Whilst on a recent visit to the Manchester Museum team members at Everything Dinosaur took the opportunity to admire the life-size Velociraptor replica on display.
Encountering a life-size Velociraptor replica at the Manchester Museum. The replica is part of a display that documents the evolution of feathers and the ancestry of modern birds. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A Life-size Velociraptor Replica on Display
The life-size Velociraptor replica has been on display for several years. It has a shaggy coat of feathers and a long tail. The tail ends in a plume. Whilst speculative, the plume suggests that the tail played a role in visual communication.
The colouration is certainly striking and reflects the markings and plumage seen in some extant birds.
Those famous second toe claws are raised, and this small dinosaur is depicted as if it were running. Perhaps it is chasing down a small lizard or some other unfortunate prey.
The head shows the delicate lower jaw, small teeth and a short tongue located towards the rear of the mouth. The tongue length is also speculative but reflects the views of many palaeontologists.
The eye has been given a vertical pupil.
A close view of the head showing the delicate lower jaw and the large eye with a vertical pupil. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A Vertical Pupil
The pupil’s function is to regulate the amount of light that enters the eye by constricting (closing) or dilating (opening) the pupil. Vertical pupils are associated with small, ambush hunters such as cats. They help these hunters see in poor light and also assist them in judging the distance between themselves and potential prey.
Getting to grips with the Beasts of the Mesozoic 1:18 scale Velociraptor mongoliensis model.
Velociraptor is thought to have been an agile hunter. The model above is a 1:18 scale Velociraptor mongoliensis replica from the Beasts of the Mesozoic range.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We always say hello to the life-size Velociraptor replica. It is a very beautiful figure and helps to demonstrate the actual size of this lithe theropod. The Velociraptor forms part of a display that highlights the link between dinosaurs and birds.”
A Victorian-era statue of a Palaeotherium magnum, an ancient mammal distantly related to horses has been rebuilt and installed at Crystal Palace. The original sculpture, designed by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, was lost in the 1960s. Thanks to a dedicated team of historians, palaeontologists and artists Palaeotherium has returned to the famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs site.
The new Palaeotherium sculpture in situ at the Park. Picture credit; James Balston.
The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs Site
The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs have Grade 1 listed status. The collection consists of around thirty figures and approximately forty geological displays. They were created in the 1850s and represent the world’s first attempt to depict life-size prehistoric animals.
Commenting on the significance of the site, evolutionary biologist at the Natural History Museum and Chair of the Friends of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, Elinor Michel stated:
“The sculptures are of huge historic and scientific importance. The display first opened twenty-eight years before the London Natural History Museum and was the first-time models of extinct creatures had been used to engage people with science and geological time. For many visitors, this was their first introduction to the idea of lost worlds of animals and environments that no longer exist.”
Victorian-era Sculptures of Prehistoric Animals
Crystal Palace might be famous for its dinosaur sculptures, but only four of the statues represent members of the Dinosauria. The other figures represent marine reptiles, pterosaurs, crocodilians, amphibians and prehistoric mammals.
A pair of Iguanodons study the Crystal Palace landscape. The Grade 1 listed statues have been undergoing extensive conservation. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The building of a life-size Palaeotherium magnum was a task taken up by Britain’s leading palaeo artist and chum of Everything Dinosaur Bob Nicholls. Friends of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, staff from the Natural History Museum and researchers from the University of Portsmouth supervised the project.
Building the Palaeotherium statue, an image of the original sculpture can be seen in the background. Picture credit: Bob Nicholls.
This is the first attempt in twenty years to replace a lost sculpture at Crystal Palace. The resurrection of Palaeotherium emphasises the importance of the work to document the changes that have taken place within the grounds.
Palaeotherium magnum
Professor Adrian Lister (London Natural History Museum) commented:
“Palaeotherium magnum is the largest among a group of five mammal species represented in the Park that lived in the Eocene some 44.5 to 33.5 million years ago when Britain was clothed in tropical forest. The size of a small, chunky pony, it was a browsing mammal some 2 metres long and 1.3 metres high.”
A life reconstruction of Palaeotherium magnum. Picture credit: Mark Witton.
The restored sculpture was unveiled at a special ceremony at Crystal Palace Park today (2nd July, 2023). As part of the events to commemorate the return of Palaeotherium, visitors were offered a conducted tour of the site.
