Our thanks to young Nataliya (Year 2), who sent into Everything Dinosaur a beautiful illustration of a dinosaur that she had designed following a visit to her school by one of our team members. Nataliya and her classmates had taken up our challenge to design a dinosaur as part of an extension exercise that arose following one of our dinosaur and fossil workshops at the school. The dinosaur was named “spikeraptor” and despite its fearsome name, Nataliya explained that this dinosaur was a herbivore and even included a picture of some leaves that the dinosaur was grazing upon in her prehistoric portrait.
A Colourful Dinosaur Design – “Spikeraptor”
A colourful green dinosaur – Spikeraptor the product of the imagination of young Nataliya (Year 2).
Picture credit: Nataliya (Key Stage 1) and Everything Dinosaur
Lovely Labels on the Dinosaur Drawing
As part of a writing exercise we asked the children to label their prehistoric animal’s body parts. Nataliya was keen to emphasis the spikes and prickles on her dinosaur and our congratulations to Nataliya and the rest of the class for sending in some super drawings with fantastic examples of handwriting. These drawings have made our day and we shall post them up in our warehouse so that all the Everything Dinosaur team members can view them.
Occasionally, Everything Dinosaur features the artwork of the talented Chinese palaeoartist Zhao Chuang on this blog. Today, we feature one of his illustrations of a dubious species of sauropod named from fragmentary fossils found in Wiltshire.
An Illustration of the Sauropod Bothriospondylus (B. suffossus) by Zhao Chuang)
An illustration of the dubious (nomen dubium) sauropod Bothriospondylus by the Chinese artist Zhao Chuang.
Picture credit: Zhao Chuang (from the Science Art World by Zhao Chuang and Yang Yang)
Bothriospondylus
Named and described by Richard Owen in 1875, based on four dorsal vertebrae collected from Upper Jurassic strata (Kimmeridgian faunal stage), a number of species have subsequently been assigned to this genus including a species based on fossils from as far afield as Madagascar.
The four vertebrae (along with three unfused, fragmentary sacral vertebrae), referred to this species are now regarded as non-diagnostic. They lack distinctive characteristics to permit the establishment of a new genus, therefore Bothriospondylus is regarded by most palaeontologists as nomen dubium.
What Does Nomen dubium Mean?
Nomen dubium is a term that we have explained in previous articles on this blog. It simply means that the name given to the organism is doubted. Any organism whose validity is in doubt is regarded as nomen dubium.
The image below is an illustration of the Late Cretaceous South American abelisaurid Carnotaurus (C. sastrei), by the renowned Chinese palaeoartist Zhao Chuang. This is one of our favourite illustrations of the dinosaur known as “meat-eating bull”.
The Illustration of Carnotaurus (C. sastrei)
An illustration of the fearsome theropod dinosaur Carnotaurus by Zhao Chuang.
Picture credit: Zhao Chuang
The artwork (above), was produced as part of a series of commissioned pieces to illustrate the science/art world by Zhao Chuang and Yang Yang for PNSO (Peking Natural Science-Art Organisation).
Carnotaurus sastrei
Known from an almost complete skeleton found in Argentina, this large, carnivorous dinosaur was scientifically described in 1985. Zhao Chuang has chosen to focus on the remarkable skull of this Late Cretaceous abelisaurid. The head is short and blunt with two imposing horns positioned over the eye sockets sticking out sideways. The deep skull contrasts with the slender lower jaw which for such a large dinosaur (estimated at more than seven metres in length), indicates a relatively weak bite.
Everything Dinosaur stocks a wide selection of Carnotaurus models.
For many years, Carnotaurus was regarded as a hunter of large prey, however, analysis of the bite force exerted by the jaws indicated a surprisingly weak bite for a carnivore weighing in excess of a tonne. Research (Mazzeta et al 2009), indicated that this dinosaur could generate a bilateral bite force – measured on both sides of the jaw, of around 3,400 Newtons. In contrast, the much smaller extant lion (Panthera leo) and the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) are capable of generating bite forces of at least 1.3 times the bite force calculated for Carnotaurus, even though these living carnivores are considerably smaller.
