a month old.
This hand-painted model is beautifully detailed, and it is presented on its own display base.
The carry case for the CollectA 1:15 Triceratops and the 1:15 T. rex dinosaur model. The red dot denotes that this carry case contains the Triceratops figure. The box is huge, as are the models inside, note how small Everything Dinosaur’s bespoke cardboard boxes that they use for model packaging look in the photograph. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The CollectA Deluxe 1:15 scale Triceratops Dinosaur Model
The CollectA 1:15 scale Triceratops dinosaur model. A dinosaur model based on the latest scientific interpretation of an iconic ceratopsian.
Hand-painted and with stunning, skin texture this is a Triceratops dinosaur model based on the latest scientific evidence. Both the 1:15 scale Triceratops and the 1:15 scale Tyrannosaurus rex figures have proved extremely popular with dinosaur fans and model collectors.
The Triceratops model measures 72 cm in length and those impressive brow horns are around 30 cm off the ground.
The measurements of both the crouching T. rex and the Triceratops figures are given on the side of the model’s carry case. The 1:15 scale T. rex model measures 93 cm in length and the Triceratops is around 70 cm long. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A collection of beautiful prehistoric animal illustrations by renowned, British palaeoartist John Sibbick is to be auctioned later this month (September 2022). The pencil and gouache drawings are part of a huge art collection amassed by Anthony Beeson.
A tyrannosaur attacks a hadrosaur. Stunning artwork in the collection of the late Anthony Beeson. Picture credit: John Sibbick.
A Lifetime of Prehistoric Animal Art Collecting
Polymath Anthony Beeson was the creative driving force behind the highly successful, award-winning dinosaur and prehistoric animal figure series manufactured by CollectA. In the attic of his modest home on the outskirts of Bristol, he kept his huge collection of dinosaur books, toys and other prehistoric animal themed memorabilia. He spent nearly four decades as the Art Librarian at Bristol’s central library and his eclectic range of interests from fine art, ceramics, antique jewellery and pottery are reflected in his personal collection. He had a fascination for and a great knowledge of Roman and Greek art and archaeology and amassed an enormous number of artefacts and curios.
With Anthony’s sad passing earlier this year, an auction has been organised by the Estate executors so that some of Anthony’s treasured possessions can be passed onto other collectors to enjoy.
The original pencil drawing of a resting Albertosaurus by John Sibbick, part of the estate of the late Anthony Beeson.
The Auction
Some of this amazing collection, reflecting a lifetime of collecting is being auctioned later this month (September 2022) by the auctioneers Chorley’s, details of which can be found here: Chorley’s the Auctioneers.
The auction featuring Anthony’s collection of John Sibbick palaeoart is to take place on the 20th and 21st September (2022) and on-line bidding will be available. This is an opportunity for fans of prehistoric animal art to purchase original pencil and gouache drawings by John Sibbick.
An illustration of the hadrosaurid Mandschurosaurus by John Sibbick. Part of the estate of Anthony Beeson being auctioned by Chorley’s.
Foraging dinosaurs. Pencil artwork by John Sibbick. This illustration is part of the estate of the late Anthony Beeson.
A Rare Opportunity
Amongst the extensive lots are some original pencil and gouache dinosaur illustrations by renowned British artist, John Sibbick. Anthony often remarked to Everything Dinosaur team members how John Sibbick was his favourite palaeoartist and his work had influenced many of the prehistoric animal model designs that Anthony worked on for the CollectA range.
The auction is a rare opportunity to purchase original, signed artwork from a famous British artist, artwork that has been used to illustrate many books about prehistoric animals and dinosaurs.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of Laura Milne of Chorley’s for her assistance in the compilation of this article and permission to reproduce the images.
Researchers have re-examined the fossilised remains of a Late Triassic, herbivorous dinosaur that had been assigned to the Plateosaurus genus and determined that the fossils represent a new species. The new dinosaur has been named Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum and unlike Plateosaurus it was an obligate quadruped.
Skeletal silhouette of Tuebingosaurus with ascribed fossil bones shown in white. Silhouette of person provides the scale. The attribution of the bone marked in grey (fibula) is uncertain. Picture credit: Omar Rafael Regalado Fernandez / Ingmar Werneburg.
The genus Plateosaurus was erected in 1837 (Hermann von Meyer), before the term Dinosauria was coined, it was one of the first dinosaurs to be scientifically described. It has earned a reputation as somewhat of a taxonomic waste basket with numerous species assigned to it, often based on poorly preserved or fragmentary fossil remains.
