Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings

24 06, 2019

A Super Carnotaurus Drawing by Dinosaur Model Fan

By Mike|2023-12-25T09:38:13+00:00June 24th, 2019|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Illustrating Carnotaurus

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

An illustration of Carnotaurus sastrei. — *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

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

See the Papo prehistoric animal model range: Papo Dinosaur Models.

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.

23 06, 2019

Illustrating a Sensational Papo Smilodon Figure

By Mike|2024-05-11T17:07:20+01:00June 23rd, 2019|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page|1 Comment

Illustrating a Papo Sabre-Toothed Cat

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

Papo Smilodon model illustrated. — *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).

The Papo Smilodon Figure

To view the Papo range of prehistoric animal models: Papo Prehistoric Animal Figures.

A Smilodon Model Illustration

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”.

To read more about the claws of Smilodon spp.: The Claws of Sabre-Tooth Cats – Were They Tree Climbers?

Our thanks once again to Maurizio for taking the time and the trouble to send into us a wonderful drawing of a Smilodon.

Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

10 06, 2019

Jurassic June – Revealing Our Favourite Artwork

By Mike|2023-12-25T06:15:44+00:00June 10th, 2019|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Photos|0 Comments

Jurassic June – Favourite Artwork

Lots of things happening at Everything Dinosaur at the moment. We have something like thirty new models coming into stock over the summer and early autumn, plus of course, we are busy with all our teaching activities and school visits. However, there is time to post up one of our favourite pieces of prehistoric themed artwork in “Jurassic June”.

“Jurassic June”

Amazing Jurassic June Artwork – Capturing Prehistoric Scenes

Artwork by Zallinger. — *Beautiful and detailed drawings of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.*

Picture credit: Rudolph F. Zallinger)

“Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Reptiles”

The beautiful illustration (above), comes from one of our favourite dinosaur books, “Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Reptiles” written by Jane Werner Watson and illustrated by the amazingly talented Rudolph F. Zallinger. First published in 1966 (we think this is correct), the office copy dates from the early 1970s and is in pride of place on our office bookshelves. Although this book is somewhat outdated in terms of its details and the dinosaurs themselves do not represent current scientific thinking, the illustrations of ancient prehistoric landscapes and the animals that inhabited them are simply stunning.

The illustration depicts a swift Ornitholestes hunting a pair of early birds, a scene depicting the Late Jurassic. The artwork within this book, by Rudolph F. Zallinger, helped to capture the imaginations of countless children and to enthuse them about dinosaurs and life in the past. Everything Dinosaur team members were no exception.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

25 05, 2019

A Beautiful Triceratops Drawing

By Mike|2023-12-20T06:52:32+00:00May 25th, 2019|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

A Dinosaur Fan’s Drawing of Triceratops

We are always delighted to receive pictures, illustrations and other artwork relating to prehistoric animals from our customers. We are grateful to every person who takes the time and trouble to send us in drawings of dinosaurs and other long extinct creatures. Unfortunately, we cannot publish all that we receive, but we do look at every one that gets sent into us, emailed or posted up onto one of the many social media platforms that Everything Dinosaur is involved with.

Today, we feature a beautiful illustration of one of the most famous dinosaurs of all – Triceratops. Our thanks to Ian, who took the time and trouble to produce the drawing and to send it into our offices. Ian has very kindly sent a number of drawings to us, each one features a different prehistoric animal and the artwork was inspired by a recent model purchase.

A Stunning Interpretation of Triceratops

A pencil illustration of Triceratops. — *A beautiful illustration of “three-horned face” – Triceratops.*

Picture credit: Ian

Therizinosaurus and Triceratops (Prehistoric Animals)

A little while ago, we posted up an illustration of the bizarre Late Cretaceous theropod that Ian had created. That illustration had been inspired by the recently introduced Papo Therizinosaurus model. We think that in the case of this beautiful Triceratops drawing, it has been based upon the 2018 Schleich Triceratops, but of course, we could be wrong.

