The PNSO Basilosaurus model, part of the PNSO Age of Dinosaurs range is to be retired. It was one of the first PNSO figures to be introduced, Everything Dinosaur can now confirm that it is out of production.
The PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Basilosaurus model.
The PNSO Basilosaurus Model
This large prehistoric whale figure was one of the first PNSO replicas to be supplied complete with transparent display stands. Measuring close to twenty inches in length (more than fifty centimetres long), this figure needed a lot of shelf space. Two species of Basilosaurus are known. Basilosaurus cetoides (the type species) was named by Sir Richard Owen (1839). A second species Basilosaurus isis was erected in 1904 (Andrews).
The Basilosaurus replica (PNSO). This replica is one of the first large figures to be made by PNSO.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are sorry to see the Basilosaurus retired. It was a fantastic figure of a Late Eocene prehistoric whale. PNSO have expanded their model range dramatically over recent years, model retirements are to be expected. PNSO will continue to add to their popular mid-size model range. We will announce a new PNSO figure in the very near future.”
An illustration of Basilosaurus. The human figure provides a scale. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Everything Dinosaur can confirm that two prehistoric animal models made by Schleich are now out of production and retired. With the recent introduction of five Schleich prehistoric animal figures, we can now confirm Schleich prehistoric animal model retirements.
The figures which have been retired are the Schleich Dimetrodon model that was introduced in 2019 and the Schleich pterosaur figure, the Dimorphodon.
The new for 2019 Schleich Dimetrodon model has now been retired by the German manufacturer.
The green-coloured 2019 Schleich Dimetrodon figure replaced an earlier Dimetrodon model (2016) with a reticulated pattern on its sail. It was one of five new model introductions into the Schleich prehistoric animal model range. Although not a dinosaur, Dimetrodon has proved to be a popular figure amongst collectors. Dimetrodon was a member of the Pelycosauria clade, a synapsid that lived during the Early Permian. Several species have been described.
The Schleich Dimorphodon Figure
Coincidently, the Schleich Dimorphodon figure was also introduced in 2019. It too is being retired. The Schleich Dimorphodon had distinctive “eye flashes” on its wings. It was depicted in a terrestrial pose. With its large skull and huge jaws, this pterosaur model proved to be popular with younger model collectors.
The Schleich Dimorphodon model (new for 2019).
Schleich Prehistoric Animal Model Retirements
A spokesperson from the UK-based Everything Dinosaur stated that both figures would be missed.
The spokesperson explained:
“We do appreciate that models have to be retired. Both the Dimetrodon and the Dimorphodon have been around for about four years, so they have had a good run. By taking some figures out of production this frees up space in the factory for new models.”
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.
Everything Dinosaur has added a soft toy horseshoe crab to it range of prehistoric animal soft toys. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
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.
Prehistoric plush! The soft and cuddly horseshoe crab.
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.
The horseshoe crab soft toy will be supplied with an Everything Dinosaur horseshoe crab fact sheet.
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.
The UK Government has published proposals for new legislation, part of which will help involve the cracking down on fake reviews. Firm action is promised against fake reviews as part of the Digital markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. This Act is likely to become law in 2024.
Everything Dinosaur customers can be assured that every review published on the website, every Google review and all the customer feedback posted by Feefo is absolutely genuine.
Our dedication to customer service and the way that we try to help and support customers is reflected in the considerable number of awards that Everything Dinosaur has won. For example, Everything Dinosaur has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award every year since this accolade’s inception.
Everything Dinosaur has won the prestigious Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award ever year that it has been offered. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Chamber of Commerce Customer Service Award
Our local branch of the Chamber of Commerce recognised our dedication and customer service when Everything Dinosaur was the winner of the Excellence in Customer Service award.
Mike and Sue of Everything Dinosaur proudly show their certificate and trophy after winning the Excellence in Customer Service Award at the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Cracking Down on Fake Reviews
The proposed UK Government legislation includes draft provisions making it illegal to:
Commission someone to write or submit a fake review.
Post consumer reviews without taking reasonable steps to check that they are genuine.
Offer or advertise to submit, commission or facilitate fake reviews.
As Everything Dinosaur has reported before, the company does receive unsolicited emails from individuals/organisations offering fake reviews and other dubious services.
The Bill, once it comes into force will give the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) greater powers to take “swift and decisive action” against lawbreakers on behalf of UK consumers.
Feefo Takes the Lead
Feefo, the world-leading real customer review platform ensures that only verified buyers are asked to leave a review of your business. There are no fake reviews. Over 6,000 brands including Everything Dinosaur already benefit from Feefo’s services. They guarantee real feedback whilst providing genuine insight from real customers.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are grateful that Feefo is taking the lead. Fake reviews mislead customers and cause unfair competition. We welcome any legislation that helps to protect consumers.”
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from Feefo in the compilation of this article.
The extremely popular Rebor Tyrannosaurus rex “Kiss” Mountain 1:35 scale replica is back in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Initial stock of this beautifully painted T. rex figure with lips had sold out. However, Everything Dinosaur has been able to obtain more figures and team members have been busy informing customers that “Kiss” is available once more.
