Main Page - Part 123

29 01, 2021

New Prehistoric Times Issue 136 Reviewed

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:36:42+01:00January 29th, 2021|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Prehistoric Times Magazine Issue 136 (Winter 2021) Reviewed

Time to be cheered up by the arrival of the latest edition of “Prehistoric Times” magazine, the quarterly journal for fans of dinosaur models, prehistoric themed art and collectibles.

Adorning the front cover of issue 136 is a spectacular illustration of Deinonychus (D. antirrhopus) by the talented wildlife illustrator and palaeoartist Esther van Hulsen. The close-up view of the snout of this theropod on the front cover gives the viewer the opportunity to appreciate the details that the artist adds to her illustrations. Inside the magazine further evidence is provided with a series or artworks created by Esther van Hulsen imagining the life story of Ida the Darwinius (D. maxillae) from the Messel bituminous shales.

Can you spot the scratches on the muzzle of this theropod?

The Front Cover of “Prehistoric Times” Issue 136 – Deinonychus antirrhopus

The front cover of “Prehistoric Times” magazine issue 136.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

The Forgotten Dinosaur Art of Robert T. Bakker

Some of the dynamic dinosaur illustrations of Dr Robert “Bob” Bakker, who was a student of Dr John Ostrom, who named and described Deinonychus, are also featured in this magazine. Canadian palaeontologists Darren Tanke and Jordan Mallon provide an insightful guide to these influential artworks that challenged the long held assumption that the Dinosauria were slow and sluggish animals. Randy Knol also demonstrates how our views about dinosaurs have changed by looking at some the latest models of Spinosaurus, a theropod that has been completely revised and is now regarded as a semi-aquatic predator.

The Limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus Model from 2019 Features in the Spinosaurus Model Review

Papo Spinosaurus (limited edition) in stock at Everything Dinosaur.

Everything Dinosaur stocks the limited edition Papo Spinosaurus dinosaur model. This 2019 Papo dinosaur model is featured in an article that looks how Spinosaurus models have changed over time.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows the limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus model.

To view the range of Papo prehistoric animal figures in stock: Papo Prehistoric Animal Figures.

The Sauropods

John Lavas continues an exploration of the work of Zdeněk Burian and focuses on his illustrations of sauropods. The author frames the illustrations produced by the ground-breaking Czech artist by summarising the early research into these ground-shaking leviathans. Burian painted a total of five sauropod genera and although the accepted view at the time was that these huge animals were semi-aquatic, Burian chose to depict the main subject of the artwork on terra firma. The enabled him to reveal the shape of the dinosaur’s body more clearly.

Diplodocus carnegii by Zdeněk Burian (Depicting the Fauna and Flora of the Morrison Formation of the United States of America)

Diplodocus life reconstruction by Burian painted in 1952.

An illustration of Diplodocus (D. carnegii) by Burian.

Picture credit: Zdeněk Burian

Phil Hore provides the lowdown on the bizarre Longisquama complete with superb reader submitted drawings by Cody Zaiser, Mike Laudry and Jeff Slack. He also discusses the armoured dinosaur Sauropelta and this article features lots of amazing armoured dinosaur artwork too.

We were particularly impressed with the sleeping Sauropelta image submitted by Marcus Burkhardt. Tracey Lee Ford chimes in, continuing the Thyreophora theme by looking at how to draw Ankylosaurus and if you wanted to know what Scottish scientist and writer Dougal Dixon did in lockdown to keep himself busy, then read the double page spread that starts on page 28.

Recent news stories featuring fossil discoveries are covered in the “Paleonews” section, look out for an update on the hunting strategy of Deinonychus and a stark revision of Dilophosaurus. As always “Prehistoric Times” is crammed full of fascinating stories, artwork and features.

To subscribe to this quarterly magazine: Subscribe to Prehistoric Times.

28 01, 2021

Rare Prehistoric Shark Models Resurface

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:32:42+01:00January 28th, 2021|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|4 Comments

Safari Ltd Prehistoric Sharks Toob Back in Stock

Originally launched in 2011 but then retired in 2017, Everything Dinosaur is delighted to announce that team members have been able to secure a limited stock of the rare Safari Ltd prehistoric sharks toob. This exciting set of ten prehistoric shark figures is now back in stock at the UK-based specialist prehistoric animal model and dinosaur replica company.

