Animal News Stories

14 07, 2023

Goose Meets a Dinosaur a Unique Encounter

By Mike|2024-01-02T20:37:45+00:00July 14th, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

A goose meets a dinosaur! Our thanks to dinosaur fan and model collector Jessica who sent into Everything Dinosaur some photographs of her recently acquired Papo Compsognathus dinosaur model. The Compsognathus was photographed being studied by her pet geese.

Three Theropods Together

Ducks and geese are members of the Anseriformes, an ancient Order of birds that probably originated in the Late Cretaceous. Waterfowl would have co-existed alongside non-avian dinosaurs and pterosaurs. The earliest Cretaceous anseriform known to science is Vegavis (V. iaai). Its fossils come from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian faunal stage) of Antarctica. A study published in 2017 postulated that just like modern geese, Vegavis probably honked!

To read a blog post on the Vegavis vocalisation research: Ancient Bird Voice Box Sheds Light on the Voices of Dinosaurs.

Anseriforms, like all birds are descended from theropod dinosaurs.

Jessica emailed Everything Dinosaur stating:

“I just received my latest order today and I thought that you might like to see the Papo Compsognathus making friends with some of his distant relatives…”

Goose Meets a Dinosaur

The geese are seven weeks old. They already resemble adult birds. Their rapid growth is a possible ancestral trait passed on by their ancient non-avian dinosaur ancestors.

The birds seem to be very interested in the Papo Compsognathus figure.

Jessica added:

“I think they are possibly the most curious creatures on Earth!”

The Papo Compsognathus figure was introduced to the Papo “Les Dinosaures” range in 2018. It has proved to be a popular model, especially as it resembles the Compsognathus dinosaurs depicted in the film “The Lost World: Jurassic Park”, which was the second instalment of the “Jurassic Park” franchise.

To view the range of Papo prehistoric animal figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Papo Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur thanked Jessica for the photographs and commented:

“What delightful photographs! It is always a pleasure to hear from our customers. We wonder what the Compsognathus thought about it all the attention it was getting from these very distant relatives.”

25 06, 2023

Baby Frog Spotted Near Office Pond

By Mike|2023-06-25T11:56:04+01:00June 25th, 2023|Categories: Animal News Stories, Main Page, Photos, Press Releases|0 Comments

A baby frog spotted by an Everything Dinosaur team member close to the company’s office pond. This is the first frog observed from this year’s breeding season. The tiny frog (Rana temporaria) was observed in a small patch of gravel. This area has been left and weeds allowed to grow, thus providing shelter and habitat for animal’s leaving the pond.

Baby frog spotted (2023). — *Can you spot the frog? The baby frog that recently emerged from the office pond. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Baby Frog Spotted (Rana temporaria)

The frog is a Common Frog (Rana temporaria). In common with all British amphibians this frog is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Garden ponds are an increasingly important habitat for them. In return, they help keep slug and snail numbers down. In short, amphibians like the Common Frog are the gardener’s friend.

The first batch of frogspawn was laid in the office pond on February 28th. This is the earliest recorded date for frogs spawning in our pond. We suspect that the spotting of a baby frog on the evening of 24th June is the earliest recorded date for observing a frog from that year’s breeding season.

To view the Everything Dinosaur article about the early frogspawn: Frogspawn in the Office Pond (February 28th, 2023).

Baby frog spotted close to the office pond. — *A close-up view of the tiny, baby frog spotted near to the office pond. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Doing Our Bit for Conservation

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that team members had been busy looking after the office pond and removing excessive algae on a regular basis. The water level is quite low, but the pond is being carefully monitored to ensure it remains an attractive habitat for fauna and flora.

Recently, some oxygenating hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) was introduced to the pond. This plant will grow rapidly and help to combat the excessive growth of any algae. It is hardy, tough and fast growing. Hopefully, the introduction of this oxygenator will help to keep the pond in good condition and encourage lots of wildlife.

The spokesperson added:

“We like doing our bit for conservation. Many ponds around us have been filled in and we are pleased that our little pond is helping to maintain the local frog population. We shall keep observing the pond area, we might spot more baby frogs.”

