Recently, Everything Dinosaur team members blogged about a dinosaur book from their childhood.  The book was part of the Ladybird publication series.  It featured an illustration of a theropod dinosaur on the front cover.  We recall the Antrodemus dinosaur illustration.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s earlier blog post: Dinosaur Books from Childhood Bring Back Happy Memories.

Our copy of the book was published in 1974.  This edition is fifty years old.  We reminisced about the meat-eating dinosaur on the front cover and asked our blog readers and social media followers whether they too had a copy.  Could they remember the genus illustrated on the front cover?  As always, our customers and social media followers were up for the challenge and many correctly guessed that it was an Antrodemus.  A later print run of this book corrected the image and declared it an Allosaurus.

Antrodemus (A. valens) is a genus with a nomen dubium designation.  There are considerable doubts whether Antrodemus valens is a valid species.  The fossils from the famous Morrison Formation of the USA could represent an Allosaurus.

The picture of Antrodemus from the Ladybird book “Dinosaurs”. The illustrations for this book were created by B. H. Robinson. The Antrodemus is threatening a Stegosaurus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

An Antrodemus Illustration

The artwork for the Ladybird book of dinosaurs was produced by B. H. Robinson.  We have included a photograph of the page from the book that shows the Antrodemus.  A red arrow has been added to the text to highlight the Antrodemus.  Allosaurus is the most common taxon of theropod dinosaur known from the Morrison Formation of the USA.  That being the case then the fragmentary fossil bones attributed to Antrodemus valens could represent an Allosaurus.

The Haolonggood Allosaurus dinosaur models (Allosaurus Yangzhi and Suochao). These are modern reconstructions of the iconic Allosaurus taxon.

The image (above) shows a pair of Haolonggood Allosaurus dinosaur models. These are 1:35 scale figures and are popular with dinosaur model collectors.

To view the range of Haolonggood figures in stock: Haolonggood Prehistoric Animal Figures.

The Ladybird book of dinosaurs. One of the first dinosaur books owned by a team member. The Antrodemus/Allosaurus is on the front cover.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Some of our customers remember the later edition, with the Antrodemus labelled as Allosaurus.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

Sorting out cupboards can be tiresome.  However, sometimes exciting discoveries can be made.  In a large box on one of the shelves some books and dinosaur models were discovered.  Examining the models and the dinosaur books from childhood brought back lots of happy memories.  One of the books found was the Ladybird book of dinosaurs.  It must have been published more than forty-five years ago.

The Ladybird book of dinosaurs. One of the first dinosaur books owned by a team member. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Books from Childhood

The front cover of the Ladybird book of dinosaurs is pictured above.  The cover is somewhat worse for wear.  However, inside the colour illustrations of prehistoric animals are surprisingly well-preserved.  The dinosaur depicted on the front cover is some form of theropod.  The posture of the dinosaur is very outdated.  For example, we now know that these dinosaurs held their tails off the ground.  There are four large digits associated with the hand.  This too, is not a scientifically accurate depiction.  Such inaccuracies can be expected when examining dinosaur books from childhood.

The dinosaur might represent a taxon known as Antrodemus (A. valens).  It is a dubious theropod genus from the Morrison Formation of Colorado. Antrodemus valens was described in 1870 (Joseph Leidy).  Described from fragmentary caudal vertebrae, this genus is regarded today as nomen dubium.  The validity of this genus is now doubted by most palaeontologists.  The holotype material is regarded as undiagnostic and lacks unique traits and characteristics that could lead to the designation of a new genus.  The caudal bones could represent an Allosaurus.

Finding an Iguanodon Dinosaur Model

In addition, an Iguanodon dinosaur model was discovered.  This was a figure from the Natural History Museum series.  The Iguanodon figure has been retired and out of production for many years.  It was unboxed but it probably came from the same batch as the infamous Iguanodon figures that were supplied with a spelling error on the packaging.

A spelling error on the box!  The Natural History Museum Iguanodon dinosaur model with a spelling mistake on the packaging.  The “Iguanadon” is incorrect.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows a Natural History Museum Iguanodon model.  There is a spelling mistake on the packaging.  The Iguanodon dinosaur model that was found probably came from this inaccurate production run.

To read an earlier article about the mistake on the product packaging: Spot the Mistake on the Product Packaging.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that they enjoyed reminiscing and that they were delighted to have found the dinosaur book and the dinosaur model.  Both items will be safely stored in the company’s offices.

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