The Safari Ltd Prehistoric Sharks Toob is Back in Stock at Everything Dinosaur

The Safari Ltd prehistoric sharks toob. A set of ten different prehistoric shark models demonstrating the diversity of the shark family through deep time.

The Ultimate Marine Predator

Sharks have been around for more than 400 million years. Sharks are part of the Chondrichthyes, the fish with cartilaginous skeletons. There is some evidence to indicate that the first sharks evolved in the Late Ordovician geological period around 450 million years ago, but many palaeontologists consider that this subclass of the Chondrichthyes (the Elasmobranchii), first appeared in marine environments during the Silurian.

The Safari Ltd prehistoric sharks toob celebrates the diversity of these highly successful marine vertebrates. Each of the ten different models represents an important shark genus from the fossil record ranging from the Late Devonian to the very end of the Mesozoic and possibly into the early Cenozoic too.

The Ten Different Shark Models in the Safari Ltd Prehistoric Sharks Model Toob

The shark models in the Safari Ltd prehistoric sharks toob.

Ten prehistoric sharks models in the Safari Ltd prehistoric sharks toob. Can you identify them all?

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“When first introduced ten years ago the Safari Ltd prehistoric sharks toob proved very popular with model makers re-creating ancient marine environments. These shark replicas were very useful when creating prehistoric underwater scenes. If the scene featured a Dunkleosteus for example, then one of the Safari Ltd prehistoric sharks figures could be added to help give the diorama more authenticity. If the underwater scene focused on a pliosaur or perhaps a mosasaur, then other figures from this set representing sharks which were contemporaneous could be added.”

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

To view the Safari Ltd prehistoric sharks toob and the other figures available from Everything Dinosaur in this model range: Safari Ltd and Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models.

27 01, 2021

Ancient Placoderm Could Turn Vertebrate Evolution on its Head

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:30:02+01:00January 27th, 2021|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Cutting-edge Technology Provides New Insights into Ancient Fish

Sophisticated, cutting-edge MicroCT scanning employed to look inside the fossilised skull of a prehistoric fish from the Early Devonian of New South Wales (Australia), has provided scientists with new insights into early vertebrate evolution and challenged the current view regarding the phylogeny and taxonomy of the bony, armoured prehistoric fishes known collectively as placoderms.

The research team, which included scientists from the University of Birmingham, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and colleagues based in Australia and Sweden, used MicroCT scanning to view the internal structures of the skull of a 400 million-year-old Brindabellaspis (Brindabellaspis stensioi) specimen. A fish nicknamed the “platypus fish” due to its elongated snout.

Ancient Placoderm Study

Computer software was used to create a digital reconstruction of brain cavity and the inner ear. The team discovered that Brindabellaspis possessed an inner ear that was surprisingly compact with closely connected components resembling the inner ear of modern jawed vertebrates such as sharks and bony fishes. Some features of the inner ear from this ancient fish are remarkably similar to the structure of our own inner ear.

A Digital Model Showing the Skull and its Constituent Parts (Brindabellaspis stensioi)

A digital model of the skull of Brindabellaspis stensioi.

The skull of Brindabellaspis stensioi digitally recreated after MicroCT scan analysis.

Picture credit: Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology

Important Implications for the Placodermi

Brindabellaspis is a member of the Placodermi, a diverse, geographically and temporally widespread class of armoured fish which thrived during the Devonian between 420 and 360 million years ago. Most placoderms have less complex inner ear structures, with a large sac, called a vestibule, placed in the centre and separating all the other components. The remarkably well-preserved and three-dimensional nature of the specimens from New South Wales provided the research team with an opportunity to examine the brain cavity and inner ear of Brindabellaspis for the first time.

Their findings could change the way in which the tree of life representing early vertebrates is constructed.

Life Reconstruction of a Devonian fish – The Giant Placoderm Dunkleosteus

A stunning model of an ancient placoderm – the PNSO Dunkleosteus model.

The picture above shows a replica of Dunkleosteus, a giant placoderm. The model is from the PNSO range of figures.

To view this range: PNSO Prehistoric Animal Models.

Re-writing the Evolutionary History of Early Vertebrates

Previous studies had suggested that prehistoric fish such as Brindabellaspis were closely related to primitive, jawless fish (agnathans), that first evolved around 500 million years ago. This study challenges the assumption that placoderms are a distinct group, as considerable variation has been identified in the brain cavities and inner ears of “placoderms”.