A big crowd gathered to witness the Palaeotherium unveiling. Picture credit: Neil Scott-Sills.
Palaeotherium Project is Part of a Wider Initiative
The Palaeotherium project is part of a wider initiative to revive and conserve the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs site. Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, Historic England, the new Crystal Palace Park Trust and Bromley Council have been working together to develop a plan to protect the site. The resurrection of Palaeotherium magnum highlights a more optimistic, entertaining and enlightening future for one of the UK’s most iconic greenspaces.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the London Natural History Museum in the compilation of this article.
How did our species evolve? What does our evolutionary history tell us about being human? These questions and many more are posed in a fascinating new book edited by a leading researcher at the American Museum of Natural History. Entitled “Humans Perspectives on our Evolution from World Experts”, this new publication provides an insightful analysis into the origins and the future of our species.
Research scientist Sergio Almécija has compiled an eminent list of contributors. These experts, drawn from a variety of academic fields, share their insights on the study of human evolution. Leading figures in palaeontology, primatology, archaeology, genetics and anthropology reflect on some of the most profound questions centred around being human.
The front cover of the recently published book “Humans – Perspectives on our Evolution from World Experts”. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Evolution of Homo sapiens
Sergio Almécija has been fascinated by the multiple narratives surrounding our origins, behaviours and the prospects for our future. He has taken an innovative approach to his subject. A list of questions was compiled and then he contacted leading academics and researchers and recorded their thoughts.
Some of the questions included are:
Which discovery, research study, or book would you highlight as a “game changer” in the way we look at our own evolution? How did it influence your career or life?
If you had a one-shot round trip in a time machine, to which specific time period—past or future—would you go and why?
What will be shaping human evolution in the future? What will humans look like in 100, 100,000, or 1 million years?
How did our species evolve? Why us and not other hominids? What does it mean to be human? A new book examining human evolution with contributions from over a hundred leading academics and experts. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Perspectives on our Evolution
The eminent and accomplished cast of contributors to this new book includes Kay Behrensmeyer, Frans de Waal, Nina Jablonski, Mike Benton, Richard Leakey, Robert Sapolsky, and Ian Tattersall. In total, there are contributions from over a hundred distinguished scientists and researchers.
Published by Columbia University Press, “Humans Perspectives on our Evolution from World Experts”, is a remarkable book. It has been designed to permit the reader to dip in and out of it, to explore a variety of topics and to gain fresh insights and perspectives.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“Highly respected researchers at the very top of their game provide an insightful and informative examination of what it is like to be human. It is a very fitting compendium that caters for an essential human characteristic – our curiosity.”
“Humans Perspectives on our Evolution from World Experts” – The Details
Published by Columbia University Press. Available in both paperback, e-book and hardcover. ISBN (Paperback) = 9780231201216. Pages = 520.
Search for the author (Sergio Almécija) or by book title.
Contributors opine on the fundamental relationship our species has with the natural world and remark upon the key moments in time that have driven human evolution. In addition, many contributors provide invaluable advice for those members of our species considering embarking on similar careers.
The Everything Dinosaur spokesperson added:
“This book allows the reader to explore a cornucopia of ideas about humanity, our past, present and future. It is an engaging publication, a book that will leave you with a deep sense of wonder.”
A baby frog spotted by an Everything Dinosaur team member close to the company’s office pond. This is the first frog observed from this year’s breeding season. The tiny frog (Rana temporaria) was observed in a small patch of gravel. This area has been left and weeds allowed to grow, thus providing shelter and habitat for animal’s leaving the pond.
Can you spot the frog? The baby frog that recently emerged from the office pond. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Baby Frog Spotted (Rana temporaria)
The frog is a Common Frog (Rana temporaria). In common with all British amphibians this frog is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Garden ponds are an increasingly important habitat for them. In return, they help keep slug and snail numbers down. In short, amphibians like the Common Frog are the gardener’s friend.
The first batch of frogspawn was laid in the office pond on February 28th. This is the earliest recorded date for frogs spawning in our pond. We suspect that the spotting of a baby frog on the evening of 24th June is the earliest recorded date for observing a frog from that year’s breeding season.
