Following the announcement yesterday (12th January, 2023), from Royal Mail about a “cyber incident” currently affecting international mail activities Everything Dinosaur would like to take this opportunity to inform customers about the actions that they have taken to minimise any possible inconvenience.
The Everything Dinosaur customer statement:
An update from Everything Dinosaur about the steps the company has taken to ensure the effects of the current “cyber incident” at Royal Mail are minimised for Everything Dinosaur customers. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Royal Mail
Everything Dinosaur would like to take this opportunity to reassure all its customers. Our website and customer data remains secure. Everything Dinosaur works tirelessly to protect and safeguard all our customers. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience the problems at Royal Mail may cause, but please be assured, we have implemented contingency plans and only a small portion of our total number of orders will be affected.
Contacting Everything Dinosaur
A spokesperson from the award-winning, UK-based mail order company confirmed that yesterday (16.34pm GMT), Everything Dinosaur was officially alerted by Royal Mail about the incident. Unfortunately, Royal Mail’s email came too late and international airmail, tracked and signed for parcels had already been collected.
Team members will continue to monitor the situation over the weekend and contingency operations will remain in place.
Everything Dinosaur has received a statement from Royal Mail confirming that the company is currently experiencing a “cyber incident”. Royal Mail is unable to process international mail at the moment, domestic services, parcels sent around the UK are unaffected.
The Royal Mail Statement:
The nature of the “cyber incident” is not known but it has affected Royal Mail’s ability to process international parcels.
Image credit: Statement from Royal Mail
Staff at Royal Mail are currently working to resolve the problem, but for the time being, Everything Dinosaur and every other company that uses Royal Mail international services is being advised not to send parcels destined for locations outside of the UK into the mail network.
Royal Mail International Post Delays
In a communication to Everything Dinosaur, Royal Mail have confirmed that it was temporarily unable to send letters and parcels overseas, and the organisation was “working hard” to resolve the issue. Royal Mail also confirmed that there are currently minor delays to post coming into the UK, but domestic deliveries are unaffected.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained that all orders sent out by Everything Dinosaur to customers in the European Union were not affected, but some orders from customers in North America, South America and Australasia would be delayed due to this incident.
The Everything Dinosaur spokesperson also confirmed that they had noted some issues with the Royal Mail network earlier, but these anomalies had not prevented team members from dispatching orders for customers up until late this afternoon (January 11th).
For advice about orders, or for additional information about how this incident could affect Everything Dinosaur parcel deliveries: Email Everything Dinosaur.
Royal Mail has promised to keep all its customers informed and to work quickly to resolve this situation.
Everything Dinosaur can confirm the following Papo model retirement for 2023. Today, we announce that the limited-edition Spinosaurus figure is being withdrawn from the Papo “Les Dinosaures” range, this model is retired and now out of production.
The Papo Limited-edition Spinosaurus dinosaur model which was introduced in 2019 has been retired and is now out of production. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The Limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus
The Papo limited-edition Spinosaurus replica, one of the largest dinosaur figures made by Papo, was originally introduced into the”Les Dinosaures” range in late 2019. Everything Dinosaur team members had seen prototypes several months earlier, but production issues led to delays and a launch orginally planned for the middle of 2019 got put back, initially until October, but it was not until December that year, that dinosaur fans and model collectors got their chance to acquire one.
The awesome Papo Spinosaurus dinosaur model. Released late 2019, but retired an out of production in 2023.
Everything Dinosaur had already confirmed that the Papo roaring Smilodon and the Papo young Spinosaurus would be retired in 2023, to read our earlier blog post making this announcement: Papo Model Retirements in 2023 (Part 1).
Papo Model Retirement
When the Papo 2019 Spinosaurus was first introduced, it reflected some of the very latest scientific thinking relating to Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. The quadrupedal stance was praised as was the deep broad tail, which was later demonstrated to be quite accurate once a paper had been published describing this theropod’s fin-like tail “Tail-propelled aquatic locomotion in a theropod dinosaur” by Nizar Ibrahim et al (2020).
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that this was the second Papo Spinosaurus figure to be retired this year, after the earlier announcement concerning the withdrawal of the young Spinosaurus model.
The spokesperson added”
“The Papo limited-edition Spinosaurus was a real show-stopper, the box containing the model was nearly half a metre in length. The actual model was nearly 42 cm long and that impressive spinosaur sail stood 16.5 cm high.”
The Papo limited-edition Spinosaurus is still available from Everything Dinosaur (whilst stocks last).
