Adobe CS5 - Part 63

Everything Dinosaur’s work with photoshop and other platforms.

7 03, 2022

New Rebor Saurophaganax Dinosaur Models in Stock

By Mike|2024-10-27T12:28:52+00:00March 7th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The Rebor Saurophaganax maximus dinosaur models are in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This trio of terrific 1:35 scale dinosaur figures – “Jungle”, “Badlands” and “Volcanic Cavern” have arrived at Everything Dinosaur’s warehouse. Each figure has an articulated lower jaw, moveable arms and a flexible tail. The S. maximus replicas are supplied with a data card and an Everything Dinosaur Saurophaganax fact sheet.

Three Rebor Saurophaganax dinosaur models.

The Rebor Saurophaganax maximus dinosaur model comes in three colour variants “Jungle” (left), “Badlands” centre and “Volcanic Cavern” (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Trio of Colourful Theropods

These Rebor replicas represent one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs known from the Late Jurassic. Size estimates vary, but Saurophaganax maximus is regarded as the biggest carnivore described to date from fossil material associated with the famous Morrison Formation. Some palaeontologists have suggested that this dinosaur could have reached 13 metres or more in length. The discovery of a femur (thigh bone) in New Mexico, which is more than a metre long and isolated teeth measuring in excess of 12 cm indicate that this member of the Allosauridae family was a formidable, super-sized predator.

Three in a row! The three new for 2022 Rebor Saurophaganax maximus dinosaur models. Foreground “Jungle” colour scheme, middle “Badlands” and in the background “Volcanic Cavern”. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

Rebor Saurophaganax maximus “Notorious Big”

Rebor has nicknamed their Saurophaganax “Notorious Big”, perhaps in recognition of this dinosaur’s estimated size. The genus was originally erected based on observed differences in the shape of the backbones (vertebrae). Palaeontologists remain uncertain as to the validity of this genus, the fossil material could represent large Allosaurus individuals, after all, Allosaurus itself has become something of a taxonomic wastebasket and revision of fossil material has led to erection of a third species Allosaurus jimmadseni: A New Species of Allosaurus A. jimmadseni.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It is wonderful to see a scale replica of Saurophaganax introduced to the Rebor range. Several theropods have been named from fossils found in Morrison Formation deposits, megalosaurs such as Torvosaurus and Marshosaurus, numerous species of Ceratosaurus plus other ceratosaurs too and of course, allosauroids. Of all these fearsome predators associated with the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation, Saurophaganax maximus is regarded by many palaeontologists as being the largest described to date.”

To view the range of Rebor models and prehistoric animal figures available at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Dinosaur Models and Figures.

4 03, 2022

Sauropods Walked Like Hippos According to New Study

By Mike|2024-10-27T11:02:43+00:00March 4th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University have developed a new and innovative approach to interpreting sauropod trackways enabling them to calculate their gaits (the order in which the animal moved its four limbs to progress). Jens Lallensack and his colleague Peter Falkingham discovered that the placement of tracks relative to each other in a sauropod trackway changes in a consistent way when the animal changes its velocity (either speeding up or slowing down). Using this technique, subsequently verified by analysing the gaits of living animals such as dogs, horses, a camel and an elephant, the scientists have concluded that sauropods walked more like hippos than elephants.

Sauropod Tracks (Brontopodus plagnensis).

A picture of the sauropod trackway (Plagne, France). Picture credit: P. Dumas/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

Picture credit: P. Dumas/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

Quadruped Locomotion

Four-footed animals (quadrupeds), may use different gaits such as trots, walks, and pace gaits. In a trot, one diagonal limb pair (e.g. hind right and front left) moves together, followed by the other limb pair. Many mammals use trots at faster gaits, but reptiles also use trots at slow speeds. In a pace gait, in contrast, the limbs on one side of the body (e.g. hind right and fore right) move together in a similar way as the locomotion of a camel.

In-between these extremes is the single foot gait, in which the time lag between fore and hind feet is equal – a good example of this type of locomotion is the movement of horses.

The movements of living animals can be observed, direct observation of extinct animals such as huge, long-necked, long-tailed sauropod dinosaurs is not possible, but data can be obtained by careful study of their fossilised prints and trackways.

Dinosaur tracks — *Trace fossils such as these dinosaur tracks can provide palaeontologists with data on dinosaur locomotion, velocity and gaits. Picture credit: Liverpool John Moores University.*

Picture credit: Liverpool John Moores University

Examining Sauropod Tracksites

Liverpool John Moores University researchers Jens Lallensack and Peter Falkingham identified that the placement of an animal’s feet changes in a predictable and consistent way when the animal’s velocity changes. If a trackway is long enough and shows variation in stride length (indicating a change of speed), it is possible to calculate gaits and to gain an insight into how extinct animals moved.

Their predictions were confirmed in an analysis of the gaits of different types of living animal, including elephants, thanks to the help from locomotion expert Professor John Hutchinson (Royal Veterinary College, London), who provided elephant locomotion data. These new analytical methods were used to plot the limb movements along three sauropod trackways from the Lower Cretaceous De Queen Formation (Arkansas, USA). Although it is not possible to identify specific sauropod species (ichnospecies) from the De Queen Formation (Albian fauna stage) tracks, these trace fossils represent large, sauropod trackmakers (median average hind foot length 70-85 cm and maximum stride length 3.42 metres).

Commenting on the outcome of their findings, reported in the journal “Current Biology”, Dr Falkingham stated:

“Many researchers assumed that sauropods walked like elephants, with which they share many similarities, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.”

Researchers have found a way to identify the gait of sauropods by studying their tracks. Picture credit: Liverpool John Moores University.

