Press Releases - Part 16

9 05, 2023

Beautiful and Cute Horseshoe Crab Soft Toy

By Mike|2024-01-02T20:22:32+00:00May 9th, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur has added a horseshoe crab soft toy to its range of prehistoric plush. The horseshoe crab is very cuddly, sponge washable and is a wonderful new addition to the company’s prehistoric animal soft toy range.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Horseshoe Crab Soft Toy

Animals in the family Limulidae are called “horseshoe crabs” due to the shape of their carapace which is shaped like a horseshoe. These ancient animals are not crabs. The first of these amazing creatures is thought to have evolved around 480 million years ago in the Ordovician. Often described as “living fossils” the four remaining species are the last representatives of the family, which was much more diverse in prehistoric times. Their body shape has not changed for millions of years.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Important Animals for Medical Research

These ancient creatures, with their famous, blue-coloured blood are playing an important role in medicine.

In the 1950s, researchers noticed that the blood of the western Atlantic horseshoe crab species (called Limulus polyphemus by scientists) clots quickly when exposed to certain bacteria. With further study, scientists determined that a compound called LAL (short for Limulus Amebocyte Lysate) is responsible for the clotting. LAL acts as a safeguard for the animals, reacting when it comes into contact with bacteria, fungi, and perhaps most importantly, proteins called endotoxins that are part of the cell structure of certain bacteria.

If these endotoxins get into a person’s bloodstream, they can cause a range of problems from fever to burst blood vessels in the brain. Even after an item has been sterilised of live bacteria, endotoxins can be residual. Researchers quickly saw the potential to use LAL as a simple, reliable test for endotoxins and developed methods to extract the compound. These ancient and increasingly rare marine animals continue to be studied by scientists, keen to understand more about their unique physiology.

An Everything Dinosaur Fact Sheet

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur welcomed the arrival of the horseshoe crab soft toy. It joins several other Palaeozoic plush such as the ammonite and belemnite soft toys.

The spokesperson stated:

“It is a very colourful prehistoric animal soft toy. This item of prehistoric plush has bright red legs, a cream-coloured underside and a brown carapace. It has beautiful, cute eyes and a long soft tail. The horseshoe crab soft toy is a welcome addition to our soft toy range.”

An Everything Dinosaur horseshoe crab fact sheet will be sent out with sales of this new soft toy.

To view the range of prehistoric animal soft toys available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Soft Toys.

8 05, 2023

Happy Birthday, Sir David Attenborough!

By Mike|2023-05-03T10:19:18+01:00May 8th, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Famous Figures, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Today, is the ninety-seventh birthday of Sir David Attenborough. On behalf of everyone at Everything Dinosaur we would like to wish Sir David “Many Happy Returns”. Over his extraordinary career, this British naturalist and broadcaster has seen the world change in dramatic and astonishing ways.

One huge and very recent development is the advance of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). To illustrate this, we have asked ChatGPT to write today’s Everything Dinosaur blog post. ChatGPT writing a tribute to Sir David Attenborough.

Honouring Sir David Attenborough — *Many Happy Returns Sir David Attenborough!*

ChatGPT Pays Tribute to Sir David Attenborough

Sir David Attenborough is one of the most beloved broadcasters of all time. His career has spanned over seven decades, and his work has made an incredible impact on our understanding of the natural world. On May 8th, 2023, he will be celebrating his 97th birthday, and it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate his incredible achievements and contributions.

Sir David Attenborough’s broadcasting career began in 1952, when he joined the BBC. He quickly gained a reputation for his exceptional knowledge and skill in presenting natural history programmes. He has since presented a variety of programmes, including Life on Earth, The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, and Frozen Planet. Each of these programmes has gone on to become hugely popular, and they have had a major impact on our understanding of the natural world.

In addition to his broadcasting work, Sir David Attenborough has also written numerous books and articles on natural history topics. He has also been an active campaigner for environmental conservation. He has spoken out against climate change and the destruction of natural habitats, and he has worked to promote sustainable practices.

Beloved Figure in Conservation and Environmentalism

Sir David Attenborough is one of the most beloved figures in conservation and environmentalism. His decades of work have had a profound impact on the way people think about the environment, inspiring countless others to take action and protect our planet.

Sir David’s passion for the natural world is evident in his work. He is a master storyteller, with the ability to capture both the beauty and fragility of our planet in ways that inspire us to appreciate and protect it. He has used his platform as a natural historian and broadcaster to engage millions of people across the world in conversations around conservation and sustainability.

Our thanks to ChatGPT for creating this short tribute to Sir David Attenborough.

Happy Birthday!

We asked the artificial intelligence software to generate a birthday message.