Everything Dinosaur can confirm the following Papo model retirements for 2023. Today, we announce that two figures are being withdrawn from the Papo “Les Dinosaures” range, models that are retired and now out of production.
Papo Roaring Smilodon
Papo Young Spinosaurus
The Papo Roaring Smilodon model is now retired, and this figure is out of production.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Papo Roaring Smilodon
This figure, with its mane like a male lion and posterior stripes like a tiger, was introduced into the Papo range of prehistoric animal figures back in 2017. Although, it is unlikely that any species within the Smilodon genus resembled this replica, it did prove popular especially amongst those Papo fans who also collected the company’s fantasy figure range.
With the introduction in 2022 of a young Smilodon model, for a short period, Papo had three Smilodon models in the “Les Dinosaures” series.
The Papo Young Spinosaurus
The Papo young Spinosaurus first made an appearance as part of a Papo, special edition box set that also featured the Ceratosaurus dinosaur model. It was later introduced into the range as a stand-alone figure.
The Papo young Spinosaurus dinosaur model originally part of a special edition box set prior to being launched as a figure. The young Spinosaurus model has been retired (2023).
Papo Model Retirements
Everything Dinosaur team members produced a blog article about the new for 2023 Papo prehistoric animals back in November, six new figures will be introduced, essentially four new models (Concavenator, Einiosaurus, Kronosaurus and Mosasaurus) and two reintroductions of replicas that had been retired (Archaeopteryx and Woolly Rhino).
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that a blog post due to go live in a few days would reveal another Papo prehistoric animal model that was going out of production.
As we start 2023, time for Everything Dinosaur to wish all our blog readers, customers and social media followers a very happy New Year. It does not seem too long ago that we were wishing everybody a happy New Year 2022, how time flies as we whizz through the Holocene or is this the Anthropocene?
Happy New Year from Everything Dinosaur.
We have decorated our New Year message with some images of Wild Safari Prehistoric World animal models – an Amargasaurus (left), a Dimetrodon (centre) and a replica of an Ankylosaurus (right).
To view the range of Safari Ltd – Wild Safari Prehistoric World models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Wild Safari Prehistoric World.
Today, we continue our look back at the most popular blog posts that Everything Dinosaur published this year. Yesterday, we reviewed January through to June, and now we turn our attention to the favourite blog posts from the last six months.
Heatwaves in England made working outside extremely arduous and palaeontologists had to deal with the oppressive heat as they explored a fossil site exposed in a farmer’s field in Gloucestershire. The dedicated team unearthed some spectacular specimens including some superb Jurassic fish fossils.
A three-dimensional fish skull (Pachycormus spp.) from a limestone concretion found at Court Farm. Note the small ammonite located in association with the skull. Picture credit: Dean Lomax.
It may have been hot in England, but we suspect Portugal in August was hotter still as a team of researchers struggled to unearth the fossilised remains of a sauropod dinosaur that had been discovered in the back garden of a house in Leiria district (central Portugal).
Portugal sauropod discovery. Picture credit: Instituto Dom Luiz (Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Portugal).
In September, Everything Dinosaur blogged about “April”, not the month but a remarkable Tenontosaurus fossil skeleton nicknamed “April” that was being restored ready for a new dinosaur gallery at the Manchester Museum.
The fossilised remains of April the Tenontosaurus laid out in anatomical position. Picture credit: The University of Manchester.
The refurbished Manchester Museum complete with “April” is due to open in February 2023.
The first accurate skeletal reconstruction of a fossil specimen discovered in Scotland more than a century ago, provided new information on the evolutionary history of pterosaurs. Our blog about the research went live early in October.
A tiny reptile measuring approximately 20 cm in length, Scleromochlus is now thought to be an early ancestor of the Pterosauria. Picture credit: Gabriel Ugueto.
November was a time to blow our own trumpet to some extent as Everything Dinosaur won the Excellence in Customer Service Award. We posted about our success and included a Papo green Styracosaurus dinosaur model in the photograph that showed our trophy.
A Papo green Styracosaurus dinosaur model poses in front or the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce trophy for excellence in customer service awarded to Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
To visit the Papo section of Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Papo Dinosaur Models.
Favourite Blog Posts
Drawing our two-part feature on favourite blog posts of 2022 to a close, we come to December and in this month we blogged about new Rebor replicas, future PNSO dinosaurs, Beasts of the Mesozoic replicas and CollectA figures. However, just as we began 2022 looking at research highlighting stomach contents in a long extinct animal we returned to that subject in December, covering the discovery of a small mammal’s foot found inside the body cavity of a Microraptor (M. zhaoianus). This study, led by Dr David Hone (Queen Mary University of London), demonstrated that Microraptor was a generalist – feeding on a wide variety of small creatures including mammals.