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s user-friendly and award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

22 06, 2023

A Spectacular Resting Dragonfly (2023)

By Mike|2024-01-02T20:29:29+00:00June 22nd, 2023|Categories: Animal News Stories, Main Page, Photos|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur spotted a resting dragonfly near the office pond. The insect had just completed its final moult. It was very early in the morning, we suspect this dragonfly had emerged from the water the previous night. The final moult stage for dragonflies can last several hours. During this time, these magnificent insects are vulnerable to predation from birds.

A Resting Dragonfly

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that several exuvia (cast skins) had been discovered on the vegetation surrounding the office pond. This was the first time a resting dragonfly had been spotted this year (2023). The dragonfly could be a Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea).

The spokesperson explained that they did not want to get too close.

He added:

“It was wonderful to watch this stunning insect. We did not want to get too close as it had probably only just emerged from its final moult, and we did not want to startle it. Had the dragonfly been alarmed it might have damaged its beautiful wings.”

There was time to take a photograph and a few minutes later the dragonfly was airborne. It was ready to commence its life as an adult.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

9 05, 2023

Beautiful and Cute Horseshoe Crab Soft Toy

By Mike|2024-01-02T20:22:32+00:00May 9th, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur has added a horseshoe crab soft toy to its range of prehistoric plush. The horseshoe crab is very cuddly, sponge washable and is a wonderful new addition to the company’s prehistoric animal soft toy range.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Horseshoe Crab Soft Toy

Animals in the family Limulidae are called “horseshoe crabs” due to the shape of their carapace which is shaped like a horseshoe. These ancient animals are not crabs. The first of these amazing creatures is thought to have evolved around 480 million years ago in the Ordovician. Often described as “living fossils” the four remaining species are the last representatives of the family, which was much more diverse in prehistoric times. Their body shape has not changed for millions of years.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Important Animals for Medical Research

These ancient creatures, with their famous, blue-coloured blood are playing an important role in medicine.

In the 1950s, researchers noticed that the blood of the western Atlantic horseshoe crab species (called Limulus polyphemus by scientists) clots quickly when exposed to certain bacteria. With further study, scientists determined that a compound called LAL (short for Limulus Amebocyte Lysate) is responsible for the clotting. LAL acts as a safeguard for the animals, reacting when it comes into contact with bacteria, fungi, and perhaps most importantly, proteins called endotoxins that are part of the cell structure of certain bacteria.

If these endotoxins get into a person’s bloodstream, they can cause a range of problems from fever to burst blood vessels in the brain. Even after an item has been sterilised of live bacteria, endotoxins can be residual. Researchers quickly saw the potential to use LAL as a simple, reliable test for endotoxins and developed methods to extract the compound. These ancient and increasingly rare marine animals continue to be studied by scientists, keen to understand more about their unique physiology.

An Everything Dinosaur Fact Sheet

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur welcomed the arrival of the horseshoe crab soft toy. It joins several other Palaeozoic plush such as the ammonite and belemnite soft toys.

The spokesperson stated:

“It is a very colourful prehistoric animal soft toy. This item of prehistoric plush has bright red legs, a cream-coloured underside and a brown carapace. It has beautiful, cute eyes and a long soft tail. The horseshoe crab soft toy is a welcome addition to our soft toy range.”

An Everything Dinosaur horseshoe crab fact sheet will be sent out with sales of this new soft toy.

To view the range of prehistoric animal soft toys available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Soft Toys.

12 03, 2023

The Sixth Batch of Frogspawn Spotted in Pond

By Mike|2024-03-09T15:58:59+00:00March 12th, 2023|Categories: Animal News Stories, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Photos, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur team members have recorded the sixth batch of frogspawn in the office pond. The recent cold snap has ended and the wetter and milder weather may have encouraged more frogs to spawn. A sixth batch of frogspawn was observed early this morning. We suspect that it had been laid last night or in the early hours of the morning.

Common Frogs

At least one Common frog (Rana temporaria) is still in the pond. The frog has a bright white throat patch so, we suspect that this is a male. Team members will continue to monitor the pond to see if more frogspawn is laid. Frog numbers have declined in recent years. Five years ago, as many as a dozen frogs could be seen in the pond during the spawning season. Hopefully, our small pond will continue to support a frog population, attract other wildlife and provide a bathing area for nesting birds.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Dinosaur Models, Prehistoric Plus and Dinosaur Toys.