Researchers at the University of Tübingen’s Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment in Germany reassessed fossil bones discovered in Trossingen in 1922 and identified several unique anatomical traits leading them to conclude that these remains did not represent Plateosaurus as had previously been thought. Indeed, the bones are so different that they do not belong to a member of the Plateosauridae family, but most likely represent a member of the related clade the Massopoda.
Ingmar Werneburg (left) and Omar Rafael Regalado Fernandez (right) in the archive of the paleontological collection at Tübingen. The hips of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum can be seen in the foreground. Picture credit: Valentin Marquardt/Universität Tübingen.
Broader and More Robust Hips
Writing in the journal “Vertebrate Zoology”, the researchers, Dr Omar Rafael Regalado Fernandez and Dr Ingmar Werneburg demonstrate that the hips are much broader and more robust when compared with plateosaurs. In addition, the limb bones such as the femur are unusually large and the fused sacral vertebrae are characteristic of an obligate quadruped and not Plateosaurus that are believed to have been facultative bipeds (quadrupeds, but capable of walking on their hind legs if the need arose).
Two phalanges (toe bones) (centre) of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum in a display cabinet at the Württemberg Hall. Picture credit: Valentin Marquardt/Universität Tübingen.
The Swabian Alb Mountains
The fossil bones of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum display characteristics of sauropods, the super-sized, long-necked dinosaurs such as Diplodocus, Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus that dominated terrestrial faunas some fifty million years after Tuebingosaurus roamed. The fossil material is part of Tübingen’s paleontological collection. It originated from a quarry site near Trossingen at the edge of the Swabian Alb mountain range in Baden-Württemberg (Germany). The area is famous for its extensive plateosaur bonebeds and the huge amount of Plateosaurus fossils collected confirm that this lizard-hipped genus was extremely common in the Late Triassic and that Plateosaurus lived in large herds.
Three-dimensional image of a footbone from Tuebingosaurus being made with a handheld laser scanner. Picture credit: Valentin Marquardt/Universität Tübingen.
Following the in-depth analysis, which included scanning limb bones to provide a data source to compare to Plateosaurus fossils, the scientists concluded that these fossils represent a dinosaur more closely related to the Sauropoda than Plateosaurus.
The Trossingen Biota
Examination of the matrix material found in association with the Tuebingosaurus fossils, and the surface condition of the bones suggests that this dinosaur sunk into a swamp when it died. The bones on the left side of the body were exposed on the surface for several years and show signs of weathering.
Several different types of dinosaur are known from the Plateosaurus dominated Trossingen Formation, which dates to the Norian-Rhaetian faunal stages of the Late Triassic. Coelophysoids such as Liliensternus, which at around 5 metres long, could have predated upon Tuebingosaurus juveniles have been found. The Trossingen Formation has also yielded fragmentary fossils of other miscellaneous theropods plus evidence of different types of prosauropod.
The large rauisuchian Teratosaurus (T. suevicus) is also known from the Trossingen Formation and in the image below an unfortunate Tuebingosaurus is being attacked by this six-metre-long, predator from the crocodilian lineage of the Archosauria.
Reconstruction how the death of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum may have occurred. Bones of the predatory archosaur Teratosaurus were also found in Trossingen. However, it has only been proven that Tuebingosaurus fell on its right side. Weathering indicates that the bones on the left side of the body probably lay for several years on the surface. Picture credit: Marcus Burkhardt.
Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum
The individual bones of Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum (pronounced Too-bin-go-sore-us my-ah-frits-zor-um), had been stored separately but have now been united in their own permanent display case. The genus name honours the university city of Tübingen and its inhabitants, whilst the specific name pays tribute to two German zoologists, Professor Wolfgang Maier from Tübingen and Professor Uwe Fritz from Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden.
This new dinosaur species has now been described in the latest edition of the Senckenberg Natural Science Society’s journal Vertebrate Zoology, which also pays tribute to Wolfgang Maier on his 80th birthday.
Researchers Ingmar Werneburg (left) and Omar Rafael Regalado Fernandez (right) hold a femur from Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum. Picture credit: Valentin Marquardt/Universität Tübingen.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Tübingen in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “A new massopodan sauropodomorph from Trossingen Formation (Germany) hidden as ‘Plateosaurus’ for 100 years in the historical Tübingen collection” by Omar Rafael Regalado Fernández, Ingmar Werneburg published in Vertebrate Zoology.