Picture credit: Liverpool John Moores University

Sauropod Dinosaurs Compared to Elephants

As elephants are the largest living terrestrial animals alive today, it had been suggested that their locomotion was an appropriate analogy for the movement of sauropod dinosaurs. Elephants use a gait intermediate between the pace gait and the singlefoot, i.e. the two limbs on the same body side tend to swing together. The gait analysis, in the current study by contrast, revealed that sauropods instead employed a gait intermediate between the singlefoot and a trot: the opposite-side limbs tend to swing together.

Based on this data, sauropod dinosaurs had a similar gait to hippos.

To Sway or Not to Sway

If sauropods moved very differently compared to the largest land animals alive today, this suggests that these two types of animal with large body sizes evolved different solutions to locomotion. Sauropods, even the titanosaurs known for their narrower trackways when compared to other types of sauropod such as diplodocids and dicraeosaurids, have a much broader stance than elephants. Elephants place one foot almost directly in front of another producing surprisingly narrow tracks for such large animals. Sauropod trackways, in contrast, are much broader. Their particular gait allowed sauropods to have at least one foot on the ground on both the left and right sides of the body at all times, preventing swaying from side to side.

Patagotitan skeleton on display at the London Natural History Museum.

The enormous body of the titanosaur dwarfs visitors. Patagotitan mayorum skeletal reconstruction. Titanosaurs are known for their narrower tracks when compared to other types of sauropod but as many were much bigger than elephants, elephants do not make a good analogy for describing the gaits of titanosaurs or of sauropods generally. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from Liverpool John Moores University in the compilation of this article.

Lead author of the scientific paper Dr Jens Lallensack added:

“Sauropods chose a gait that maximised stability but still allowed for efficient walking”.

The scientific paper: “A new method to calculate limb phase from trackways reveals gaits of sauropod dinosaurs” by Jens N. Lallensack, Peter L. Falkingham published in Current Biology.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

2 03, 2022

The Artwork in a Scientific Paper

By Mike|2023-07-08T17:02:38+01:00March 2nd, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

When a new prehistoric animal is named and described in a scientific paper, often, an illustration featuring the new discovery is commissioned so that readers and viewers of any subsequent media release can get an impression of what the creature might have looked like. These life reconstructions show the animal in context, providing an insight into the palaeoenvironment and sometimes also highlighting contemporaneous species that shared the same habitat.

Illustrating a Scientific Paper

These, frequently stunning illustrations are carefully conceived. Great care is taken to reflect the scientific evidence, however, the artist has some licence when it comes to considering the landscape, the choice of colours and the motif of the artwork.

Sometimes the person responsible for the scientific illustration is one of the authors of the study. For example, the artwork supporting the media release on the recently described rhamphorhynchid pterosaur from the Isle of Skye (Dearc sgiathanach), was created by the lead author Natalia Jagielska, a PhD student at the School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh.

Isle of Skye pterosaur (Dearc sgiathanach). — The Isle of Skye 170 million years ago. A theropod dinosaur hopes to catch a Dearc sgiathanach, but this large pterosaur is too quick and avoids capture. The lead author of the scientific paper created the stunning artwork that accompanied the media release. Picture credit: Natalia Jagielska

Everything Dinosaur asked the artist what inspired and influenced her when it came to illustrating the newly described Scottish pterosaur.

Reflecting Scientific Evidence in Palaeoart

Natalia explained that she was inspired by Scottish birds, both those in Edinburgh, where the D. sgiathanach fossil material is stored and also the many seabirds synonymous with the Isle of Skye (where the fossil was found). Gannets are common on the island. They have a similar wingspan to that estimated for Dearc sgiathanach. With their long crania, robust neck and slender wings, these piscivores could be regarded as occupying a similar niche in the marine based ecosystem as the rhamphorhynchids.

“I wanted to form this connection between contemporary local fauna and ancient fauna”, Natalia commented. “I also added a splash of blue hues and yellows on the head in some reconstructions, as a nod to its Scottish origin and the Scottish flag”.

Skye pterosaur artwork — *Dominating the skies on the Isle of Skye. Several pterosaurs flying over the coastline (Dearc sgiathanach). Picture credit: Natalia Jagielska.*

Setting the Scene for a Jurassic Pterosaur

The background into which the life reconstruction is inserted can also help to convey important information relating to geology and the ancient environment. The rugged cliffs (above), reflect the famous steep cliffs of Skye and link the Jurassic landscape to modern Scotland, as both have been extensive shaped by the Caledonian orogeny, a period of mountain building that occurred during the Palaeozoic.

The waters represent the Hebridean basin and are part of Boreal Seaway, their presence in the artwork helps to reinforce the view that Dearc sgiathanach was associated with coastal and marine habitats.

Adding a Theropod Dinosaur

A theropod dinosaur features in one of the illustrations included with the media release. The presence of theropods in the Middle Jurassic of Skye is indicated by tridactyl prints preserved in the petrified mudflats. The Megalosaurus depicted in the scene sports cranial crests. PhD student Natalia explained that as Megalosaurus does not have a well- preserved skull, she took the opportunity to give her theropod a pair of Allosaurus-inspired head crests.

The dinosaur provides a helpful scale, the viewer is in no doubt that Dearc sgiathanach was a large animal. Indeed, with a wingspan estimated to be around 2.5 metres, the Isle of Skye pterosaur is the biggest flying reptile described to date from Jurassic material.

“Pairing a theropod with the pterosaur is an excellent way of displaying Dearc’s sheer size and making the viewer perceive it’s in the Jurassic”, Natalia stated. “Megalosaurus is excellent too, showcasing basal bauplans of carnivorous dinosaurs associated with the Middle Jurassic”.

