As we await the first episode of the exciting Apple TV + series “Prehistoric Planet” with its cornucopia of feathered dinosaurs we thought we would post up one of our favourite dromaeosaur illustrations – Zhenyuanlong suni by Zhao Chuang.
Very probably a ground-dwelling predator. Named and described in 2015 (Lü and Brusatte), Z. suni is one of several dromaeosaurs that have been named and described from fossils found in Liaoning Province. Picture credit: Zhao Chuang.
Picture credit: Zhao Chuang
Dromaeosaurs a Plenty
The five-part documentary television series “Prehistoric Planet” will feature a variety of small, feathered dinosaurs including troodontids and dromaeosaurs. These animals will not be shown tackling large prey but reflecting behaviour as inferred by the fossil record and seen in their living, close relatives the birds.
Viewers can expect to see many of the prehistoric animals that have been so beautifully illustrated by the incredibly talented Chinese artist Zhao Chuang brought to life thanks to ground-breaking CGI and state-of-the-art puppetry.
Steve Brusatte, (School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh), a co-author of the scientific paper describing Z. suni, is one of the scientific consultants involved in the BBC/Apple TV + documentary series. Viewers can expect to see plenty of feathered dinosaurs, although Zhenyuanlong suni will not feature.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“The five television programmes will focus on different ecosystems that flourished during the Late Cretaceous. Whilst there are many genera of small, feathered dinosaurs including numerous troodontid and dromaeosaurid taxa featured in the programmes, Zhenyuanlong suni lived during the Early Cretaceous. It had been extinct for tens of millions of years prior to the time in which these programmes are set.”
To read Everything Dinosaur’s original blog post announcing the discovery of a large-bodied dromaeosaur from the famous Liaoning Province of China: New Winged Dragon from Liaoning Province.
Zhenyuanlong suni Scientific Paper
The scientific paper: “A large, short-armed, winged dromaeosaurid(Dinosauria: Theropoda) from theEarly Cretaceous of China and its implications for feather evolution” by Junchang Lü and Stephen L. Brusatte published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur have been looking at the new Nanmu Studio Mordred figures whilst they await details of CE and UKCA certification from the manufacturer. Today, we are posting up some pictures of these remarkable replicas sent to us by the clever design team at Nanmu Studio.
The four Nanmu Studio Mordred figures namely top left Mordred green with base and accessories – the deluxe version (top right, centre) Mordred green standard version. The Mordred red/black version is bottom left whilst bottom right, centre is the red/black deluxe version with base and accessories. The fence accessory (sold separately) is also shown.
Nanmu Studio Mordred Figures
There are four figures to be offered, all produced in a single, one-time-only, limited production run. Nanmu Studio have also produced a fence accessory reminiscent of the security fences seen in the “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World” movie franchise. The Mordred portfolio consists of two colour variants both of which come in either the standard or a deluxe version that includes a display base and other accessories such as interchangeable horns, frills and spikes.
Nanmu Studio Mordred Portfolio
Nanmu Studio Mordred in green (172015)
The Nanmu Studio Mordred in green deluxe version with display base and accessories (172015DX)
Nanmu Studio Mordred red/black (172008)
Nanmu Studio Mordred red/black deluxe version with base and accessories (172008DX)
Mordred Model Measurements
Each of the Nanmu Studio Mordred figures measures around 43 cm in length and they stand approximately 20 cm high. When placed on a display base the model will be slightly taller. Each figure has declared scale of 1:35.
The red and black colour version of the new for 2022 Nanmu Studio Mordred figure. The manufacturer’s product code for this Nanmu Studio model is 172008.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“These are intriguing figures, and it is fantastic to see the mix of fantasy and palaeontology that has been deployed by Nanmu Studio to create these superbly detailed creatures. They remind us of the“Ultimasaurus”, a chimera created via hybridisation and genetic manipulation that is part of the movie franchise and related spin-offs back story.”