9 03, 2023

Frogspawn in the Office Pond

By Mike|2023-03-09T09:41:39+00:00March 9th, 2023|Categories: Animal News Stories, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Photos, Press Releases|0 Comments

The fifth batch of frogspawn has been spotted in the office pond. The fresh spawn was spotted yesterday morning (8th March, 2023). Despite the wintry weather, with air temperatures dropping to near zero the frogs have continued to spawn. The night was cold and a small amount of ice formed over the pond. Team members will continue to monitor the office pond frogspawn.

The frogs (Common frogs), seem undeterred and have continued their spawning.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Frogspawn in the Office Pond

The first frogspawn was observed on the morning of the 28th of February. This is the earliest date in the year that we have seen frogspawn. Over the years, the date of the Common frogs (Rana temporaria) spawning has got earlier and earlier. A decade ago, frogspawn was normally observed around the third week of March. In 2022, frogs spawned on the 2nd of March. Our monitoring of the spawning dates suggests that the trend is for the frogs to breed earlier each year. Perhaps this is indicative of climate change and global warming.

To read more about Everything Dinosaur’s frogspawn observations: Frogspawn Spotted in the Office Pond (2023).

Office Pond Frogspawn

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur, took a break from packing dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed orders for customers and stated:

“We try not to disturb the pond too much. However, we like to monitor the frogs to make sure all is well. As cold weather is forecast for the next two to three days, we have gently and carefully moved the spawn into deeper water to give the eggs some protection from the forecast cold snap.”

Potentially Delayed Hatching

The unseasonably cold temperatures with widespread snow likely to fall across the north-west of England could delay the hatching of the eggs. Everything Dinosaur team members think that the rate of development of the tadpoles is influenced by the water temperature. The pond water is likely to remain very cold for at least the next few days. This cold weather may slow the rate of hatching.

Team members promise to keep observing and taking steps to make sure that the pond wildlife is safe.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

28 02, 2023

Frogspawn in the Office Pond

By Mike|2023-02-28T10:53:58+00:00February 28th, 2023|Categories: Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Photos|0 Comments

We have frogspawn in the office pond. This morning (February 28th, 2023), the first batch of frogspawn was spotted in the Everything Dinosaur office pond. The eggs had probably been laid just a few hours earlier in the very early morning. It had rained in the night and there was extensive cloud cover. The night had been chilly with temperatures around 4 degrees Celsius, what would normally be expected in our area at the end of February.

This is the first time that we have recorded frogspawn in February.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Frogspawn in February

We have not recorded frogspawn in the office pond being laid in February before. Last year, we recorded the first frogspawn on March 2nd, this was the earliest we had recorded spawn, until a new record for early spawning was set this year.

Over the last few years, Everything Dinosaur team members have noted the date of the first frogspawn being laid. The trend is for the frogs (Rana temporaria) to spawn earlier each year. Is this caused by the impact of global climate change?

Earliest recorded spawning dates for Common frogs in the office pond:

February 28th 2023
March 2nd 2022
March 11th 2021
March 20th 2020
March 22nd 2019
March 17th 2018
March 11th 2017
March 20th 2016
March 12th 2015

Other dates when we have recorded the first frogspawn in a year:

March 19th 2013, March 11th 2012, March 18th 2011 and the first ever frogspawn in the office pond was laid on March 16th 2008.

18 02, 2023

Frogs in the Office Pond

By Mike|2023-02-18T16:57:35+00:00February 18th, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Main Page|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have spotted frogs in the office pond. This is the first time this year (2023) that the amphibians have been recorded. The pond has been recently cleaned, lots of pond weed and other plants have been removed. Pebbles have been added to one side of the small pond to make it easier for small animals to enter the pond and for birds to bathe.

In the photograph (below), the group of frogs are in a “knot”, located in the shallows at the edge of the pond.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Rana temporaria

The frogs are Common frogs (Rana temporaria). The name is a bit of a misnomer as frogs are becoming less common in the British countryside. Small ponds are a vital resource for wildlife and this morning we spotted a “knot” of frogs, possibly three frogs altogether. No frogspawn was spotted, perhaps this was a group of over enthusiastic males, fighting each other prior to the arrival of a female.

Frogs in the Office Pond

Although the winter has been quite mild, it is still a little early to expect frogspawn. In 2022, the first frogspawn in the office pond was spotted on the 2nd of March.

