Wild Safari Dinos Gastornis Replica Reviewed

New to the Wild Safari Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life model series manufactured by Safari Ltd is a replica of Gastornis a giant, flightless bird that roamed the dense forests of Europe and North America during the Late Palaeocene and Eocene epochs before finally becoming extinct a little over forty million years ago.

The Gastornis Model from Safari Ltd

Model of a giant, flightless bird from Safari Ltd.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

“Terror Bird”

Gastornis is often referred to as the original “Terror Bird” due to its reputation as being an apex predator.  A reputation that was considerably enhanced when Gastornis featured in the first episode of the BBC television series “Walking with Beasts”.  In this programme, Gastornis was depicted as one of the largest, terrestrial creatures on the planet, one that hunted and killed the primitive horse Propalaeotherium.  Here was a prehistoric bird that ate horses, however, how the likes of Gastornis is classified with the rest of the birds  is disputed.  Most scientists assign the likes of Gastornis to the anseriformes – which means that Gastornis may be related to today’s ducks and geese.

Diatryma and Gastornis

The first fossils ascribed to the Gastornis genus were discovered in a suburb of Paris.  Although far from complete and lacking any substantial skull material, a French geologist was given the task of formally naming and scientifically describing the fossil material.  He did identify that the specimen represented a giant bird.  The Gastornis genus was erected in 1855 and a number of species have now been recognised.

The American palaeontologist Edward Drinker Cope described a new genus of giant flightless bird based on fossils found in the western United States in 1876.  The genus Diatryma was erected, but subsequent fossil finds have led scientists to conclude that Diatryma was so closely related that fossils from both America and Europe are often referred to as Gastornis, the senior synonym.

Gastornis Model Reviewed

This model from Safari Ltd does reflect the known fossil material well.   The head is large, the model has a deep chest and a broad rump.  The design team have been careful to pick out the small stubby wings, the rear of which have a line of short, black quills, which contrast nicely with the uniform coat of feathers found on the body.

The feet are a little over-sized, but this does not detract from the sculpt.  The large feet help the model to stand and provide stability, this is a common feature of bipedal replicas.  Each of the toes has a short, blunt claw, not a highly recurved talon.  It seems that the model makers at Safari Ltd have taken into account trackway evidence assigned to Gastornis that indicate that this bird did not have big, sharp claws on its feet like a modern raptor.

The head is particularly impressive and the colour scheme which consists of a vivid blue face with a bright yellow beak compliments the muted tones on the body.  The eyes have a red ring painted round them and the design team at Safari have been careful to depict the nostrils.

A Colourful Model

The broad  beak reveals just a hint of a curve at the tip.  Perhaps this is a male Gastornis in its breeding refinery setting out to impress any potential mates.

Despite Gastornis’s gruesome reputation with the BBC, scientists remain unsure as to the diet of this heavy-set creature.   True, it was one of the largest land-living animals around during the Palaeogene period and there were very few large carnivores.  It might have been a predator with tests on that broad beak and reinforced skull indicating that this bird and a bone crushing bite.  However, the lack of any significant top-line curvature on the beak tip and the absence of talons has led some scientists to suggest that Gastornis may have been herbivorous with its beak making  a useful nutcracker.

A Close up of the Gastornis Model

Vivid paintwork on the back of the skull.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

No fossils of feathers have been assigned to Gastornis, that gave the model makers at Safari Ltd a little problem.  How to define the texture of the feathery coat covering the body.  The team have opted to produce an effect similar to the shaggy, feathery coat seen on the Wild Safari Wildlife Ostrich model.  Opting to do this rather than depict  Gastornis with longer more strand-like feathers seen on flightless birds today such as the emu.

To view the range of Wild Safari Prehistoric World figures in stock on Everything Dinosaur’s user-friendly website: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models and Figures.

Everything Dinosaur Reviews the 1:20 Scale Model of Deinotherium by CollectA

CollectA introduced an award winning model of the brontothere known as Megacerops a couple of years ago, now they have added to their growing reputation as makers of superb prehistoric mammal models by bringing out a replica of the prehistoric elephant known as Deinotherium.

CollectA Deinotherium Model

Deinotherium was a member of the elephant family, but it is not closely related to modern elephants or mammoths.  It is likely that the ancestors of Deinotherium diverged from other forms of primitive elephant very early in the evolutionary history of the group.  It had relatively long legs and a long, low skull, rather than the domed skull of more modern elephants such as the extant species seen today.  The front part of the lower jaw was turned downwards and deinotheres possessed two over-sized, tusk-like incisors that curved downwards in a hook-like configuration.

Depicting the Trunk

These are very well depicted in the CollectA replica.  Palaeontologists have postulated that the trunk was shorter than those of living elephants, this too is beautifully recreated in this new CollectA model.  It is likely that these prehistoric elephants first evolved in Africa and a number of species of Deinotherium are known, the largest of which lived in Europe, at Everything Dinosaur we have tended to describe this figure as a replica of Deinotherium giganteum, one of the largest species described to date.

