Animal News Stories

24 03, 2011

Sabre-Toothed Vegetarian from the Late Permian

By Mike|2023-03-07T08:01:57+00:00March 24th, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|2 Comments

Dagger-Toothed Vegetarian Reptile from the Late Permian of Brazil

Researchers reporting in the scientific journal “Live Science” have announced the discovery of a bizarre vegetarian reptile, with large upper canine teeth making it look a little like a miniature Sabre-toothed cat. The animal formally named as Tiarajudens eccentricus was about the size of an Alsatian, it was a plant-eater, as other teeth in the fossilised jaws are clearly adapted for crushing plant matter, but the large, prominent canines represent a palaeontological puzzle for scientists.

A number of animals in the fossil record show large sabre-like teeth, the Sabre-toothed cats (Smilodon) are perhaps the best known but other groups such as the gorgonopsids evolved oversized, dagger-like teeth. Most of these creatures were entirely carnivorous, however, herbivores with enlarged teeth are known. For example, the two-metre-long dicynodont Dinodontosaurus had an enlarged upper tooth either side of its top jaw. These teeth would not have been very useful in feeding, perhaps the teeth, which resemble tusks had a display function.

Tiarajudens eccentricus

The upper teeth each measure over 14 centimetres in length, research leader Juan Carlos Cisneros of the University of Piaui in north-eastern Brazil, stated these animals may have used their teeth to intimidate rivals or to attract a mate. The teeth could also be used in threat gestures to scare of any potential predators.

This new genus has been compared to the extant Musk Deer (genus Moschus), which also has a pair of large, tusk-like teeth but is entirely herbivorous.

Dr Juan Carlos Cisneros, a specialist on Permian and Triassic Tetrapods stated that when discovering animals like this:

“Shows us how nature is extremely creative in providing solutions for several life tasks.”

In the picture showing a ventral view of the left side of the skull, a long, dagger-like tooth can be clearly seen, along with peg-like teeth from the premaxilla. The large orbit, (eye socket) indicates that vision was a very important sense for this small member of the Anomodontia.

The research team state that the palate of the mouth was studded with teeth, allowing for rapid replacement of lost teeth an adaptation to a diet of tough, fibrous leaves.

Dr Juan Carlos Cisnero went onto add:

“It looks like a combination of different animals and it takes some time to believe it when you this animal in front of you. It has the incisors of a horse, which are very good for cutting and pulling plants, the big molars of a capybara [large rodent] for grinding and the canines of a sabre-toothed cat.”

To view models and replicas of Triassic and Permian prehistoric animals: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.

20 03, 2011

Frogspawn (March 2011) an Important Update

By Mike|2024-04-21T10:05:37+01:00March 20th, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Exciting News – First Pictures of Frogspawn from the Office Pond

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have spotted the first frogspawn in the office pond. Quietly, without wishing to disturb any frogs that may also be spawning, we have taken a photograph of the frogspawn.

Frogspawn in the Office Pond

Frogspawn in the pond.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A picture of this year’s frogspawn in the office pond. We look forward to observing the development of the eggs.

20 03, 2011

Suspected Man-Eater Caught in Queensland

By Mike|2023-01-16T08:00:07+00:00March 20th, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Crocodile Suspected of Attack on Fisherman is Caught

A three-metre-long Saltwater crocodile suspected of attacking fisherman Todd Bairstow has been caught in a trap say Australian Wildlife Rangers. A spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) said the crocodile was caught using a trap set at Trunding Creek, near where Todd Bairstow, clung to mangroves as a large Saltwater crocodile attempted to drag him to his death from the bank where he had been fishing.

Saltwater Crocodile

The DERM staff are now attempting to confirm that this was the crocodile responsible for the attack. Mr Bairstow has undergone a number of operations and has had to suffer protracted and painful sessions to clean his wounds caused by the highly infectious crocodile bites. The captured crocodile has been transferred to a secure facility near Weipa for assessment and will then be taken to a zoo or a crocodile farm.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the crocodile attack: Man Survives Crocodile Attack.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website for models of crocodiles and alligators and these replicas do not bite!

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

19 03, 2011

Crocodile found in Middlesbrough

By Mike|2023-01-16T07:53:33+00:00March 19th, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Spectacled Caiman found in Middlesbrough

Police seized a baby crocodile in a raid on an industrial unit in Middlesbrough (north-east England). The crocodile, actually a Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodylus) is currently being checked over by vets. Caimans are a group of small crocodiles that share the same characteristics of their larger cousins the crocodiles and alligators. Many Spectacled Caimans are imported into the U.S. for the pet trade, it may be that this particular animal may have been brought over from the United States.