To read about the March 2022, frogspawn discovery: Frogspawn in the Office Pond (2022).

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We had stored some rainwater over the autumn which we used to top up the water level in the pond. We have removed a lot of the weed which was choking the pond and tidied up the area in the hope that we could attract more wildlife including frogs. Perhaps we might even see a newt or two this year.”

20 10, 2022

Special Models for Customers

By Mike|2022-10-21T10:03:52+01:00October 20th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Animal News Stories, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Photos, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur’s team members receive lots of email enquiries every day including requests to source special models for customers. A mother of a reptile-obsessed dinosaur fan emailed us to ask could we source and supply some snake replicas. We made some enquiries and we were able to sort this out, bringing in some Squamata with our next shipment of Safari Ltd prehistoric animal models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Snakes on a Shipment

You might have heard about the film “Snakes on a Plane”, starring Samuel L. Jackson. This film was released in 2006 to mixed reviews. In this instance, team members had to ensure there were “snakes on a shipment”, to satisfy the demands of a snake-loving dinosaur fan.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“If customers are looking to source some unusual models, or perhaps a replica that has been recently retired, we are happy to use our extensive contacts in the industry to see if we can obtain the figure for them.”

The snake models come from the Safari Ltd range of replicas, to view the Safari Ltd prehistoric animal models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Figures and Models.

Special Models for Customers

Everything Dinosaur does supply some prehistoric snake models, for example the popular Rebor Titanoboa Museum Class Maquettes “Brian Diccus” and “Monty Resurgent”. These limited-production figures were introduced in 2020, a museu-quality replica of a Titanoboa swallowing its crocodilian prey.

To view the range of Rebor figures and replicas in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Replicas.

*The Rebor Titanoboa Museum Class Maquette Brian Diccus.*

When it came to handling the very realistic snake figures from Safari Ltd, team members tried not to be too squeamish, but whatever the model might be, we will try our best to source it and supply it, even if it is a green Anaconda!

To ask about how Everything Dinosaur can help you find a rare, retired or otherwise difficult to find model or figure: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

30 08, 2022

A Trio of Remarkable CollectA Cephalopods

By Mike|2024-04-13T09:01:21+01:00August 30th, 2022|Categories: Adobe CS5, Animal News Stories, Everything Dinosaur Products, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

Time to praise CollectA for adding some superb replicas of prehistoric cephalopods to the “Prehistoric Life” model collection including a Pleuroceras ammonite, a nautilus and a Cooperoceras replica.

A trio of CollectA cephalopod models. — A terrific trio of CollectA cephalopod figures. The new for 2022 Palaeozoic nautiloid Cooperoceras (left), the Pleuroceras ammonite model (centre) and a replica of the extant Nautilus pompilius (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

The picture (above) shows the bizarre Palaeozoic nautiloid Cooperoceras (left). The CollectA Pleuroceras ammonite (centre) a replica of a geographically widespread ammonite known from Lower Jurassic strata and on the right is a replica of the extant, chambered nautilus N. pompilius, which is distantly related to Cooperoceras.

Marvellous Molluscs

The Cephalopoda (cephalopods) are a class within the huge Mollusca phylum. The cephalopods which include extant squid, cuttlefish and octopi as well as extinct forms such as ammonites and indeed belemnites, only make up a small proportion of the genera within the Mollusca. The most successful molluscs in terms of the number of species and habitat range are the gastropods (slugs and snails). It has been calculated that more than three-quarters of all the molluscs known to science are members of the Gastropoda class. The Mollusca phylum is itself, the second largest phyla within the Kingdom Animalia (the largest being the Arthropoda).

Still, that is enough musing about invertebrate taxonomy for now, it is just great to be able to stock a fabulous selection of cephalopod models, including this trio of CollectA cephalopods.

CollectA Pleuroceras ammonite model. — *CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Size Pleuroceras ammonite model. One of several excellent replicas of extinct cephalopods in the CollectA “Prehistoric Life” model series.*

CollectA Age of Dinosaurs “Prehistoric Life” Figures

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur praised CollectA for producing such a wide range of prehistoric animal figures. The cephalopod models have proved particularly popular with fossil collectors, they have been able to add a replica of the living animal to their fossil display cabinets.

To view the trio of CollectA cephalopods and the rest of the prehistoric animal models in the not-to-scale CollectA series: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models and Figures.