Furthermore, this research suggests the possibility that these types of fish may be the ancestors of modern jawed vertebrates (the Gnathostomata).

Co-author of the scientific paper, published in the journal Current Biology, Dr Sam Giles (University of Birmingham), stated:

“The inner ear structure is so delicate and fragile that it is rarely preserved in fossils, so being able to use these new techniques to re-examine specimens and discover this wealth of new information is very exciting. This fossil has revealed a really intriguing mosaic of primitive features and a surprisingly modern inner ear. We don’t yet know for certain what this means in terms of our understanding of how modern jawed vertebrates evolved, but it’s likely that virtual anatomy techniques are going to be a critical tool for piecing together this fascinating jigsaw puzzle.”

Sensitive Snouts

An earlier research paper suggested that the snout of Brindabellaspis was sensitive and may have played a role in locating food or avoiding predators. To read Everything Dinosaur’s article from 2018 about this study: A Primitive Placoderm Platypus Fish from Australia.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Birmingham in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Endocast and Bony Labyrinth of a Devonian “Placoderm” Challenges Stem Gnathostome Phylogeny” by You-an Zhu, Sam Giles, Gavin C. Young, Yuzhi Hu, Mohamed Bazzi, Per E. Ahlberg, Min Zhu and Jing Lu published in Current Biology.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

26 01, 2021

Preparing for the W-Dragon Spinosaurus Replica

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:27:27+01:00January 26th, 2021|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

Preparing for the W-Dragon Spinosaurus Replica

Everything Dinosaur team members are busy preparing for the imminent arrival of the Spinosaurus replica from W-Dragon. If all goes to plan the shipment of these models should dock in a few days at the port of Southampton in Hampshire and once cleared by UK customs these dinosaur models should be heading towards our warehouse. We expect to have these Spinosaurus figures in stock around the 9th of February (2021) or thereabouts.

The W-Dragon Spinosaurus Dinosaur Model

The superb W-Dragon Spinosaurus dinosaur replica. This figure interprets Spinosaurus as a bipedal theropod dinosaur. It has been inspired by depictions of Spinosaurus in famous movies and television documentaries. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We have been working with W-Dragon for some time, helping them to understand the importance of product testing and certification. We hope to have this figure in stock very soon, it will be joining the excellent W-Dragon Giganotosaurus replica that arrived just before Christmas (2020).”

The W-Dragon Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Model at Everything Dinosaur

The W-Dragon Giganotosaurus dinosaur model. The battle scars on the figure can be seen, the dinosaur is blind in one eye – an example of the superb craftsmanship associated with this W-Dragon figure. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Toys.

A Special Spinosaurus Production Run

Everything Dinosaur negotiated a special production run of the W-Dragon Spinosaurus. All the stock that has been made is on the shipment heading towards the UK. Fans of this model range will be able to access the W-Dragon Spinosaurus from a 5-star rated model supplier with the ability to despatch product globally.

The Sail-backed Spinosaurus Figure is Currently Sailing Towards Everything Dinosaur’s Warehouse

A close-up view of the head of the W-Dragon Spinosaurus dinosaur model.

A close-up view of the W-Dragon Spinosaurus – it is a green-eyed monster! This beautiful and very detailed dinosaur model has been given green eyes.

To view the current range of W-Dragon prehistoric animal models available from Everything Dinosaur: W-Dragon Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Replicas.

25 01, 2021

Baby Tyrannosaurs Born Ready to Hunt

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:22:49+01:00January 25th, 2021|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Baby Tyrannosaurs Born Ready to Hunt

A new scientific paper published this week suggests that tyrannosaurs were able to hunt and to look after themselves soon after they hatched. In addition, tyrannosaur hatchlings were surprisingly large, perhaps more than a metre long when they broke out of their eggs and if this the case, then tyrannosaur eggs would have been colossal, perhaps larger than any other dinosaur egg known to science.

A Life Reconstruction of a Baby Tyrannosaur

Juvenile tyrannosaur life reconstruction.

A life reconstruction of a juvenile tyrannosaur. This illustration by the talented palaeoartist Julius Csotonyi, depicts a baby tyrannosaur covered in a coat of insulating protofeathers.

