Safari Ltd Prehistoric Mammals and Dimetrodon

Yesterday, Everything Dinosaur focused on the new dinosaur models for 2018 being introduced by Safari Ltd.  In this blog article, we take a look at the other non-dinosaur models that have been added, these models including the Dimetrodon replica along with the dinosaurs, are all in stock and available from Everything Dinosaur.

Safari Ltd – Focusing on the Synapsids

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Why Call Them Synapsids?

Usually, it is quite straightforward when it comes to categorising new models from a manufacturer, but with the fourteen figures stocked by Everything Dinosaur, a couple of them present us with a dilemma.  Firstly, we have included the “Winners Circle” Safari Ltd Przewalski’s horse, this is a replica of the world’s only truly wild horse, an animal that very nearly went extinct in the 20th century, but a dedicated zoo breeding programme enabled these magnificent animals to be re-introduced to some specially selected wildlife refuges.

Once this horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), was a common site across the Mammoth Steppe, it has even been depicted in cave paintings.  As an animal of the Ice Age very much at home with Mammoths and Mastodons, we have added this model of Przewalski’s horse to our replica range.

The Beautiful Przewalski’s Horse Model from Safari Ltd

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As this magnificent equine has not, thankfully, died out, we could not call the eight non-dinosaur models that we have stocked extinct animals, but these new for 2018 figures from Safari Ltd have given us another problem, one with a big sail on its back.

Adding a Dimetrodon Replica

The addition of a Dimetrodon also adds a degree of complexity when it comes to coming up with a collective term for these new models.  Although often mistaken for a dinosaur, any self-respecting primary school pupil will soon correct you, if you mistakenly state that the sail-backed reptile is a dinosaur.  Dimetrodon lived long before the first dinosaurs, it is a member of the pelycosaurs and as such, it is actually more closely related to the prehistoric mammals depicted in the Safari range than it is to the dinosaurs.

Dimetrodon and its relatives, like the mammals are tetrapods, whose skull morphology differs from those tetrapods on the dinosaurs/crocodiles/birds side of the tree of life.  They are synapsids, distinguished by a single hole, known as the temporal fenestra, in the skull, located behind the orbit towards the back of the skull.  Dinosaurs and their relatives on the other hand, are diapsids, they have a pair of openings in the skull behind the eye socket, an upper and lower temporal fenestra.  We can’t refer to these Safari Ltd models as mammals, as Dimetrodon is the exception, being a reptile, but they are all synapsids.

The New for 2018 Safari Ltd Dimetrodon Model

For prehistoric animal models and figures: Models of Prehistoric Animals.

Introducing the Safari Ltd Synapsids

As well as the stunning Dimetrodon and the beautiful replica of Przewalski’s horse, Safari Ltd have added a Hyaenodon gigas, Uintatherium, Megacerops, Macrauchenia, a Daeodon and a model of an American Mastodon (Mammut americanum).  Each of these new figure is supplied with its very own fact sheet, so collectors can learn about the creature that the model represents.

Everything Dinosaur’s Drawing of the American Mastodon

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the full Wild Safari Prehistoric World model range available from Everything Dinosaur: Wild Safari Prehistoric World.

For our earlier article focusing on the new dinosaur models from Safari Ltd: Safari Ltd New Models for 2018.

Mojo Fun New Dinosaur Models for 2018

Some exciting new additions to the Mojo Fun “Prehistoric & Extinct” range are announced by Everything Dinosaur today.  There will be four, new, colourful dinosaur models added to the range in 2018.  Of the four models, there is one representing a Jurassic dinosaur, the other three are models of dinosaurs associated with the Cretaceous.

One of the new dinosaur replicas in this skilfully crafted range is a herbivore, the other three are hypercarnivores.  The four models are Diplodocus, Giganotosaurus, Baryonyx and Deinonychus.

The New for 2018 Diplodocus Dinosaur Model

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mojo Fun Diplodocus

Mojo Fun already has a Brachiosaurus within its model portfolio, their second sauropod is Diplodocus, the only Jurassic representative of the four new models and the plant-eater.  The colour scheme chosen is certainly striking with a verdant green, contrasting with the subtle yellow of the underside of the neck and the belly.  The company has chosen to give their Diplodocus a classic “swan-neck” posture, perhaps a nod towards famous palaeoartists such as Zdeněk Burian and Charles Knight, whereas, the row of prominent osteoderms running from back of the head down to the tail reflect some of the latest scientific thinking concerning this diplodocid.

Mojo Fun New for 2018 Baryonyx

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mojo Fun Baryonyx Dinosaur Model

Continuing the trend for striking colour schemes, this is a spectacular model of “heavy claw”, the first fossils of which were discovered in a Surrey clay pit in 1983.  Baryonyx may have specialised in catching fish, a huge 31-centimetre-long claw on the first finger of each hand may have helped this dinosaur to hook its prey out of the water.  The vibrant blue colour scheme contrasts nicely with the muted, warmer tones of the underside, a nice example of the concept of counter shading.

A Close-View of the Head of the Mojo Fun New for 2018 Baryonyx Dinosaur Model

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

This brilliant blue, Baryonyx is going to prove popular amongst dinosaur fans, especially when you consider what turned up in the recent “Jurassic World 2” trailer.

