Mojo Fun Prehistoric Mammals

The excellent “Prehistoric & Extinct” model range (Mojo Fun), contains a lot of dinosaur figures but today, we focus on a couple of prehistoric mammal models.  We have praised this model range before, congratulating the company for producing figures of recently extinct creatures such as the Quagga of southern Africa and the Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine).  The range includes a number of other prehistoric mammals, replicas of some creatures that became extinct millions of years ago and not just within the last 150 years or so as in the case of the Thylacine and the Quagga.

A Scene Featuring Mojo Fun Prehistoric Mammals

Picture credit: Mojo Fun

Hyaenodon gigas and Deinotherium

The picture (above), depicts the fearsome Hyaenodon gigas one of the largest members of the Hyaenodontidae family (foreground).  Some fossil specimens indicate that this cursorial mammal could have weighed as much as 500 kilograms.   The large, elephant-like animal in the background is a Deinotherium, a very popular Mojo Fun prehistoric animal figure amongst collectors, after all, not that many replicas of “gigantic, terrible beast” have been produced.

The Mojo Fun Deinotherium Model

Wide Temporal and Geographical Ranges

Mojo Fun have taken great care in the creation of their promotional image.  A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It is always a pleasure to post up images depicting prehistoric animal models from the various ranges that we support.   We have some more images kindly supplied by Mojo Fun of some of their new for 2019 prehistoric animals, we are looking forward to posting up these images to, when the figures come into stock.”

A Hyaenodon gigas Scale Drawing Based on the Mojo Fun Hyaenodon Figure

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Fossils of both Hyaenodon and Deinotherium genera have a wide geographical and temporal distribution.  H. gigas is known from the Lower Oligocene of south-eastern Mongolia, so it lived long before the first members of the Deinotheriidae evolved and certainly before the first members of this elephant family left Africa and became more widespread.  However, as the Deinotherium genus is believed to have existed from the Miocene to the Pliocene Epoch and as some hyaenodonts persisted until the Late Miocene, it is possible that species of Deinotherium would have been contemporaneous with some of the last members of the Hyaenodontidae.

An interaction between a member of the Deinotheriidae and a carnivorous hyaenodont could have taken place.

To view the range of Mojo Fun models stocked by Everything Dinosaur: Mojo Prehistoric and Extinct Animal Models.

Estemmenosuchus and Edaphosaurus Models

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have posted up an image featuring two of their favourite Permian tetrapods, the sail-backed, herbivorous reptile Edaphosaurus and the “crowned crocodile” Estemmenosuchus.  Although these reptiles lived during the Permian geological period, their fossils are not found in the same rock formations and although both animals are classified as members of the Class Synapsida, they are not closely related.

An Illustration of Estemmenosuchus and Edaphosaurus

CollectA 1:20 Scale Estemmenosuchus and the CollectA Edaphosaurus

Often described as dinosaurs, these two CollectA figures represent vertebrates that lived long before the first dinosaurs evolved.  As synapsids, they are actually more closely related to modern mammals than they are to the Dinosauria.  The CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Estemmenosuchus was introduced in 2018, whilst the CollectA Edaphosaurus came out earlier this year (2019).  They are most impressive models and are part of an initiative by CollectA to add more models and replicas of animals that existed before the dinosaurs evolved to their already extensive range of prehistoric animal figures.

The first species assigned to the genus Edaphosaurus may have originated in the Late Carboniferous.  Edaphosaurus spp. fossils are known from the southern United States and Europe (notably the Czech Republic and Germany).  In contrast, Estemmenosuchus fossil material, as far as we at Everything Dinosaur know, comes from the Perm region of Russia.  It is from this region of Russia that the geological period – the Permian was named.

Estemmenosuchus and Edaphosaurus

The image (above), depicts two splendid CollectA figures, the company has been praised for introducing more replicas of Palaeozoic animals into its model range, but based on the current fossil record, such a meeting between these two animals never took place.  Estemmenosuchus was geographically and chronologically separated from those species assigned to the Edaphosaurus genus.

To see the CollectA Deluxe model range: CollectA Deluxe Models and Figures.

In answer to a query raised by one of Everything Dinosaur’s customers, the CollectA Deluxe Estemmenosuchus model does indeed have an articulated jaw.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Safari Ltd Models Back in Stock and the 2019 Booklet Too

Everything Dinosaur has received a new shipment of Safari Ltd prehistoric animal models and the 2019 collectors booklet is now in stock too.  Fans of the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal models can now keep up to date with Safari Ltd’s range with this handy, pocket-sized booklet.   The collectors booklet lists all the Safari Ltd models that are currently available, it is more than 160 pages long, reflecting the breadth and scope of Safari Ltd’s product offering.

The Safari Ltd Collectors Booklet (2019) is in Stock at Everything Dinosaur

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Safari Ltd Models – Toys that Teach ®

Eagle-eyed readers will spot that the Safari Ltd strapline “Toys that Teach” is a registered trade mark.  This reflects the company’s commitment to education and learning.  The model range extends to over 800 figures and items and the US-based company remains dedicated to creating the most accurate and educational figures they possibly can.  Note for example, the quadrupedal Spinosaurus figure that is depicted on the front cover of the new for 2019 collectors booklet.

The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Swimming Spinosaurus Figure

To view the complete range of Safari Ltd prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Safari Ltd – Wild Safari Prehistoric World.

Old Favourites and New Favourites Back in Stock

The shipment of models that we have received includes some old favourites as well as some new favourites.  The Cambrian Life Toob, a model set that depicts life some 520 million years ago is back in stock.  This popular set features eight super models representing the bizarre life forms of the Cambrian geological period.

The Cambrian Life Toob

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

This model set epitomises the Safari Ltd philosophy.  The accurate models help to educate about life in the past, these figures have been used by many scientists in their studies and their science communication work.  The Cambrian Life Toob is an embodiment of the company’s philosophy to produce “toys that teach”.

The 2019 Safari Ltd collectors booklet is available free of charge (just postage to pay), from Everything Dinosaur.  If collectors and dinosaur model fans want a booklet then they can simply pop one into their shopping cart when placing an order with us and we will make sure the booklet is included in their parcel.  Alternatively, when making a purchase, just leave a note requesting the 2019 collectors booklet when placing an order in the handy message box and an Everything Dinosaur team member will ensure that the booklet is included in your order.

Award-winning Models from an Award-winning Company

Safari Ltd manufacture a range of award winning models.  Recently, readers of the illustrious “Prehistoric Times” magazine voted the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Malawisaurus as the best new dinosaur figure of 2018.  In addition, the Wild Safari Prehistoric World American Mastodon topped the poll for the best non-dinosaur figure introduced last year.

Award Winning Prehistoric Animal Figures

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are happy to send out the Safari Ltd collectors booklet out to our customers.  This little booklet highlights the huge range of models and figures made by Safari Ltd.  The 2019 booklet is around ten pages longer than the 2018 edition reflecting the commitment of Safari Ltd to produce toys that teach.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.