The Pterosauria

The Pterosauria continued to evolve throughout the Mesozoic, with some of the Late Cretaceous taxa evolving to become the largest flying animals of all time. Scientific illustrations evolve and change too. In Natalia’s email correspondence with Everything Dinosaur, it was pointed out that the original concept was to depict the pterosaur fighting with the dinosaur over a piece of carrion – a macabre tug-of-war between the two archosaurs. However, the final illustration depicts a different form of interspecific competition, the brash theropod chasing after the pterosaurs much like a dog might chase gulls or oystercatchers on the beach today.

Skye Art megalosaur and pterosaur interaction — *The addition of a megalosaurid helps to provide a scale and illustrates a typical theropod from the Middle Jurassic. Picture credit: Natalia Jagielska.*

The subtle tones of the sky at sunset add atmosphere and an almost ethereal quality to the artwork. Natalia commented that the background to the illustration featuring the theropod was inspired by J. M. W. Turner’s “The Fighting Temeraire”, she wanted to give her work a grandiose, maritime-look using the light, colours and shading as depicted in the famous Turner painting. The iconic painting “The Fighting Temeraire”, featuring a huge warship making its final journey to a London shipyard so that it could be broken up, was painted in 1839. Ironically, it was during the late 1830s that the remarkable pterosaur fossils including many examples of rhamphorhynchids, from the Solnhofen limestones of southern Germany were being subjected to detailed scientific scrutiny.

Bathonian Mammaliaforms and Sauropods

In the bottom left corner of the artwork, large rib bones can be seen and sitting precariously atop one of the bones is a small mammaliaform. The Lealt Shale Formation from which the pterosaur specimen was extracted, has not yielded many body fossils, but mammaliaforms such as Wareolestes (W. rex), are known from the roughly contemporaneous Kilmaluag Formation of the Isle of Skye. Natalia wanted to highlight the significance of Skye for helping to shed light on an important stage in the evolution of many different types of tetrapod, including our own ancestors.

The Isle of Skye is also famous for its extensive sauropod tracks. Admittedly, the pterosaur specimen comes from a bedding plane devoid of such prints although tracks associated with thyreophorans (stegosaurs) have been identified.

Sauropod ribs and a mammaliaform are also illustrated in the pterosaur artwork. — Mammaliaform fossils although exceptionally rare have been found in Middle Jurassic exposures in Scotland. The artwork highlights the presence of such creatures (arrowed) and the huge rib bones are a nod towards the extensive sauropod tracks associated with the Lealt Shale Formation. Picture credit: Natalia Jagielska.

The addition of the sauropod bones permitted the artist to hint at one of the theories put forward to explain the preservation of animal remains over a period of 170 million years or so.

Natalia explained:

“The ribcage in the foreground suggests one of theories suggesting superb preservation, maybe the fossil was buried in mudflats. The location showcases a marginal marine setting, with storm deposit layers and evidence for periodic aerial exposure – truly a perplexing combination”.

Stunning Illustrations in a Scientific Paper

The illustrations are certainly stunning, helping to tell the tale of a pterosaur that soared over Scotland way back in the Middle Jurassic. Our thanks to Natalia Jagielska for sharing her thoughts on the inspiration behind the artwork.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the discovery of Dearc sgiathanach: Fantastic Pterosaur Fossil from the Isle of Skye.

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

1 03, 2022

Are There Three Tyrannosaurus Species? New Research Asks the Question

By Mike|2024-10-27T10:42:02+00:00March 1st, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

So, the scientific paper is out and theropod feathers are about to be ruffled. The iconic Tyrannosaurus rex might not be just one species, but actually three. That is the conclusion reached by researchers Gregory S. Paul, Scott Persons and Jay Van Raalte – all highly respected scientists, but already other academics have challenged their findings.

Writing in the academic journal “Evolutionary Biology”, two new Tyrannosaurus species are proposed, a geologically older, robust form newly named Tyrannosaurus imperator that was followed by two further species the already named Tyrannosaurus rex, also a robust tyrannosaur and a contemporaneous gracile form which has been named Tyrannosaurus regina.

Titus the T.rex exhibit. A T. rex skeleton on display.

The spectacular Titus the T. rex exhibit at Wollaton Hall. PIcture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Tyrannosaurus Controversy

The fearsome, apex predator Tyrannosaurus rex might be synonymous with the famous Hell Creek Formation, but Tyrannosaurus fossils have also been found in many other Upper Cretaceous deposits (Maastrichtian stage). For example, T. rex fossils or at least indeterminate Tyrannosaurus material is associated with nine other North American geological formations.

T. rex fossils have been found in exposures of the Scollard Formation of south-western Alberta the Frenchman Formation of southern Saskatchewan and south-eastern Alberta. This suggests that this large theropod roamed northern areas of Laramidia. Tyrannosaurus fossils from the Laramie Formation exposures in Colorado have been assigned to Tyrannosaurus rex. T. rex fossil material has been reported from much further south, from the Javelina Formation of Texas.

With only one species of Tyrannosaurus (T. rex), the fossil evidence as classified so far indicates that the “tyrant lizard king” had a huge geographical distribution, virtually the entire ancient landmass of Laramidia.

Furthermore, these deposits represent vast amounts of geological time. The Hell Creek Formation is believed to have been formed over two million years and as scientists have now concluded that other iconic taxa such as Triceratops evolved over this time period into new species, then surely T. rex would have been subject to the same evolutionary pressures.

