Team members at Everything Dinosaur took the opportunity to photograph the life-size Deinonychus replicas on display at the London Natural History Museum. These animated figures can be found in the Blue Zone of the Museum.
Visiting Deinonychus
Team members are not sure when the duo were installed in the Dinosaurs Gallery, but we estimate that these life-size replicas have been at the Museum for more than a decade.
Life-size Deinonychus replicas on display at the London Natural History Museum. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Animated Deinonychus Dinosaur Models
The robotic armature permits these figures to move. The models can lift their heads, open their jaws and make a bow-like gesture to visitors. There is audio too. The Deinonychus replicas make a hissing sound. It reminds us of the sound a cat makes when it is frightened or being threatened.
New for 2020 the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Deinonychus dinosaur model. A replica of this large dromaeosaurid.
The picture (above) illustrates Deinonychus. This model is from the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range of replicas.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“There are lots of amazing exhibits at the London Natural History Museum. However, we always like to say hello to the pair of Deinonychus figures. A visit is not complete until we have spent a little time in their company.”
On the subject of a visit, take a look at the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website.
An award-winning and user-friendly dinosaur themed website: Everything Dinosaur.
Everything Dinosaur team members had the opportunity to view the five new Mojo Fun repaints for 2024 at the recent Spielwarenmesse trade fair in Germany. The repainted dinosaur models will be in stock at Everything Dinosaur soon. The five figures include the Parasaurolophus (biped and quadruped stance), the Baryonyx, Troodon and a Stegosaurus.
The five repainted Mojo Fun dinosaur models for 2024. The standing Parasaurolophus (left) and the Parasaurolophus in the quadrupedal pose (mid left). The repainted Baryonyx is at the back and the Stegosaurus repaint is also at the back (back right). A pair of Troodon repaints can be seen (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Whilst there are new dinosaur models scheduled for 2025, the 2024 offering consists of five repainted figures. The Mojo Fun repaints for 2024 are listed below:
Standing Parasaurolophus.
Quadrupedal Parasaurolophus.
Stegosaurus.
Troodon with an articulated jaw.
Baryonyx with an articulated jaw.
The repainted Mojo Fun Baryonyx figure for 2024. This figure has a muted colour scheme compared to the original Mojo Fun Baryonyx. The articulated jaw has been retained. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We had the opportunity to see the new Mojo Fun repaints at the recent Spielwarenmesse in Germany. We were particularly impressed with the paint schemes. The Baryonyx and the Troodon figures are our personal favourites.”
To discover a new dinosaur species might mark the high point of a long career in palaeontology for some scientists. However, for one Oklahoma State University (OSU) student they can already put a tick in the “named a new dinosaur box” on their curriculum vitae. Kyle Atkins-Weltman (PhD student in the School of Biomedical Sciences), was studying a selection of foot and leg bone fossils of what was thought to be a juvenile Anzu wyliei. Remarkably, analysis of the fossils indicated that these bones came from a mature animal and as such they represented a new dinosaur species. Based on these findings, Kyle was able to erect a new Hell Creek theropod – Eoneophron infernalis.
Limb bones of the newly described Hell Creek Formation caenagnathid Eoneophron infernalis. Picture credit: Kyle Atkins-Weldman.
The picture (above) shows limb bones from the newly described caenagnathid. Metatarsals (left) with the right tibia (centre) and a femur (right).
Pharaoh’s Dawn Chicken from Hell
Bone histology revealed the fossils to represent a dinosaur at least six years of age when it died. These were not the bones from a juvenile A. wyliei, but from a smaller but closely related theropod species. The student named the new dinosaur Eoneophron infernalis. It translates as “Pharaoh’s dawn chicken from Hell”. Team members at UK-based Everything Dinosaur pronounce this dinosaur as ee-on-oh-fron in-fur-nal-lis.
The name honours the description of the Anzu taxon as well as the student’s late beloved pet, a Nile monitor lizard named Pharaoh.
Oklahoma State University PhD student Kyle Atkins-Weltman. Picture credit: Matt Barnard/OSU Centre for Health Sciences.
Eoneophron infernalis and Implications for Caenagnathid Diversity
Previously, only one caenagnathid (Anzu wyliei) was known from the Hell Creek Formation. It was formally named and described in 2014 (Lamanna et al). Palaeontologists were aware of smaller, fragmentary fossil bones representing caenagnathids from the Hell Creek Formation. It was unclear whether these fossils represented distinct, undescribed taxa or juvenile A. wyliei specimens. Eoneophron infernalis is estimated to have stood around one metre high at the hips and weighed approximately seventy kilograms. In contrast, Anzu wyliei was much larger, with a hip height of about 1.5 metres and weighing three hundred kilograms.