This caiman was being kept as a pet by a thirty year old, exotic animal enthusiast from Middlesbrough. At only two feet long, the baby, known as “fluffy” may not be a man-eater but they still possess a powerful bite and could be capable of taking off a finger if a handler was not careful. As an adult, Spectacled Caiman reach lengths of up to 2.5 metres in length, and although they rarely attack land mammals and people they are highly dangerous.

For more sensible purchases, take a look at the crocodile models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur.

Crocodile Found in Middlesbrough

A man has been arrested on suspicion of keeping a dangerous wild animal without a licence. A spokesperson for the National Wildlife Crime Unit which worked alongside Cleveland Police in this case, commented:

“The Spectacled Caiman has been seized and removed through the animal reception centre at Heathrow airport, where they will find a more appropriate home for it.”

The spokesperson (Andy McWilliam) went on to add:

“There are people who want to keep animals like these, but they need to have a licence, as there is a risk. They need to pay for the licence, have their premises inspected by the local authority and meet significant standards so the animal is safe and cannot escape.”

Although not particularly endangered, many caimans are hunted illegally in the wilds of South America for their skins which are used to make handbags and other fashion items. The eggs and young of these ancient creatures are also highly prized and once hatched these animals can be sold as pets.

A number of zoos and wildlife parks keep these animals as part of a world-wide conservation effort, indeed some Caimans kept in captivity are believed to learn their names and respond to them when they are called. To read more about Caimans in captivity: Crocodiles Respond to their Own Names when Called.

18 03, 2011

Frogspawn in the Office Pond Spotted

By Mike|2022-12-20T22:51:16+00:00March 18th, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

We have Frogspawn in our Office Pond

The frogs have been busy in the office pond, on Wednesday and Thursday we were able to count up to seven frogs in the pond, but no spawn until this morning. We have just spotted the first batch of spawn, which must have been laid last night, despite the clear skies leading to a drop in air temperature to just above freezing.

When we compare notes from previous years, the frogs have spawned two days earlier this year than they did in 2010. So far we have not seen as many frogs in the pond as last year but we are confident that more spawning will take place and that we may well end up with as much frogspawn as we did last year. This is the fourth year in a row that we have had frogs spawning in our office pond.

14 03, 2011

Man Survives Attack from Four Metre Crocodile

By Mike|2023-01-16T07:42:10+00:00March 14th, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Fisherman Survives Mauling by Saltwater Crocodile

Attacks by Saltwater crocodiles are becoming more frequent in Australia as locals and these large, predators come into close contact. The latest attack involved a fisherman who was dragged into the water by a four-metre long crocodile whilst fishing near the bank of Trunding Creek, near Weipa on western Cape York Peninsula (Queensland). Todd Bairstow (aged 28) was attacked on Wednesday, police say the man grabbed mangrove branches and fought for his life, punching and kicking the crocodile for fifteen minutes before his efforts and those of the person who came to his aid and hit the large croc across the head with a branch, permitted him to escape.

The Difference Between a Crocodile and an Alligator

Crocodile (top) and Alligator (bottom).

Mr Bairstow suffered multiple puncture wounds, dislocations and fractures including a broken finger. The area is well-known for its large crocodiles and local fishing guide Dave Donald says that Todd was lucky to survive.

Mr Donald stated:

“His legs were very badly damaged and they think the croc may have tried to roll with him while he was still hanging onto the mangrove roots and made quite a mess of his legs. It did try to grab him again as he was being dragged out of the water apparently, it was pretty aggressive.

Wildlife rangers will search for the crocodile in the hope they can locate it and remove it from the wild. It is likely that a trap will be set so that the crocodile can be relocated to an area which is less populated.

For models of crocodiles and alligators (whilst stocks last), visit the Mojo Fun section of the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Mojo Fun Prehistoric and Extinct Models.

12 03, 2011

Remarkable Miocene Tarsier Fossils from Thailand

By Mike|2024-04-21T10:10:17+01:00March 12th, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Fossils from a Coal Mine in Thailand Reveal New Species of Primate

The Tarsiers are small, tree-dwelling prosimians found in Asia. These small creatures are mainly nocturnal and voracious hunters of insects, tiny lizards, mammals and nestling birds. They may not be very conspicuous up in the tree-tops but to anthropologists and palaeontologists they are extremely important in helping to decipher our own origins. Scientists have announced the discovery of a Miocene Tarsier, fossils of which were found in a coal mine.

A number of fossilised jawbones found in a coalmine in Thailand have enabled scientists to identify a new species of Tarsier, one that may have been mainly herbivorous. But first, why are Tarsiers so important when it comes to working out our own fossil lineage?

