Team members at Everything Dinosaur comment upon dinosaurs and Valentine’s Day as we celebrate this special day in the calendar.  This date is associated with chocolates and flowers.  It might seem a world away from the Dinosauria, but we can find some fascinating connections.

For example, a few years ago Everything Dinosaur commissioned a colourful heart-themed logo for use in its range of children’s T-shirts.  Dinosaurs are certainly very popular with many children.

I love dinosaurs! Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of dinosaur-themed clothing stocked: Dinosaur Themed Clothing.

Dinosaurs and Valentine’s Day

Palaeontologists have implied nurturing behaviour in dinosaurs by interpreting the fossil record.  For example, evidence of communal nesting has been found.  In addition, it is thought that many dinosaurs cared for their offspring as demonstrated by the amazing fossils found at the “Egg Mountain” nesting site associated with the hadrosaur Maiasaura (M. peeblesorum).

Dinosaur hatchlings! Maternal behaviour has been suggested for some dinosaur taxa. As it is Valentine’s Day, we remember receiving this model as a gift after providing some information on the Late Cretaceous hadrosaurid Maiasaura (M. peeblesorum) to a customer. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Courtship Displays

Dinosaurs probably indulged in elaborate courtship displays, just like their avian relatives. Dinosaur courtship displays likely involved complicated behaviours such as dynamic movements and intricate vocalisations.

For example, in early 2016, we wrote about some recently published research that may have provided an insight into dinosaur display behaviour. Could scrapes in the ground represent preserved dinosaur courtship displays?

To read our article: Dance of the Dinosaurs.

Pterosaurs probably indulged in complex social displays too.  Our thanks to Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur an illustration of a bonded pair of azhdarchid pterosaurs.  The illustration was inspired by the television series Prehistoric Planet II.  It is a great picture, and fitting considering today is Valentine’s day.

Two Hatzegopteryx pterosaurs illustrated. The drawing inspired by a scene from the recently aired Prehistoric Planet II. Picture credit: Caldey.

Picture credit: Caldey

We have to use our imaginations when it comes to depicting the courtship behaviours of long extinct animals.  It is likely that some of the courtship displays of the Dinosauria would have been spectacular.  A couple of lovesick forty tonne sauropods with only eyes for each other.  Or ritual combat between two ceratopsians as they battled over mating rights. If only we could travel back in time to observe these behaviours.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

Our thanks to prehistoric animal model collector Carl who sent into Everything Dinosaur some photographs of his Haolonggood sauropods.  These huge dinosaurs are displayed with several ornithischian figures including the Haolonggood Maiasaura and Edmontosaurus models.  The foliage for these herbivores to feed on are two cycad trees from the CollectA range of figures.

It is certainly a most impressive collection.

A procession of prehistoric animal figures. What a fabulous collection! The two CollectA cycad tree models provide something for the sauropods to browse. Picture credit: Carl.

Picture credit: Carl

Superb Haolonggood Sauropods

The range of Haolonggood dinosaur models has expanded to include a range of Jurassic and Cretaceous sauropods.  However, the company has yet to make a Triassic sauropodomorph or indeed an example of a basal sauropod such as Vulcanodon, Shunosaurus or Cetiosaurus.  There is already a wide variety to choose from.  There are giants such as Mamenchisaurus and Apatosaurus was well as representations of smaller sauropods such as Amargasaurus and Dicraeosaurus.

To view the range of Haolonggood sauropods and other prehistoric animal figures available: Haolonggood Dinosaur Models.

Displaying the various 1:35 scale figures together really helps to give an insight into the size differences between different sauropods.  In addition, it puts the size of some duck-billed dinosaurs into perspective too.

Haolonggood sauropods and other prehistoric animal models on display. On thanks to model collector Carl for sending into Everything Dinosaur his photographs. Picture credit: Carl.