Picture credit: Julius Csotonyi

As Big as a Collie Dog

Writing in the latest edition of the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, the scientists which include such eminent figures as Phil Currie, “Jack” Horner and Stephen Brusatte, have written up an on-line presentation from last October which took place at the virtual Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology Conference and they indicate that young tyrannosaurs were big babies. With a length of in excess of 1 metre, that’s about the size of a border collie dog.

A Model of a Young Tyrannosaurus rex

A young T. rex. Research suggests that Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurs may have been around a metre in length when very young. Rare fossil bones from perinatal tyrannosaurs from North America also suggest that these predators were highly developed and capable of hunting for themselves – precocial development – mobile and relatively fully developed when first hatched.

The model (above) is from the CollectA Prehistoric Life Age of Dinosaurs range.

To view this range: CollectA Prehistoric Life Figures.

Perinatal Tyrannosaurid Bones and Teeth

Perinatal tyrannosaurid bones and teeth from the Campanian–Maastrichtian of western North America provide the first window into this critical period of the life of a tyrannosaurid. An embryonic dentary (Daspletosaurus horneri) from the Two Medicine Formation of Montana, measuring just 3 cm in length, already exhibits distinctive tyrannosaurine characters like a “chin” and a deep Meckelian groove, and reveals the earliest stages of tooth development. When considered together with a remarkably large embryonic claw bone (ungual) from the Horseshoe Canyon Formation of Alberta and believed to have come from an Albertosaurus sarcophagus, a minimum hatchling size for tyrannosaurids could be estimated by the research team.

Corresponding author for the paper, Gregory Funston (University of Edinburgh), stated:

“It appears that tyrannosaurs were born ready to hunt, already possessing some of the key adaptations that gave tyrannosaurs their powerful bites. So, it’s likely that they were capable of hunting fairly quickly after birth, but we need more fossils to tell exactly how fast that was.”

Tyrannosaur Babies Bigger than Other Dinosaur Babies

The dentary and the claw bone indicate that Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurs were bigger than any other known dinosaur babies. The researchers conclude that they must have hatched from enormous eggs, perhaps exceeding the 43 cm length of largest dinosaur eggs described to date.

The Embryonic Tyrannosaur Dentary

Daspletosaurus horneri juvenile jawbone.

The fossilised lower jawbone (dentary) of a Daspletosaurus horneri, one of the first baby tyrannosaurs ever discovered.

Picture credit: Gregory F. Funston (University of Edinburgh)

Studying Embryonic Fossil Material

Co-author of the paper, Mark Powers a PhD student at the University of Alberta (Canada), commented:

“Tyrannosaurs are represented by dozens of skeletons and thousands of isolated bones or partial skeletons, but despite this wealth of data for tyrannosaur biology, the smallest identifiable individuals are aged three to four years old, much larger than when they would have hatched. No tyrannosaur eggs or embryos have been found even after 150 years of searching—until now.”

The study, focused on the two fossils representing perinatal development of tyrannosaurids. The ungual was found near Morrin in the province of Alberta, whilst the dentary came from Montana. The ungual is approximately 71.5 million years old, and the jawbone a little older at around 75 million years old.

Comparing the Tyrannosaurid Fossil Material with Dr Funston and an Adult Albertosaurus

Comparing the juvenile tyrannosaur specimens.

This diagram compares the size of a full-grown Albertosaurus with that of palaeontologist Greg Funston and the two dinosaur embryos whose toe claw and jawbone were identified in a newly published study.

Picture credit: Gregory F. Funston (University of Edinburgh)

Mark Powers, who completed the research as a master’s student supervised by Phil Currie added:

“The discovery of embryonic material is a huge find in our efforts to understand how some of the most popular and charismatic dinosaurs began their life and grew to immense sizes. It provides a much-needed—and until now, missing—data point depicting the starting point for tyrannosaur growth.”

Surprising Results

The researchers were surprised to find that the small tyrannosaur teeth in the lower jaw were distinct from the teeth of older tyrannosaurids. They had not developed true serrations running along the cutting edges. In addition, the toe claw (specimen number UALVP 59599), came from an animal estimated to be about 1.1 metres long, whilst the tiny jawbone (MOR 268), came from a tyrannosaur around 71 cm in length.