Miocene Tarsier

It is all to do with noses. The Tarsier’s nostrils , which project sideways, are rounded. Fur grows almost to the edge of them and surrounds them, separating them from the upper lip. The nostrils of other prosimians, lemurs and pottos for example, in contrast are shaped like commas, permanently moist and linked to the upper lip by a strip of naked skin. To a Tarsier the sense of smell is very much less important than to a lemur or another member of the prosimian group.

The only other tree-dwellers that have noses like the Tarsier’s are the true monkeys. This suggests that the Tarsiers are ancestral to the monkeys, if this is the case, then as apes and ourselves are related to monkeys, the Tarsier may be a branch on that part of the tree of life that led to our own species H. sapiens.

The pictures circulated show a Tarsier from South-east Asia on the left compared to a Potto from West Africa on the right. Although very similar, note the “comma” shaped nostrils of the Potto, whilst the nostrils of the Tarsier suggest that creatures such as these were the ancestors of true monkeys, and ultimately ourselves.

Tarsius sirindhornae

The new species, formally named as Tarsius sirindhornae, lived during the mid Miocene Epoch, approximately 13 million years ago. Based on the size of the fossilised jawbones, this Tarsier species would have been a giant amongst its kind. However, it probably weighed less than 200 grammes, about the weight of grapefruit.

Research leader, Yaowalak Chaimanee, a geologist with Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources, stated that this Tarsier was the largest discovered to date and a total of eighteen jawbone fossils from the new species were found in deposits at disused coalmine in Lampang Province. Each tiny jaw holds one to four teeth.

She stated:

“Tarsiers were, and still are pretty rare, so you can imagine to have eighteen jaws is marvellous.”

Like modern Tarsiers, the extinct species probably have had large eyes, would have been a great jumper and would have had the ability to rotate its neck 180 degrees. But the fossils show that at least one trait makes the new species different from its modern cousins.

Chaimanee said:

“We know living Tarsiers eat insects or small mammals. They have very sharp teeth. Our fossils have very rounded teeth, every tooth has been worn. We expect it ate something different.”

The large jaws and dentition suggest that this animal may well have been a vegetarian, perhaps feeding on leaves. Plant material is much more difficult to digest and the teeth may have evolved to permit these prosimians to grind food up in their mouths efficiently to allow their digestive systems to extract nutrients effectively. Being a vegetarian often leads to evolving a larger gut, perhaps this explains why this extinct Tarsier species grew to be a relative giant amongst its carnivorous relatives.

In a bid to explain why the jawbones were found in close proximity, Chaimanee and her colleagues have speculated that the area around the coalmine was dense, tropical jungle and the jawbones represent the regurgitated remains after these Tarsiers were predated upon by birds of prey.

She suggested:

“The predator made waste pellets, and then these pellets would wash out into the region that became the coal mine. This would explain why our team found so many jaws together.”

To find the fossils of such an arboreal Miocene animal as a herbivorous Tarsier is rare, to find eighteen jawbones is truly remarkable. The team hope to return to the coalmine site in the near future to explore the deposits in greater detail, perhaps revealing more evidence of ancient Tarsiers and of the other animals, may be even the predatory bird that shared their ancient jungle home.

For models of prehistoric mammals and other extinct creatures: CollectA Deluxe Scale Prehistoric Animal Models.

22 02, 2011

Sabre-Toothed Cats are not Closely Related to Tigers

By Mike|2023-01-15T18:18:25+00:00February 22nd, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

Smilodon et al are not Related to Tigers

The phrase “Sabre-Tooth Tiger” is often used to describe species of the genus Smilodon. We are not sure how this phrase entered the public’s consciousness, but we do here it quite frequently. Team members at Everything Dinosaur have encountered this term on a number of occasions recently, as they have been talking about the launch of a new model of a Smilodon – Sabre-toothed cat from Papo of France.

Often these animals are referred to as “Sabre-Tooth Tigers”, we do use this terminology in order to assist customers with queries and product searches but the name is confusing as Sabre-tooths (genus name Smilodon), are not actually that closely related to tigers.

The genus name – Smilodon means “knife tooth” in recognition of the large upper canines these animals possessed. In a large Smilodon; such as Smilodon fatalis, the upper canines could be up to 18 cm long. The jaws on Sabre-toothed cats were specially adapted to open wide and could gape to 120° (an African lion can open its jaws to about 70°), this would have permitted Smilodon to close its jaws around the neck of its victim and puncture vital blood vessels to the brain and sever the windpipe leading to a quick kill. However, these teeth are quite delicate and could shatter if they bit down onto bone.