Picture credit: Carl

Commenting on the display shelf, Mike from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“What an incredible display!  This dinosaur model collector is highlighting the enormous variety of sauropod figures.  The whole shelf is a tribute to these majestic animals and the intricate details of the models.”

Thank you Carl, for sending these wonderful photographs.

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Figures.

A unique and imaginative tyrannosaur hybrid was spotted at a trade show. “B-rex” is a cross between a bee and Tyrannosaurus rex.  The unusual theropod was on display at the London Toy Fair.  It is certainly one of the most unusual dinosaur models that we have come across.

An imaginative interpretation of a theropod dinosaur a “B-rex” a cross between a bee and a tyrannosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

“B-rex”

Bees are insects (Insecta). They belong to the order Hymenoptera. The ancestors of bees are thought to have evolved in the Early Triassic, shortly before the first dinosaurs evolved. Social members of this order are thought to have first appeared during the Cretaceous. Insect fossils are extremely rare. However, it is thought that with the rise of the flowering plants, bees evolved and became numerous in the Late Cretaceous.

Therefore, it is likely that bees and Tyrannosaurus rex co-existed. Although, we suspect they rarely interacted.  It is extremely unlikely that any evidence demonstrating interactions will be found in the fossil record.

The “B-rex” is a most intriguing figure.  The black and yellow stripes on the body, the delicate wings on the back and the two antennae on the head.  This model is a tribute to the designer’s active imagination.

For more accurate Tyrannosaurus rex models and other figures: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

At the London Toy Fair, excitement was in the air as visitors flocked to the trade stands.  It was extremely busy.  However, amongst the many attractions, a team member from Everything Dinosaur spotted a friendly Triceratops.  This cheerful character was being escorted around the busy halls.  The Triceratops welcomed exhibitors and visitors.  We were allowed to take a photograph.

A friendly Triceratops spotted at the London Toy Fair. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Friendly Triceratops

At Everything Dinosaur, we appreciate all the hard work of the people dressed as characters.  The costume would have been hot and with three horns on the face, it would have been difficult to see where you were going. The Triceratops character posed for photos and spread joy wherever they went.  The bright red ceratopsian reminded everyone that playtime is important, regardless of age. This memorable moment at the London Toy Fair highlighted the power of creativity and fun.

Not sure what species was being represented T. horridus perhaps? Maybe the geologically younger Triceratops prorsus?  Palaeontologists might have skin impressions of the Triceratops taxon to study, but we are not sure what colour this dinosaur was.  We suspect that it was not bright red, but you never know…

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

It was a great start to 2025 for fans of UK fossil sites.  The University of Birmingham sent out a media release about the investigation into extensive dinosaur trackways found in Oxfordshire. Five dinosaur trackways dating back to the Middle Jurassic had been unearthed in an Oxfordshire quarry.  Four of the trackways were made by sauropods.  The research team behind this remarkable research suggested that the footprints could have been made by a dinosaur such as Cetiosaurus (Cetiosaurus oxoniensis).  The research project was co-led by the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the dinosaur tracks: Remarkable “Dinosaur Highway” Found in Oxfordshire.

Mike and Sue from Everything Dinosaur remembered visiting the wonderful Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH) and viewing the Cetiosaurus (Cetiosaurus oxoniensis) fossil specimens on display.

Cetiosaurus Fossils on Display

Fossils ascribed to the taxon Cetiosaurus on display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows several sauropod fossils on display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.  A femur is shown on far left. The large bones in the centre are a right scapula and a right humerus. The fossil bones adjacent to them are from the lower portion of the forelimb (right ulna and right radius). Above these limb bones several caudal vertebrae (tail bones) are displayed.  These fossils have been assigned to the taxon Cetiosaurus.  The fossils represent some of the very first sauropod bones to have been extensively studied.

Cetiosaurus was the first sauropod to be named (Owen, 1841).  At the time, Richard Owen thought the bones represented some sort of giant marine crocodile – hence the name which translates as “whale lizard”.