To view the Therizinosaurus dinosaur illustration: Illustrating a Therizinosaurus.

The Schleich 2018 Triceratops Dinosaur Model

Schleich Triceratops dinosaur model (2018). — *The new for 2018 Schleich Triceratops dinosaur model. Was it the inspiration behind Ian’s Triceratops illustration?*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the Schleich range of prehistoric animals: Schleich Prehistoric Animals.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are delighted to receive artwork from our customers, it is always a pleasure and we marvel at just how talented our customers are! It is great to able to help people to indulge their passion for prehistoric animals. We never know quite what we will get emailed, or what fantastic prehistoric animal themed artwork might turn up in our mail.”

10 05, 2019

A Beautiful Therizinosaurus Illustration

By Mike|2023-12-17T17:43:46+00:00May 10th, 2019|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

A Therizinosaurus Drawing

At Everything Dinosaur, we get sent lots of pictures, illustrations and drawings by our customers. It is always a pleasure to receive such items and whilst we could never publish all that we receive, please be assured that we do look at every single one that gets sent in. Prehistoric animal model fan, Ian sent into our offices a wonderful drawing of a Therizinosaurus.

Therizinosaurus Drawing

It is a spectacular pencil sketch of a “scythe lizard”, our congratulations to Ian. Our thanks to him as well for taking the trouble of posting the picture to us. He actually sent several illustrations to our offices, we will try to post up more of them shortly.

An Illustration of Therizinosaurus (T. cheloniformis)

Therzinosaurus A drawing of the Theropod dinosaur Therizinosaurus (T. cheloniformis drawing. — *A drawing of the theropod dinosaur Therizinosaurus (T. cheloniformis).*

Picture credit: Ian

Lots of Drawings to Admire

Ian very kindly sent in several drawings, we will endeavour to post up some more on our various social media pages, including our Facebook page. We think we know what inspired Ian to produce his therizinosaur illustration. The drawing reminds us of the new for 2018 Papo Therizinosaurus dinosaur model, but what do you think?

Is this the Source of Inspiration? The Papo Therizinosaurus Dinosaur Model

Papo Therizinosaurus model. — *Papo Therizinosaurus dinosaur model. Was this model the inspiration for Ian’s drawing.*

To view the Papo range of prehistoric animal figures: Papo Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

If the Papo Therizinosaurus dinosaur model was the inspiration for Ian’s dinosaur illustration, then the artist has certainly created a likeness, our congratulations to Ian for his artistic endeavours.

1 03, 2019

Nemicolopterus or a Juvenile Sinopterus?

By Mike|2023-11-23T14:28:47+00:00March 1st, 2019|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Nemicolopterus or a Juvenile Sinopterus?

As it is March 1st, team members at Everything Dinosaur, thought it appropriate that on St David’s Day, the patron saint of Wales, it might be a good idea to post up a picture of one of the welsh dinosaurs such as Pantydraco (P. caducus) or the recently described Dracoraptor (D. hanigani), but in the end we decided to post up a picture of a very tiny pterosaur instead.

As we prepare for the arrival of the new for 2019 PNSO models, we have been busy researching and writing fact sheets to accompany sales of these figures. One of these new PNSO models is a replica of Nemicolopterus, which if it is a valid genus, represents the smallest member of the Pterosauria described to date.

Everything Dinosaur’s Scale Drawing of the Tiny Chinese Pterosaur Nemicolopterus crypticus

Nemicolopterus crypticus scale drawing. — *A scale drawing of the tiny pterosaur named Nemicolopterus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Tiny Chinese Pterosaur

With a wingspan not much bigger than a garden robin (Erithacus rubecula), Nemicolopterus probably weighed less than 100 grams. Assigned to the Tapejaridae family, this little flying reptile, known from a single fossil specimen, has attracted quite a lot of controversy since it was named and described in 2008.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s 2008 article about the discovery of Nemicolopterus: New Species of Tiny Pterosaur from China.