The green colour variant Nanmu Studio Mordred figure with base (deluxe version – 172015DX).
“Ultimasaurus”
The “Ultimasaurus”, sometimes referred to as “Ultimatesaurus” is an amalgam of several different famous dinosaurs, a mixture of theropods and ornithischians. It allegedly combined the armour of the herbivorous dinosaurs Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurus with traits associated with Velociraptors and tyrannosaurs, most notably T. rex.
The deluxe version of this figure is supplied with a display base along with interchangeable horns, spikes and other elements of the model’s dermal armour.
The polystone base associated with the Nanmu Studio Mordred deluxe models.
The model will be made from a high grade of PVC whilst the display base will be formed from polystone.
Don’t Forget the Fence
Everything Dinosaur team members are also considering whether to import the security fence accessory that Nanmu Studio intend to manufacture. This fence accessory reminds us of the security fencing and barriers that formed the large dinosaur enclosures in the “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World” movie franchise.
The fence accessory from Nanmu Studio. The fence measures 35 cm long, stands 28 cm high and is around 8 cm wide. It represents a 1:35 scale model of the security fencing as seen in the “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World” movie franchise.
Your Opinions Please
What do you think of these figures from Nanmu Studio? Should Everything Dinosaur be stocking them? As always, we welcome feedback from our customers and blog readers.
What do you give a team member at Everything Dinosaur as a thank you gift for their help and assistance? A balloon dinosaur of course! We received a little thank you gift, a little token of appreciation after we provided assistance. This was a very kind, it was a lovely gesture, but we were just doing our job and trying to help where we could.
The dinosaur balloon given to an Everything Dinosaur team member, we appreciate the kind gesture and we are grateful to receive a green tyrannosaur in balloon form. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Our little green dinosaur is currently keeping us company in the office. The balloon Tyrannosaurus rex is keeping an eye on us as we prepare articles for the Everything Dinosaur blog and get the paperwork completed so that we can pack orders for Everything Dinosaur customers.
A close-up of the fearsome looking balloon Tyrannosaurus rex that was given to Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
It can be difficult to visualise the immensely long geological time scale and to demonstrate what lifeforms developed along the way, so, why not knit one and use prehistoric animal models to illustrate key moments in the history of life on Earth.
That’s exactly what Sue Mallender, Learning Programmes Science Officer, (Nottingham City Museums) and the Learning and Engagement team did – creating a colourful and striking depiction of the evolution of life on Earth.
The coloured bands represent geological periods and epochs. Picture credit: Sue Mallender.
Picture credit: Sue Mallender
Visualising Geological Time
In order to study the history of life, scientists need to locate important evolutionary events such as the development of animals with exoskeletons and the evolution of vertebrates within the geological time scale. Planet Earth was formed around 4.57 billion years ago. Geologists have divided the history of our planet into time intervals of varying duration. This time scale was devised in the 19th century, (although amendments to it and revisions continue to be made). The boundaries between the time intervals mark notable events such as dramatic changes in the type of fossils found in strata.
This remarkable knitted timescale provides a novel and very innovative way of demonstrating this fundamental aspect of geology.
Demonstrating deep geological time in knitted form. The geological time scale knitted. Picture credit: Sue Mallender.
Picture credit: Sue Mallender
This colourful visualisation of the age of our planet was created by dedicated knitter Helen Crowfoot.
The “Slow Burning Fuse” to Complex Life
The long interval of time from the origin of the Earth to the start of the Cambrian is referred to as the Cryptozoic Eon (meaning hidden life). This enormous time interval is also referred to as the Precambrian. Its length in comparison to the Phanerozoic Eon (visible life) – the time interval to the present day, is dramatically demonstrated in the knitted time scale by the burgundy-coloured strip.
Some palaeontologists have described the Cryptozoic Eon as the “slow burning fuse to complex life.”