This new taxon is also distinct from other small caenagnathid material previously described from the area. Scientists postulate that there are potentially three distinct caenagnathid genera in the Hell Creek Formation. These results show that caenagnathid diversity in the Hell Creek ecosystem has probably been underestimated.
A life reconstruction of Eoneophron infernalis (left), an as yet, undescribed caenagnathid MOR 752 (bottom), and Anzu wyliei (right). Picture credit: Zubin Erik Dutta.
A Feathered Dinosaur
When asked to describe Eoneophron infernalis, Kyle highlighted how closely related to birds these dinosaurs were. He stated:
“It was a very bird-like dinosaur. It had a toothless beak and a relatively short tail. It’s hard to tell its diet because of the toothless beak. It definitely had feathers. It was covered in feathers and had wings.”
Co-author of the scientific paper and Kyle’s faculty advisor Associate Professor Eric Snively commented:
“Kyle is the first student researcher at OSU-CHS to reveal, describe and name a new dinosaur.”
When it looked like the fossils may not belong to an Anzu, Atkins-Weltman turned to caenagnathid researchers Greg Funston, PhD, a palaeontologist with the Royal Ontario Museum in Ontario, Canada, and palaeontology PhD candidate Jade Simons with the University of Toronto for their assistance.
He was also able to involve Associate Professor of Anatomy Dr Holly Woodward Ballard, an expert in bone histology.
A view of the metatarsal bones of Eoneophron infernalis. Picture credit: Kyle Atkins-Weldman.
A Thrilling Discovery
Kyle Atkins-Weltman explained that his project and published findings would not have been possible without his co-authors and those who assisted him.
He added:
“It was really thrilling. Based on the work and research I do, I never thought I would be someone to discover a new dinosaur species.”
Eoneophron infernalis life reconstruction. Picture credit: Zubin Erik Dutta.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from Oklahoma State University in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “A new oviraptorosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the end-Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation of North America” by Kyle L. Atkins-Weltman, D. Jade Simon, Holly N. Woodward, Gregory F. Funston and Eric Snively published in PLOS One.
Everything Dinosaur has commissioned a new drawing of Carnotaurus sastrei. The abelisaurid drawing will be used in the company’s updated Carnotaurus fact sheet. The Carnotaurus fact sheet is sent out with sales of Carnotaurus models and figures.
Everything Dinosaur has commissioned a new drawing of a Carnotaurus (C. sastrei). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Carnotaurus sastrei
This large theropod was named and described in 1985 by José Fernando Bonaparte. Bonaparte was an extremely influential figure in the development of palaeontology in South America. He is responsible for the scientific description of numerous dinosaurs from Patagonia, and he inspired a new generation of Argentinian palaeontologists.
The Carnotaurus illustration was inspired by the CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Carnotaurus sastrei figure. This popular dinosaur model was introduced in 2019.
The CollectA Age of Dinosaurs 1:40 scale deluxe Carnotaurus dinosaur model.
A spokesperson for Everything Dinosaur explained that for the vast majority of models and figures that the company supplies a free fact sheet about that prehistoric animal is sent out. Hundreds of fact sheets have been researched and written.
The spokesperson added:
“We continue to add to our free fact sheet inventory. The last two new fact sheets we introduced were for the tyrannosaur Alectrosaurus and the South American theropod Megaraptor namunhuaiquii. We commission illustrations of prehistoric animals such as Carnotaurus and this drawing will be used to update the scale drawing on our Carnotaurus fact sheet.”
Everything Dinosaur team members were given the opportunity to handle the prototype for the new Papo Suchomimus dinosaur model. This new Papo dinosaur was on display at the Spielwarenmesse (Nuremberg, Germany). It is one of three new Papo dinosaur models due to be released this year (2024). The Papo Suchomimus is scheduled to be in stock in quarter 4 of 2024.
Sue Judd (Everything Dinosaur) carefully holding a prototype of the new for 2024 Papo Suchomimus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
This new spinosaurid figure is going to be available after the Papo Corythosaurus and the Ampelosaurus models. It is likely to be available in the latter part of the year. The model at the tradeshow was not an actual production figure. It is a prototype that will assist with the painting guide required for when these models are made at scale.
