The Beasts of the Mesozoic range of figures has grown into a considerable portfolio of articulated dinosaur models. The first of these exciting scale models, the first wave of “raptors” was in stock at Everything Dinosaur back in 2018. Since then, there have been additions and amendments to the range of feathered theropods incorporated into the range and three waves of articulated ceratopsian figures.

As Everything Dinosaur team members constantly review and update the key words and phrases associated with product searches on their website, time was taken out of their busy schedule to examine the key words assigned to the Beasts of the Mesozoic section of the site.

Team members at Everything Dinosaur put together this little montage of Beasts of the Mesozoic figures and models to try to illustrate just how big this range of articulated dinosaur models has become.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Ceratopsians in Abundance

The first wave of articulated horned dinosaur figures was added a couple of years ago and there have been two further waves since, culminating in the recent addition of seven new ceratopsians namely:

Albertaceratops, Pentaceratops, the large, Late Cretaceous, Chinese horned dinosaur Sinoceratops, Torosaurus, an adult Triceratops, Utahceratops and Xenoceratops. As the number of different genera have been increased, so team members have been keeping tabs on the keywords and phrases associated with searches for this part of the Everything Dinosaur website.

The Beasts of the Mesozoic Albertaceratops dinosaur model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

Torosaurus latus and Triceratops horridus

The two largest figures in wave 3 are the adult Triceratops horridus and the Torosaurus latus models. Both models measure over 45.5 cm in length and have a declared scale of 1:18. These figures are even bigger than the Pachyrhinosaurus and the adult Centrosaurus that were introduced previously, P. lakustai measures over 38 cm long whilst the Centrosaurus apertus is an impressive 40.6 cm in length.

The largest figures in wave 3 represent two of the largest horned dinosaurs known to science. Torosaurus latus (left) and Triceratops horridus (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A view of the Beasts of the Mesozoic Torosaurus articulated dinosaur model out of its packaging. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The new for 2021 Triceratops horridus (adult figure) in the Beasts of the Mesozoic range. The figure has been removed from its box. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Tyrannosaur Range Planned

The Beasts of the Mesozoic product portfolio will become even bigger and diverse next year (2022). A tyrannosaur themed range is planned, this too will be introduced gradually, in a series of waves. When these theropod models ae added, the website will need updating and the keywords and phrases associated with it will be reassessed.

To view the range of Beasts of the Mesozoic models currently in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models and Figures.

The Rebor Smilodon models have arrived at Everything Dinosaur. These fabulous 1:11 scale models of an iconic Ice Age predator are now in stock and team members have been very busy contacting all those customers who wanted to purchase one of these beautiful replicas.

The Rebor Smilodon models are now in stock at Everything Dinosaur (December 2021). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Toys.

Rebor Smilodon

The Rebor Smilodon populator Museum Class Replica Deluxe Pack replicas are supplied with two interchangeable heads so the Smilodon model can be displayed with mouth closed or mouth open. A fabulous 1:11 scale model of a Sabre-toothed Cat. Everything Dinosaur has two colour variants in stock, the “Plain” colour variant and the snow leopard inspired “Ice Age” colour variant.

The Rebor Smilodon populator Museum Class Replica Deluxe Pack Stray Cat Plain comes with two interchangeable heads so collectors can display this 1:11 scale model with either its mouth open or closed.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“There have been several delays with international shipping due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are delighted to welcome these two figures into stock. Our aim is to contact customers who wanted these models as quickly as we can so that we can get many of them delivered to customers in time for Christmas.”

The Rebor Smilodon populator Museum Class Replica Deluxe Pack (Ice Age) is so called as the model comes with two interchangeable heads. This stunning Smilodon can be displayed with mouth closed or mouth open.

To view the range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal figures in the Rebor range available from Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

In our fourth and final blog post about new CollectA prehistoric animal models for 2022, we announce that a new version of the CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Triceratops will be introduced. The figure represents the species Triceratops horridus, the geologically older of the two Triceratops species formally recognised.

The model is due to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur around mid-2022.

The image (above), shows the prototype, pre-production model the actual figure will have an articulated jaw.

T. horridus – Horrible Horned Face

Triceratops horridus is known from the Lower Hell Creek Formation dating from approximately 67.5 million years ago. Triceratops bones and teeth are relatively common in this part of the Hell Creek Formation and studies have shown that Triceratops fossils make up about 40% of the dinosaur fossil material. The robust skulls preserve relatively well and compared to its body size, the skull of this horned dinosaur was proportionately one of the largest known of any vertebrate. CollectA have chosen to give their new Triceratops a muted colour tone, with countershading on the underside. The exceptions to this are the neck frill and the side of the face with its large patches of white.

Those white flashes certainly give “horrible three-horned face” a striking appearance.

A Model Based on the Latest Scientific Evidence

Although Triceratops is a very familiar dinosaur to members of the public, after all, it has appeared in films, television documentaries, novels, video games and even on stamps, vertebrate palaeontologists acknowledge that they still have a lot to learn about “three-horned face”.

There are lots of Triceratops fossils to found in the famous Hell Creek and Lance Formations but very few articulated, specimens have been excavated. The discovery of a superb T. horridus specimen in 2014 has helped palaeontologists to piece together more information about this iconic prehistoric animal.

The specimen was collected from private land in Montana (USA). The bones found represent about 87% of the entire skeleton and it will form part of a major dinosaur display at Melbourne Museum. The skull and neck frill are the most complete of any known Triceratops specimen (>99% complete) and the assembled frill measures over 1.48 metres wide.

The design team at CollectA have utilised some of the research into the Montana specimen along with recently published studies, reports and photographs on other Triceratops horridus specimens to create a model that reflects the latest scientific thinking.

Commenting on the significance of the Montana Triceratops specimen, Dr Erich Fitzgerald (Museums Victoria’s senior curator of palaeontology) stated:

“This is the Rosetta Stone for understanding Triceratops. Despite its popularity, there are still many unanswered questions about the anatomy and palaeobiology of Triceratops. This fossil comprises hundreds of bones including a complete skull and the entire vertebral column which will help us unlock mysteries about how this species lived 67 million years ago.”

The Skin of Triceratops

The new for 2022 CollectA Deluxe Triceratops replica has skin textures and scales that reflect what has been recorded in Triceratops horridus skin impressions.

The preserved skin of a Triceratops specimen on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (Texas, USA) indicates that this horned dinosaur had skin unlike any other ornithschian. It had substantial hexagonal tubercles (rounded, prominent scales) along with additional enormous (>10 cm across) tubercles with conical projections.

These skin impressions come from a specimen excavated in Wyoming and nick-named “Lane”. No formal scientific description has been published but the photographs that have been made available suggest that Triceratops had skin somewhat reminiscent of a Saltasaurus (titanosaur).

Model designer Anthony Beeson explained:

“The new CollectA model incorporates polygonal rosettes with central nipple-scales.”

Model Measurements

The new for 2022 CollectA Deluxe Triceratops horridus measures 28 cm in length and those impressive brow horns are some 13.6 cm off the ground. The figure has been given a scale of 1:40.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that this model is scheduled to be available around the middle of next year (2022).

To view the range of CollectA Prehistoric Life figures available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life.

To view the range of CollectA Deluxe prehistoric animals available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animal Models.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models.