Mojo Fun Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Model

Picture Credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mojo Fun Giganotosaurus

The next carnivorous dinosaur is Giganotosaurus.  It is great to see Mojo Fun increasing the variety of theropod dinosaurs within the “Prehistoric & Extinct” range.  A model of one of the largest, if not the largest, meat-eating dinosaur known to science.  At around 35 centimetres in length, this is a very substantial figure, around ten centimetres longer than the hunting tyrannosaur models introduced by this company in 2017.

The Head of the New for 2018 Mojo Fun Giganotosaurus

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Models (Mojo Fun Deinonychus)

With the aforementioned movie “Jurassic World” movie coming to cinemas from June 7th next year, it seems fitting that the last of the new for 2018 models from Mojo Fun should be a “raptor”.  In addition, to the company’s Velociraptors, the larger Deinonychus is being added to the range and at a whopping 32 centimetres long, it is the biggest dromaeosaurid model made to date by Mojo Fun.

The New for 2018 Mojo Fun Deinonychus Dinosaur Model

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Complete with a feathery coat, ulna feathers and a crest on the end of its long, stiff tail, this is a fascinating replica of “terrible claw”.  It’s another meat-eater and a dinosaur of the Cretaceous, just like Baryonyx and Giganotosaurus.

A Close-up View of the Head of the Mojo Fun Deinonychus

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture above shows a close-up view of the head of the new Deinonychus, the feathery integument can clearly be seen as well as the excellent detail on the snout and jaws.

Model Measurements and Availability

• Mojo Fun Diplodocus length 27 cm, height of the head 13 cm.
• Mojo Fun Baryonyx length 27 cm, height of the head 10 cm.
• The Mojo Fun Giganotosaurus length 35 cm, height approx. 12 cm.
• Mojo Fun Deinonychus length 32 cm, height (raised tail) 14.5 cm.

All four of these new dinosaur models are expected to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in the early part of next year, perhaps as early as January 2018.

To view the current range of Mojo Fun “Prehistoric & Extinct” models available from Everything Dinosaur: Mojo Fun Prehistoric & Extinct.

Look out for further updates from Everything Dinosaur on the Mojo Fun model range, including details of model colour changes.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Popular Papo Purple Acrocanthosaurus Out of Production

The purple coloured Papo Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model that was introduced by Papo in the spring of 2017 is out of production and due to be retired.  The Papo Acrocanthosaurus was introduced alongside a green Ceratosaurus dinosaur figure just a few months ago, but the curtain has come down on one of the most popular Papo figures in recent years.

The Purple Coloured Papo Acrocanthosaurus is Out of Production

To view the range of Papo figures: Papo Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

The Papo Acrocanthosaurus Model

Everything Dinosaur team members had been aware of this model’s pending introduction in the autumn of 2016.   Our blog posts and social media coverage gained a big audience and JurassicCollectables produced a video review of one of our Papo Acrocanthosaurus figures that has been looked at over 20,000 times in just seven months.  However, in just a blink in geological time, the first Papo Acrocanthosaurus has been officially declared extinct and no more purple coloured versions of this figure are being made.

One of the Early Papo Acrocanthosaurus Production Figures

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Popular Amongst Collectors and Dinosaur Model Fans

This hand-painted Papo replica with an articulated lower jaw, has proved to be very popular amongst model collectors and dinosaur fans.  Since its addition to the Everything Dinosaur Papo range, this figure has attracted very favourable reviews.

For example, Alexus from America wrote:

“Beautifully sculpted figure!  Nice colors as well as magnificent detail!  Definitely one of their greatest looking figures.  You never cease to amaze.  Quick shipping as well. Only took less than 2 weeks to arrive!  Worth every penny I spent on it!  Fantastic job once again Papo on another outstanding figure!”

Praise for the Papo Acrocanthosaurus Model

The Papo Acrocanthosaurus proved to be a big hit with the girls as well, with dinosaur fan Bryanne reflecting many of the comments and views received by Everything Dinosaur.

Briony said:

“Fantastic theropod!!  Love the sculpt and paint detail and the pose is great my new favourite Papo dinosaur figure”.

The purple Acrocanthosaurus is being replaced by a new version of the model, with a different paint scheme.

The New for 2018 Papo Acrocanthosaurus Dinosaur Model

We have nicknamed this new replica “Tiger stripes”, for obvious reasons, availability has yet to be confirmed but Everything Dinosaur could have stocks of this replica as early as March 2018.

In the meantime, the purple Papo Acrocanthosaurus is going to get rarer and rarer.  However, Everything Dinosaur was aware of this model’s impending demise and has managed to pick up some extra cases prior to the production being stopped.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We know how disappointed model collectors will be when they hear the news that the purple Acrocanthosaurus model is heading for extinction.  Whilst we are most impressed with the new colour scheme, we hope that collectors will be able to pick up this model before they become available solely through auction sites at extremely inflated prices.”

Everything Dinosaur has stocks of the purple Acrocanthosaurus available, no price change as well.  The Papo range including the soon to be no longer available Acrocanthosaurus can be found here: Papo Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.