A novel way of demonstrating the Cryptozoic Eon, informally known as the Precambrian – the immensely long period of time before complex life evolved on Earth. Picture credit: Sue Mallender
Picture credit: Sue Mallender
Cambrian Creatures
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that they had been contacted about this innovative project and ask to recommend prehistoric animal models that could be placed along the time scale to depict the sort of creatures that evolved during the main geological periods.
The Everything Dinosaur spokesperson explained:
“We started with the Cambrian, suggesting some figures that could represent some of the first, large complex animals and then worked forwards from there recommending various models that could be used to populate the knitted time scale.”
The Safari Ltd Cambrian Toob models placed on the knitted time line. Picture credit: Sue Mallender.
“What a super idea! This is a fantastic way to visualise geological time and we congratulate Sue and the Learning and Engagement team for such an innovative and creative way of demonstrating how life on our planet has changed over millions of years.”
The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.
Last month, Everything Dinosaur received another thirty-seven 5-star customer service reviews. Every customer review received was a 5-star review. The team members at Everything Dinosaur are very grateful for all the customer feedback they receive, every review and comment is independently verified by the independent ratings company Feefo.
The consistently high customer service provided by Everything Dinosaur has permitted this award-winning mail order company to continue to maintain its Trusted Platinum Customer Service status.
Everything Dinosaur wins the Platinum Service Award.
Here is a typical Feefo review received recently, our thanks to James for taking the time and trouble to send into Feefo his comments.
“If you’re looking for anything dinosaur related, there is nowhere better than Everything Dinosaur. These guys are passionate about what they do, and this comes across from the moment you buy your item to the moment it arrives, with multiple updates from their team. They even go as far as to send a detailed info sheet on the dinosaur you have bought, with cool little facts you may not have known about the Dino you hold in your hands (in this case it was Nanmu’s fantastic T. rex) – a great touch! Overall, a fantastic company who set a great example of what a retailer should be. Thanks guys!”
The Nanmu Studio Jurassic Series Once and Future King with Base. This was the model purchased by dinosaur model collector James.
You are most welcome James, look out for some more Nanmu Studio prehistoric animal models and figures coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur next month (June 2022).
PNSO will be adding a replica of the fearsome North American theropod Acrocanthosaurus (A. atokensis) to their mid-size prehistoric animal model range. Pictures of this exciting new figure have been revealed and Everything Dinosaur can announce that this model should be in stock next month (June 2022). Team members at Everything Dinosaur are looking forward to receiving the PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model into stock.
PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus has an articulated lower jawand it measures over 32 cm in length.
Acrocanthosaurus atokensis
Rumours had been circulating for some time within the dinosaur model collecting community that PNSO was due to add a replica of this super-sized, Early Cretaceous carcharodontosaurid to its already extensive model range. Everything Dinosaur can now reveal that this figure will be available in the early summer.
PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus has an articulated lower jaw.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are delighted to announce that an Acrocanthosaurus is being added to the PNSO model range. The company has expressed an ambition to dramatically increase the range of models that it offers and over the last two years or so, we have seen Allosaurus, Yutyrannus, Carnotaurus, Qianzhousaurus, Carcharodontosaurus and Tarbosaurus replicas added to their range and now we have a fantastic model of an Acrocanthosaurus joining the PNSO portfolio too.”
PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus in anterior view.
PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus Model Measurements
The PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus model measures an impressive 32.5 cm in length and the figure stands around 10.5 cm tall. Although PNSO does not declare a scale for its mid-size models, based on Acrocanthosaurus having an estimated size of 12 metres, team members at Everything Dinosaur have stated that this figure is in approximately 1:37 scale.
PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model measurements. This new for 2022 figure measures 32.5 cm in length and it stands around 10.5 cm high.
Acrocanthosaurus Accessories
This amazing Acrocanthosaurus (A. atokensis) comes complete with a full-colour, 64-page illustrated booklet, posters inspired by the fossil material and highlighting the artwork of Zhao Chuang. PNSO have also prepared a short video explaining how the figure was developed which can be accessed by a QR code.