As to what Carnotaurus ate, this is open to speculation, but it could have specialised in catching smaller animals or perhaps it was a specialised scavenger, the narrow jaws proving adept at removing flesh from corpses. Whatever, Carnotaurus consumed, we still take time out to admire this marvellous illustration by the very talented Zhao Chuang.
Continuing our occasional series, in which we post up illustrations from renowned palaeoartists, today, we feature a dramatic scene as depicted by the well-known Chinese artist Zhao Chuang. An unfortunate Jinzhousaurus is being attacked by a flock of “raptors”. The fast-running theropods will not find the Jinzhousaurus easy prey, Jinzhousaurus was strongly built and at over five metres long and weighing perhaps as much as three-quarters of a tonne, it was a formidable opponent.
Zhao Chuang’s Illustration of the Jinzhousaurus Attacked by Dromaeosaurids
A Jinzhousaurus under attack from a flock of “raptors”.
Picture credit: Zhao Chuang (PNSO)
Jinzhousaurus yangi
Named and described in 2001, Jinzhousaurus (J. yangi) is known from an almost complete skeleton (including cranial material) from north-eastern China (Yixian Formation, Liaoning Province). The exact taxonomic position of Jinzhousaurus remains controversial. The skeletal material ascribed to this genus shows a mix of basal and more advanced characteristics. At first it was thought that this ornithischian was related to the likes of Dollodon, Mantellodon from Europe and Bolong (B. yixianensis) from north-eastern China. It was described as an iguanodontoid, however, more recent analysis places Jinzhousaurus as a member of the Hadrosauroidea Superfamily.
There is certainly no shortage of candidates as to which dromaeosaurid or troodontid might be depicted in this illustration. The Maniraptora is well represented in these Early Cretaceous deposits. However, as Jinzhousaurus is confined to the Dawangzhangzi Beds section of the Yixian Formation, this does narrow the field somewhat. It could be Sinornithosaurus, but as this genus is regarded as one of the smallest of the dromaeosaurids, then unless the Jinzhousaurus in the artwork is a juvenile, this seems unlikely. It could be an as yet, unnamed member of the Maniraptora whose fossils have yet to be formally described. Perhaps the attacking “raptors” are a flock of Zhenyuanlong dromaeosaurs.
An Illustration of the Early Cretaceous Dromaeosaurid Zhenyuanlong suni
Very probably a ground-dwelling predator. An illustration of the dromaeosaurid Zhenyuanlong suni. This artwork was also created by the talented Chinese palaeoartist Zhao Chuang.
Picture credit: Zhao Chuang
Zhenyuanlong suni
Zhenyuanlong is one of several dromaeosaurid genera from Liaoning Province, for an article that compares these various dinosaurs and comments on whether they were ground-dwelling or otherwise: Updating the Winged Dragon.
Although Zhenyuanlong was only recently named and scientifically described, there is already a prehistoric animal figure available that represents this dinosaur. In fact, in the Beasts of the Mesozoic model series, there are two Zhenyuanlong figures available. Our congratulations to the team behind these wonderful display pieces for being so quick off the mark when it comes to adding new dromaeosaurids to their “raptor” range.
Not One but Two Zhenyuanlong suni Figures are Available in the Beasts of the Mesozoic Range
Beasts of the Mesozoic Zhenyuanlong suni “raptor” figures.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Today, we wanted to post up some more of the amazing artwork produced by Zhao Chuang that was created in association with the Peking Natural Science-Art Organisation (PNSO). Zhao Chuang has an extensive portfolio of palaeoart, we have already featured a number of illustrations of prehistoric scenes and individual dinosaurs and other long extinct creatures on this blog. However, rather than focus on one particular dinosaur we thought that for a change, we would post up an imagined dinosaur diorama.
Northern China in the Late Cretaceous
Northern China in the Late Cretaceous.
