Adobe CS5 - Part 66

Everything Dinosaur’s work with photoshop and other platforms.

21 01, 2022

Adding Exclusive Videos to our Website

By Mike|2024-10-14T12:45:17+01:00January 21st, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The Everything Dinosaur website is being constantly updated.

Everything Dinosaur team members conduct regular reviews of our website: Everything Dinosaur.

Our website has been praised for its ease of use, visitors find it easy to navigate and it is designed to be very customer friendly. However, we do not intend to rest on our laurels and as we believe in continuous improvement, we are working with our IT specialists and top consultants to provide an even greater customer experience.

One of the things we are testing is the addition of short product videos to our website. We already provide lots of images of the prehistoric animal themed items that we sell, but a video showcasing the product can often help customers to understand the model better. For example, we can show articulated jaws, flexible tails and poseable arms. If a video shows a team member holding the figure, then viewers can instantly get an idea of the model’s size.

Everything Dinosaur YouTube video showcase.

Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel will include more short product videos, each one less than a minute in length that will highlight product features and showcase the prehistoric animal figure. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Improving an Award-winning Website

This month (January 2022), Everything Dinosaur was awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award, the highest accolade for customer service. The company’s commitment to helping customers is at the very heart of our business and creating videos of products we sell should help to inform and to educate our website visitors.

Visit the award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

We want to provide showcases for the range of prehistoric animal models that we stock. Actual footage of the replica shot by us. Shortly, we will post up a video that looks at the Rebor Smilodon populator Stray Cat in the plain colour variant and we would like your views. The video will be up in a couple of days – we would love to hear what you think of this method of showcasing prehistoric animal models.

Rebor Smilodon populator showcase video.

The Rebor Smilodon populator 1/11th scale model is the subject of our pilot video in our “video showcase” project. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Commenting on the Proposed Everything Dinosaur Website Developments

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Unlike many companies, which do not physically stock items but rely on them being despatched to customers from China, we actually bring prehistoric animal models into our own warehouse. We have access to the replicas and we can shoot videos using the actual models rather than just relying on images that the manufacturer sends out. We can then give our customers much more visual information about a particular product and produce videos that show the figure from every angle.”

YouTube subscribers will be given the opportunity to have an exclusive first view of the Rebor Smilodon video. Team members at Everything Dinosaur will be asking for feedback and comments prior to the video going live on the Everything Dinosaur website.

To subscribe to Everything Dinosaur on YouTube: Subscribe to Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.

View the range of Rebor models and figures in stock: Rebor Figures.

20 01, 2022

New Schleich Amargasaurus Model

By Mike|2024-10-14T12:37:29+01:00January 20th, 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 new for 2022 Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur model has arrived at our warehouse and is now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This is the first of five new prehistoric animal figures from Schleich expected to arrive and it is a fantastic figure of a South American sauropod.

The model measures around 25.5 cm long, the head is approximately 7 cm off the ground and the height of the neural spines on the neck is around 10.5 cm.

An Impressive Size for a South American Sauropod

The figure is considerably chunkier than other Amargasaurus replicas and like many Schleich models it is pleasing to handle and quite tactile. No doubt this figure will prove popular in creative and imaginative play. The model measures around 25.5 cm in length, although because of the slight bend in the tail the figure is actually a little bigger. The head is approximately 7 cm off the ground and that magnificent double line of neural spines, complete with the thin flap of skin running between the spines is around 10.5 cm high.

As with other members of the Dicraeosauridae family of sauropods the external nares (nostrils), were located on the top of the skull. It is pleasing to note that the Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur model reflects this anatomical feature found in the actual fossil material.

Close-up view of the Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur model

A close-up view of the new for 2022 Schleich Amargasaurus model. A stunning model of a sauropod from South America.

In Stock at Everything Dinosaur

Team members have been busy checking over the models, before booking them into stock and allocating them a bay in our warehouse. Whilst examining the figures, discussion turned to the correct term that would be applied to describe a herd of these Early Cretaceous dinosaurs. We are not sure whether a collective noun for a group of Amargasaurus dinosaurs has ever been coined. As the original scientific paper was written in Spanish, perhaps a word from this language to describe a group of these long-necked dinosaurs might be appropriate.