A close-up view of the tiny, baby frog spotted near to the office pond. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Doing Our Bit for Conservation
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that team members had been busy looking after the office pond and removing excessive algae on a regular basis. The water level is quite low, but the pond is being carefully monitored to ensure it remains an attractive habitat for fauna and flora.
Recently, some oxygenating hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) was introduced to the pond. This plant will grow rapidly and help to combat the excessive growth of any algae. It is hardy, tough and fast growing. Hopefully, the introduction of this oxygenator will help to keep the pond in good condition and encourage lots of wildlife.
The spokesperson added:
“We like doing our bit for conservation. Many ponds around us have been filled in and we are pleased that our little pond is helping to maintain the local frog population. We shall keep observing the pond area, we might spot more baby frogs.”
Visit Everything Dinosaur’s user-friendly and award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur spotted a resting dragonfly near the office pond. The insect had just completed its final moult. It was very early in the morning, we suspect this dragonfly had emerged from the water the previous night. The final moult stage for dragonflies can last several hours. During this time, these magnificent insects are vulnerable to predation from birds.
A beautiful dragonfly spotted near the office pond in the early morning. The warm and calm weather has encouraged these stunning insects to emerge. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
A Resting Dragonfly
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that several exuvia (cast skins) had been discovered on the vegetation surrounding the office pond. This was the first time a resting dragonfly had been spotted this year (2023). The dragonfly could be a Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea).
The spokesperson explained that they did not want to get too close.
He added:
“It was wonderful to watch this stunning insect. We did not want to get too close as it had probably only just emerged from its final moult, and we did not want to startle it. Had the dragonfly been alarmed it might have damaged its beautiful wings.”
There was time to take a photograph and a few minutes later the dragonfly was airborne. It was ready to commence its life as an adult.
The new for 2023 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Majungasaurus dinosaur model is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This colourful abelisaurid joins the other recently introduced theropod dinosaur Cryolophosaurus. A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur welcomed the Majungasaurus into stock and stated:
“Majungasaurus puts Madagascar on the map when it comes to Late Cretaceous theropods”.
The new for 2023 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Majungasaurus available from Everything Dinosaur.
This striking theropod measures over 25 cm (10 inches) in length. The majestic head is approximately 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) off the ground. The dinosaur model will be supplied with an Everything Dinosaur Majungasaurus fact sheet.
Wild Safari Prehistoric World Majungasaurus in posterior view.
A Prehistoric World Majungasaurus
The Everything Dinosaur spokesperson praised Safari Ltd for adding a Majungasaurus to their model range and commented that the American company certainly had a great sense of humour, as one of the images of the model depicted this dinosaur devouring a biscuit.
Tea and biscuits with a Majungasaurus.
The colour scheme chosen depicts counter shading and the red stripes give this dinosaur a fearsome appearance. Majungasaurus was the apex predator in its environment. The model has the tiny arms of a Late Cretaceous abelisaurid. It also has a dimpled skin texture. Everything Dinosaur team members are not sure as to whether skin impressions of Majungasaurus are known.
Whilst on a short visit to the London Natural History Museum team members at Everything Dinosaur took the opportunity to visit the dinosaur gallery. Amongst the dinosaur bones and exhibits of fossil teeth, a trace fossil was spotted. It was a fossil dinosaur footprint, a specimen from the famous Lark Quarry site (Australia).
A fossil dinosaur footprint photographed at the London Natural History Museum. The exhibit features a three-toed print from the famous Lark Quarry track site in Australia. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A Fossil Dinosaur Footprint
The Lark Quarry site is regarded as one of the most remarkable non-avian trace fossils in the world. The site, near the town of Winton (Queensland, Australia) preserves the fossilised footprints of at least three different types of dinosaur. When first extensively studied, it was thought the tracks represented a large theropod disturbing smaller dinosaurs and causing a stampede.
It had been suggested that the big tridactyl prints were made by an ornithopod and not a carnivorous theropod.
Other scientists have suggested that the larger tracks were made by Australovenator. Australovenator (A. wintonensis) was named and described in 2009 (Hocknull et al). It has been classified as a member of the Megaraptoridae family. Australovenator may have been a sister taxon of Fukuiraptor, which is known from Japan.
The CollectA Australovenator replica.