The new for 2022 CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Triceratops horridus dinosaur model is now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This dinosaur scale model is based on the most complete T. horridus fossil specimen known to science. The fossils, excavated from Hell Creek Formation deposits in Montana (USA), are now part of a major, permanent dinosaur exhibition at Melbourne Museum (Victoria, Australia).
The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Triceratops horridus is the last of the new for 2022 figures to arrive at Everything Dinosaur and continues a recent trend to have new CollectA figures named after a specific species and not a genus.
Another new for 2022 figure, the pterosaur model Pteranodon sternbergi, which came into stock at Everything Dinosaur a few months ago, also represents a distinct species. This model was introduced in this format to distinguish it from the Pteranodon (P. longiceps) in 1:15 scale.
The new for 2022 CollectA Pteranodon sternbergi model. A very colourful replica of a Late Cretaceous pterosaur sometimes referred to as Geosternbergia. This pterosaur figures continues the CollectA trend to introduce new figures based on a named species within a genus.
Accurately Depicting the Head and Neck of a Triceratops
The exhibit at Melbourne Museum is entitled “Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs” and the Triceratops skeleton upon which this exhibition is based has been appropriately nicknamed “Horridus”. The design team at CollectA were able to use the fossilised skull of this dinosaur to help them accurately depict the head and the neck shield of this iconic ceratopsian.
The skull and neck frill of “Horridus” are the most complete of any known Triceratops specimen (more than 99% complete) and the assembled frill measures nearly 1.5 metres wide.
A close-up view of the striking colouration on the head and neck shield of the new for 2022 CollectA Triceratops horridus dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
An Articulated Lower Jaw
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that this new CollectA figure had an articulated lower jaw. The jaw can be a little stiff and it does not open very wide. To ease the jaw, the head can be dipped into hot water for 2-3 seconds to help ease the movement of this articulated component of the model.
The CollectA T. horridus ceratopsian figure in right lateral view. This Triceratops dinosaur model has an articulated lower jaw. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur added:
“The Triceratops horridus figure was one of the dinosaurs designed by the late Anthony Beeson. Anthony had explained to Everything Dinosaur how keen he was to create an updated Triceratops, a figure with skin texture reminiscent of recent fossil discoveries. He was very excited at the possibility of combining the evidence, on T. horridus skin texture, some of which remains unpublished, with the new anatomical details revealed by the Melbourne Museum specimen.”
The new for 2022 CollectA T. horridus dinosaur model in 1:40 scale (anterior view). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
To view the large range of CollectA prehistoric animal scale models available from Everything Dinosaur including horned dinosaur models: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Figures.
Researchers have found evidence of an extraterrestrial impact crater buried in sediments under the North Atlantic. The 5-mile-wide (8.5 km wide) crater, was caused by the impact of a bolide (crater forming body), at least 400 metres across. Detailed stratigraphic analysis indicates the crater was created at or very near the Cretaceous/Palaeogene boundary around 66 million years ago. This would make this collision potentially contemporaneous to the Chicxulub impact event. The scientists postulate that this impact was caused as part of a closely timed impact cluster or by the breakup of a common parent bolide.
Map showing the crater location on the Guinea Terrace with inset world map showing locations of Chicxulub (Ch) in the Yucatan Peninsula, Boltysh (Bo) crater in the Kirovohrad Oblast of Ukraine and the Nadir (Nd). These geological features are thought to be contemporaneous – all impacts occurring approximately 66 million years ago. Picture credit: Nicholson et al.
Buried Below the Seabed
The crater is buried 300 to 400 metres below the seabed some 250 miles (400 km) off the cost of the west African country of Guinea. Writing in the academic journal “Science Advances”, the researchers from Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh), the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Arizona think that this impact occurred at around the same time as the Chicxulub impact that has been linked to the end Cretaceous extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs.
To prove their theory, seabed core samples will have to be taken from the site. Lead author Dr Uisdean Nicholson, a geologist at Heriot-Watt University, has already applied for funding to drill into the seabed to confirm that it’s a bolide impact crater and establish the precise age.
The Cretaceous/Palaeogene Nadir Crater. (A) Seabed depth map of crater showing seismic line locations and the mapped extent of the crater rim and damage zone. (B) west to east seismic section (pre-stack depth migration – depth domain) across the crater, highlighting the crater morphology and damage zone, and the extent of subsurface deformation. Data courtesy of the Republic of Guinea, TGS and Western Geco. Picture credit: Nicholson et al.