Could a group of amargasaurs be described as an ensamblaje (assemblage)?

We are not sure what the collective noun is for a group of Amargasaurus dinosaur models. Some of the recently arrived Schleich Amargasaurus dinosaur models are set aside ready for checking over before they are added to the stock. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

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

Visit the user-friendly Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

19 01, 2022

Everything Dinosaur Receives the Special Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award

By Mike|2024-10-14T12:26:19+01:00January 19th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award. This is the third year that this top award has been given by Feefo and Everything Dinosaur has won it three years in a row.

The Trusted Service Awards are unique as they are based purely on feedback from real customers. This means they are a true reflection of commitment to outstanding customer service. The Platinum Trusted Service award is the highest accolade that can be awarded to a company by Feefo.

Everything Dinosaur is a Trusted Service Awards winner!

Outstanding Customer Service

Feefo have given Platinum Trusted Service awards to businesses who have achieved Gold standard for three consecutive years. To receive a Gold Trusted Service award, businesses must have collected at least 50 reviews with a Feefo service rating of between 4.5 and 4.9 between 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2021.

Everything Dinosaur have received a certificate to commemorate this fantastic achievement, an award earned when businesses were under extraordinary pressure due to the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Everything Dinosaur wins the Platinum Trusted Service Award

Everything Dinosaur’s certificate confirming the Platinum Trusted Service Award.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are very pleased to have received this award from Feefo. This accolade reflects our commitment to our customers and it also recognises how hard we have been working in exceptionally difficult circumstances.”

Everything Dinosaur wins the Platinum Service Award.

Congratulating Everything Dinosaur on their continued success, Kim Burgess, (Head of Customer Success at Feefo), stated:

“The Trusted Service Awards recognise companies who go above and beyond to provide the very best customer experience. I’m so impressed by how our customers have overcome the challenges of the past two years. Particular congratulations to our Platinum Trusted Service winners. It’s an extremely tough challenge.”

Everything Dinosaur would like to thank all of those thousands of customers who have left a Feefo review about us. We read them all and we are truly humbled to have been honoured in this way.

Our thanks to you all.

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

18 01, 2022

Menucocelsior arriagadai – from Southern Argentina

By Mike|2024-10-14T12:21:48+01:00January 18th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Scientists writing this month in the journal “Cretaceous Research” have formally described a new genus of Late Cretaceous titanosaur from Patagonia. The dinosaur has been named Menucocelsior arriagadai based on a series of tail bones (caudal vertebrae) and fragmentary limb bones including a right humerus and a left fibula, found in sediments associated with the Allen Formation (Maastrichtian stage of the Upper Cretaceous).

Views of Menucocelsior arriagadai tail bones. Autapomorphies in the caudal vertebrae permitted the erection of a new titanosaur genus. Picture credit: Rolando et al.

A Titanosaur that “Jumped the Gun”

The announcement concerning the naming of a new titanosaur genus was made last year (2021), Menucocelsior was one of several new titanosaur genera named in 2021. However, the formal, scientific paper that erected the genus was published this month in the January edition of “Cretaceous Research”.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s article from December 2021 that outlined the new titanosaurs named and described over the previous twelve months: New Titanosaur Species Described from South America – Arrudatitan.

A scale drawing of M. arriagadai. Although only known from caudal vertebrae a size estimate has been made based on more complete and better known South American titanosaurs. It is estimated that Menucocelsior arriagadai measured around 8-10 metres in length. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Late Cretaceous Titanosaur Paradise

Although only known from very incomplete and fragmentary material, the fossilised remains assigned to M. arriagadai do not demonstrate a close taxonomic relationship with any other, previously described titanosaur. The site where the fossils were found Salitral Ojo de Agua in Río Negro Province has also yielded the fossilised bones of at least three other species of titanosaurs and other contemporary fossil sites in the Allen Formation have provided evidence of numerous other titanosaurs along with hadrosaurs.