A reconstruction of the skeleton of “Scotty” the T. rex. The fossils come from the Frenchman Formation of Saskatchewan (Canada) and one of the authors of the scientific paper published in the journal the Anatomical Record was Scott Persons who is a co-author of the new paper describing three Tyrannosaurus taxa. Picture credit: Amanda Kelley.

Picture credit: Amanda Kelley.

Analysis of Limb Bones (Femora)

A total of thirty-seven fossil specimens were studied by the researchers. Two-thirds of these had femora (thigh bones) associated with them and the scientists found differences in the thickness and robustness of these bones, that were unlikely a result of individual variation within a single species. In the sample studied, Gregory S. Paul and his colleagues found greater variation in femur robustness in the T. rex thigh bone material than in the whole of the other tyrannosaurid femora material known from the preceding ten million years.

The team discounted size variations based on maturity, ontogeny (growth pattern) and the age of the Tyrannosaurus when it died. Robust forms and more gracile forms of T. rex have been known for some years. Some palaeontologists have speculated that the smaller, more slender bones of some T. rex specimens compared to the more robust femora of other specimens might be explained as differences in the sexes.

If robust forms represent females, and gracile forms males, then it would be expected that the fossil record would show roughly even numbers of these bone types. However, the research team point out an uneven ratio of robust bones to gracile bones and as such they discount the differences as sexual variation.

In addition, the team report that gracile bones are only found in higher layers of sediment. These bones are geologically much younger than other more robust T. rex bones associated with lower layers.

Tyrannosaurus rex cast skeleton on display

Which Tyrannosaurus species? A cast of the T. rex specimen known as “Stan” (BHI 3033), but researchers propose that there were actually three species of Tyrannosaurus present in the Late Cretaceous of North America. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Differences in Tooth Count

The scientists also commented on differences in tooth counts associated with Tyrannosaurus lower jaws (the dentary). Tyrannosaurus imperator (the earliest Tyrannosaurus species) had two small incisors in each dentary. Whilst the later species (T. regina and T. rex) had only one small incisor in each dentary.

Titus the T. rex Skull and Jaws. Dinosaur extinction.

The research team identified differences in the number of small incisor-like teeth in the lower jaw which they concluded was further evidence of the T. rex fossil material actually representing a trio of Tyrannosaurus species. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The researchers concede that they cannot rule out other explanations for their findings. Several palaeontologists have challenged the paper, stating that the variations seen in the fossils could be explained by factors such as individual variation amongst individuals of a single species. Like many dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex changed radically as it grew and matured, this aspect of dinosaur taxonomy is going to be debated for a considerable time to come.

For fans of dinosaur models, does this mean that collectors will have to reassess their Tyrannosaurus rex models?

Which Tyrannosaurus species are you? A newly published scientific paper proposes three Tyrannosaurus species. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The scientific paper: “The Tyrant Lizard King, Queen and Emperor: Multiple Lines of Morphological and Stratigraphic Evidence Support Subtle Evolution and Probable Speciation Within the North American Genus Tyrannosaurus” by Gregory S. Paul, W. Scott Persons IV and Jay Van Raalte published in Evolutionary Biology.

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

28 02, 2022

Kelumapusaura: A New Hadrosaur from Patagonia

By Mike|2024-10-26T16:27:29+01:00February 28th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Researchers from the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’ in Buenos Aires (Argentina), have described a new species of duck-billed dinosaur that roamed north-western Patagonia in the Late Cretaceous. The new dinosaur has been named Kelumapusaura machi and its discovery has helped palaeontologists to validate previously described South American hadrosaurids as distinct species.

The Largest Hadrosaur in the Allen Formation Ecosystem

Numerous fossils have been reported, representing skull and postcranial material from several individuals. Comparison of the fossils suggests that bones from sub-adults as well as bones from more mature, adult animals were found. Based on the largest fossil bones, Kelumapusaura is estimated to have been up to 9 metres in length, perhaps weighing as much as 3 Tonnes.

Kelumapusaura machi life reconstruction. Note scale bar = 1 metre.

Getting to Grips with South American Hadrosaurids

The fossil material was collected from exposures associated with the Allen Formation (Upper Cretaceous Campanian–Maastrichtian stage). The research team report that these fossils represent one of the most complete hadrosaurids found to date in South America. Importantly, many of the skull and postcranial bones associated with K. machi overlap with bones associated with other South American hadrosaurids that have been named and described from much more fragmentary remains.

Using the Kelumapusaura fossils the research team confidently assert that previously named South American hadrosaurids – Secernosaurus koerneri, Bonapartesaurus rionegrensis and “Kritosaurus” australis are all valid taxa.

“Kritosaurus” australis was named and described in 1984 by the world-renowned Argentinian palaeontologist José Fernando Bonaparte who sadly passed away in February 2020: José Bonaparte the Father of Palaeontology in Argentina (1928-2020). Thanks to the K. machi study, “Kritosaurus” australis is thought to be sufficiently different to other Kritosaurus species found in North America to warrant its own genus Huallasaurus australis.

A South American Saurolophinae Clade

A phylogenetic analysis of the hadrosaurid fossils included in this study unites Kelumapusaura, the closely related taxon Huallasaurus (H. australis), along with Bonapartesaurus and Secernosaurus into a clade that can be nested within the Kritosaurini tribe as part of the Saurolophinae subfamily of hadrosaurs. The Saurolophinae is comprised of those hadrosaurs that generally tend to lack spectacular head crests, as opposed to the other major subfamily within the Hadrosauridae – the Lambeosaurinae.