Picture credit: Zhao Chuang (PNSO)
A Stunning Piece of PNSO Palaeoart
The picture (above), depicts northern China (Inner Mongolia), in the Late Cretaceous, approximately 77-75 million years ago (Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous). The armoured dinosaur in the foreground (left), is Pinacosaurus (P. grangeri), a member of the Ankylosaurinae. At around five metres in length, this heavily armoured dinosaur probably had little to fear from the numerous dromaeosaurids such as Velociraptor and Tsaagan which shared its environment, although there is some evidence to suggest that larger theropods (tyrannosaurids) were present.
The artist has depicted a dromaeosaurid on the extreme left of the diorama. This fleet-footed predator is on its own, no pack or flock behaviour for this little carnivore is inferred. The feathered dromaeosaurid is making a swift exit as it does not want to get involved with the herd of duck-billed dinosaurs approaching the oasis, although in truth, these herbivorous giants have very little to fear from this particular theropod.
A Closer View of the Small Theropod Dinosaur Depicted in the Dinosaur Diorama
A closer view of the beautifully coloured dromaeosaurid dinosaur depicted in the illustration by Zhao Chuang.
Picture credit: Zhao Chuang (PNSO)
Plesiohadros?
We have commented on this artwork on a previous post, but on that occasion we did not identify the hadrosaurids approaching the waterhole. Although the Hadrosauridae has an extensive fossil record in northern latitudes, identifying the group approaching the oasis in this illustration is quite tricky. Remarkably, despite the multitude of vertebrate fossils associated with the Djadokhta Formation (sometimes also referred to as the Djadochta Formation), of northern China, very few ornithischian dinosaurs have been identified.
The majority of ornithischian dinosaurs known from this region are either members of the armoured Thyreophora such as Pinacosaurus or Neoceratopsia (part of the horned dinosaurs group).
The duck-billed dinosaurs could represent Plesiohadros (Plesiohadros djadokhtaensis), which is known from both cranial and postcranial fossil material from the same locality where Velociraptor fossils have been found.
As Plesiohadros is the only hadrosaurid discovered so far from the Djadokhta Formation , then the large herbivores in the diorama could represent this species. However, as Plesiohadros was only named and described in 2014, if the artwork had been completed earlier, then the presence of hadrosaurids could be speculative on the part of the illustrator.
Are the Hadrosaurids Depicted in the Diorama Plesiohadros?
Is this a herd of Plesiohadros?
Picture credit : Zhao Chuang (PNSO)
Whatever the species represented, the illustration is truly spectacular and one of our favourites.
To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.
Our congratulations to the artist for the fabulous illustrations.
Our thanks to dinosaur fan and model collector Ian who sent us an illustration of “Sede” the PNSO Ankylosaurus model on receipt of his order. Ian has sent us some beautiful drawings of various prehistoric animals and we have been delighted to receive them and to post them up onto our social media pages.
The Illustration of “Sede” the Ankylosaurus Dinosaur Model
An illustration of an Ankylosaurus based on the PNSO “Sede” the Ankylosaurus model.
Picture credit: Ian
The PNSO Ankylosaurus Model “Sede”
The Ankylosaurus replica is regarded by many collectors as being one of the best armoured dinosaur models to have been produced. Everything Dinosaur team members have been busy supplying a number of academics, museum staff and educationalists. We have supplied this finely detailed model to authors of scientific publications on the Thyreophora (shield bearers).
A Picture of “Sede” the PNSO Ankylosaurus Dinosaur Model
The image of Sede the Ankylosaurus that probably inspired Ian’s illustration. Can you see the resemblance?
A Fabulous Drawing
We congratulate Ian for his fabulous drawing. It is always a pleasure to receive artwork from model collectors and fans of dinosaurs. We have added this model to our own collection, in doing so, we took some outdoor shots of this figure so that we could show the beautiful detail and colouration on this Ankylosaurus.
An Outdoor Shot Showing the Beautiful Detail and Colouration
“Sede” the Ankylosaurus dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
To view “Sede” the Ankylosaurus and the rest of the PNSO prehistoric animal models available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.