The popular Rebor Tyrannosaurus rex “Kiss” Mountain 1:35 scale replica is back in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Rebor have produced several T. rex figures since the company began production. The company has built a formidable reputation for its theropod figures. The “Kiss” figure was introduced with “Tusk” a counterpart, which reflected an on-going debate in palaeontology. Did dinosaurs have lips?
Some model manufacturers have reflected the current scientific debate by producing replicas with lips as well as lipless forms such as the recent Rebor “Kiss” and “Tusk” figures.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:
“Welcome back! We know that many collectors and dinosaur fans will be delighted to hear that this T. rex is available again. Team members have been busy contacting customers to let them know that this stunning Rebor figure is back in stock.”
Everything Dinosaur team members welcome a trio of carcharodontosaurids. The three new for 2023 PNSO carcharodontosaurid models are now in stock. The new PNSO Scientific Art Giganotosaurus replica in 1:35 scale has arrived along with Mungo the Meraxes and Mila the Mapusaurus. The models represent members of the Carcharodontosauridae family of theropods and all these predators lived in South America.
A trio of carcharodontosaurids. The new PNSO Giganotosaurus model in 1:35 scale (top) along with the PNSO Mapusaurus (middle) and Meraxes figures (bottom). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Members of the Giganotosaurini Tribe
Most palaeontologists consider Giganotosaurus (G. carolinii), Mapusaurus (M. roseae) and Meraxes (M. gigas) to be closely related. Phylogenetic assessments place all three theropods in the Giganotosaurini tribe of carcharodontosaurids. These dinosaurs may have been closely related and from the South America, but they were probably not coeval.
The new PNSO Lucas the Giganotosaurus dinosaur model.
A Trio of Carcharodontosaurids
Dating the rocks associated with the fossilised remains of these three, South American dinosaurs is problematical. Calculating when these dinosaurs lived is difficult, especially when isolated teeth might be found at different horizons suggesting the presence of carnivorous dinosaurs in younger/older sediments, but the genus cannot be determined.
As an approximate guide, here are details of the fossil discoveries:
Giganotosaurus carolinii – from the Candeleros Formation of Argentina. The fossils are associated with Lower Cenomanian deposits indicating that Giganotosaurus may have lived around 100 million years ago to perhaps 97 million years ago.
Meraxes gigas – from the Huincul Formation. Fossils are associated with the Upper Cenomanian suggesting that this dinosaur lived around 95-93 million years ago.
Mapusaurus roseae – probably the geologically youngest of these three carcharodontosaurids. M. roseae fossils are also associated with the Huincul Formation, but from younger strata than the rocks associated with Meraxes. These large predators may not have co-existed. The dating of these rocks remains controversial. Perhaps Mapusaurus lived 96-94 million years ago.
An apex predator – the Mapusaurus dinosaur model from PNSO. Probably the geologically youngest of the three carcharodontosaurid dinosaurs featured in this blog post.
A Trio of Carcharodontosaurids
Welcoming the trio of carcharodontosaurids into stock a spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur exclaimed:
“It is wonderful to see new models of Cretaceous theropods added to the PNSO model range. It is exciting to have new replicas of enigmatic members of the Carcharodontosauridae family added to our inventory.”
Three of the best! New carcharodontosaurid theropod models in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Scientific Art Giganotosaurus (top), Mila the Mapusaurus (middle) and Mungo the Meraxes (bottom). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A team member at Everything Dinosaur has gone back to school. The company has been invited to participate in the last-ever SMART Cheshire innovation programme. SMART Cheshire Digital is a fully funded programme aimed to help small to medium-sized businesses in the north-west of England looking to explore, adopt and implement improvements and business innovations.
The training is provided by the Manchester Metropolitan University. The programme has been running for more than 5 years and over 140 businesses have been through the ten-week course. Sadly, this is the last time this course will be run. Financial support from the European Regional Development Fund has now come to an end.
Everything Dinosaur
Everything Dinosaur are delighted to have been invited to take part. The company can explore new ideas and innovations in a supportive and collaborative environment. With two day’s training already completed, Everything Dinosaur has already met up with like-minded fellow business owners and learned a lot.
As the course is coming to an end in the summer, the Everything Dinosaur team member was given two special promotional mugs. These mugs were produced when the course first started, and stocks are extremely low. We are grateful for our pair of mugs, they shall take pride of place in our kitchen at work. We think the Spinosaurus model approves too.
A pair of SMART Cheshire mugs given to Everything Dinosaur. A Spinosaurus model inspects the two mugs with their Manchester Metropolitan University logos. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The Spinosaurus model guarding the recently acquired SMART Cheshire mugs is from the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range. To view this range of figures: Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Prehistoric World.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
SMART Cheshire Digital
One of the many benefits of this type of training is that it allows the exploration of ideas. Peers can bounce ideas of one another, explore future collaborations and share experiences.
If the Everything Dinosaur team member is able to complete this demanding course, they can toast their success with a cup of tea.