According to the researchers, the Kritosaurini tribe now consists of both North American and South American saurolophine hadrosaurs, which means that Kelumapusaura is related to more famous hadrosaurs such as Kritosaurus and Gryposaurus from the United States and Canada.

A scale drawing of the duck-billed dinosaur Gryposaurus. A scale drawing of the duck-billed dinosaur Gryposaurus. The newly described Kelumapusaura machi is related to Gryposaurus, several species of Gryposaurus have been named including the type species G. notabilis which lived as far north as Alberta (Canada).Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Significantly, the clade status implies that these hadrosaurids shared a common ancestor, that all these different taxa that are widely distributed came from an ancestral population. The scientists conclude that the evolutionary development of Gondwanan hadrosaurids is not that well understood compared to the duck-billed dinosaurs from northern latitudes. They hope that more fossil discoveries from South America will help to further revise hadrosaur taxonomy.

The scientific paper: “A new hadrosaurid (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Late Cretaceous of northern Patagonia and the radiation of South American hadrosaurids” by Sebastián Rozadilla, Federico Brissón-Egli, Federico Lisandro Agnolín, Alexis Mauro Aranciaga-Rolando and Fernando Emilio Novas published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

27 02, 2022

A New Book is Published – A Time Traveller’s Guide to Fossil Hunting on the West Dorset Coast

By Mike|2024-10-26T16:20:30+01:00February 27th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Book Reviews, Dinosaur Fans, Geology, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

When visiting Lyme Regis and other parts of the Jurassic Coast we are often aghast at the huge numbers of fossil hunters to be seen on the beach. We tend to avoid the late summer months as this beautiful part of the Dorset coast will have been virtually picked clean of all the fossil material. The tide might continue to wash out the remains of creatures from an Early Jurassic sea, but the enthusiastic holidaymakers and tourists soon make short work of whatever has been deposited on the beach.

Sitting on some large rock, comfortably away from the dangerous cliffs, with a flask of tea and a local pastie to sustain us, we are often approached by beachcombers curious to ask our advice or to receive assistance in identifying their finds. Diligently and politely, we offer what assistance we can, but amongst the hubbub we often think what it would have been like to have explored the foreshore in earlier times, before this stunning coastline became a haven for tourists.

Thanks to a new, delightful book by Steve Snowball and Craig Chivers, we have the opportunity to do so.

Front cover of "Jurassic Fossils of the West Dorset Coast"

A time traveller’s guide to fossil hunting on the west Dorset coast. A fantastic collector’s guide written in the form of an Edwardian diary with wonderful illustrations and photographs. Written by renowned fossil hunters and preparators Steve Snowball and Craig Chivers and available from Siri Scientific Press. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

“Jurassic Fossils of the West Dorset Coast – A Time Traveller’s Journal”

The fourth collaboration between devoted fossil hunters Steve Snowball and Craig Chivers takes the form of an Edwardian diary. Imagine finding on the beach at Charmouth an old journal that catalogues the visit of two Edwardian gentlemen to the west Dorset coast at the beginning of the 20th Century. Starting at Seatown and Golden Cap, the two explorers record the geology, the fossil discoveries and the Dorset landscape over a period of eight days, culminating with a trip to Pinhay Bay where the strata records the boundary between the Triassic and the Jurassic.

"Jurassic Fossils of the West Dorset Coast" contents

Photographs of fossil finds plus lots of helpful notes – a time traveller’s guide to the west Dorset coast. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Illustrations by Andreas Kurpisz

Produced by Siri Scientific Press and with illustrations by Berlin-based artist Andreas Kurpisz, this is a novel and quirky guide to fossil hunting on the west Dorset coast. There is a copious amount of helpful information provided on each location, with notes and lots of photographs of fossils associated with the site. Talented artist Andreas Kurpisz provides colourful illustrations depicting prehistoric scenes – there are even one or two dinosaurs featured.

At around 160 pages long, this is a most informative guide, we particularly enjoyed examining the biostratigraphical maps provided and the accompanying images of strata – all helpfully labelled. Priced as we write at £19.99 plus postage and available from the Siri Scientific Press website this is a welcome and imaginative addition to the plethora of fossil hunting guidebooks that address the amazing geology of the Dorset coast.

"Jurassic Fossils of the West Dorset Coast"

Written in the form of an Edwardian gentleman’s journal, the book is packed with helpful information, fossil hunting tips and wonderful photographs of fossil discoveries. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Bringing the Past to Life

“Jurassic Fossils of the West Dorset Coast – A Time Traveller’s Journal” helps to bring the past to life and provides an echo of a time when the beaches around Lyme Regis were less busy and undoubtedly more productive. However, armed with this guide your chances of finding an incredibly special fossil are greatly enhanced.

The book concludes with our courageous Edwardian explorers coming across evidence of another visitor to the “Jurassic Coast”, this time from the 21st century. The gentlemen have been left notes on how to prepare ammonites for display from a kind-hearted collector from our own time. This device permits the authors to segue into a section of the book that provides helpful tips and advice on modern tools such as air scribes that will assist collectors with fossil preparation.

Visit Siri Scientific Press and use the search word “Jurassic” to find the books about Dorset written by Steve Snowball and Craig Chivers including the excellent “Jurassic Fossils of the West Dorset Coast – A Time Traveller’s Journal”: Siri Scientific Website.

25 02, 2022

Giant Trilobite was a Cannibal According to New Research

By Mike|2024-10-26T16:09:23+01:00February 25th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Researchers have conducted an extensive review of injured trilobites and disarticulated pieces of trilobite exoskeleton from the Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte on Kangaroo Island (South Australia). They conclude that the injuries caused to Redlichia trilobites were from attacks by other members of this genus. This is the oldest record of cannibalism recorded in the fossil record to date.