The picture (above) shows a CollectA Australovenator model from the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“The Lark Quarry site is extremely important for ichnologists. The site preserves around 3,300 dinosaur tracks. The tracks have been interpreted in several ways. For example, the largest tridactyl prints could represent an ornithopod, or perhaps they were made by a theropod like Australovenator.”
The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Cryolophosaurus dinosaur model is coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur. A spokesperson from the UK-based company confirmed that the Cryolophosaurus figure was due to arrive next week.
The colourful Wild Safari Prehistoric World Cryolophosaurus dinosaur model is expected in stock at Everything Dinosaur.
Cryolophosaurus Dinosaur Model
Cryolophosaurus “frozen crested lizard”, was named and scientifically described in 1994. At around six metres in length, this theropod is thought to have been the apex predator in the Early Jurassic ecosystem associated with Antarctica. The new for 2023 Safari Ltd Cryolophosaurus sports a crimson crest. This thin crest earned this dinosaur the nickname “Elvisaurus”. The crest probably played a role in visual communication or confirming fitness for breeding.
The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Cryolophosaurus dinosaur model measures twenty centimetres in length. That beautifully sculpted head stands around eight centimetres off the ground. Sales of this dinosaur model will be sent out with a free Cryolophosaurus fact sheet. The fact sheet has been researched and written by Everything Dinosaur team members.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that Safari Ltd, was not releasing details about new models in a single press release. Introductions had been scheduled to take place throughout the year. As a result, Everything Dinosaur team members had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this colourful theropod figure.
The spokesperson added:
“It is a fantastic model. It’s great to have another dinosaur model representing the fauna of the southern part of Gondwana.”
The first tetrapods (land living animals) were amphibious. It had been thought that the development of an egg with a semi-permeable shell (amniote egg) was a fundamental step in the development of life on land. This adaptation meant that land animals did not have to return to water to breed and spawn. Freed from having to return to the water, early tetrapods could explore new environments and expand into new habitats.
However, a new paper written by researchers from Nanjing University (China) and the University of Bristol challenges this view of evolution.
The researchers conclude that the earliest reptiles, birds and mammals (Amniota), may have borne live young.
What is an Amniote?
Amniotes lay eggs that have a semi-permeable shell that protects the embryo from drying out. A tough, internal membrane called the amnion surrounds the growing embryo as well as the yolk, the food source. Development of the embryo in a shelled egg meant that for the first time in history, the tetrapods were no longer tied to water to breed. We as mammals are amniotes, along with the birds and reptiles.
The amniotic egg, showing the semipermeable shell and the extraembryonic membranes. Picture credit: M. J. Benton (University of Bristol).
Studying Extinct and Extant Species
However, a study of 51 fossil species and 29 living species which could be categorised as oviparous (laying hard or soft-shelled eggs) or viviparous (giving birth to live young) suggests that the earliest reptiles, mammals and birds probably were capable of bearing live young.
The findings, published today in the academic journal “Nature Ecology & Evolution”, show that all the great evolutionary branches of the Amniota, the Mammalia, Lepidosauria (lizards and relatives), and the Archosauria (dinosaurs, crocodilians, birds) reveal viviparity and extended embryo retention in their ancestors.
Extended embryo retention (EER) occurs when the young are retained by the mother for a varying amount of time, likely depending on when conditions are best for survival. While the hard-shelled egg (amniote egg), has often been seen as one of the greatest innovations in evolution, this research implies it was extended embryo retention that gave this particular group of animals the ultimate protection.
Professor Michael Benton (School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol) explained:
“Before the amniotes, the first tetrapods to evolve limbs from fishy fins were broadly amphibious in habits. They had to live in or near water to feed and breed, as in modern amphibians such as frogs and salamanders.”
Professor Benton added:
“When the amniotes came on the scene 320 million years ago, they were able to break away from the water by evolving waterproof skin and other ways to control water loss. But the amniotic egg was the key. It was said to be a “private pond” in which the developing reptile was protected from drying out in the warm climates and enabled the Amniota to move away from the waterside and dominate terrestrial ecosystems.”