The model is supplied with a clear plastic support stand, a 64-page, full-colour booklet and colour poster. A QR code on the packaging links to a short video that explains how the figure was made.
The PNSO Fergus the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model. A fabulous Acrocanthosaurus atokensis replica by PNSO.
Our thanks to prehistoric animal fan and model collector William who sent into Everything Dinosaur a review of his recently purchased Eofauna Konobelodon atticus figure.
William wrote to Everything Dinosaur commenting on how well packaged his parcel had been. The Konobelodon atticus is the fourth prehistoric figure released by Eofauna and he praised the scientific accuracy of this exciting range.
The stunning Eofauna Konobelodon model measures 23 cm long and stands approximately 11 cm high.
Konobelodon Reviewed
William began his review by explaining that the skull was longer and lower than those of modern elephants. He compared the Konobelodon head to other extinct proboscideans such as mastodons and gomphotheres. He highlighted the position of the eyes and the orbits set deeper and protected by a ridge of bone.
William summarised how these prehistoric elephants got their nickname “Shovel-Tuskers” and postulated that due to the observed pattern of wear on the tusks, the lower tusks were probably used to rasp the trunks of trees in order to feed on the bark.
William praised the trunk on the Eofauna model, commenting that it looked very natural and with the tip of the trunk swaying to the left it gave the impression that this elephant was either feeding or drinking.
The reviewer added:
“As with all the Eofauna Proboscidea no detail is missed on the mouth from pink tongue to the tusks and the nasal openings. There are two, beautiful, pale yellow eyes that even in miniature form seem to portray the Proboscidea as having wisdom and compassion.”
The Eofauna Scientific Research Konobelodon figure is in approximately 1:35 scale. Originally named in 1857, Konobelodon atticus has had a long and complicated taxonomic history. William praises this figure for its scientific accuracy.
Roaming the Savannah or Forest
The body is described as being long and robust, typical of the Amebelodontinae. William points out that old illustrations of this animal depicted it as a sprawling hippo-like swamp dweller. The Eofauna Scientific Research replica is a modern interpretation, this model would not be out of place roaming a savannah or forest.
William stated:
“This is all down to Eofauna’s painstaking research to create the perfect accurate model.”
A scale drawing of the Late Miocene prehistoric elephant Konobelodon atticus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
William remarked that the model’s colour scheme was similar to the colouration seen today in extant Asian elephants with a mixture of splashes of pink and fleshy tones on the ears, chest, forehead and trunk.
The toenails have had the same pink and grey wash applied and the tuft of black hair on the end of the tail was singled out for comment by the reviewer.
William provided the model’s measurements:
Scale: 1/35. Height: 4 inches. Length: 9 inches.
A short history of the discovery of the first Konobelodon fossil material was provided encompassing the role played in the discovery by the historian John Finlay, soldiers in the army of the Bavaria that occupied Greece and how the fossils came to the notice of the German palaeontologist Johan Andreas Wagner.
Epoch: Miocene 15–10 million years ago. Geographical Range: North America, Europe and China. Weight: 9-10 Tons. Height: 12-13 Feet. Length: 26 Feet.
The new for 2022 Eofauna Konobelodon atticus model is supplied with a data card and Everything Dinosaur will also provide a product fact sheet with sales of this figure.
William concluded his review by stating that in his opinion the Eofauna Konobelodon prehistoric elephant model was a “masterpiece” and he praised Everything Dinosaur for their excellent customer service and the swift delivery of his order.
Our thanks to William for sending into Everything Dinosaur his Eofauna Konobelodon model review.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham and Ghent University (Belgium), have identified hundreds of possible large prehistoric pits and thousands of smaller ones at the heart of the ancient Stonehenge landscape. This discovery challenges our understanding of land use through time at this famous UNESCO World Heritage site, the most intensively investigated prehistoric monument in the world.