Researchers have concluded that the environment must have been extremely productive to support such a large number of mega herbivores. It has been proposed that the titanosaurs evolved different feeding strategies to avoid excessive competition for food resources (niche partitioning). Perhaps these animals were selective browsers, specialising in feeding from the branches of trees, whilst the hadrosaurs were bulk-feeders, targeting ground vegetation.

The genus name is derived from the indigenous Mapuche language for a large watering hole, which describes the fossil site. The specific or trivial name honours the Arriagada family, the owners of the land where the fossils were found.

The scientific paper: “The sauropod record of Salitral Ojo del Agua: An Upper Cretaceous (Allen Formation) fossiliferous locality from northern Patagonia, Argentina” by Mauro Aranciaga Rolando, Jordi A. García Marsà, Federico L. Agnolín, Matías J. Motta, Sebastián Rozadilla, and Fernando E. Novas published in Cretaceous Research.

13 01, 2022

Everything Dinosaur Receives a Little Thank You

By Mike|2024-10-14T10:55:59+01:00January 13th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Earlier this month (January 2nd, 2022), Everything Dinosaur published the fantastic news that Dorset Council had approved the erection of a bronze statue honouring Mary Anning at Lyme Regis on the famous “Jurassic Coast”. Team members at Everything Dinosaur have supported the charity “Mary Anning Rocks” that was set up to raise funds and to campaign for a permanent memorial to Mary Anning to be established.

To read our earlier post about the Dorset Council approval and to see images of the proposed statue: Mary Anning Statue Approved by Dorset Council.

As a small token of the charity’s gratitude, we received a little note and a gift.

Everything Dinosaur is thanked for their campaign support.

Everything Dinosaur is thanked for their support of the Mary Anning Rocks campaign to have a statue erected in Lyme Regis to honour the pioneering palaeontologist and fossil collector Mary Anning. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Honouring a Pioneering Palaeontologist

Our chum, Brandon Lennon who leads fossil walks at Lyme Regis and like Mary Anning before him, sells fossils that he finds on the beaches around Lyme Regis, sent us the gift which includes a personal thank you from the patrons of the charity and an informative booklet on Mary Anning’s life and work written by Nigel J. Clarke.

Brandon Lennon, a patron of the charity himself wrote:

“Thanks so much for all your help, in the early days”

Everything Dinosaur was one of the first organisations from outside Lyme Regis to back the campaign and to help raise awareness. Since the charity’s inception, Everything Dinosaur has helped to promote and support the fundraising.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It is wonderful to have seen the plans for a statue come to fruition. The unveiling will probably take place in the late spring, we would love to be at the event but due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to make plans to visit Lyme Regis at this time. We congratulate the organisers and fundraisers for all their hard work in ensuring a permanent memorial to Mary Anning. Her statue will remind all the visitors to the area of her contribution to the nascent science of palaeontology and will help to inspire the next generation of scientists”.

The inside front cover of the Mary Anning booklet by Nigel J. Clarke (edited by Sue Clarke) features the iconic portrait of Mary Anning and her dog Tray and the “Sea Sells Seashells” poem which is believed to have been inspired by Mary’s fossil finds. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

We are proud to have played a role in this exciting and extremely significant project. It is important to honour the contribution of Mary Anning to the science of palaeontology.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Models and Toys.

12 01, 2022

Sending Dinosaur Models to the European Union

By Mike|2024-10-14T10:48:09+01:00January 12th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Earlier this week, team members at Everything Dinosaur were notified of a discussion taking place on the Dinosaur Toy Forum about how Beasts of the Mesozoic models might reach customers in the European Union now that the UK had left the EU. We are happy to provide advice and technical assistance about sending dinosaur models to the EU.

Concerns had been raised by dinosaur fans and Beasts of the Mesozoic model collectors about whether items secured in the Kickstarter programme, such as new tyrannosaur figures could be despatched into the EU.

The Beasts of the Mesozoic Xenoceratops (background shot) a magnificent articulated dinosaur model in 1:18 scale.

Everything Dinosaur has been responsible for fulfilment operations on behalf of Creative Beast Studio, ensuring despatch of Kickstarter figures to the UK and the rest of Europe.