The enormous and robust right femur of a Middle Jurassic sauropod. The femur has been ascribed to the taxon Cetiosaurus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The image (above) shows a close-up view of the huge right femur of a sauropod.  This fossil bone has been assigned to Cetiosaurus.  The text in the exhibit refers to Cetiosaurus as the “Oxford Brontosaur”.  However, the exact taxonomy of Cetiosaurus oxoniensis is disputed although it is quite certain that it was only very distantly related to diplodocids such as Brontosaurus.

Cetiosaurus and Megalosaurus

The theropod trackway has been tentatively assigned to Megalosaurus.  Megalosaurus is another iconic dinosaur that has links to the OUMNH.  Although Megalosaurus has become something of a taxon wastebasket, the only fossil remains ascribed to Megalosaurus with any degree of consensus were found in Oxfordshire.  The track site provides some tantalising evidence of sauropod and theropod interaction.  For example, some of the tracks intersect.  A theropod dinosaur walked over tracks made by a sauropod.  There is no way of knowing how much later the meat-eater walked in the same direction as the herbivorous dinosaur. Perhaps the theropod was stalking the sauropod.

As part of the University of Birmingham media release we received some wonderful artwork from the very talented Mark Witton.  In the illustration, a Megalosaurus attacks a juvenile sauropod.

A Megalosaurus attacks a Cetiosaurus. Picture credit: Mark Witton.

Picture credit: Mark Witton

The remarkable Oxfordshire track site will feature in a BBC Two documentary.  In addition, the OUMNH will open a special exhibition about the dinosaur tracks shortly.

The CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Cetiosaurus figure.  A model of an early sauropod that lived during the Middle Jurassic.

The picture (above) shows a Cetiosaurus model.  This dinosaur model was introduced into the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range in 2010.

To view the range of not-to-scale CollectA prehistoric animal figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life Age of Dinosaurs Popular Figures.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“The images we received from Birmingham University reminded us of our visit to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.  It was wonderful to be able to view the Cetiosaurus oxoniensis fossils.  It is a fabulous museum with some amazing exhibits.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Toys.

Earlier this week, we posted up some photographs of dinosaur wrapping paper.  Today, we highlight some more festive wrapping paper with a prehistoric animal theme.  Such colourful and delightful packaging material.  It is gift wrap with a Gorgosaurus and other dinosaurs in a “roarsome” display.

Some roarsome dinosaur wrapping paper providing seasonal cheer. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Amongst the many fir trees, a flock of dinosaurs are delivering their presents and parcels. It is certainly some very festive prehistoric animal themed wrapping paper.

To view our previous blog post highlighting prehistoric animal wrapping paper: Prehistoric Animal Themed Wrapping Paper.

Dinosaur Wrapping Paper

Dinosaur fans young and old will love this dinosaur wrapping paper.  Our thanks to the customer who sent us a present which was wrapped in this delightful gift wrap. We love the design and the bright red background colour.  The paper is so festive and cheerful.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“To receive a gift from a customer was lovely.  To receive a gift presented to us in this beautiful prehistoric animal wrapping paper made it extra special. Our thanks to the customer for their thoughtful present.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

Today, we wanted to show you some of the amazing prehistoric animal wrapping paper that we have been given.  It has been used to wrap all sorts of gifts and we admire the use of dinosaurs and pterosaurs in the colourful designs.  Each sheet is extremely bright and engaging.  Children will love unwrapping presents wrapped in this fun paper. We certainly did!

Colourful prehistoric animal wrapping paper featuring sauropods, stegosaurs, ceratopsids, theropods and pterosaurs. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Prehistoric Animal Wrapping Paper

The design is certainly creative.  The orange Triceratops and the cute Stegosaurus complete with booties and a Santa hat.  Our congratulations to the talented and imaginative design team.  Several dinosaurs including a sauropod seem to be riding on skateboards.  Whereas the pterosaur has festive lights on its wings.  Moreover, it is carrying a parcel in its beak.