Hundreds of possible prehistoric pits detected in the landscape, indicating those that have been validated and excavated, plotted on a magnetic soil map from Stonehenge. Picture credit: De Smedt et al.
The Oldest Evidence of Land Use at Stonehenge
Writing in the academic “Journal of Archaeological Science”, the researchers report the discovery of a substantial pit, more than four metres wide and two metres deep excavated into chalk bedrock. Estimated to have been constructed over 10,000 years ago it stands out as the most ancient trace of land use yet discovered at Stonehenge. This prehistoric pit bears witness to hunter-gatherers roaming the landscape during the early Mesolithic, when Britain was re-inhabited after the last Ice Age. This is only one of many new sites and unexpected patterns of prehistoric activity detected at Stonehenge by the Ghent-Birmingham study team.
An overview of the excavation work. Picture credit: University of Ghent/University of Birmingham.
Unique Research
In a unique piece of research, extensive, electromagnetic induction surveying was combined with borehole analysis and twenty exploratory archaeological excavations. These revealed the extensive sub-surface pits.
Philippe De Smedt, Associate Professor at Ghent University and co-author of the scientific paper commented:
“Geophysical survey allows us to visualise what’s buried below the surface of entire landscapes. The maps we create offer a high-resolution view of subsurface soil variation that can be targeted with unprecedented precision. Using this as a guide to sample the landscape, taking archaeological ‘biopsies’ of subsurface deposits, we were able to add archaeological meaning to the complex variations discovered in the landscape.”
Four Hundred Large Pits
The project team identified over four hundred potential large pits (each over 2.5 metres in diameter), of which six were excavated in the course of the project, ranging in date from the Early Mesolithic (c.8000 BCE) to the Middle Bronze Age (c.1300 BCE).
While each of these sites adds to our knowledge of prehistoric activity in the Stonehenge landscape, the Mesolithic pit stands out as exceptional. The size and shape of the pit suggest it was probably dug as a hunting trap for large game such as aurochs, red deer and wild boar. Dating to 8200-7800 BCE, it is not only one of the earliest of the very few Mesolithic sites near Stonehenge (predating, for instance, the Blick Mead occupation site 1.5 kms away), it is also the largest known Early Mesolithic pit feature in north-western Europe.
Collecting environmental samples in the Mesolithic pit. Picture credit: University of Ghent/University of Birmingham.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Birmingham in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Novel Insights into Prehistoric Land Use at Stonehenge by Combining Electromagnetic and Invasive Methods with a Semi-Automated Interpretation Scheme” by De Smedt, Philippe, Paul Garwood, Henry Chapman, Koen Deforce, Johan De Grave, Daan Hanssens and Dimitri Vandenberghe published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
As the glaciers that comprise the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in Chile retreat, some of the rocks exposed have revealed an astonishing array of ichthyosaur fossils. A resilient and dedicated team of scientists have been working to map this hugely significant site and to extract the marine reptile fossil material so that these remarkable specimens can be studied in more detail.
Dr Judith Pardo-Pérez (University of Magallanes), shows the ichthyosaur specimen exposed by the retreating Tyndall Glacier. Picture credit: Alejandra Zúñiga.
Picture credit: Alejandra Zúñiga
Finding and Rescuing “Fiona” the Pregnant Ichthyosaur
An expedition to the remote Tyndall Glacier located in the Torres del Paine National Park, led by Dr Judith Pardo-Pérez from the University of Magallanes (Punta Arenas, southern Chile), has recovered the country’s first complete ichthyosaur fossil. Nicknamed “Fiona” the four-metre-long specimen represents the remains of a pregnant female, complete with several ichthyosaur embryos.