This is what ChatGPT produced:

“Happy Birthday, Sir David Attenborough! You have truly made a remarkable impact on the world of natural history, and we are so grateful for your immense contributions to the environment. Wishing you a wonderful day filled with joy and happiness!”

We could not have put this better ourselves…

This blog post provides a demonstration of the power and scope of GenAI. It is going to change the world, hopefully for the benefit of all humanity.

As for the Everything Dinosaur blog, we will continue to invest our own time and use our own efforts to produce posts. If we utilise artificial intelligence in any future article, we will make sure to inform our readers.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

7 05, 2023

A Superb Drawing of a Parasaurolophus Head

By Mike|2024-03-09T15:55:09+00:00May 7th, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Our thanks to young artist Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur a superb drawing of the head of a Parasaurolophus. We were informed that Parasaurolophus is one of Caldey’s favourite dinosaurs. She enjoyed its brief appearance in the first “Jurassic Park” movie. It is a superb Parasaurolophus drawing.

Picture credit: Caldey

Parasaurolophus Head Drawing

The young artist has given her Parasaurolophus an impressive head crest and the blue motif works exceptionally well. It is thought that these lambeosaurine hadrosaurs had colour vision. So, why not give the Parasaurolophus a colourful appearance. Caldey has taken great care to include details of the skin and the dinosaur’s skin texture. The beak has been drawn accurately. In addition, that is a very impressive and professional signature that has been incorporated into the drawing.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Our thanks to Caldey for sending in her illustration. It is superb. Team members have had to prepare a script all about Parasaurolophus. The script was required for a series of short YouTube videos being created to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the film Jurassic Park.”

Parasaurolophus in “Jurassic Park”

Parasaurolophus may only have a relatively minor role in the 1993 film. However, its fleeting screen appearance sets the scene for what is to come in the rest of the film and vividly demonstrates how our perception of the Dinosauria has radically changed.

Our thanks to Caldey for sending in her Parasaurolophus illustration.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

28 04, 2023

UK Government Cracking Down on Fake Reviews

By Mike|2023-04-30T08:52:43+01:00April 28th, 2023|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases, Product Reviews|0 Comments

The UK Government has published proposals for new legislation, part of which will help involve the cracking down on fake reviews. Firm action is promised against fake reviews as part of the Digital markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. This Act is likely to become law in 2024.

Everything Dinosaur customers can be assured that every review published on the website, every Google review and all the customer feedback posted by Feefo is absolutely genuine.

Our dedication to customer service and the way that we try to help and support customers is reflected in the considerable number of awards that Everything Dinosaur has won. For example, Everything Dinosaur has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award every year since this accolade’s inception.

Platinum Trusted Service Award — *Everything Dinosaur has won the prestigious Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award ever year that it has been offered. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Chamber of Commerce Customer Service Award

Our local branch of the Chamber of Commerce recognised our dedication and customer service when Everything Dinosaur was the winner of the Excellence in Customer Service award.

Everything Dinosaur wins award for customer service. — Mike and Sue of Everything Dinosaur proudly show their certificate and trophy after winning the Excellence in Customer Service Award at the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Cracking Down on Fake Reviews

The proposed UK Government legislation includes draft provisions making it illegal to:

Commission someone to write or submit a fake review.
Post consumer reviews without taking reasonable steps to check that they are genuine.
Offer or advertise to submit, commission or facilitate fake reviews.

As Everything Dinosaur has reported before, the company does receive unsolicited emails from individuals/organisations offering fake reviews and other dubious services.

To read a recent Everything Dinosaur blog post about one such approach: Everything Dinosaur – All Genuine Reviews.

The Bill, once it comes into force will give the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) greater powers to take “swift and decisive action” against lawbreakers on behalf of UK consumers.

Feefo Takes the Lead

Feefo, the world-leading real customer review platform ensures that only verified buyers are asked to leave a review of your business. There are no fake reviews. Over 6,000 brands including Everything Dinosaur already benefit from Feefo’s services. They guarantee real feedback whilst providing genuine insight from real customers.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are grateful that Feefo is taking the lead. Fake reviews mislead customers and cause unfair competition. We welcome any legislation that helps to protect consumers.”

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

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

To view Feefo reviews about Everything Dinosaur’s products and customer service: Feefo Provides Customer Reviews About Everything Dinosaur.

27 04, 2023

The Rebor Tyrannosaurus rex “Kiss” Mountain Back in Stock

By Mike|2023-04-26T21:46:36+01:00April 27th, 2023|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The extremely popular Rebor Tyrannosaurus rex “Kiss” Mountain 1:35 scale replica is back in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Initial stock of this beautifully painted T. rex figure with lips had sold out. However, Everything Dinosaur has been able to obtain more figures and team members have been busy informing customers that “Kiss” is available once more.