A festive theropod carrying a decorative tree and riding a skateboard. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The photograph (above) shows a close-up view of a green theropod dinosaur riding a skateboard.  The meat-eating dinosaur has a festive tree strapped to its back and it is wearing a Santa hat.

Such delightful and wonderful dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed wrapping paper.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

The big day is here!  As the holiday season is upon us, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our incredible customers and dedicated fans. Your support has made this year truly special, and we are grateful to have you as part of our prehistoric animal model collecting community.  Everything Dinosaur would like to wish everyone a happy holiday!

Mike and Sue from Everything Dinosaur wishes everyone a happy holiday at this festive time of year. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Can you spot the Everything Dinosaur “e” hidden in the image (above)?

Wishing you a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, happiness, and a little prehistoric magic! We look forward to sharing more adventures with you in the coming year.

Thank you for being part of our journey!  There is more to come… Everything Dinosaur is evolving…

Warmest wishes,
Mike & Sue

The award-winning and customer friendly Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Toys.

Our thanks to Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur a beautiful and carefully crafted festive Triceratops card which made team members smile.  At Everything Dinosaur, we have been extremely busy preparing and packing orders for customers.  It is nice to know our efforts are appreciated and thank you Caldey for sending us this wonderful festive card.  We think it features one of the recently introduced Haolonggood Triceratops models.  We loved the way in which the Triceratops has managed to end up with a present stuck on its brow horn.

The festive Triceratops card features the horned dinosaur wearing some tinsel around its neck. Unfortunately, in this dinosaur’s excitement it seems to have ended up with a present stuck onto one of its impressive brow horns. Picture credit: Caldey.

Picture credit: Caldey

A Festive Triceratops Card

Our congratulations to the young artist.  It is such a clever design and such a thoughtful gift.  It made our day.

Sue from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Thank you, Caldey, for sending the festive Triceratops card to Everything Dinosaur! Your thoughtfulness brightened our day, and we truly appreciate your kindness and creativity.”

A lovely, personalised message in the festive Triceratops card with an illustration of a theropod skull and footprint too. Picture credit: Caldey.

Picture credit: Caldey

The inside of the card contains a seasonal message.  In addition, Caldey has included a three-toed dinosaur footprint and a drawing of a skull of a theropod dinosaur.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur added:

“We have been extremely busy in the build up to the holiday season.  This kind gesture made us smile. We appreciate all the seasonal gifts, cards, and messages we’ve received from our wonderful customers.”

Our very best wishes to all our customers at this time of year.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models.

In a recent scholarly rebuttal, renowned palaeontologist Dr Darren Naish has challenged the controversial claims made by Brian J. Ford asserting that all non-avian dinosaurs were aquatic animals not suited to terrestrial environments.  These claims originally surfaced more than a decade ago.  However, they were given additional emphasis and pseudo credibility in a book originally published in 2018 and entitled “Too Big to Walk: The New Science of Dinosaurs”.  Essentially, the author asserts that dinosaurs were just too big to be able to live on land.

In addition, he proposes that bipedal theropods were unable to balance effectively as they moved due to excessive rotation on their vertical axis (yaw). Hence, dinosaurs such as Allosaurus, Giganotosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex were aquatic.

Ford’s hypothesis suggests that dinosaurs adapted to a fully aquatic lifestyle.  He supports his argument with selective interpretations of fossil findings and highly contentious statements.

The remarkable artwork of Rudolph F. Zallinger which is featured in the book “Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals”. Such depictions are now outdated and there is overwhelming evidence to indicate sauropods were terrestrial animals.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The theory that dinosaurs were adapted to aquatic environments has been proposed before.  It was prevalent in the 19th and early 20th centuries and the contention that sauropods and the ornithischian hadrosaurs were aquatic animals remained popular up until the 1960s and 1970s.  Illustrations of giant sauropods such as Brachiosaurus wading around in swamps and lakes featured in many books about dinosaurs.  The artwork of Rudolph F. Zallinger (above) is a typical example.