“Fiona” was discovered in 2009, during an earlier expedition to this remote area of Chilean Patagonia. A team of dedicated researchers which included Jonatan Kaluza from Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara and CONICET (Argentina), biologist and palaeontological excavator Héctor Ortiz from the Chilean Antarctic Institute and the University of Chile and renowned ichthyosaur expert Dr Dean Lomax (Visiting Scientist at The University of Manchester), braved the harsh conditions in March and April to ensure the safe removal of the specimen. The intact female ichthyosaur remains were airlifted using a helicopter. It is hoped that further analysis of this remarkable specimen will confirm it as a new ichthyosaur genus.
A helicopter prepares to airlift the pregnant ichthyosaur specimen. Picture credit: The University of Manchester.
Picture credit: The University of Manchester
The First Female Palaeontologist to Lead a Major Expedition to Patagonia
Dr Judith Pardo-Pérez has visited the Tyndall fossil site more than ten times since the initial discovery in 1997 and completed her PhD on the ichthyosaurs found in the area. Thanks to funding from the Chilean National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), a team of top scientists could be put together to allow the fossils preserved in an ancient Cretaceous seabed to be studied in detail.
Dr Pardo-Pérez, is the first female palaeontologist to lead a major expedition in Patagonia.
Part of the Tyndall Ichthyosaur Team discuss excavating a section of a fossil specimen. Picture credit: The University of Manchester.
Picture credit: The University of Manchester
Collecting these hugely important marine reptile fossils, was no easy task. The Tyndall Glacier site could only be reached by a 10-hour hike or horse ride and the team had to endure difficult weather conditions including high winds and snowstorms whilst excavating the fossils from the extremely hard sediment.
To combat the 90 kph winds, heavy rain and snow, a hangar was built over “Fiona” so that the team could continue to work despite the harsh weather. Circular saws and heavy-duty excavation tools were used to free the fossils from the bedrock.
A hanger was erected over the 4-metre-long ichthyosaur fossil so the scientists could continue working on the specimen despite the extreme weather conditions. Picture credit: The University of Manchester.
Picture credit: The University of Manchester
The Most Abundant and Best-preserved Cretaceous Ichthyosaur Deposit Known
Despite the constant threat of pumas, the team have ensured that this exceptional female specimen has been made available for further analysis and study. It is the only known specimen of a pregnant female of Valanginian-Hauterivian age (between 129 and 139 million years old from the Early Cretaceous).
Commenting on the importance of the specimen, Dr Pardo-Perez Pérez stated:
“At four metres long, complete, and with embryos in gestation, the excavation will help to provide information on its species, on the palaeobiology of embryonic development, and on a disease that affected it during its lifetime.”
In addition to “Fiona” a further twenty-three new ichthyosaur specimens were discovered by the expedition team, making the Tyndall Glacier site perhaps the most abundant and best-preserved early Cretaceous ichthyosaur deposit in the world.
Dr Judith Pardo-Pérez and Dr Dean Lomax examining the best-preserved skull of an ichthyosaur found at the Tyndall Glacier site. Whilst assisting on-site, Dr Lomax found new specimens including the skull of a juvenile ichthyosaur.Picture credit: The University of Manchester.
Picture credit: The University of Manchester
An Ichthyosaur Graveyard
The fossils consist of adults, juveniles and very young ichthyosaurs, they can provide scientists with information on breeding behaviour as well as helping to plot the radiation of new ichthyosaur genera following the end-Jurassic extinction event.
Dr Lomax explained:
“The fact that these incredible ichthyosaurs are so well preserved in an extreme environment, revealed by a retreating glacier, is unlike anywhere else in the world. The considerable number of ichthyosaurs found in the area, including complete skeletons of adults, juveniles, and new-borns provides a unique window into the past. The international collaboration helps to share this exceptional ichthyosaur graveyard with the world and, to a large extent, to promote science.”
Jonatan Kuluza, palaeontological technician at the Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara and CONICET (Argentina), uses a circular saw to cut out an ichthyosaur specimen. Picture credit: The University of Manchester.