A life reconstruction showing the Microraptor with the mammal’s foot. Picture credit: Ralph Attanasia.
At this time of year, Everything Dinosaur looks back on their favourite blog posts of 2022. The weblog posts that team members have created, and we list the favourite articles of 2022. This is quite a challenge given the enormous number of subjects that we have covered in the last twelve months. Our blog looks at advances in the Earth sciences, fossil finds, dinosaur research, new prehistoric animal models, provides book reviews and covers all sorts of stories and features associated with dinosaur models and model collecting.
So, without further fuss here is a countdown of our favourite and most popular articles from January to June 2022.
Favourite Blog Posts
In January, team members posted up several videos of the recently introduced Rebor Smilodon replicas. These popular models, proved to be excellent figures to highlight on Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel. These short videos gave viewers the opportunity to see these exciting models in close detail.
The Rebor Smilodon (Ice Age) colour variant featured in a short Everything Dinosaur video. Our blog posts that linked to short product review videos proved very popular with model fans. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
February may have been the shortest month, but there was no shortage of interesting fossil discoveries to write about. One of the most popular articles dealt with the discovery of a crocodile fossil from Australia that preserved the remains of its last meal – a small dinosaur.
A life reconstruction of Confractosuchus sauroktonos capturing the juvenile ornithopod. Picture credit: Dr Matt White/Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum.
Predator prey interactions are extremely rare in the fossil record, and this is the first documented instance of a crocodilian eating a dinosaur from Australia.
The world of palaeontology was rocked in March when a paper was published postulating that the species known as Tyrannosaurus rex was actually three! The paper caused a lot of controversy and debate as the fossils of arguably the most iconic dinosaur of all were divided into three.
Back in time we went in April, all the way back to the Cambrian. A newly published paper proposed that the bryozoans, an ancient group of miniature, aquatic invertebrates had their origins in the Early Cambrian. Remarkably, these tiny animals are an important constituent of modern marine ecosystems and are largely unchanged over 500 million years.
Protomelission gatehousei from the Cambrian Wirrealpa Limestone, South Australia. Picture credit: Zhang et al.
“Prehistoric Planet”
In May, the spectacular five-part, television documentary series “Prehistoric Planet” aired on Apple+ TV. Everything Dinosaur team members were given the opportunity to view all the programmes and this series has gone onto win many accolades and awards. Our congratulations to all those involved. “Prehistoric Planet” was one of the television highlights of the year.
We blogged about the programmes, and we think this series was far superior to the big film that came out later in the summer – “Jurassic World Dominion”.
The “White Rock Spinosaurid”
As we moved into the middle of the year, news broke of yet another theropod dinosaur discovery from the Isle of Wight. Fragmentary fossils found on the island, hinted at a ten-metre-plus spinosaurid that could represent the largest carnivorous dinosaur discovered to date in Europe.
Illustration of White Rock spinosaurid. Picture credit: University of Southampton/Anthony Hutchings.
Nicknamed the “White Rock spinosaurid”, after the geological layer in which the fossils were found, the discovery demonstrated that even in areas that have been extensively mapped, explored and visited by thousands of holidaymakers every year, the rocks still hold surprises. Better still, a researcher on the paper Dr Darren Naish, played a pivotal role in “Prehistoric Planet” acting as one of the scientific advisors.
That’s the first part of our two-part feature listing our favourite weblog posts of 2022. Tomorrow, we shall take a look at the blog posts from July through to the end of the year.
The limited-edition Rebor Oddities Extinction models are now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Two fantastic collectables featuring a Velociraptor. The Rebor Oddities “Extinction” Renaissance bronze version and the Rebor Oddities “Extinction” Victorian neoclassical marble have arrived at Everything Dinosaur.
Rebor Oddities “Extinction” Renaissance bronze figure. A thinking Velociraptor contemplates its existence in the Everything Dinosaur warehouse. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Rebor Oddities Extinction Models
Rebor Oddities “Extinction” Victorian neoclassical marble and bronze version. A wonderful pair of limited-edition and highly detailed replicas of a Velociraptor in contemplation cast in elastic resin and polystone. The fantastic Rebor Oddities “Extinction” replicas. These figures are highly-prized collector’s items.