CollectA Redlichia rex trilobite. "First Life"

CollectA Redlichia rex trilobite model.

The picture (above) shows the CollectA Redlichia rex trilobite model.

To view this range of prehistoric animal figures: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

A Study of Redlichia Fossils from the Emu Bay Shale

The Cambrian explosion represents the rapid emergence of complex marine ecosystems and a huge burst of evolutionary activity that led to the establishment of virtually all the Animalia phyla recognised today. Whilst many palaeontologists do not like the phrase “explosion” as it implies a sudden event, opting instead to use the term “Cambrian radiation” to describe the emergence in the fossil record of abundant preserved shells and exoskeletons, the reasons for this change in the Earth’s ecosystems remains controversial.

It is thought that one of the main drivers of this evolutionary event was the development of predator/prey interactions. The proliferation of biomineralised exoskeletons and shells was a response to the evolution of the first predators capable of breaking through these defences.

Writing in the academic journal Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Palaeoecology, researchers from the University of New England, (Armidale, New South Wales), Uppsala University (Sweden), the University of Adelaide (South Australia), the South Australian Museum and Cambridge University conducted an analysis of 38 injured specimens representing two large trilobite species from the 515-million-year-old Emu Bay Shale deposits (Redlichia takooensis and Redlichia rex).

Healed but scarred injuries on a fossil specimen of Redlichia rex. The red squares indicate areas of damage possibly caused by an attack by another Redlichia. Picture credit: Bicknell et al (Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Palaeoecology).

Picture credit: Bicknell et al (Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Palaeoecology)

Studying a Giant Trilobite

The team concluded that that the injuries they documented were caused by a durophagous (consuming hard parts of the skeleton) predator.

Specimens of both species show that most injuries are located on the posterior portion of the thorax, indicating that predators most likely attacked from behind or that intended prey presented the posterior portion of their trunk to the attacker when threatened or attempting to flee. Previous studies had indicated that Cambrian trilobites exhibit most injuries to their right side. This study refutes this, arguing there is no evidence for a preference for attacking either the right or left side of intended prey.

The injured specimens typically represent some of the largest individuals known for the Redlichia taxa. This suggests that bigger trilobites were more successful in fighting off an attack and recovering from their injuries. Smaller individuals were probably completely consumed and therefore the likelihood of finding evidence of an attack on a smaller fossil specimen was greatly reduced.

A near complete specimen of the large Cambrian trilobite Redlichia rex. Picture credit: University of Adelaide.

Picture credit: University of Adelaide

Redlichia rex

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the discovery of Redlichia rex: “King of the Trilobites” Discovered in South Australia.

The research team concludes that the scarred Emu Bay Shale trilobites represent the oldest record of cannibalism known to science.

The scientific paper: “Cambrian carnage: Trilobite predator-prey interactions in the Emu Bay Shale of South Australia” by Russell D. C. Bicknell, James D. Holmes, Stephen Pates, Diego C. García-Bellido and John R. Paterson published in Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Palaeoecology.

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22 02, 2022

Fantastic Pterosaur Fossil from the Isle of Skye

By Mike|2024-10-26T14:33:16+01:00February 22nd, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Around 170 million years ago, a toothy terror soared over the mudflats close to a tropical sea. Today, this land is the Isle of Skye and a team of researchers have published details of the remarkably well-preserved remains of that flying reptile. The fossil material found in Lealt Shale Formation exposures on the rocky coastline at Brothers’ Point (Rubha nam Brathairean), represents the most complete skeleton of a Middle Jurassic pterosaur ever found in the UK. With an estimated wingspan of 2.5 metres Dearc sgiathanach was a giant for this time in the Mesozoic.

Dominating the skies on the Isle of Skye. Several pterosaurs flying over the coastline (Dearc sgiathanach). Picture credit: Natalia Jagielska.

Picture credit: Natalia Jagielska

A Spectacular Pterosaur Fossil

Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight. Their evolutionary origins remain obscure. In comparison to the Dinosauria, their light, hollow bones have a poor fossil preservation potential. Very little is known about pterosaur evolution in the Early and Middle Jurassic, due to a global lack of fossils. The Middle Jurassic strata on the Isle of Skye are regarded as hugely important due to the number of vertebrate fossils preserved therein and the island has recently been awarded greater protection from the Scottish Government: Legal Protection for Isle of Skye Fossil Sites.

The spectacular specimen, discovered by PhD student Amelia Penny (University of Edinburgh), in 2017 during a field trip led by Professor Steve Brusatte (Personal Chair of Palaeontology and Evolution, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh), is now part of the National Museums Scotland vertebrate fossil collection.

Natalia Jagielska with the pterosaur fossil.

PhD student Natalia Jagielska unveils the 170 million year old pterosaur fossil: Picture credit: Stewart Attwood.

Picture credit: Stewart Attwood

A Gaelic Name for a Scottish Pterosaur

The new species has been named Dearc sgiathanach (pronounced jark ski-an-ach). It translates as “winged reptile”. The species name also references the Gaelic term for the Isle of Skye (An t-Eilean Sgitheanach), in Gaelic, the Isle of Skye is known as the “winged isle”. A phylogenetic assessment of D. sgiathanach places it within the long-tailed pterosaur family the Rhamphorhynchidae. Comparing bones from specimens of Rhamphorhynchus and the related rhamphorhynchid Dorygnathus, permitted the research team to estimate that Dearc sgiathanach probably had a wingspan of around 2.5 metres when fully grown.

Bone histology using a wing finger bone from the Isle of Skye specimen indicates that this individual was over two years old when it died, but it was still actively growing and it had not reached adult size.