In response to these concerns, Everything Dinosaur posted up onto the forum the following information:

The UK officially left the European Union on 31st January 2020 (at 11pm CET), there then followed a transition period where nothing changed, giving all parties the time to adjust to the new trading arrangements, this ended on 31st December 2020. Since that date, Everything Dinosaur has offered a fully tracked and delivery duty paid (DDP) service for all our customers in the EU. Everything Dinosaur pays the duty for the customer.

We have also become members of the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme, which whilst not part of Brexit, is a European initiative to harmonise the payment of VAT across Europe. We are registered in Ireland for this purpose and by doing so we ensure that the VAT applied on all purchases is the correct amount for each European country and that VAT received is then submitted to that person’s national tax authority. All our customers can be assured that Everything Dinosaur has done all it can and continues to ensure compliance with international taxation laws.

Delivery Duty Paid (DDP)

When addressing the issue of delivery duty paid (DDP), the following information was supplied:

With regards to DDP deliveries, since the UK started its new relationship with the EU Everything Dinosaur has sent out thousands of parcels to customers – every single one DDP and with (as far as we know, as we have never received any comment about a customer of ours having to pay extra for a parcel), not a single problem.

Beasts of the Mesozoic adult Triceratops and Torosaurus

The largest figures in wave 3 represent two of the largest horned dinosaurs known to science. Torosaurus latus (left) and Triceratops horridus (right). Everything Dinosaur was responsible for wave 3 fulfilment operations across the UK and Europe. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

EU 2019/1020 Market Surveillance Regulations

In addition to calming any fears about the sending of parcels into the EU, the statement also addressed new EU legislation concerning market surveillance stating:

We would also add that in July 2021 new EU legislation came into force – this is called EU 2019/1020 market surveillance regulations. It has come about due to the huge number of items being purchased by EU customers which originate from outside the EU. The Beasts of the Mesozoic range would be affected by this legislation – as would Nanmu Studio, ITOY Studio, W-Dragon and such like.

Unless someone in the supply chain takes responsibility for ensuring product safety such as CE accreditation within the EU then the sale of an item would be illegal and subject to being held up at the EU port of entry. We can assure all forum members, that as Everything Dinosaur is a responsible company and well aware of our obligations under international law, we have ensured that all the Beasts of the Mesozoic, Nanmu Studio, ITOY Studio, W-Dragon etc that we sell are registered in the EU and comply fully with EU 2019/1020. Everything Dinosaur has registered in Germany for this purpose (at considerable expense we might add).

To read an article that explains more about the implications of EU 2019/1020 for model collectors: New Market Surveillance Regulations Come into Force.

Market Surveillance Regulations (EU) 2019/1020

Under the new (EU) 2019/1020 regulations dinosaur models may not be offered for sale to EU consumers without an Economic Operator established in the EU. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Beasts of the Mesozoic Tyrannosaurs

It had been noted that comments had been made on the forum about how the Kickstarter tyrannosaur fulfilment process would be undertaken. Whilst stressing that no decisions had been taken to date, Everything Dinosaur supplied the following information:

We were responsible for all European and UK Beasts of the Mesozoic fulfilment operations for Wave 3 ceratopsians, as we had been for earlier fulfilment operations concerning Beasts of the Mesozoic Kickstarters, this operation was undertaken in mid-December when the shipment arrived at our UK warehouse. Despite the huge problems at the time due to COVID-19 restrictions and the enormous strain on the European mail delivery system and our own commitments to sending orders to our customers in time for Christmas, we were able to complete the despatch of Wave 3 fulfilment on schedule.

At this time (mid-January 2022), there has been no formal agreement in place between Everything Dinosaur and David Silva of Creative Beast Studio with regards to the treatment of the tyrannosaur series. Everything Dinosaur can confirm that it intends to stock this most impressive range. At this stage in the Beasts of the Mesozoic production cycle, no decision as to fulfilment for the tyrannosaur range has been made.

If readers require further information, they are welcome to contact Everything Dinosaur: Email Everything Dinosaur.

To view the Beasts of the Mesozoic models available from Everything Dinosaur: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models.