A close-up view of the Papo Suchomimus dinosaur prototype model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Everything Dinosaur
Sue Judd from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“This new Suchomimus figure is stunning! We were given the opportunity to handle all three new for 2024 Papo dinosaurs. However, this Suchomimus model is very precious as it is effectively the prototype. It really is a beautiful model, and we hope our photographs do it justice.”
The Papo Suchomimus model is scheduled to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur towards the end of 2024. We hope our photographs have whetted the appetites of Papo fans and model collectors.
Team members photographed a sauropod skin impression whilst visiting the London Natural History Museum. The specimen is part of the Patagotitan exhibition entitled “Titanosaur – Life as the Biggest Dinosaur”. Although most visitors probably overlook this fossil it is perhaps one of the most important fossil specimens on display in this part of the museum.
A detailed analysis of the skin impression provided new information on the anatomy of sauropods. A study revealed features on the skin that might explain how these dinosaurs were able to grow so big.
A sauropod skin impression (NHMUK R1868) on display as part of the London Natural History Museum Patagotitan exhibition. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Studying a Sauropod Skin Impression
This is a fossilised imprint of sauropod skin. It is specimen number NHMUK R1868. It was the first skin impression to be described in any non-avian dinosaur. The fossil, discovered in 1852 provided the first evidence that sauropods had scaly skin. The impression was formed when the skin of a carcase was pressed into soft mud. This left an impression of the skin contours imprinted on the sediment. Over millions of years the ground hardened into rock.
The fossil was discovered in Hastings along with a large forelimb. The material comes from the Hasting Beds, which are part of the Wealden Group and represent Lower Cretaceous deposits. The sauropod, possibly a basal titanosaur, has been named Haestasaurus becklesii. The skin impression is thought to have come from the forearm, the presence of smaller scales at one end of the specimen suggests that the skin impression might have come from the elbow area. The smaller scales would have permitted greater flexibility in the joint.
Sue from Everything Dinosaur poses in front of the colossal Patagotitan skeleton which is being exhibited at the Natural History Museum (London). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A Patagotitan dinosaur model. The long neck and tail may have helped with thermoregulation, enabling this super-sized tetrapod to lose heat efficiently.
The image above shows the recently introduced Wild Safari Prehistoric World Patagotitan dinosaur model.
A paper published in February 2022 (Pittman et al) examined NHMUK R1868 in detail using laser-simulated fluorescence (LSF). This technique reveals much more detail at the microscopic level than exposure to normal light and UV light. The researchers discovered that the skin was covered in tiny bumps (papillae). These convex bumps increased the surface area of the skin, and it was thought that they played a role in thermoregulation.
Large animals, such as sauropods need to find ways to stop their bodies overheating. The extended surface area of their long necks and tails would have helped, but the researchers speculate that these small bumps greatly increased the skin surface area, thus permitting more efficient heat exchange between their bodies and the environment.
A review of other sauropod skin fossils demonstrated that intrascale papillae were unique to and widespread across the Neosauropoda. This suggests that this trait evolved early in the Sauropoda, and it might explain why these types of dinosaurs were able to grow so big and to become giants.
The scientific paper: “Newly detected data from Haestasaurus and review of sauropod skin morphology suggests Early Jurassic origin of skin papillae” by Michael Pittman, Nathan J. Enriquez, Phil R. Bell, Thomas G. Kaye and Paul Upchurch published in Communications Biology.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur took a photograph of the fourteen new Haolonggood dinosaur models that recently arrived at the company’s warehouse. The new figures represent five theropods, one armoured dinosaur (Dacentrurus) and a titanosaur. The titanosaur is Ampelosaurus, which is also the largest figure in this recently arrived stock.
Fourteen new Haolonggood dinosaur models arrived at Everything Dinosaur’s warehouse recently. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The fourteen figures represent seven dinosaur genera. The photograph showing the boxes together provides collectors with an impression of the size of the models relative to each other. The titanosaur figure (Ampelosaurus atacis) is the largest. The tyrannosaur figure Daspletosaurus (D. torosus) is the second largest.
Here is the full list of the Haolonggood figures in the photograph:
Dacentrurus – Xuning.
Dacentrurus – Lingzhen.
Carnotaurus – Li Zhong.
Carnotaurus – Zhou Tong.
Daspletosaurus torosus – Wu Song.
Daspletosaurus torosus – Lu Zhi Sheng.
Ampelosaurus – Sun Er Niang.
Ampelosaurus – Zhang Qing.
Dilophosaurus – Wang Ying/Hu San Niang.
Dilophosaurus – Sun Xin/Gu Da Sao.