The unfused bones and body proportions are very typical of a juvenile pterosaur. It has been suggested that the fossil specimen might not represent a tiny species, but the juvenile stage of a much larger pterosaur. For example, a number of academics have compared the Nemicolopterus fossil to juvenile specimens of the tapejarid Sinopterus, which is also known from China.

The New for 2019 PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Nemicolopterus Model

PNSO Nemicolopterus model. — *The PNSO Nemicolopterus pterosaur model.*

To view the range of PNSO pterosaurs and dinosaurs: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Figures.

The PNSO Nemicolopterus (or whatever genus the figure should represent), is coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur in the next few weeks.

Dragons and Dinosaurs

It has been suggested that Nemicolopterus may not be a valid genus. It has been proposed that the fossil material should be re-assigned to the genus Sinopterus. Whatever the outcome, on March 1st, in honour of a Welsh national symbol and with a nod towards the orient and the legends of dragons from the Far East, we thought it appropriate to post up some images of a tiny flying reptile.

Happy St David’s Day.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

25 02, 2019

A Beautiful Dinosaur Themed Pencil Drawing

By Mike|2023-11-23T09:17:45+00:00February 25th, 2019|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

A Beautiful Dinosaur Themed Pencil Drawing

Our thanks to Caroline for sending into Everything Dinosaur, a beautiful, hand-drawn dinosaur themed card. Caroline had wanted to purchase one of the limited edition, Rebor hatching Baryonyx figures, but she was unable to make the purchase when these figures first came into stock. We received her request to reserve a Rebor “Hurricane”, one of just 1,000 replicas made. Our team members were happy to set a Baryonyx aside and a few weeks later Caroline was able to make her purchase.

A Spinosaurus Illustration

As a thank you, we received this splendid illustration of a swimming Spinosaurus. The Onchopristis (an extinct sawfish), swimming close by had better watch out! Spinosaurus is believed to have been a piscivore.

Spinosaurus Going for a Swim

Picture credit: Caroline Smalley

Thank you for Reserving a Baryonyx

Caroline included a message with her card. She thanked us for holding onto the Rebor Hatching Baryonyx “Hurricane” figure and congratulated us on our customer service.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It is always a pleasure to receive illustrations such as the swimming Spinosaurus from our customers. There are so many incredibly talented people out there and to be able to reconstruct a long extinct animal and place it within an environmental context is a real skill. We even noted the small theropod dinosaur illustrated on the inside of the card. We are happy to know that the limited edition Rebor Hatching Baryonyx figure has found a good home.”

Even the Rebor Hatching Baryonyx “Hurricane” Looks Impressed!

To view the range of Rebor prehistoric animal figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Models and Figures.

Our thanks once again to Caroline for sending in her wonderful dinosaur themed thank you card.

Take a look at the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

3 02, 2019

In Praise of “Carboniferous Giants and Mass Extinction”

By Mike|2023-11-22T07:17:13+00:00February 3rd, 2019|Categories: Adobe CS5, Book Reviews, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Main Page|1 Comment

A Guide to the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age World

Long journeys and hours waiting around in train stations and airport terminals have been made bearable thanks to an excellent book written by George R. McGhee Junior, a Distinguished Professor of Palaeobiology at Rutgers University. The book is “Carboniferous Giants and Mass Extinction”. At this time of year, Everything Dinosaur team members seem to have to undertake a lot of travelling, what with their project work and teaching commitments, this eminently informative and enjoyable book has proved a worthy travelling companion.