The size estimates for perinatal tyrannosaurs based on this study reinforce the work of the late American-Canadian palaeontologist Dale Russell, who back in 1970 provided some of the first insights into tyrannosaur development and ontogeny. This study was published in a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences which honours the contribution made to vertebrate palaeontology by Professor Russell.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Alberta in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Baby tyrannosaurid bones and teeth from the Late Cretaceous of western North America” by Gregory F. Funston, Mark J. Powers, S. Amber Whitebone, Stephen L. Brusatte, John B. Scannella, John R. Horner and Philip J. Currie published in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences.

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

24 01, 2021

Updating the Exclusive Feefo Platinum Award (2021)

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:21:37+01:00January 24th, 2021|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Updating the Feefo Platinum Customer Service Award on the Everything Dinosaur Website

It has been a busy week for team members at Everything Dinosaur. For example, as well as packing and despatching all the orders for customers, staff have been busy updating the Everything Dinosaur website to reflect their award of the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service accolade.

The Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award

The announcement of this award may only have taken place a couple of days ago, but team members have not been resting on their laurels, they have been busy adding the new Feefo service badges for 2021 to the website. In addition, the company picked up a further thirteen 5-star service scores from customers over the period January 21st to January 23rd (2021).

A New Feefo Trusted Customer Service Award Badge to Add to Everything Dinosaur’s Website

Everything Dinosaur has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award. This badge has been added to the Everything Dinosaur website in recognition of this achievement.

Picture credit: Feefo

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

Only the very best businesses, the ones providing a tip-top experience for their customers, as rated by genuine customer reviews get to place such a badge onto a website.

What is Feefo?

Feefo is a global technology company empowering brands to make smarter decisions and improve consumer experiences by leveraging the full potential of real customer reviews.

Feefo’s cutting-edge review platform is trusted by more than 3,500 brands including Next, Vauxhall, Iceland, Mazda, Expedia, Michael Page and JCB, who rely on it to supply smart insights that transform their ability to market, sell and build more rewarding relationships with customers.

23 01, 2021

Planning for New Papo 2021/2

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:17:36+01:00January 23rd, 2021|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

Planning for Papo 2021/2

As Papo are intending to introduce just two prehistoric animal models in 2021 Everything Dinosaur has been looking at ways in which the number of new Papo models could be increased. Like most manufacturers, Papo’s plans for 2021 were severely disrupted with the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, lots of factories have had delays and difficulties with production, it is not just the prehistoric animal model industry that has suffered.

However, Papo are intensely aware of just how enthusiastically model collectors greet new Papo figures, especially those prehistoric animals in the “Les Dinosaures” range. With only two figures to be introduced in 2021, namely a young Smilodon and a Megalodon shark model (model numbers 55081 and 55087 respectively), Papo understands that some model collectors may be feeling a little hard done by.

Two New Prehistoric Animal Figures to be Introduced by Papo in 2021

New Papo prehistoric animal models for 2021.

Two new models to be introduced by Papo in 2021 the young Smilodon (55081) and a Megalodon shark model (55087). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

No Papo Dinosaurs Planned for 2021

For the first time, there are no new dinosaur models to be added to the Papo range. Papo has dramatically expanded its “Les Dinosaures” model range in recent years with an average of five new models being added every year to the range since 2015. It is true that not all these figures have been new sculpts, there has been a trend in recent years to introduce colour variants of existing models, but across all Papo’s model ranges the French manufacturer had continually increased the number of figures available.

Plotting the Growth in the Number of Papo Prehistoric Animal Models Available (2015 – 2020)

Papo dinosaur and prehistoric animal model introductions 2015 - 2021.

Papo prehistoric animal model introductions 2015 to 2021. In 2018 a “Les Dinosaures” Land of Dinosaurs play set was also added to the range. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The graph shows the number of Papo figures added to the company’s range of prehistoric animal models since 2015. The blue Papo logo represents new sculpts, whereas the older green Papo logo represents the introduction of new colour variants or a reissue of a previously retired figure. The last time only two new figures were added to the Papo portfolio of prehistoric animals was in 2015 when the young Apatosaurus and the Tupuxuara pterosaur model were introduced.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We have made a number of suggestions to Papo’s senior management about possibly adding to the range of figures available this year. We have suggested the introduction of a new colour variant of the popular Papo Triceratops model, the reissue of a retired figure such as the Woolly Rhinoceros replica, or the production of a gift set for the Christmas market. Papo have respectively listened to our proposals and in addition they have carefully considered the views and suggestions from our customers.”