11 01, 2022

A Rare Tooth from a Pterosaur

By Mike|2024-10-14T10:34:23+01:00January 11th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Our thanks to Robert, a customer of Everything Dinosaur, who sent into our offices a fossil of a pterosaur tooth from the Kem Kem Formation of Morocco. The large tooth is slightly curved and lacks any serrations (denticles), it is a typical example of a flying reptile tooth from the early Late Cretaceous Kem Kem deposits. Although we are unable to identify the genus, we suspect that the tooth comes from an ornithocheirid pterosaur.

The pterosaur tooth fossil sent into Everything Dinosaur by one of our Scottish customers. The tooth, which measures approximately 5 cm long most likely comes from an ornithocheirid pterosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Fossil Pterosaur Tooth

When taking a picture of a fossil, or indeed, taking a photograph of an object that you think might be a fossil but need help with identification, it is a good idea to provide some scale in the picture. A coin could be placed next to the item to provide a scale reference. At Everything Dinosaur, we tend to use one of our brightly coloured geological rulers but as we did not have one of these in the office, an ordinary ruler was pressed into service. Viewers of the photograph can instantly get an idea of the size of the object. In this case, the fossil tooth measures approximately 5 cm in length.

New pterosaur genera described from the Kem Kem Beds of Morocco.

The pterosaur Anhanguera soars over the skies of North Africa with Coloborhynchus and Ornithocheirus to keep it company. Picture credit: Megan Jacobs (University of Bath).

Picture credit: Megan Jacobs (University of Bath)

For models and replicas of pterosaurs and other prehistoric animals: Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models.

Kem Kem Beds

The Kem Kem Formation, actually consists of two Formations, lower Gara Sbaa Formation and the geologically younger Douira Formation. Technically, the Kem Kem Formation should be referred to as the Kem Kem Group, these strata are exposed across a large part of the Algerian/Moroccan border and are famous for dinosaur remains.

Fossils associated with the Kem Kem Beds are often highly fragmentary and although several pterosaur genera have been described from fossil discoveries associated with these deposits, their remains are relatively rare and often difficult to interpret.

To read an article describing a new species of toothless pterosaur from Morocco: A Fourth New Moroccan pterosaur – Afrotapejara.

Our thanks to Robert for sending into Everything Dinosaur, this excellent example of a pterosaur tooth.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

10 01, 2022

The Amazing Rutland Ichthyosaur

By Mike|2024-10-11T08:40:48+01:00January 10th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

The discovery of the remarkable Rutland ichthyosaur has featured in many news channels and media outlets. It is a stunning fossil specimen, demonstrating that even in a country like Britain, arguably the birthplace of geology and the science of palaeontology, a part of the world that has been extensively mapped, documented and studied, that there are still amazing fossils to be found.

This story highlights the many largely unsung individuals that bring to the attention of scientists, strange phenomena that they spot, often in the unlikeliest of places. In this case it was Joe Davis (Conservation Team Leader for Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust at the Rutland reservoir), who along with his colleague Paul Trevor spotted strange circular objects jutting out of the exposed Jurassic clay as they routinely inspected part of a drained lagoon back in February 2021.

These objects turned out to be bones from the spinal column, fortunately, Joe a career conservationist, was familiar with the skeletons of whales and dolphins and he had an inkling that these objects were organic in origin. The local council was called and asked whether they had a “dinosaur department” that could investigate further. Thus, was set in motion a series of events that led to award-winning ichthyosaur specialist Dr Dean Lomax setting up an exploratory dig at the site, the results of which led to a full-scale excavation over the summer.

Dr Dean Lomax dwarfed by the giant ichthyosaur skeleton.

Dr Dean Lomax provides the scale for an aerial shot of the Rutland ichthyosaur specimen. Picture credit: Anglian Water/Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust/Matthew Power Photography.