Dearc sgiathanach main fossil block. Picture credit: Gregory Funston.

Picture credit: Gregory Funston

Commenting on the estimated size of Dearc sgiathanach Steve Brusatte stated:

“Dearc is the biggest pterosaur we know from the Jurassic period and that tells us that pterosaurs got larger much earlier than we thought, long before the Cretaceous period when they were competing with birds, and that’s hugely significant.”

Professor Steve Brusatte holding the pterosaur skull.

Professor Steve Brusatte holding the fossilised skull of Dearc sgiathanach. Picture credit: Stewart Attwood.

Picture credit: Callum Bennetts

A Battle Against the Incoming Tide

After Amelia Penny had alerted the rest of the field team about her discovery on the beach, a painstaking operation ensued to extract the fossil, led by Dugald Ross of Staffin Museum, involving the use of diamond-tipped saws to cut it from the rock, all while racing against time as the tide came in. The fossil had to be abandoned as the tide returned and its removal was only completed once the tide had begun to recede again.

Preparation of the beautifully preserved specimen was carried out by Nigel Larkin who is involved with the conservation of the Rutland ichthyosaur, the discovery of which was announced last month: The Giant Rutland Ichthyosaur.

Lead author of the paper, published in “Current Biology”, Natalia Jagielska stated:

“Dearc is a fantastic example of why palaeontology will never cease to be astounding. Pterosaurs preserved in such quality are exceedingly rare and are usually reserved to select rock formations in Brazil and China. And yet, an enormous superbly preserved pterosaur emerged from a tidal platform in Scotland.”

Carefully removing the pterosaur fossil from the beach.

Removing the pterosaur fossil from the beach. Picture credit: Steve Brusatte/National Museums of Scotland.

Picture credit: Steve Brusatte/National Museums of Scotland

A Lot to Learn from the Pterosaur Fossil

CT scans of the skull revealed large optic lobes indicating that Dearc had excellent eyesight. The conical teeth in the jaws suggest that this pterosaur was a piscivore. The discovery of Dearc sgiathanach reveals that pterosaurs, during the Middle Jurassic were capable of reaching sizes comparable to the largest living, volant birds alive today. Fragmentary pterosaur fossils had previously indicated that flying reptiles with wingspans in excess of 1.8 metres in diameter were present in the Middle Jurassic and the Isle of Skye fossil provides definitive proof.

A close-up view of the claws on the foot of Dearc sgiathanach. The fossil was prepared by conservator Nigel Larkin. Picture credit: Gregory Funston.

Picture credit: Gregory Funston

Subject to Further Analysis

The four slabs that comprise the D. sgiathanach specimen will be the subject of further analysis and study by Natalia Jagielska. It promises to reveal important insights into the anatomy, phylogeny, aerial abilities, feeding habits and favoured habitats of Middle Jurassic pterosaurs.

The research team are confident that this remarkable fossil will help palaeontologists to gain a better understanding of the taxonomic relationships and evolution of Middle Jurassic members of the Pterosauria.

We can expect to hear more from Dearc sgiathanach in the near future.

The Isle of Skye 170 million years ago. A theropod dinosaur hopes to catch a Dearc sgiathanach, but this large pterosaur is too quick and avoids capture. Picture credit: Natalia Jagielska.

Picture credit: Natalia Jagielska

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Edinburgh in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “A skeleton from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland illuminates an earlier origin of large pterosaurs” by Natalia Jagielska, Michael O’Sullivan, Gregory F. Funston, Ian B. Butler, Thomas J. Challands, Neil D. L. Clark, Nicholas C. Fraser, Amelia Penny, Dugald A. Ross, Mark Wilkinson and Stephen L. Brusatte published in Current Biology.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur and Pterosaur Toys.

21 02, 2022

An Exclusive Schleich Styracosaurus Video Showcase

By Mike|2024-10-26T14:13:08+01:00February 21st, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

The latest product video showcase has been posted up on Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel and in this short video, it is the new for 2022 Schleich Styracosaurus dinosaur model that has been put into the spotlight.

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have embarked on a project to embed short videos highlighting some of the prehistoric animal models that they sell into the award-winning company’s website. The aim of a video showcase is to help customers to make an informed purchase decision when choosing a figure.

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Schleich Styracosaurus Dinosaur Model

The Schleich Styracosaurus is one of five new for 2022 prehistoric animal releases recently announced by the German manufacturer. Everything Dinosaur has already posted up three short videos highlighting models, namely the Majungasaurus, the Parasaurolophus and the marine reptile figure – Nothosaurus.

The Schleich Styracosaurus video follows a similar format. The video lasts under forty-five seconds and shows the dinosaur model revolving on a turntable. Viewers get the chance to see the figure from various angles. Model measurements are given and a pronunciation guide is provided.

The new for 2022 Schleich Styracosaurus dinosaur model is the latest prehistoric animal figure stocked by Everything Dinosaur to be give a video showcase. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson for the UK-based, mail order company stated:

“The Styracosaurus dinosaur model is our favourite of the new Schleich prehistoric animal model releases. We are delighted to have been able to produce a short video highlighting this figure. We hope this video showcase proves helpful to potential purchasers.”

The Schleich Styracosaurus dinosaur model shown in oblique anterior view. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

Testing Product Videos on Everything Dinosaur’s Beta Site

The spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained that the company was working with developers and technicians to perfect the look and positioning of the new video showcases on Everything Dinosaur’s beta site. When all tests and checks had been completed the plan is to introduce model videos on the company’s live site.