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

With both the young Smilodon and the Megalodon model not likely to be available until later in the year (both models are scheduled for a quarter 4 introduction), there will be some time to wait before any new Papo prehistoric animal figures come into stock. However, Everything Dinosaur and Papo are doing what they can to try to bring forward the production of new figures.

We shall do our best to keep all Papo model collectors informed.

In the meantime, to view the range of Papo prehistoric animal models available from Everything Dinosaur: Papo Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Models.

22 01, 2021

Limb Bone Research Confirms Large Pterosaurs Across Laramida

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:14:46+01:00January 22nd, 2021|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Single Bone Suggests Large Pterosaurs Across Both North and South Laramidia

A single bone from a large pterosaur tentatively described as an ulna found in 2016 has confirmed the presence of large flying reptiles in terrestrial ecosystems in both north and south Laramidia during the Late Cretaceous.

Writing in the on-line, academic journal “PeerJ”, Dr Andrew Farke of the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Palaeontology (Claremont, California), reports that the 36 cm long bone from a bonebed within the middle unit of the Kaiparowits Formation (Utah), extends the distribution of large pterosaurs across terrestrial environments during the Campanian of western North America.

Views of the Single Pterosaur Bone with Accompanying Line Drawings

RAM 22574 pterosaur limb bone and line drawings

Views of the pterosaur limb bone with accompanying line drawings. Note scale bar = 10 cm.

Picture credit: Farke (PeerJ)

The picture above shows various views of the single pterosaur limb bone (specimen number RAM 22574). Dorsal (A), proximal (B) with anterior (C) and dorsal (D) views, whilst E and F represent ventral and posterior views. Line drawing (G) shows an interpretation of the posterior view with missing parts shaded and line drawing H shows a posterior view of the complete and restored bone. The large size of the bone has permitted Dr Farke to make an estimate of the wingspan of the pterosaur. He estimates that this bone came from an individual with a wingspan between 4.3 and 5.9 metres. This bone is the largest pterosaur fossil reported to date from the Kaiparowits Formation.

Based on these estimates, the Kaiparowits Formation specimen is roughly comparable in size to Cryodrakon boreas an azhdarchid pterosaur known from the Dinosaur Park Formation of southern Alberta, Canada which was formally named and described in 2019: The First Pterosaur Unique to Canada is Described Cryodrakon boreas.

Significant Pterosaur Fossil Finds Associated with Terrestrial Environments in Late Cretaceous North America

Late Cretaceous major pterosaur fossil finds in western North America.

Major pterosaur fossil finds from late Campanian-aged terrestrial depositional environments in western North America.

Picture credit: Farke (PeerJ) with additional annotation from Everything Dinosaur (silhouettes based on work from Naish and Witton)

Silhouettes are scaled to maximum estimates of wingspan for individual specimens. The silhouette for RAM 22574 shows the minimum (black) and maximum (green) size estimates for the specimen (4.3 to 5.9 metre wingspan).

The strata in southern Alberta (Dinosaur Park Formation) from which C. boreas comes from was laid down shortly after the portion of the Kaiparowits Formation associated with this single pterosaur bone. Thus, Dr Farke concludes that relatively large pterosaurs occurred in terrestrial ecosystems in both the northern and southern parts of Laramidia (western North America), during the late Campanian.

The scientific paper: “A large pterosaur limb bone from the Kaiparowits Formation (late Campanian) of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA” by Andrew A. Farke published in PeerJ.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Prehistoric Animal Toys.

21 01, 2021

Preparing a New Web Image Promoting PNSO

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:12:33+01:00January 21st, 2021|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

Preparing a New Web Image Promoting PNSO

Everything Dinosaur team members have been busy preparing, packing and despatching all the new PNSO prehistoric animal model orders to customers. As well as spending a lot of time in the packing room, they have also ensured that they have promoted the new PNSO arrivals on their various social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. The Everything Dinosaur website has also been updated with a new home page image highlighting the diverse range of newly arrived PNSO prehistoric animals. A new web page design has been created to promote PNSO dinosaur models.