Evidence of Impacts Extremely Rare
Evidence for extraterrestrial impact events is rare on planet Earth. Our dynamic geology and the effects of weathering have removed much of the physical evidence of even the largest bolide impact events in our planet’s long history.
However, for Dr Nicholson, seismic reflection data from the seabed immediately highlighted an unusual and unexpected geological anomaly.
Dr Nicholson explained:
“I’ve interpreted lots of seismic data in my time but had never seen anything like this. Instead of the flat sedimentary sequences I was expecting on the plateau, I found an 8.5 km depression under the seabed, with very unusual characteristics. It has particular features that point to an asteroid. It has a raised rim and a very prominent central uplift, which is consistent for large impact craters. It also has what looks like ejecta outside the crater, with very chaotic sedimentary deposits extending for tens of kilometres outside of the crater.”
This strange feature has been named the Nadir Crater, after a nearby seamount that lies to the west.
Other potential causes for this geological feature have already been discounted, Dr Nicholson added:
“The characteristics are just not consistent with other crater-forming processes like salt withdrawal or the collapse of a volcano.“
Impact Crater Potentially Linked to the Chicxulub Impact Event
The researchers suggest that the newly discovered Nadir crater could have formed by the break-up of a parent extraterrestrial body or from a series of Earth collisions by bolides.
Co-author Dr Sean Gulick, (University of Texas at Austin), stated:
“The Nadir Crater is an incredibly exciting discovery of a second impact close in time to the Cretaceous–Palaeogene extinction. While much smaller than the extinction causing Chicxulub impactor, its very existence requires us to investigate the possibility of an impact cluster in the latest Cretaceous.”
Detailed seismic stratigraphic and structural elements of the crater. The central peak is shown and the central uplift resulting from the impact. Picture credit: Nicholson et al.
Devastation of the Region
The researchers ran computer simulations in a bid to assess the consequences of an impact from a 400-metre-wide body crashing into water around 500 metres deep. The researchers suggest that the impact would have generated a tsunami over 1,000 metres high and an earthquake of 6.5 magnitude. Such forces would have had caused devastation.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from Heriot-Watt University and the open access paper published in Science Advances in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “The Nadir Crater offshore West Africa: A candidate Cretaceous-Paleogene impact structure” by Uisdean Nicholson, Veronica J. Bray, Sean P. S. Gulick and Benedict Aduomahor published in Science Advances.
A new species of dinosaur has been described from fossils found in Neuquén Province (Argentina). Named Elemgasem nubilus it is the first unambiguous abelisaurid known from the Coniacian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous.
A life reconstruction of the newly described abelisaurid Elemgasem nubilus depicted with other Late Cretaceous prehistoric fauna associated with the Portezuelo Formation of Patagonia. Picture credit: Abel Germán Montes.
A field team of CONICET researchers have excavated the fragmentary remains of a new species of carnivorous dinosaur from Upper Cretaceous exposures near to the city of Plaza Huincul, in the province of Neuquén in Patagonia (Argentina). The fossils come from the Portezuelo Formation and represent an individual animal around four metres in length and standing approximately two metres tall. Bone histology revealed that this abelisaurid was around eight years old when it died. The histological analysis suggests that Elemgasem probably would not have grown much bigger, making this predator much smaller than related abelisaurids such as Carnotaurus and Ekrixinatosaurus.
Regarded as a sub-adult, the scientists who include co-author Rodolfo Coria (Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Argentina), writing in the journal of The Palaeontological Association conclude that this dinosaur had already reached sexual maturity.
Co-author of the scientific paper Rodolfo Coria (Universidad Nacional de Río Negro) excavating fossils in Neuquén Province. Picture credit: CONICET.
Documenting the Evolution of the Abelisauridae
The Abelisauridae are a diverse group of medium-to-large-sized predatory dinosaurs predominately associated with the landmass of Gondwana. Numerous genera have been described based on fossils found in the Southern Hemisphere and they are known from almost all parts of Gondwana in all the faunal stages associated with the Late Cretaceous, except for the Coniacian (90 to 86 mya approximately).
This period in Earth’s history is marked by a turnover in terrestrial and marine fauna due to global climate change leading to worldwide extinctions.