Picture credit: Anglian Water/Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust/Matthew Power Photography

An Extraordinary Marine Reptile Fossil

The ichthyosaur fossil is the largest and most complete ichthyosaur to have been found in the UK. It measures around 10.5 metres in length. As has been repeatedly stated in the plethora of media releases concerning this Jurassic monster, ichthyosaurs are not dinosaurs. Ichthyosaurs are aquatic reptiles that evolved from terrestrial ancestors. Their evolutionary origins remain obscure, but their fossil record covers most of the Mesozoic and the Rutland ichthyosaur happens to be the most complete skeleton of a large prehistoric reptile ever found in the UK.

This spectacular fossil discovery stands out well compared to the scrappy and fragmentary remains of Britain’s dinosaurs.

Some of the team members responsible for the Rutland Sea Dragon excavation

Some of the Rutland “Sea Dragon” excavation team. Left to right – Dr Emma Nicholls (Senior Curator of Natural Sciences at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, London), David Savory (Peterborough Geological and Palaeontological Group), Nigel Larkin (palaeontological conservator), Dr Dean Lomax (palaeontologist), Mick Beeson (Peterborough Geological and Palaeontological Group), Dr Mark Evans (palaeontologist at the University of Leicester), Emily Swaby (PhD student the Open University), and Darren Withers (Peterborough Museum). Picture credit: Anglian Water.

Picture credit: Anglian Water

A “Rosetta Stone” for the Temnodontosaurus Genus

The fossil specimen has been tentatively assigned to the species Temnodontosaurus trigonodon. If this proves to be the case, the identification will be confirmed when the fossils are fully cleaned and prepared, then this is the first T. trigonodon known from the British Isles.

The species Temnodontosaurus trigonodon was erected in 1843. Its fossils have been found in Germany and France, if the Rutland specimen proves to be this species it will extend the palaeogeographical range of T. trigonodon. In addition, the almost complete, articulated Rutland ichthyosaur will provide an extremely useful comparator when assessing Temnodontosaurus fossils. It will help to identify other large, but much less complete, ichthyosaur specimens housed in museums, acting as a “Rosetta Stone” for the genus.

A life reconstruction of the Rutland Ichthyosaur

The ichthyosaur specimen has been tentatively assigned to the species Temnodontosaurus trigonodon. T. trigonodon was an apex predator and it probably hunted other smaller ichthyosaurs. Picture credit: Bob Nicholls.

Picture credit: Bob Nicholls

A Huge Fossil but It’s Also the Little Details

These fossilised remains are not the first ichthyosaur fossils to have been found at Rutland Water, smaller, fragmentary material representing other species were found during construction of the reservoir. Once excavated and wrapped in plaster jackets the Rutland ichthyosaur was taken to a research facility where the job of preparing and restoring it will take place under the watchful supervision of conservator Nigel Larkin.

The bones and teeth may have been removed but the site can still provide a great deal of data. For example, the clay-rich rocks that contained the specimen represent deposits from the Whitby Mudstone Formation and analysis of microfossils preserved in the sediment have enabled researchers at the University of Birmingham to reliably date the Rutland ichthyosaur to 181.5 to 182 million years ago (Toarcian faunal stage of the Jurassic).

The composition of these microfossils indicates that this large predator lived in a tropical, marine environment with a rich and diverse ecosystem. Temnodontosaurus is thought to have lived far out to sea and away from the coast. It is hoped that further analysis of the matrix surrounding the fossil will provide more details of this animal’s palaeoenvironment.

The summer 2021 excavation of the Rutland ichthyosaur. The ventral elements of the skull can be seen in the foreground. This photograph was taken before prior to plaster encasement of the specimen and it being removed from the site. Picture credit: Anglian Water/Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.

Picture credit: Anglian Water/Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust

Locked in Time

Palaeontologist Dr Dean Lomax who led the excavation, has recently published a book in collaboration with Bob Nicholls the artist that provided the Temnodontosaurus illustration.

It provides a fascinating analysis of fifty extraordinary fossils and what these discoveries can tell scientists about life in the past.

The book is available from Columbia University Press: Columbia University Press just search for Dean Lomax on this site.

Locked in Time by Dean Lomax and illustrated by Bob Nicholls

Published by Columbia University Press “Locked in Time” examines 50 extraordinary fossils that provide a remarkable glimpse into the lives and behaviours of long extinct animals. Picture credit: The University of Manchester.