A New Visual Has Been Prepared Promoting the New for 2021 PNSO Prehistoric Animal Figures

New PNSO figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur

Preparing a new publicity image for the new for 2021 PNSO prehistoric animal models. Can you name all the figures in the picture? Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

PNSO Dinosaur Models – A New Slider for the Website

The new slider for the Everything Dinosaur website features a total of eight PNSO figures, seven dinosaurs and an image of the packaging of Zewail the Atopodentatus, a bizarre, Triassic marine reptile, fossils of which come appropriately, from China. The image shows in the top left Audrey the Lambeosaurus, complete with its magnificent, reticulated colour scheme, (inspired by an extant giraffe, which the design team at PNSO were also working on when the Lambeosaurus was in development). Next to the Lambeosaurus is an overhead view of the stegosaur known as Qichuan (Tuojiangosaurus). A larger image of Brian the Pachyrhinosaurus can be seen (bottom right) and this partly obscures the Atopodentatus product packaging.

A Dorsal (Overhead) View of Qichuan the Tuojiangosaurus Features on the New Everything Dinosaur Visual

The PNSO Qichuan the Tuojiangosaurus dinosaur model (dorsal view).

An overhead (dorsal) view of the new for 2021 PNSO Tuojiangosaurus dinosaur model.

A Partial View of the PNSO Borealopelta

In the top right corner of the new Everything Dinosaur web visual, an image of Gavin the Borealopelta lurks. There is a small picture of Caroline the Corythosaurus adjacent to the Borealopelta’s muzzle and a Microraptor model (Gaoyuan the Microraptor), which came into stock at Everything Dinosaur in quarter 3 of last year (2020), can also be seen in the image too. The eighth figure (centre top), is an image of the packaging of the eagerly awaited Essien the Spinosaurus, another exciting addition to the PNSO mid-size model range.

To view all the new PNSO prehistoric animals in stock at Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.

20 01, 2021

An Exclusive Award for Everything Dinosaur!

By Mike|2024-05-18T17:10:56+01:00January 20th, 2021|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur Wins Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award 2021

Everything Dinosaur has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award, an independent seal of excellence that recognises businesses for delivering exceptional experiences, as rated by real customers. This is the second year in a row the UK-based retailer of prehistoric animal models and toys has been awarded this accolade, the highest award for customer service offered by Feefo the independent ratings agency.

Award Winning Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur Awarded Platinum Trusted Service for 2021

Top customer service award for Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur has been awarded the Platinum Trusted Service accolade from Feefo.

Picture credit: Feefo

Top Customer Service Award for Everything Dinosaur

Created by Feefo, Trusted Service is awarded only to businesses that use Feefo to collect genuine reviews, feedback and insights. Companies who meet this exceptionally high customer service standard, based on the number of reviews they have collected and their average rating, receive the Platinum accolade. This is a highly valued seal of approval, the accreditation remains unique, as it is based purely on interactions with genuine customers. The awarded accreditation is a true reflection of Everything Dinosaur’s commitment to outstanding customer service.

Everything Dinosaur Has Award-winning Customer Service

The Feefo Platinum Service Award. Everything Dinosaur has award-winning customer service.

Picture credit: Feefo

The Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award Criteria

Feefo gives Platinum Trusted Service awards to companies that have achieved the Feefo Gold standard for three consecutive years or more, although adjustments have been made to accommodate those organisations that were closed or otherwise affected due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, for Everything Dinosaur, their dedicated team members have won Feefo’s highest honour without the judging panel having to consider the impact on the business due to the pandemic.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“We are delighted to have won this award for the second year running. This award is based on the feedback, views and comments from real customers and in what has been an extraordinarily difficult year it is tremendous for Everything Dinosaur to have been able to maintain its high customer service standards.”

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Congratulations to Everything Dinosaur

Congratulating Everything Dinosaur on winning this year’s award, the Director of Customer Success at Feefo Steph Heasman, commented:

“The Trusted Service award has always been about recognising companies that are outstanding in customer experience and generate great feedback from happy customers. I’m confident that throughout 2021 we’ll see even greater customer experience achievements from our partners as we return to something like business-as-usual.”

Winning the Platinum Trusted Service Award

Everything Dinosaur has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award.

Picture credit: Feefo

For dinosaur models and prehistoric animal figures: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

For prehistoric plush: Dinosaur Soft Toys.