Dr Darren Naish

Vertebrate palaeontologist and renowned author Dr Darren Naish challenges Ford’s assertions and sets out a critical response to the arguments put forward in “Too Big To Walk”.  His peer-reviewed rebuttal has been published in the journal “Historical Biology”. Dr Naish stresses the importance of rigorous scientific methodology, highlighting how the fossil record and other scientific disciplines provides a wealth of evidence supporting the terrestrial nature of most dinosaurs.

It is true, that many species of non-avian dinosaurs were capable waders and swimmers.  Indeed, some taxa such as the spinosaurids show adaptations for an aquatic life.  However, Ford asserts that all the non-bird dinosaurs lived in water.  A contention roundly discredited.

Birds, the only surviving members of the Dinosauria, exhibit a range of adaptations.  It is true, that many extant birds are very much at home in the water.  For example, penguins, but even these highly specialised birds must return to land to lay their eggs and raise the next generation.  Dr Naish provides an effective counterbalance to Ford’s spurious claims.  He argues that the assertions made are unfounded, lack substantial evidence and misinterpret existing data.

A lambeosaurine hadrosaur (Corythosaurus) depicted as an aquatic animal. The illustration by B. H. Robinson appears in a 1974 Ladybird leader book entitled “Dinosaurs”. Picture credit: B. H. Robinson.

Picture credit: B. H. Robinson

An Accomplished Author

Dr Naish is an accomplished author.  He has written extensively about Mesozoic fauna, with a number of notable works focusing on the Dinosauria.  In addition to his scientific papers and role as a consultant on films, television programmes and exhibitions he has published several extremely informative, popular science books.  For example, last year, a book documenting the evolutionary rise of the ancient sea reptiles and their domination of the Mesozoic Seas was published.

Everything Dinosaur team members were sent an inspection copy, and we subsequently wrote a review.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s review: Ancient Sea Reptiles by Dr Darren Naish.

The rebuttal provides an insightful counterpoint to the ideas proposed by Brian J. Ford.  The essay is not a detailed and forensic examination of Ford’s beliefs. However, it provides a comprehensive explanation as to why the narrative outlined by Ford is inaccurate. Furthermore, it highlights that palaeontology is dynamic, with the scientific community having altered its views on the Dinosauria based on new research. This contrasts with Ford’s own view of palaeontologists as being entrenched in dogma, unwilling to change with a “closed shop” mentality and hostile to outsiders.

Encouraging Debate and Reflection

It is important to note that debate is to be encouraged.  We at Everything Dinosaur acknowledge the need to recognise different viewpoints and perspectives.  However, we urge caution as new hypotheses are proposed, they should be open to continuous scrutiny and revision.  The contentions of Brian J. Ford do not stand up to scientific rigour and we welcome the measured and well-written response from Dr Naish.

As the debate continues, it serves as a reminder of the intricate history of life on Earth and the ongoing quest to understand it.  Furthermore, it serves as a warning to us in our fast-moving world of social media.  Unfounded theories and “alternative facts” can find an audience and take on an air of credibility. Ultimately, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure a fair debate, and different perspectives are perfectly permissible.  However, the theories proposed by Brian J. Ford have been discredited and we must guard against “populist” ideas gaining traction and damaging the scientific community and the wider public’s perception of palaeontology.

Read the peer-reviewed rebuttal of the all non-avian dinosaurs were aquatic proposition: The Response to and Rejection of Brian Ford’s “Too Big to Walk”.

Darren Naish (08 Nov 2024): The response to and rejection of Brian Ford’s Too Big to Walk, a 21st century effort to reinstate the aquatic dinosaur hypothesis, Historical Biology, DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2421268