Rebor Tyrannosaurus rex "Kiss" Mountain model. — *The popular Rebor Tyrannosaurus rex “Kiss” Mountain 1:35 scale replica is back in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Rebor dinosaur and prehistoric animal figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Replicas.

Rebor Tyrannosaurus rex

Rebor have produced several T. rex figures since the company began production. The company has built a formidable reputation for its theropod figures. The “Kiss” figure was introduced with “Tusk” a counterpart, which reflected an on-going debate in palaeontology. Did dinosaurs have lips?

Rebor "Kiss" and Rebor "Tusk" T. rex figures. — *Some model manufacturers have reflected the current scientific debate by producing replicas with lips as well as lipless forms such as the recent Rebor “Kiss” and “Tusk” figures.*

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“Welcome back! We know that many collectors and dinosaur fans will be delighted to hear that this T. rex is available again. Team members have been busy contacting customers to let them know that this stunning Rebor figure is back in stock.”

View Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

22 04, 2023

Everything Dinosaur Attends New Training Course

By Mike|2024-01-02T16:55:11+00:00April 22nd, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Photos, Press Releases|0 Comments

A team member at Everything Dinosaur has gone back to school. The company has been invited to participate in the last-ever SMART Cheshire innovation programme. SMART Cheshire Digital is a fully funded programme aimed to help small to medium-sized businesses in the north-west of England looking to explore, adopt and implement improvements and business innovations.

The training is provided by the Manchester Metropolitan University. The programme has been running for more than 5 years and over 140 businesses have been through the ten-week course. Sadly, this is the last time this course will be run. Financial support from the European Regional Development Fund has now come to an end.

Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur are delighted to have been invited to take part. The company can explore new ideas and innovations in a supportive and collaborative environment. With two day’s training already completed, Everything Dinosaur has already met up with like-minded fellow business owners and learned a lot.

As the course is coming to an end in the summer, the Everything Dinosaur team member was given two special promotional mugs. These mugs were produced when the course first started, and stocks are extremely low. We are grateful for our pair of mugs, they shall take pride of place in our kitchen at work. We think the Spinosaurus model approves too.

SMART Cheshire mugs. Back to school for Everything Dinosaur. — *A pair of SMART Cheshire mugs given to Everything Dinosaur. A Spinosaurus model inspects the two mugs with their Manchester Metropolitan University logos. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

The Spinosaurus model guarding the recently acquired SMART Cheshire mugs is from the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range. To view this range of figures: Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Prehistoric World.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

SMART Cheshire Digital

One of the many benefits of this type of training is that it allows the exploration of ideas. Peers can bounce ideas of one another, explore future collaborations and share experiences.

If the Everything Dinosaur team member is able to complete this demanding course, they can toast their success with a cup of tea.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

21 04, 2023

The Beautiful Bullyland Ammonite Model

By Mike|2024-01-02T16:55:26+00:00April 21st, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur has been able to source a small stock of the Bullyland ammonite model. This cephalopod replica is popular, but becoming increasingly rare. For example, earlier in the year Everything Dinosaur was informed by Bullyland that this model was no longer available.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Collection of Cephalopod Replicas

Everything Dinosaur has been able to source the Bullyland ammonite. The company has lots of contacts around the world and has built a formidable reputation in the model supply industry. It is because of our contacts that we were able to bring some of these popular figures into stock. The ammonite figure has been a mainstay of the Bullyland “Dinosaur Park” range. However, Bullyland has reduced their production of prehistoric animal models and many figures have been retired.

Ammonite model next to a fossil specimen. — *The strongly ribbed shell and the obvious keel of the Bullyland ammonite replica. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Bullyland Ammonite Model

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained that the company was committed to helping prehistoric animal model fans complete their collections. Invertebrate figures were not stocked by other companies. Instead, these businesses tend to focus on the much more popular figures such as T. rex and Triceratops. One of Everything Dinosaur’s unique selling points is to offer models that other companies would not stock.

The spokesperson added:

“By stocking replicas of ammonites this shows our commitment to model collectors but also to companies like Bullyland. We are prepared to bring in figures that other firms might not.”

To view the Bullyland ammonite model (whilst stocks last) and the rest of the Bullyland range of prehistoric animal figures: Bullyland Prehistoric Animal Models.

17 04, 2023

The New PNSO Mila the Mapusaurus

By Mike|2024-01-02T16:56:11+00:00April 17th, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

The new for 2023 PNSO Mila the Mapusaurus dinosaur model is soon to arrive at the Everything Dinosaur warehouse. Team members expect delivery in a week or so.