Everything Dinosaur has been able to source a small stock of the Bullyland ammonite model. This cephalopod replica is popular, but becoming increasingly rare. For example, earlier in the year Everything Dinosaur was informed by Bullyland that this model was no longer available.
Some of the Bullyland ammonite models in stock at Everything Dinosaur. A rare and difficult to obtain ammonite replica. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A Collection of Cephalopod Replicas
Everything Dinosaur has been able to source the Bullyland ammonite. The company has lots of contacts around the world and has built a formidable reputation in the model supply industry. It is because of our contacts that we were able to bring some of these popular figures into stock. The ammonite figure has been a mainstay of the Bullyland “Dinosaur Park” range. However, Bullyland has reduced their production of prehistoric animal models and many figures have been retired.
The strongly ribbed shell and the obvious keel of the Bullyland ammonite replica. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Bullyland Ammonite Model
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained that the company was committed to helping prehistoric animal model fans complete their collections. Invertebrate figures were not stocked by other companies. Instead, these businesses tend to focus on the much more popular figures such as T. rex and Triceratops. One of Everything Dinosaur’s unique selling points is to offer models that other companies would not stock.
The spokesperson added:
“By stocking replicas of ammonites this shows our commitment to model collectors but also to companies like Bullyland. We are prepared to bring in figures that other firms might not.”
The Bullyland replica ammonite model.
To view the Bullyland ammonite model (whilst stocks last) and the rest of the Bullyland range of prehistoric animal figures: Bullyland Prehistoric Animal Models.
A shipment of Beasts of the Mesozoic models has arrived at Everything Dinosaur’s warehouse. Team members have been busy unpacking and checking all the articulated figures. Once the shipment has been booked in, the next job is to contact all the customers who requested a model.
We will be despatching emails to customers as quickly as we can. Then, it is a question of despatching all the orders that we receive as quickly as we can too!
A shipment of Beasts of the Mesozoic articulated figures has arrived at Everything Dinosaur. More “raptors”, ceratopsians and tyrannosaurs. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Beasts of the Mesozoic Models
The shipment contains more of the dromaeosaurid figures. In addition, the popular 1:18 scale mini models are back in stock along with more horned dinosaurs, such as Centrosaurus, Torosaurus and the “Old Buck” Styracosaurus.
The Beasts of the Mesozoic Styracosaurus dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Tyrannosaur Articulated Figures Too
The new arrivals include tyrannosaur articulated figures too. The impressive, super-sized 1:18 scale Tyrannosaurus rex has been unpacked and team members will be putting the T. rex juvenile and 1:35 scale figures into their allotted places in our warehouse.
Unpacking the Beasts of the Mesozoic 1:35 scale Tyrannosaurus rex figure. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“It’s all hands on deck at the moment. We are working as hard as we can to get all the dinosaur figures, checked and booked into stock. Once this is done, we then have to email customers who requested to be informed about this shipment.”
Getting to grips with the Beasts of the Mesozoic 1:18 scale Velociraptor mongoliensis model.
The new for 2023 PNSO Mila the Mapusaurus dinosaur model is soon to arrive at the Everything Dinosaur warehouse. Team members expect delivery in a week or so.
The PNSO Mila the Mapusaurus dinosaur model.
Mapusaurus roseae
Mapusaurus is known from fossil material excavated from fluvial deposits associated with the Huincul Formation of Argentina. This large theropod was formally named and scientifically described in 2006 (Coria and Currie). Mapusaurus (M. roseae) was coeval with the super-sized titanosaur Argentinosaurus.
Palaeontologists have proposed that this carcharodontosaurid specialised in hunting sauropods. Large groups of Mapusaurus could have harassed a herd of titanosaurs and separated an individual. This animal might have been mobbed and attacked by several of the much smaller predators in a largely uncoordinated attack. The meat-eaters could have bitten off chunks of flesh that weakened their victim. The enormous Argentinosaurus could have eventually succumbed to its wounds.
The carcase of a large Argentinosaurus could have fed carnivorous dinosaurs for several weeks. The corpse would have probably attracted a huge number of scavengers.
An apex predator – the Mapusaurus dinosaur model from PNSO.
Mila the Mapusaurus
The PNSO Mila the Mapusaurus dinosaur model is supplied with a sci-art poster, a clear, plastic support stand and a full-colour, illustrated Mapusaurus booklet. A QR code on the product packaging provides dinosaur fans access to a short video that explains how the model was created.
The new for 2023 PNSO Mila the Mapusaurus figure is supplied with a transparent support stand, a sci-art poster and a full-colour, sixty-four-page booklet.
Dinosaur Model with an Articulated Lower Jaw
The stunning Mapusaurus model has incredible details and has already attracted many positive comments from dinosaur fans and model collectors. It measures 36 cm in length and the figure stands a fraction under 11 cm high. Mila the Mapusaurus dinosaur model has an articulated lower jaw.
The new PNSO carcharodontosaurid dinosaur model (Mapusaurus) has an articulated lower jaw.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur praised the PNSO design team and commented:
“We are really pleased to see a Mapusaurus model being introduced by the highly respected team at PNSO.”
