Everything Dinosaur team members have been so impressed with the first batch of new for 2021 CollectA prehistoric animal figures that they have decided to review them all. Today, it is the turn of the CollectA Neovenator scenting prey dinosaur model. This figure replaces an earlier version of the theropod Neovenator within the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

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Neovenator salerii

The CollectA Neovenator scenting prey has been beautifully painted. The light green tones contrast well with the striking darker green stripes that run from the nape of the neck right down to the model’s long tail. The tail makes up around 50% of the entire figure’s length. The body proportions of the Neovenator model reflect the graceful and lightweight nature of the dinosaur’s skeleton. Neovenator being regarded as relatively lightly built for a large predator with a gracile body plan. The grasping hands have been sculpted extremely well and the claws are skilfully painted. Their battleship grey colour matches the toe claws.

The pale underside provides a sharp contrast to the colouration on the flanks and the CollectA model has been given a row of small wattles that run down the neck. There is a row of similarly coloured spines that extend from the back of the skull to the tip of the tail. These spines are enlarged over the hips and immediately behind the head.

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Features of the Skull

The figure is named “scenting prey” as an analysis of Neovenator cranial material published in 2017 revealed a substantial network of neurovascular canals in the upper jaw (premaxilla and maxilla) that were linked to the external surfaces of the bones in the jaw. The scientists concluded that this may have been a specialised tactile organ, enabling Neovenator to sense its environment through its jaw. These canals could have sensed jaw pressure, assisting this dinosaur to avoid bone when feeding, or this sensory organ could have played a role in intraspecies recognition and behaviour, or even assisted Neovenator in locating suitable nesting sites. The large nostrils suggest that this dinosaur had a powerful sense of smell. To read more about this research: The Sensitive Face of Neovenator.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Taxonomic Position Uncertain

The taxonomic classification of Neovenator remains uncertain, despite nearly 70% of the fossil skeleton being known to science. When first described in 1996, it was thought to have affinities with the Allosauridae family. Subsequent studies have challenged this suggesting a placement within the carcharodontosaurids.

The elevated head shows lots of amazing detail. The dark green markings that run from the eye socket down to the bottom jaw and then up to the postorbital bone are in stark contrast to the bright yellow jaw tips and the yellow patch that surrounds the eye.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

This is an exquisitely created dinosaur model and Everything Dinosaur highly recommends the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Neovenator scenting prey.

To view the CollectA Neovenator scenting prey figure and the rest of the models in the CollectA Prehistoric Life range: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models and Figures.

The new for 2021 CollectA Kamuysaurus dinosaur model is in stock and what a wonderful addition it makes to the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range. It’s great to see CollectA introduce another hadrosaur replica, a replica of a dinosaur that was only formally named and described in 2019.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Japanese Hadrosaur

Named and described based on a single, nearly complete specimen Kamuysaurus heralds from exposures of the Upper Cretaceous Hakobuchi Formation on Hokkaido. The dinosaur nicknamed the “Mukawa dragon” has been skilfully recreated by the design team at CollectA. The model possesses a small, straight nasal crest that extends to the top of the head, a feature remarked upon in the scientific paper when the rugose nature of the nasal and frontal bones was discussed. In contrast, the row of small spikes running from the back of the graceful neck to the very tip of the tail are speculative but they do not detract from the appearance of this replica.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Model Measurements

The CollectA Kamuysaurus measures 14 cm in length and it stands a fraction under 5.5 cm high. It is a relatively small model, but it has been beautifully painted and the individual scales on the well-sculpted flanks can be made out with the skin folds at the base of the tail adding realism.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Japanese Dinosaurs

The flash of bright yellow leading from the orbit (eye socket) to the side of the animal’s beak contrasts with the more muted tones of the belly and flank which indicate counter shading. The dark stripes present on the limbs and along the neck, back and tail give the impression that this dinosaur would have been well camouflaged, a good defence against predators – although palaeontologists have yet to uncover any evidence to suggest the presence of large, terrestrial predators that shared the same palaeoenvironment.

The introduction of the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Kamuysaurus continues the trend of CollectA adding models of Japanese dinosaurs into their product portfolio. In 2019, a model of Fukuiraptor (F. kitadaniensis) an Early Cretaceous predator known from the island of Honshu was introduced. Approximately twelve months later CollectA added a Deluxe 1:40 scale version of the contemporaneous Fukuisaurus (F. tetoriensis).

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur exclaimed:

“It’s great to see another hadrosaurid model added to the CollectA range, even better to have a dinosaur representing the unique biota associated with the Late Cretaceous of Japan”.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To purchase the new for 2021 CollectA Kamuysaurus and to see the rest of the range in the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range: CollectA Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

The new for 2021 CollectA Deluxe Mamenchisaurus dinosaur model is now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This is one of the biggest sauropod figures that CollectA have made and this beautifully detailed replica has certainly impressed model fans and collectors.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Scale Dinosaur Model

CollectA have declared a scale of 1:100 for their Mamenchisaurus. As the model measures around 40 cm in length this figure represents a dinosaur that would have measured approximately 40 metres, this is perhaps a little too large for most of the Mamenchisaurus species named to date.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

The model has been exquisitely designed. The neck is slightly curved and the small head is turned towards the animal’s left shoulder. This pose gives the model a more natural look, the animal is moving along and looking towards its left as it walks. The head has been beautifully crafted, the nostrils are visible and the mouth is open displaying the small teeth. There were teeth present all along the jawline and this has been accurately portrayed in the CollectA model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Fine Detail of Scales and Dermal Armour

As well as having a row of prominent spikes that descend from the back of the head down to the end of the tail, the design team at CollectA have added rows of raised scutes along the neck, flanks and down the tail of the figure. There is much to be admired in the fine skin texture and the limbs have been proportioned to reflect the fossil record. The claws and toes have been painted in the same tan tone as the spikes and this realistic dinosaur model has been given a cloaca.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

An Asian Sauropod

It is refreshing to see CollectA create a scale model of a Chinese sauropod rather than a replica of a sauropod associated with western North America and the Morrison Formation. Due to the large number of fossils assigned to this genus, thanks to huge numbers of bones found in Shaximiao Formation exposures (Sichuan Province, China), Mamenchisaurus is one of the best known of all the Jurassic members of the Sauropoda. It is great to see a mainstream manufacturer such as CollectA make a model of this dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Highly Recommended

The figure has been given a small defensive club on the end of its tail, reminiscent of Shunosaurus. There may be some debate as to whether this dinosaur possessed such a club, fused caudal vertebrae in at least one specimen does suggest that a tail club was present.

All in all, this is a very detailed model and it is a very welcome addition to the CollectA Deluxe model range.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the CollectA Deluxe Mamenchisaurus and to see the other figures available from Everything Dinosaur in this this range: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.