Explaining the significance of these fossils, co-author Rodolfo Coria stated:
“The identification of a new species is always a scientifically relevant event, especially if the species belongs to an emblematic family of carnivorous dinosaurs such as the abelisaurs. Elemgasem represents a key piece in the puzzle of the evolution of this group, which began to be put together with the first findings of José Bonaparte, the most important Argentinean vertebrate palaeontologist of the 20th century – in the 1980s”
Although the fossil material is fragmentary, a new genus has been erected based on several autapomorphies including notable rugosity on the lateral surface of the fibula and the shape of the tail bones which are different from any other abelisaurid described to date.
Views of the distal portion of the fossilised right femur of Elemgasem nubilus with an accompanying line drawing that shows the position of the bone. Picture credit: Mattia A. Baiano.
The First Abelisaurid from the Portezuelo Formation (New Abelisaurid)
Elemgasem is the first abelisaurid described from fossils from the Portezuelo Formation and it was part of a diverse dinosaur-dominated terrestrial fauna with several different types of theropod present including dromaeosaurids, alvarezsaurids and megaraptorids.
Phylogenetic analysis indicates the E. nubilus could be tentatively assigned to the Brachyrostra tribe within the Carnotaurinae subfamily, although the limited amount of fossilised material prevented the researchers from making a more positive taxonomic assessment.
The genus name is derived from the name of a god in the regional Tehuelche culture and the trivial name is from the Latin for “cloudy days”, a reference to the strange, foggy conditions that the dig team encountered whilst they worked in the field.
Skeletal reconstruction of Elemgasem nubilus with known fossil elements shown in red. Picture credit: Abel Germán Montes.
Dr Coria added:
“We already knew of abelisaurian forms in older horizons [such as the Cenomanian] or more modern ones [such as the Campanian], so it was predictable that there would be some in intermediate times. What we did not expect was to find a comparatively small abelisaur like Elemgasem, whose size is clearly smaller than the rest of the species in the group, such as Carnotaurus, Aucasaurus or Skorpiovenator.”
It is the first abelisaurid from the Turonian–Coniacian interval and it increases the diversity of this theropod family at a time of marked turnover in the tetrapod fauna of South America.
Rebor has introduced several scale replicas of abelisaurid dinosaurs. To view the extensive range of Rebor models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Figures and Models.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from CONICET in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Elemgasem nubilus: a new brachyrostran abelisaurid (Theropoda, Ceratosauria) from the Portezuelo Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Patagonia, Argentina” by Mattia A. Baiano, Diego Pol, Flavio Bellardini, Guillermo J. Windholz, Ignacio A. Cerda, Alberto C. Garrido and Rodolfo A. Coria published in Papers in Palaeontology.
This year, (2022) PNSO added a replica of the Early Cretaceous theropod dinosaur Acrocanthosaurus to their popular mid-size model range. Say hello, to PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus. It is a wonderful replica of a member of the Carcharodontosauridae known from the United States of America.
The PNSO Acrocanthosaurus has been skilfully modelled and shows superb skin texture and detail. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A Detailed Dinosaur Model
The figure has been beautifully painted, and it has an articulated lower jaw and a clear, plastic support stand to assist with display. The figure measures over 32 centimetres long, and those skilfully recreated lacrimal crests are some 10.5 cm off the ground. It is a stunning replica of a super-sized predator.
A close-up view of the head of the PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model. The model has been given prominent lacrimal crests and the digits are correctly proportioned. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Sci-Art Poster and Colour Booklet
The figure has been so well made that it can stand on a solid, flat surface without the need of the clear, plastic display stand that comes with the dinosaur model. Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus is also supplied with a sci-art poster and a 64-page, fully illustrated colour booklet.
There is much to be admired about this Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model. It is so well balanced that it can stand on a solid surface without the need of the clear, plastic support. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model with its support stand. The figure has an articulated jaw. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are delighted that PNSO have added a replica of an Acrocanthosaurus to their mid-size model range. As far as we at Everything Dinosaur are aware, Acrocanthosaurus atokensis is the only member of the Carcharodontosauridae known from the United States. A theropod named and described in 2012 known as Siats meekerorum might be a member of the related family the Neovenatoridae, which along with the Carcharodontosauridae make up the Carcharodontosauria clade, but the taxonomic position of Siats remains uncertain. However, Acrocanthosaurus was an apex predator, and it deserves to be included in the exciting PNSO model range.”
A view of the new for 2022 PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model. The model is perfectly proportioned and reflects the known A. atokensis fossil material. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
To view the PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model and the rest of the PNSO range of prehistoric animal models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models and Figures.