Challenging the Standard View About Amniote Egg Evolution
Project leader and corresponding author Professor Baoyu Jiang (Nanjing University) stated:
“This standard view has been challenged. Biologists had noticed many lizards and snakes display flexible reproductive strategy across oviparity and viviparity. Sometimes, closely related species show both behaviours, and it turns out that live-bearing lizards can flip back to laying eggs much more easily than had been assumed.”
Phylogeny of amniotes, showing known reproduction mode and eggshell mineralization, and EER of 80 modern and extinct species, and the estimated ancestral states for all branching points. The dominant inferred state at the origin of amniotes is viviparity with extended embryo retention (EER). Picture credit: M.J. Benton, University of Bristol.
Many Marine Reptiles were Live-bearers
Co-author Dr Armin Elsler (University of Bristol) commented:
“Also, when we look at fossils, we find that many of them were live-bearers, including the Mesozoic marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. Other fossils, including a choristodere from the Cretaceous of China, described here, show the to-and-fro between oviparity and viviparity happened in other groups, not just in lizards.”
The picture (above) shows the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Temnodontosaurus model. The ichthyosaur is giving birth, demonstrating viviparity within the Ichthyosauria.
In many types of extant vertebrate extended embryo retention (EER) is quite common. The developing young are retained by the mother for a lesser or greater span of time. The mother delays giving birth until conditions are most favourable to permit the survival of her offspring. The mother deliberately gives birth at the most propitious time.
Co-author of the paper, Dr Joseph Keating commented:
“EER is common and variable in lizards and snakes today. Their young can be released, either inside an egg or as little wrigglers, at different developmental stages, and there appears to be ecological advantages of EER, perhaps allowing the mothers to release their young when temperatures are warm enough and food supplies are rich.”
Skeleton of a baby choristodere, Ikechuosaurus, from the Early Cretaceous of China, found curled up inside the remnants of a parchment-shelled egg. Picture credit: Baoyu Jiang (Nanjing University).
Profound Implications for our Understanding of Tetrapod Evolution
Professor Benton summarised the study:
“Our work, and that of many others in recent years, has consigned the classic ‘reptile egg’ model of the textbooks to the wastebasket. The first amniotes had evolved extended embryo retention rather than a hard-shelled egg to protect the developing embryo for a lesser or greater amount of time inside the mother, so birth could be delayed until environments become favourable.”
The professor implied that this study had profound implications for our understanding of tetrapod evolution. He added:
“Whether the first amniote babies were born in parchment eggs or as live, snapping little insect-eaters is unknown, but this adaptive parental protection gave them the advantage over spawning earlier tetrapods.”
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Bristol in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Extended embryo retention and viviparity in the first amniotes” by Baoyu Jiang, Yiming He, Armin Elsler, Shengyu Wang, Joseph N. Keating, Junyi Song, Stuart L. Kearns and Michael J. Benton published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.
A team member from Everything Dinosaur spotted an unusual stegosaur replica on display at the Manchester Museum. The label next to the armoured dinosaur figure stated that this was a Victorian stegosaur model. The model must indeed be old, as stegosaurs such as Stegosaurus stenops are viewed very differently by palaeontologists today.
A model of a stegosaur in a display cabinet in the fossils and dinosaurs gallery at the Manchester Museum. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Stegosaurus stenops
The fossilised remains of an immature Stegosaurus stenops is on display at the Natural History Museum in London. The dinosaur, nicknamed Sophie comes from Wyoming and the fossil material represents one of the most complete stegosaur fossils known to science. The skeleton consists of more than three hundred bones.
The London Natural History Museum exhibit shows a modern interpretation of this iconic herbivorous dinosaur.
Everything Dinosaur stocks a large number of armoured dinosaur figures and models.
Sophie the Stegosaurus (S. stenops), a star exhibit at the London Natural History Museum. This is a modern interpretation of this iconic armoured dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The Victorian Stegosaur Model
The Victorian stegosaur model provides a reminder to visitors about how are views of the Dinosauria have changed. The side of the figure facing the public has been fleshed out, whilst the side which is not visible shows the animal’s skeleton. Note the bones of the lower portions of the limbs on the right side which are visible in the photograph.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“This Victorian dinosaur model is not an accurate representation of a Stegosaurus. However, it does remind us how dinosaurs used to be depicted. It acts as bellwether informing visitors about how our views regarding dinosaurs such as Stegosaurus have changed over time.”