Picture credit: The University of Manchester

For models of ichthyosaurs and other marine reptiles: Buy Prehistoric Animal Models.

9 01, 2022

The New Rebor Smilodon populator Stray Cat (Plain)

By Mike|2024-10-11T08:31:47+01:00January 9th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have posted up some pictures of the recently introduced Rebor Smilodon populator Stray Cat (plain colour variant). The figure has a declared scale of 1:11 and the Smilodon is the first prehistoric mammal model to be added to the Rebor range. Previously, the only mammal figure in the range was the 1/11th scale figure of a Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei).

Rebor Smilodon Stray Cat (plain colour scheme)

The Rebor Smilodon populator Stray Cat in the “plain” colour scheme shown in lateral view with the mouth open. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Two Interchangeable Smilodon Heads

This beautiful model is supplied with two interchangeable heads so the Smilodon can be displayed with either mouth open or mouth closed. The head fits securely into the neck of the body and it is difficult to discern a join. The clever design team at Rebor came up with this idea as it permits them to avoid having an unsightly joint on the figure associated with an articulated lower jaw.

The Rebor Smilodon populator Stray Cat in the “plain” colour scheme. The model is supplied with two interchangeable heads, one showing the mouth open, the other with the mouth closed as seen here. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Buy Prehistoric Animal Models.

Smilodon populator

Several species of “knife-tooth” have been named and described. S. populator is regarded as the largest. Some individuals had massive upper canine teeth around 28 cm in length. This robust and powerful predator roamed the southern portions of the Americas. It would have dwarfed the Sabre-Toothed Cats of the United States and was one of the largest felids to have ever lived, with a shoulder height of approximately 1.2 metres.

The Rebor Smilodon populator Stray Cat 1/11th scale model shown in close-up view. This is the “plain” colour variant and it has the mouth-closed head attachment. The model is shown in lateral view.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Model Measurements

The Rebor Smilodon populator Stray Cat model measures around 26.5 cm long with a height of approximately 13.5 cm.

To view this figure and the rest of the Rebor dinosaur and prehistoric animal models available from Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Models and Figures.

8 01, 2022

Mail Delivery Delays – Some Important Information

By Mike|2024-10-10T14:00:43+01:00January 8th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

The highly infectious Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to lead to large numbers of staff absences due to sickness and the need to self-isolate. This has caused considerable disruption to mail deliveries both within the UK and elsewhere in the world. Team members at Everything Dinosaur are doing all they can to pick, pack and despatch orders, including having worked over the holiday period, but customers can expect some delays in parcel deliveries as distribution networks struggle to cope.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur is standing on the right, surrounded by parcels for customers ready to dispatch.

Mike getting surrounded by parcels that are ready to dispatch. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Priority Being Given to COVID-19 Test Kits

In the UK, weekend delivery and collection services are expected to take place on Saturday 8th January 2022. However, the high numbers of staff unable to work is going to lead to delays in the network. There are no deliveries or collections on Sunday 9th January 2022 except for COVID-19 test kits from priority post boxes which will remain the primary consideration for mail staff.

Royal Mail has issued the following press statement:

“We continue to work hard to collect, process and deliver the UK’s mail. However, despite our best endeavours, it’s likely some areas of the country may experience some level of disruption. Every item of mail is important to us, so we’re working hard to keep any delays to a minimum. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

International Services Also Affected

Global mail deliveries including international tracked and signed services are also affected. There is a large backlog of parcels that came into the network between Christmas and New Year and in many parts of the world this backlog has yet to be cleared.

When explaining the situation with regards to overseas parcels, Royal Mail has commented as follows:

“Royal Mail is working with our airline and postal/courier partners across the globe to maintain services, however delays should be expected.”

Everything Dinosaur team members have taken steps to help minimise disruption for customers, but due to industrial action UK and overseas deliveries of parcels will be subject to delays. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dealing with Mail Delivery Delays

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented, that team members would be working over the weekend and putting in as many hours as possible over the next few days to ensure orders were picked, packed and despatched as quickly as possible in a bid to minimise delays.

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