Rebor Green Day and Oasis Models Get Their Portraits Painted
Our thanks to the young and talented Caldey who sent into us a wonderful illustration of two of her latest prehistoric animal acquisitions – the Rebor Dilophosaurus pair “Green Day” and “Oasis”. The Rebor models represent a male and female Dilophosaurus (D. wetherilli), from the Early Jurassic of the western United States. These carnivores have a significant, distinguishing feature, a pair of thin, bony, semi-circular crests the run the length of the skull. Caldey has captured this anatomical detail exceptionally well in her drawing.
An Illustration of the Pair of Dilophosaurus Dinosaur Models “Green Day” and “Oasis”
An illustration of the Rebor Dilophosaurus dinosaur models “Green Day” and “Oasis” by young artist Caldey.
Picture credit: Caldey
The Rebor models have lots of amazing detail and Caldey’s illustration demonstrates the subtle variations between the two models and their different paint schemes. Her depiction of the fine scales on the figures is exquisite. It took many hours to produce this drawing, we congratulate Caldey on her efforts.
The Rebor Dilophosaurus Replicas “Green Day” and “Oasis”
The Rebor Dilophosaurus replicas “Green Day” and “Oasis”. Two newly arrived Rebor figures.
Illustrating Rebor Figures
Caldey has sent in several illustrations to Everything Dinosaur. A number of these drawings are based on other Rebor models and figures. For example, in the autumn of last year (2018), Caldey kindly sent in an illustration of the recently introduced Rebor Ankylosaurus “War Pig”. We have included a picture of this rare Rebor figure below, so that readers can compare Caldey’s interpretation to the actual Rebor figure.
An Illustration of the Rebor Ankylosaurus Model “War Pig” – Colour Variant = Plain
A drawing of the Rebor Ankylosaurus model “War Pig” – colour variant – “plain”.
Picture credit: Caldey
The Rebor Ankylosaurus “War Pig” – Plain Colour Variation
A photograph of the Rebor Ankylosaurus magniventris model (1:35 scale replica) – Rebor “War Pig” in the “plain” colour scheme. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“Team members are always delighted to receive illustrations of prehistoric animals from our customers. We know what a talented group our customers are and we get sent lots of artwork as well as examples of customised models, prehistoric animal dioramas and even pictures of models that our customers have built. We enjoy looking at them all. Our thanks to Caldey for sending into us a super illustration of the two Rebor Dilophosaurus models Green Day and Oasis.”
To view the Rebor “Green Day” and “Oasis” Dilophosaurus models, along with the rest of the impressive Rebor range of prehistoric animals in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Models.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur have been kept very busy preparing for the arrival of the latest delivery of PNSO dinosaur and prehistoric animals at the company’s warehouse. The shipment will contain a number of new PNSO models including Lucas the Giganotosaurus, Lucio the Amargasaurus and the battling pair of Dayong the Yangchuanosaurus and Xiaobei the Chungkingosaurus. In preparation for the arrival of a Yangchuanosaurus replica, we have commissioned a scale drawing as well as researching and writing a fact sheet about this theropod from the Middle Jurassic of south-western China.
A Scale Drawing of the Middle Jurassic Chinese Theropod – Yangchuanosaurus (Y. shangyouensis)
A scale drawing of Yangchuanosaurus shangyouensis.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
PNSO Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models
PNSO have created a range of different prehistoric animal models and figures. They have a small prehistoric animal model range, (toys that accompany your growth), which currently has forty-eight figures within it and then there are the larger PNSO models (some of them are huge). These models are promoted as the “Age of Dinosaurs” model range but not all of them are dinosaurs. For instance, PNSO recently introduced a large model of the ichthyosaur Ophthalmosaurus, joining substantial models of Basilosaurus and the ferocious Megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon).
Naturally, Everything Dinosaur has produced fact sheets for all these replicas and all these fact sheets include a scale drawing.