The Front Cover of “Carboniferous Giants and Mass Extinction”

A new book on the Palaeozoic by George R. McGhee Junior. — “Carboniferous Giants and Mass Extinction” an excellent book that explains the science behind our knowledge of the Carboniferous flora and fauna and explores the impact of the End-Permian mass extinction event. *Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Front Cover Artwork by Richard Bizley

Artwork by Richard Bizley

One of the ironies of having read this book from cover to cover is that we have only just noticed that the front cover artwork showing a typical Late Carboniferous rainforest dominated by lycophyte scale trees, giant horsetails such as Calamites and marattialean tree ferns, was produced by our dear friend Richard Bizley. Richard is a highly respected artist, he produces exquisite prehistoric scenes as well as landscapes and science fiction illustrations.

The huge millipede in the foreground is Arthropleura armata, which is estimated to have grown in excess of three metres long. This giant arthropod is illustrated inside the book too, Mary Persis Williams, another highly respected scientific illustrator, shows the scale of A. armata by comparing it to an extant American Alligator (A. mississippiensis).

To read Everything Dinosaur’s review of this beautifully crafted book: Our Review of “Carboniferous Giants and Mass Extinction”.

Carboniferous Giants – An Insight into an Alien World

Life on Earth in the Carboniferous and Permian was very different from ecosystems today. As well as the giant arthropods found in terrestrial and marine environments, there were alien-looking plants and bizarre vertebrates some of which (synapsids), were the distant ancestors of mammals. Top predators in the Carboniferous forests and Early Permian swamps included salamander-like amphibian batrachomorphs such as the monstrous Eryops megacephalus, which grew to more than two metres in length and was capable of swallowing a small child whole (if humans had lived in the Palaeozoic).

An Illustration of Eryops megacephalus (Scale Drawing)

Picture credit: Mary Persis Williams with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

Published by Columbia University Press, “Carboniferous Giants and Mass Extinction” makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of ancient environments and the incredible plants and animals that once inhabited the Earth. It can be found here: Columbia University Press.

For more information about the artwork and illustrations of Richard Bizley: Richard Bizley Art.

Visit the Everyhting Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

28 01, 2019

Preparing for the CollectA Supreme Deluxe Caiuajara

By Mike|2023-11-21T16:14:36+00:00January 28th, 2019|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|2 Comments

CollectA Supreme Deluxe Caiuajara

Everything Dinosaur team members are preparing for the arrival in the next few weeks or so of the CollectA Supreme Deluxe Caiuajara pterosaur model. This beautiful and most impressive figure of a Cretaceous flying reptile from Brazil is going to be one of the first of the new for 2019 CollectA figures that arrive in our warehouse. As part of our preparations, team members have been busy researching and writing a fact sheet all about this weird and wonderful member of the Pterosauria.

Everything Dinosaur’s Illustration of the Pterosaur Caiuajara

Everything Dinosaur has produced an illustration of the pterosaur called Caiuajara. — The CollectA Supreme Deluxe Caiuajara pterosaur illustration. This drawing will be used by Everything Dinosaur when they produce a Caiuajara fact sheet which will accompany sales of this amazing model. *A stunning illustration of the CollectA Caiuajara. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A CollectA Speciality (CollectA Caiuajara)

Large replicas of pterosaurs are becoming a bit of a CollectA speciality. When stocks of this 2019 figure arrive at our warehouse, it will be joining two other CollectA Supreme Deluxe pterosaur models. CollectA introduced a 1:4 scale replica of a Chinese member of the Ornithocheiridae family – Guidraco back in 2015. This was followed in 2017 by the award winning CollectA Supreme Deluxe Dimorphodon model. All three models will have moveable, articulated jaws.

The Colourful CollectA Supreme Deluxe Caiuajara Pterosaur Model (New for 2019)

CollectA Deluxe Caiuajara with moveable jaw. — *The Age of Dinosaurs Supreme Deluxe Caiuajara pterosaur figure with a moveable jaw.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of CollectA Supreme Deluxe and CollectA Deluxe scale models of prehistoric animals in stock at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life.