Picture credit: The University of Manchester
Dr Lomax added:
“The weather was so extreme that we could not get to the ichthyosaur site every day and had to remain in camp. On those days when the team could reach the site, they documented the ichthyosaurs and other fossils and discovered new specimens. Amazingly, on average, two ichthyosaurs were found every day.”
Protecting and Preserving the Remaining Specimens
The female ichthyosaur nicknamed “Fiona”, will be prepared and studied at the Río Seco Natural History Museum in Punta Arenas. It is hoped that the beautifully preserved specimen will go on public display.
The priority for Dr Pardo-Pérez and her collaborators is to try to preserve as many specimens as possible. The remoteness of the site and the difficult working conditions will hamper any attempts to preserve and protect these remarkable specimens.
Outlining some of the problems facing the team, the doctor stated:
“We have almost a hundred ichthyosaurs in the Tyndall Glacier fossil deposit and many of them, unfortunately, will never be excavated, due to the difficulty of access, being in risk areas [cliff edge], and lack of funds. The ichthyosaurs that will not be excavated need protection and consolidation in situ, as the erosion to which they are being subjected on a daily basis is destroying them.”
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of media release from The University of Manchester in the compilation of this article.
Our thanks to dinosaur fan and model collector William who sent into Everything Dinosaur a review of the new for 2022 Eofauna Scientific Research Diplodocus carnegii model. William commented that the model arrived within 24-hours of placing the order and it was perfectly and expertly wrapped, being supplied in a strong cardboard box to protect the model in transit.
The new for 2022 Eofauna Diplodocus carnegii dinosaur model is supplied with a beautifully illustrated collector’s card. Everything Dinosaur team members helped with the hang tag and labelling for the new Eofauna Diplodocus.
The Second Sauropod from Eofauna Scientific Research
In William’s review he pointed out that the Diplodocus carnegii model was the second sauropod figure to be released by Eofauna following the introduction of their Atlasaurus figure in 2019. He praises the typically small diplodocid head, highlights the skin wrinkles and suggests that some palaeontologists think that sauropods had beaked lips to help them shear vegetation. William states that the beak keratin on the model is painted black which contrasts nicely with the inside of the mouth which is painted pink.
He highlights the dermal spines and comments upon the dermal bumps that are depicted over the large body.
The Eofauna Diplodocus carnegii model measures around 60 cm in length and stands 11 cm tall. It is a 1/40th scale model.
A Terrific Torso
The reviewer reflects on the scientifically accurate sculpt of D. carnegii, from the finely rendered legs with the toenails well painted, including the more prominent inner toe claw on all four, compact, sturdy feet (digit I). William states that:
“Never will you see such a long model from the tip of the neck to the end of its deadly tail tip.”
The complex colour scheme complete with its counter shading is discussed in William’s review and he praises the design team at Eofauna for their depiction of this iconic dinosaur.
William added:
“When you view the model from a side profile you see a pleasing, warm, earthy palette of hues just right for this Dippy.”
The Eofauna Diplodocus (top) and the Eofauna Konobelodon (bottom) with their fact sheets. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The reviewer comments that this figure is in 1/40th scale and measures between 24 and 25 inches in length and stands around 4 inches tall. He explains that this Diplodocus species is associated with the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic).
Diplodocus Biography
In concluding his review, William kindly provided some additional notes about this remarkable sauropod genus. Explaining that the genus was erected by the American palaeontologist Othniel Charles Marsh in 1878.
Weight: 15-20 Tonnes. Height: 16 feet high at the hip. Length: 88 feet. Neck length: 20-21 feet.
Ending his model review William kindly praised Everything Dinosaur stating:
“May I take a moment and thank the entire team of Everything Dinosaur.”
He is excited about future model introductions and is looking forward to hearing news of 2023 model releases from Eofauna Scientific Research.