More short videos featuring dinosaurs were promised, including one for the new for 2022 Schleich Amargasaurus.

To view the range of Schleich prehistoric animal models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Schleich Dinosaur Models.

20 02, 2022

New Spinosaur from Portugal

By Mike|2024-10-26T12:53:59+01:00February 20th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Scientists have announced the discovery of a new spinosaur species from Portugal. Iberospinus (I. natarioi), from Lower Cretaceous deposits associated with the Papo Seco Formation. Its discovery further supports the theory that these enigmatic theropods originated in western Europe.

Estimated to have been around eight metres in length, Iberospinus is the third spinosaur* to have been described based on fossil material found on the Iberian Peninsula. The scientific description of this taxon reinforces the idea that Iberia was a hotspot for spinosaur biodiversity, with several endemic genera having been identified from fossils found in this region.

Iberospinus natarrioi reconstruction showing musculature.

Life reconstruction of Iberospinus natarioi (ML1190) showing three-dimensional digitalisation of some of the fossil bones, along with reconstructed musculature. Upper picture – right lateral view; Lower picture – anterolateral left view. Picture credit: Victor Feijó de Carvalho.

Picture credit: Victor Feijó de Carvalho

Iberospinus natarioi “Natário’s Iberian Spine”

Researchers Octávio Mateus and Darío Estraviz-López (NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, Portugal), writing in the open-access journal PLOS One reassessed fossil material, originally found in 1999 and attributed to Baryonyx, combining this new study with an analysis of further fossil material recovered from the excavation site in the summer of 2020.

The scientists, both of whom work at the famous Museu da Lourinhã, Lourinhã (Portugal), identified a number of unique characteristics in the fragmentary fossils that permitted them to propose a new taxon. For example, CT scans revealed Iberospinus has a unique neurovascular system associated with the Meckelian groove in the lower jaw. The anterior portion of the lower jaw has a straight-profile and does not point upwards, an anatomical trait seen in other spinosaurs. The partial pubis is thickened towards its distal end and these autapomorphies permitted the erection of a new taxon

A New Spinosaur from Portugal

Iberospinus has been classified as a basal member of the Spinosauridae as its skeleton shows an intermediate condition between early tetanuran theropods and spinosaurids.

The dinosaur’s genus was inspired by the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula and “spinus” from the Latin for spine in recognition of the long neural spines associated with spinosaurids. The species name honours amateur fossil collector Carlos Natário, who discovered the holotype fossil (specimen number ML1190) in 1999 and helped to ensure that it was placed within the vertebrate fossil collection of the Museu da Lourinhã.

A skeletal drawing of the newly described basal spinosaurid Iberospinus natarioi. The red coloured bones represent known fossil material. Note the scale bar = 1 metre. Picture credit: Octávio Mateus and Darío Estraviz-López modified from an original figure by Scott Hartman.

Picture credit: Octávio Mateus and Darío Estraviz-López modified from an original figure by Scott Hartman

Different Spinosaurs Co-existing in the Same Environment.

The large tooth complete with root was also described in the scientific paper. It possesses characters associated with the Baryonychinae subfamily of spinosaurs. The tooth crown is strongly recurved whilst more advanced and geologically younger members of the Spinosauridae such as Spinosaurus aegyptiacus tend to have straighter, conical teeth.

This reassessment of Iberian theropod fossil material demonstrates that different spinosaurid taxa co-existed within the same environment. The occurrence of more than one spinosaurid genus in a relatively restricted geographical area has been reported before, most recently with the naming of two new genera of spinosaurs (Riparovenator milnerae and Ceratosuchops inferodios) that co-existed in the Lower Cretaceous of southern England with Baryonyx (B. walkeri).

To read Everything Dinosaur’s earlier article about the recently described Isle of Wight spinosaurs: Two New Spinosaurids Described from the Isle of Wight.

Tooth from the upper jaw of I. natarioi (specimen number ML1190-3) in A, lingual, B, mesial, C, lingual, D, distal, E, occlusal, and F ventral views. Note the scale bar = 25 mm. The tooth crown is strongly curved and the tooth morphology is similar to that seen in members of the Baryonychinae. Later spinosaurs had teeth that were straighter. Picture credit: Octávio Mateus and Darío Estraviz-López.

Picture credit: Octávio Mateus and Darío Estraviz-López

Iberian Spinosaurs*

Despite the lack of relatively complete fossil material, specimens collected from the Iberian Peninsula represent one of the best accumulations of spinosaurid fossils found to date. After Baryonyx (B. walkeri) was formally named and described in 1987, several fossils from this region were ascribed to this taxon. However, more recent analysis and further fossil discoveries has led to a revision and at present three contemporaneous spinosaur taxa have been attributed to this region.

Camarillasaurus cirugedae – from Teruel Province (north-eastern Spain). Formally named and described in 2014. Previously thought to represent a ceratosaur, now regarded as a member of the Spinosauridae.
Vallibonaventrix cani – from the Castellón Province (north-eastern Spain). Named and described in 2019, the taxonomic position of this genus remains uncertain although the current consensus is that the fossils do represent a member of the Spinosauridae family, but there is an on-going debate as to whether Vallibonaventrix is a member of the Baryonychinae or whether it is more closely related to Spinosaurus aegyptiacus.
Iberospinus natarioi – newly described (2022, Mateus and Estraviz-López) from the Papo Seco Formation of Cabo Espichel, Sesimbra, Portugal.

The scientific paper: “A new theropod dinosaur from the early cretaceous (Barremian) of Cabo Espichel, Portugal: Implications for spinosaurid evolution” by Octávio Mateus and Darío Estraviz-López published in PLOS One.

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