Mapusaurus roseae

Mapusaurus is known from fossil material excavated from fluvial deposits associated with the Huincul Formation of Argentina. This large theropod was formally named and scientifically described in 2006 (Coria and Currie). Mapusaurus (M. roseae) was coeval with the super-sized titanosaur Argentinosaurus.

Palaeontologists have proposed that this carcharodontosaurid specialised in hunting sauropods. Large groups of Mapusaurus could have harassed a herd of titanosaurs and separated an individual. This animal might have been mobbed and attacked by several of the much smaller predators in a largely uncoordinated attack. The meat-eaters could have bitten off chunks of flesh that weakened their victim. The enormous Argentinosaurus could have eventually succumbed to its wounds.

The carcase of a large Argentinosaurus could have fed carnivorous dinosaurs for several weeks. The corpse would have probably attracted a huge number of scavengers.

Mila the Mapusaurus

The PNSO Mila the Mapusaurus dinosaur model is supplied with a sci-art poster, a clear, plastic support stand and a full-colour, illustrated Mapusaurus booklet. A QR code on the product packaging provides dinosaur fans access to a short video that explains how the model was created.

Dinosaur Model with an Articulated Lower Jaw

The stunning Mapusaurus model has incredible details and has already attracted many positive comments from dinosaur fans and model collectors. It measures 36 cm in length and the figure stands a fraction under 11 cm high. Mila the Mapusaurus dinosaur model has an articulated lower jaw.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur praised the PNSO design team and commented:

“We are really pleased to see a Mapusaurus model being introduced by the highly respected team at PNSO.”

To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models and Figures.

14 04, 2023

The New Mojo Fun Coelacanth Model

By Mike|2024-01-02T20:08:07+00:00April 14th, 2023|Categories: Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|0 Comments

The Mojo Fun Coelacanth model is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This replica of a “living fossil” is an excellent example of a Coelacanth figure. Team members were keen to bring in this figure. It is a vivid blue colour and website sales of this model will be accompanied by an Everything Dinosaur Coelacanth fact sheet.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Coelacanth

Thought to have died out at around the same time as the non-avian dinosaurs. Naturalists and palaeontologists were shocked when a Coelacanth specimen was caught in a shark gill net at the mouth of the Chalumna River on the east coast of South Africa in 1938. Two living species are known Latimeria chalumnae from the Indian Ocean and Latimeria menadoensis, which is known from Indonesian waters. Although these fish are assigned to the same genus, an analysis of DNA suggests that the two populations have been separated from each other for several million years.

Mojo Fun Coelacanth Model

The Mojo Fun Coelacanth model depicts the rostral pores on the top the snout. These openings lead to a jelly filled cavity in the centre of the animal’s head. It is thought that this organ plays a role in prey detection by sensing the weak electrical signals produced by prey.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Coelacanth has a remarkably small brain. A fish measuring around 1.5 metres long and weighing more than fifty kilograms may have a brain weighing only a few grammes. No known living vertebrate has so small a brain in relation to its body size.

To view the Mojo Fun model range: Mojo Fun Prehistoric and Extinct Model Range.

11 04, 2023

The Everything Dinosaur Blog a Spring Clean

By Mike|2024-01-02T20:08:54+00:00April 11th, 2023|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur team members have been busy giving the company blog a spring clean. Articles have been checked, information updated and links verified. The blog consists of over six thousand articles, and it provides a useful resource for fans of dinosaurs. The weblog is also read by palaeontologists, academics and students. It provides help and advice to teachers too.

Everything Dinosaur celebrates Publishing 6,000 Blog Posts — *Everything Dinosaur celebrates posting up 6,000 articles on its blog site.* In 2022, Everything Dinosaur celebrated publishing their 6,000th web post.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur Blog

One of Everything Dinosaur’s objectives is to provide updates on palaeontology and the Earth sciences but in a way that minimises the technical terms and use of difficult to understand phrases. We try to write articles that can be read by those who don’t have a formal scientific training but share our interest in all things related to fossils and ancient life. Articles that can be used by fellow teachers and teaching assistants. Also, articles that showcase the work of others, blog posts that aim to inform, inspire and to educate.

A spokesperson from the award-winning company explained:

“We try and post up a new article every day. With so many blog posts to manage and look after, this is a challenge, however, we get lots of positive feedback about our work.”

To visit Everything Dinosaur’s user-friendly website: Everything Dinosaur.

A Spring Clean

The current work is part of more extensive revisions taking place in the background. Each article is being checked and updates are being made. Readers of the blog and visitors to the site will not notice any disruption. The changes are being co-ordinated in such a way as to provide a seamless service for site visitors.

The company aims to publish article number 7,000 in the autumn of 2025. The Everything Dinosaur blog was started in May 2007.