An Illustration of the Early Jurassic Sauropod Mamenchisaurus
Mamenchisaurus drawing. An illustration commissioned as Everything Dinosaur prepares a fact sheet on this dinosaur.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
PNSO Dayong the Yangchuanosaurus and Xiaobei the Chungkingosaurus
The latest shipment of PNSO models will include the Dayong the Yangchuanosaurus and Xiaobei the Chungkingosaurus diorama. Construction projects in Sichuan Province have unearthed a variety of different types of dinosaur. These fossil finds rival the amazing Morrison Formation of the western United States, although the Chinese rocks are older. Numerous sauropods and stegosaurs have been described and two distinct biotas identified.
The Dayong the Yangchuanosaurus and Xiaobei the Chungkingosaurus
PNSO dinosaur diorama “Dayong” the Yangchuanosaurus battles “Xiaobei” the Chungkingosaurus.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are expecting a large shipment of PNSO models. It is going to be a very busy couple of weeks for our warehouse team, what with all these new PNSO figures coming into stock along with deliveries from Papo, Mojo Fun, CollectA and Safari Ltd. We planned to provide at least fifty new models this year, we are well on target to achieve this and in fact, with all these new additions, this target is going to be exceeded. These are exciting times for dinosaur fans and model collectors.”
To view the PNSO Age of Dinosaurs range available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.
Yesterday, we featured a drawing of a Smilodon which was inspired by the Papo Smilodon (Sabre-toothed cat) model. Today, we feature another prehistoric animal illustration inspired by a Papo figure, but from a different artist. Ian very kindly sent into us a pencil sketch of the Papo Carnotaurus dinosaur model and what a splendid illustration it is! It is a super Carnotaurus drawing.
A Carnotaurus Drawing
Illustrating a Carnotaurus
A beautiful illustration of the abelisaurid dinosaur Carnotaurus.
Picture credit: Ian
Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website for more creative ideas: Everything Dinosaur.
A Late Cretaceous Hunter
Carnotaurus (C. sastrei), was a very bizarre and atypical carnivorous dinosaur. It is known from a single, well-preserved specimen from Upper Cretaceous strata (Argentina). Measuring around eight metres in length, this meat-eater was relatively lightly built, with a slender jaw, bull-like horns above its eyes and proportionately long legs.
At the time of its scientific description by the Argentinian palaeontologist José Bonaparte, very little was known about the enigmatic Abelisauridae, however, something like twenty abelisaurids have been named and described to date. Although Carnotaurus was one of the first abelisaurids to be named, it is not a very good representative of the group. The skull is extremely short and blunt and it has very different proportions when compared to the skulls of other abelisaurids. It has been suggested that Carnotaurus was a very specialised hunter attacking small, fast-running (cursorial) dinosaurs.
Ian’s illustration has been heavily influenced by the Papo Carnotaurus dinosaur model (see below), can you see the resemblance?
The Papo Carnotaurus Dinosaur Model
With an articulated lower jaw – Papo Carnotaurus. Helping to inspire talented artists.
Our thanks once again to Ian for sending in such a splendid illustration, of what is one of the most peculiar of all the theropod dinosaurs described to date.
Our thanks to Maurizio for sending into us a beautiful illustration of the Papo Smilodon model. We have been lucky to have received several drawings from Maurizio in the past but this is the first illustration of a prehistoric mammal that we have been sent.
Maurizio’s Smilodon (Sabre-Toothed Cat) Drawing
An illustration of the Papo Smilodon model.
Picture credit: Maurizio
Our thanks to Maurizio for sending in this drawing, we were able to recognise which model the drawing represents, we have posted up a picture of the actual Papo Smilodon figure (see below).
In Maurizio’s illustration the cat has its claws out ready for action, Smilodon, like most species of big cat were able to retract their claws, the exception in the big cat family is the Cheetah (Acinonyx spp.), Cheetahs can only partially retract their claws. The genus name “Acinonyx” is an approximate translation from two Greek words that together mean “immobile claws”.