A Papo Young Smilodon Model

Running towards you! The Papo young Smilodon model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the Everything Dinosaur prehistoric animal models and dinosaur toys including the Papo range of dinosaurs and prehistoric animal figures: Papo Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Models.

The popular name “Sabre-Tooth Tiger” is misleading. Smilodon was not closely related to modern tigers, although they were members of the cat family – Felidae. The Sabre-tooths belonged to a sub-family of the cats, called the machairodonts which can be dated back to around 12 million years ago. None of us at Everything Dinosaur can recall when the term “Sabre-Tooth Tiger” came into use, but technically it is inaccurate to describe these extinct predators as “tigers”.

21 02, 2011

Call for Crocodile Hunting to be Permitted in the Northern Territories

By Mike|2023-01-15T18:14:47+00:00February 21st, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

State Government to Lobby Canberra for the Reinstatement of Crocodile Hunting

The State Government of the Northern Territories (Australia) is to lobby national Government for the return of crocodile hunting in the State, home to the fearsome and extremely dangerous Estuarine Crocodile.

Since the hunting and trapping of crocodiles was banned, these ancient creatures have bounced back from near extinction to a very healthy population. In fact, scientists estimate that there is now one Saltwater crocodile to every two people in the Australian state of the Northern Territory. The call to reinstate hunting of these crocodiles, capable of growing in excess of six metres in length; follows the death of a teenage boy, killed in a crocodile attack at Milingimbi Island about 250 miles east of the city of Darwin.

Currently, these crocodiles and their smaller cousin the Freshwater crocodile are protected but Northern Territory Environment Minister Karl Hampton has called on this to be reassessed and has asked federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to visit the state to see the situation at first hand.

Mr Hampton said when speaking in favour of the return of safari style hunting:

“Talk to a lot of the indigenous groups, go and visit, see first hand what opportunities there are in terms of economic development, creating indigenous jobs.”

He went onto add:

“So I’m heartened with the response I’ve got to date from Tony and we’ll continue to talk and continue to push for that safari hunting opportunity for the Territory.”

He also acknowledged that more could be done to educate young people in remote communities about the danger of attacks from Saltwater crocs.

He expressed deep sorrow about what happened to the 14-year-old boy, and said the state government needs to continue with the education campaign making sure that DVDs, posters and the teachers are talking to the kids in the school about being what he termed as “crocodile-wise”.

There have been a number of attacks reported in recent years, in 2009 a young boy was killed by a three metre crocodile whilst swimming with friends in a swampy area on the outskirts of Darwin. However, environmentalists and herpetologists will most likely object to the return of safari style hunting of crocodiles, pointing out that such hunting is banned in Florida where the resident Alligators regularly come into contact with people.

The increasing number of Estuarine (otherwise known as Saltwater) crocodiles on the northeast coast of Australia is causing concern amongst local residents and the surfing community.

The Estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) can be found over a large area of Southeast Asia. It ranges from Sri Lanka to the Fiji islands, with a resurgent population in northern Australia as hunting them has been banned. These animals are the largest living reptiles. The Saltwater crocodile is capable of living in a number of habitats but prefers the mouths of rivers and other tidal areas. Estuarine crocodiles are quite happy swimming out to sea and many have been spotted tens of miles off shore. This may explain why they are so widely spread in south-eastern Asia.

A Model of a Crocodile Compared to an Alligator

The models (above) are part of the Mojo Fun model range to see the range of Mojo Fun figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Mojo Fun Prehistoric and Extinct Models.

Unfortunately, their numbers in Northern Australia have grown substantially over the last twenty years and many crocodiles are beginning to be seen on popular surfing beaches and basking close to areas frequented by swimmers. It is very likely that as crocodile numbers increase so there will be more attacks on people.

16 02, 2011

First Frog of 2011

By Mike|2023-01-15T12:40:54+00:00February 16th, 2011|Categories: Animal News Stories, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

First Frog Sited in Office Pond

A little bit of excitement around the office today, a colleague has spotted a large frog in the pond next to our office building. We have restored this pond and watched over the years to see how many frogs it attracts in the spring. Last year we recorded ten and we had a record amount of frog spawn.

The bad weather over the Christmas period was a concern, we wondered how many of that year’s hatchlings had survived, but at least it is reassuring to see a frog in the pond this early in the year. Hopefully, the weather will stay mild and for the frogs and the other creatures that we have observed in and around our office (we saw a fox the other day), the worst of the winter is over.

We are going to organise a clean up of the area around the pond over the weekend. Some of our team members will be in the office on Saturday and Sunday and if they get some free time, they have agreed to give the pond some attention, remove any surface leaves trim the dead plants around the margins and so forth.

I suppose this is giving our pond a spring clean.