Megaraptor – Shi Qian.
Megaraptor – Duan Jing Zhu.
Baryonyx – Shan Ting.
Baryonyx – Wei Ding Guo.
Haolonggood have established themselves rapidly in the dinosaur model collecting market. They have already built up an extensive product range. Everything Dinosaur is looking forward to highlighting new Haolonggood figures in the near future.
Our thanks to dinosaur fan William who sent into Everything Dinosaur his review of the recently introduced PNSO Saurophaganax dinosaur model. The reviewer explained that “Donald” the Saurophaganax was one of three new theropod figures introduced by PNSO towards the end of 2023. The other two figures were Dapeng and Dayong which represented the genus Yangchuanosaurus.
The new for late 2023 PNSO Donald the Saurophaganax figure.
The PNSO Saurophaganax Figure
William praised this new allosaur figure. The model measures around thirty centimetres in length. It is five centimetres longer than the PNSO Paul the Allosaurus figure. It seems that the design team at PNSO have thought carefully about the size of their Saurophaganax maximus figure. This model, like the PNSO Allosaurus has an articulated lower jaw.
The latest theropod to be announced by PNSO is Donald the Saurophaganax. It is a beautiful model of a Late Jurassic theropod dinosaur from North America.
“I Could Not Wait to Get this Figure into My Hands”
William explained that the Saurophaganax was a titan. He stated that “Donald’s” sculpt was supremely accurate from the head to the tip of the tail. He highlighted the presence of lips on this theropod figure.
He exclaimed:
“To own this Lord of the Lizard Eaters, you have the greatest Allosauridae model ever to hit the market.”
The dinosaur fan and model collector added:
“I could not wait to get this figure into my hands.”
Our thanks to William for sending in his PNSO Saurophaganax review to Everything Dinosaur.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur photographed a spectacular Nile crocodile skeleton. The skeleton is on display at the London Natural History Museum. Recently, Everything Dinosaur wrote a short blog post about the reptile exhibit at the Museum.
The skeleton of a Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) on display at the London Natural History Museum. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
As male Nile crocodiles tend to be much bigger than the females, we suspect the skeleton represents a male. The Nile crocodile skeleton could have come from a crocodile farm. Perhaps the skeleton came from a zoo. It is part of an exhibit that looks at extant reptiles. The exhibit also includes a large, stuffed Nile crocodile specimen.
A stuffed Nile crocodile on display. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:
“This large exhibit permits visitors to get a really good look at the skeleton of a large crocodile. The exhibit includes examples of crocodile stomach contents. The skeleton is impressive, although this reptile is dwarfed by the specimens in the Dinosaurs Gallery.”
The seven, new for 2024 Beast of the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs are featured in the latest Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter. The latest Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaur shipment arrived late last week. Team members at Everything Dinosaur have been busy contacting all those customers who wanted to be informed.
A newsletter was also emailed to the company’s subscriber list.
The Beasts of the Mesozoic Gorgosaurus figure features in the latest Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
New Beasts of the Mesozoic Tyrannosaurs
The new articulated figures feature different members of the Tyrannosauroidea superfamily. The model representing the geologically oldest theropod is the Eotyrannus figure (Eotyrannus lengi). Eotyrannus fossils are associated with Lower Cretaceous deposits. All six of the other new tyrannosaur figures represent dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous.
The two new Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosauroid figures Eotyrannus and Moros intrepidus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The majority of the new tyrannosaur figures represent predators from either the Maastrichtian or Campanian faunal stages of the Late Cretaceous. Perhaps, one of the geologically youngest tyrannosaurs in this new wave of models would be Tarbosaurus (T. bataar). This Asian tyrannosaur is thought to have lived around seventy million years ago.
The Late Cretaceous Daspletosaurus and the geologically younger Tarbosaurus (Beasts of the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Alectrosaurus and Albertosaurus
The latest Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter highlighted two other new theropod figures. Alectrosaurus (A. olseni) fossils come from the Iren Dabasu Formation of Inner Mongolia. The date of this formation remains controversial. Some palaeontologists have suggested that this fast-running tyrannosaur may have roamed China approximately ninety million years ago.
In contrast, Albertosaurus (A. sarcophagus) fossils roamed Canada many millions of years later. The fossils of Albertosaurus sarcophagus seem to be confined to the Canadian province of Alberta. A second potential and coeval Albertosaurus may have been present further south (Mexico).
The Beasts of the Mesozoic Alectrosaurus (left) and the Albertosaurus (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
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