Pronouncing Caiuajara

When this pterosaur was formally named and described back in 2014, it caused quite a sensation amongst palaeontologists who specialise in studying the Pterosauria. It is quite usual to have just a few fragments of bone to study, but in this case, the fossilised remains of more than forty individuals were recovered from a dig site in south-eastern Brazil.

This flying reptile had a remarkable crest, shaped a bit like the wing of a butterfly. The fossil site was interpreted as a stop-over location as these animals migrated. They were very competent flyers travelling great distances, so it is appropriate that the new for 2019 Caiuajara figure is travelling a great distance from the factory to our UK warehouse.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s 2014 article about the naming and scientific description of Caiuajara: New Species of Flying Reptile Identified from a Pterosaur Graveyard.

The fact sheet we are going to produce will also include a guide to pronunciation. The genus name of this pterosaur is pronounced “Kay-you-ah-jar-rah”. The CollectA Supreme Deluxe Caiuajara with moveable jaw measures around 19 centimetres in length and with that impressive and colourful crest the model’s height is about 23.5 cm.

We look forward to welcoming the CollectA Caiuajara model into our CollectA portfolio.

To contact Everything Dinosaur about prehistoric animal fact sheets and other matters: Email Everything Dinosaur.

12 01, 2019

New Prehistoric Times Winter Edition 2019

By Mike|2023-11-19T08:42:33+00:00January 12th, 2019|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Prehistoric Times Issue 128 Is Coming!

The next edition of the quarterly magazine for dinosaur fans and prehistoric animal model collectors “Prehistoric Times”, is due to arrive very soon. Issue 128 (winter 2019), celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel “The Land that Time Forgot”, hence the intriguing front cover where a tyrannosaurid is in combat with a Woolly Mammoth. Mammoths and members of the Tyrannosauridae family have featured on the front cover of this popular magazine before, but we can’t remember an edition of “Prehistoric Times”, where these two iconic but temporally distant creatures have appeared on the cover together.

The Front Cover of Prehistoric Times Magazine – Issue 128

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

“Prehistoric Times” and the “Land that Time Forgot”

American author Edgar Rice Burroughs, set the story at the height of World War I. A ship carrying the main protagonist of the book, Bowen Tyler, is sunk by a German U-boat U-33, the submarine also attacks the British vessel that attempts to pick up survivors of the first attack. A fierce struggle takes place between the British sailors and the German submariners and the U-boat is captured.

The survivors board the submarine and attempt to take it to an Allied port, but this proves too dangerous as all Allied shipping treats the U-boat as a potential target. Meanwhile, a saboteur disrupts the navigation and the vessel ends up in Antarctic waters. Low on food and fuel, the submariners find a huge island, surrounded by gigantic cliffs and when this landmass is explored, the German and Allied sailors discover it is populated by a pot-pourri of prehistoric animals.

The plot may sound familiar, as the story has featured in many publications, since its first inception a hundred years ago. In the mid 1970s a film with the same title as the novel came out with American actor Doug McClure playing the lead role of Bowen Tyler.

Trilobites, Triceratops and a famous Canadian Palaeontologist

The forthcoming edition of “Prehistoric Times” will feature a profile of one of the most famous dinosaurs of all, “three-horned face” – Triceratops. There is the latest instalment in the long running feature on the influential artwork of the Czech artist Zdeněk Burian by John Lavas, this time it is the Mosasauridae that are put into the spotlight. One of the most successful types of arthropod in evolutionary history, the Trilobita are given top billing. Team members are looking forward to reading more about this biostratigraphically important Class.

Last but not least, Professor Phil Currie is interviewed. This internationally renowned palaeontologist needs no introduction. Professor Currie’s scientific accomplishments have led to a greater understanding of dinosaurs and their historic significance and he was instrumental in helping to set up with the University of Alberta the first free-to-access on-line course on the Dinosauria – Dino 101.

Trilobites Get Top Billing in “Prehistoric Times”

Trilobite fossils - the Selenopeltis slab. — *Trilobites galore – the Selenopeltis slab. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.