Holding a human skull, the Velociraptor is in deep thought sat upon a pile of books. Such is the detail in this fantastic replica that there are twenty-three books listed, one for each of our twenty-three pairs of chromosomes. The books are a combination of fiction and non-fiction and team members at Everything Dinosaur wrote a blog post in the autumn outlining the contents of this dinosaur’s extensive library.
To read our earlier article and to see the list of books featured in this remarkable statue: The Rebor “Extinction” Library.
Each display piece has been skilfully crafted, and we congratulate the design team at Rebor for producing such an inspirational pair of figures. These are certainly dinosaur models with a difference. Our personal favourite is the Rebor Oddities “Extinction” Victorian neoclassical marble figure, although we suspect both these incredible figures will prove to be extremely popular amongst collectors.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented.
“These are very innovative figures and quite striking. We have had lots of enquiries, not just from dinosaur fans and collectors but also from academics conducting research into various aspects of the human condition. Over the next day or so, we will be emailing all those who enquired and ensuring that they know that these limited-edition figures are available.”
The Rebor Oddities Extinction models. Left the bronze effect version and the Victorian neoclassical marble (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
To view the Rebor Oddities Extinction models (whilst stocks last) and the rest of the Rebor range of figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Figures and Models.
Everything Dinosaur team members can confirm that they will be stocking the recently announced PNSO Thabo the Suchomimus dinosaur model. The figure is due to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur early next year (2023).
A replica of a member of the Spinosauridae family, the new for 2023 PNSO Suchomimus dinosaur model. This figure will be supplied with an Everything Dinosaur Suchomimus fact sheet.
PNSO Thabo the Suchomimus
The new for 2023 PNSO Suchomimus model will be part of the mid-sized model range produced by this Chinese company. The Suchomimus figure will join Essien the Spinosaurus and the recently introduced Chongzuo the Sinopliosaurus as representatives of the Spinosauridae family within the PNSO model range.
The PNSO Thabo the Suchomimus dinosaur model.
Model Measurements
This dinosaur model measures 29 cm in length and the top of the head is approximately 8.5 cm off the ground, it is about the same size of the Sinopliosaurus figure.
The PNSO Suchomimus replica measures 29 cm long and that beautifully sculpted head is some 8.5 cm off the ground.
An Articulated Lower Jaw
A source at Everything Dinosaur confirmed that the Suchomimus model would have an articulated lower jaw. The PNSO Thabo the Suchomimus dinosaur model would also be supplied with an A3-sized Sci-Art poster, a full-colour booklet and a QR code on the box linked to a video about the model.
The new for 2023 PNSO Suchomimus replica has an articulated lower jaw.
The Suchomimus figure is supplied with an A3-sized poster, a full-colour, 64-page booklet and a QR code on the product packaging links to a video which demonstrates how the model was made.
The Suchomimus figure is supplied with an A3-sized poster, a full-colour, 64-page booklet and a QR code on the product packaging links to a video which demonstrates how the model was created.
The spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur added:
“It is fantastic to see another Spinosauridae family member added to the PNSO mid-size model range.”
The new for 2023 PNSO Thabo the Suchomimus dinosaur model. A replica of a baryonychine from PNSO.
The new PNSO Thabo the Suchomimus figure is due to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in early 2023.
To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaur Models.
It is that time of year, time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas on behalf of all of us at Everything Dinosaur. Season’s greetings to you all. We will still be working over much of the holiday season and of course we will be answering emails and helping our customers as much as we can.
We wish all our customers, blog readers and social media followers a Merry Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous New Year.
Everything Dinosaur
It will be business as usual once the Bank Holidays are over. We will be back at work sending out all the Beasts of the Mesozoic Kickstarter items to customers in the UK and Europe. A special thank you to all those customers who sent us prehistoric animal themed Christmas cards, gifts and drawings, they certainly have brightened up the offices and the warehouse.
Back to School and to Museums
At this time of year our thoughts turn to all the amazing people that we have met as we continue our adventures. We have been busy helping science communicators and teaching teams sending out lots of free information and providing advice. For teachers and teaching assistants it has been a very busy autumn term. We hope that everyone has a very happy Christmas gets time to relax and unwind and we look forward to an exciting spring term with us continuing to support teaching work in schools.
We plan to visit a few more museums in 2023 and we are looking forward to the opening of the newly refurbished Manchester Museum that is due to re-open in February of next year.
For those of you tucking into turkey, goose or chicken on the 25th, click the link below to see the article we wrote a few years ago that shows how your Christmas dinner has a close affinity with dinosaurs: Christmas Dinner Links Dinosaurs to Birds.
On behalf of Everything Dinosaur, we wish everyone a happy Christmas.