The CollectA Deinotherium Prehistoric Elephant Model

Super model of a prehistoric elephant.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view a wide selection of prehistoric mammal available from Everything Dinosaur: Models of Prehistoric Mammals.

The model represents a male of the species and it measures a total of twenty-four centimetres from the tip of the tail to the upper portion of the trunk.  CollectA state that this a 1:20 scale model and this fits the parameters known for this genera, although based on our calculations, using specimens from Europe, a scale of nearer 1:30 might be closer to the mark.

Beautiful Fine Details

The model shows the fine detailing as seen in the earlier Megacerops figure.  For example, look into the top of the mouth and you can see that the teeth of this prehistoric elephant have been included.  The skin texture is brilliantly done with subtle creases, skin folds and the impression of a hairy coat.  The individual toes of this giant prehistoric animal have been carefully picked out and the small ears and the animal’s bright eyes are wonderful.  CollectA have created a very expressively replica indeed.

To view the range of CollectA scale models of prehistoric animals: CollectA Deluxe/Supreme Prehistoric World Models.

The Deinotherium model can be posed with the CollectA Neanderthal figures and it does not look out of place, it is a fine example of the model makers art.

Everything Dinosaur’s Review of the CollectA Scale Parasaurolophus

Easily recognised due to its distinctive crest, Parasaurolophus is one of the better known of the duck-billed dinosaurs when it comes to public perception.  However, it may be one of the more recognisable members of the lambeosaurine hadrosaurs but fossils of the species that make up this genera are less common than those from a number of other hadrosaurine genera.

The Scale Model of Parasaurolophus from CollectA

Colourful and well made dinosaur model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Parasaurolophus

Known from North America, New Mexico in the USA to Alberta in Canada, this Late Cretaceous herbivore may have reached lengths in excess of ten metres.  The backward, sweeping head crest in some of the larger specimens found to date measures nearly two metres in length.  For CollectA, a Parasaurolophus dinosaur model has been a part of their not-to-scale model series for many years, but they have posed this dinosaur on its hind legs.

The new scale model of Parasaurolophus is posed on all fours (quadrupedal stance).  The pose probably helps to stabilise this large model, but it also demonstrates nicely that adults probably spent most of their time on four legs, demonstrating their facultative bipedal behaviour only when they really needed to.

CollectA Parasaurolophus Scale Model

The model is indeed quite hefty, recent hadrosaurine finds from the western United States have suggested that these duck-billed dinosaurs had very powerful back legs and deep, broad tails, traits which are well picked out by this new CollectA replica.  The dappled skin texture on the model also reflects evidence from the fossil record.  Measuring in at thirty centimetres, we estimate the scale to be around 1:33 rather than the stated 1:40 by CollectA.  However, since fragments of very large specimens are known and that it is possible for Parasaurolophus to have grown larger than ten metres, the scale stated by CollectA is fine by us.

To view the range of scale model prehistoric animals (CollectA Deluxe/Supreme models) available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Deluxe/Supreme Prehistoric Animal Models.

Like all the CollectA models, it is well painted and shows lots of detail.  There is a small flap of skin attached to the crest from the neck (painted blue) and the crest itself is coloured a vivid red and blue with nicely defined white eye patches around the face.  The stripes along the body would make excellent camouflage in this dinosaur’s woodland home and the colourful crest with its red, white and blue markings would have been clearly visible to any other Parasaurolophus that might have challenged it.

A Close up of the Head of the CollectA Parasaurolophus Scale Model

A red, white and blue crest, perhaps a patriotic “British” hadrosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

In summary, an excellent model, an excellent addition to an excellent range.

Schleich 2013 Styracosaurus Dinosaur Model in Review

The second of the new Schleich replicas introduced into their “World of History/Prehistoric Animal” model series is this striking model of the horned dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America – Styracosaurus.  It is very appropriate for Schleich to add a Styracosaurus to their model range this year, as 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the naming and describing of “spiked lizard”.  The first species of Styracosaurus was named in 1913 by Lawrence Lambe, Canada’s first professional palaeontologist.

The Schleich Styracosaurus Dinosaur Model (2013)

“Spiked Lizard!” celebrates 100th birthday!

Schleich Styracosaurus Dinosaur Model

The model is painted a metallic blue, with speckles of white running in bands either side of the prominent backbone, which itself is painted a golden and orange colour.  These markings match the very colourful “eye flashes”, the skin covered holes in the huge neck frill.  The fenestrae (skin covered holes), are clearly visible in this model.

Some palaeontologists have speculated that a number of horned dinosaurs had such holes in their frills to help lighten them, whilst others have speculated that the holes only occurred as the animal grew and matured and perhaps the skin that covered them was used to flash warnings at rivals or to deter predators.  The large “eye flashes” on this Schleich replica would have made a stunning visual display and alarmed all but the most determined predator.

Spikes and a Single Horn

The spikes and the single horn are painted a white colour, to give the impression of solid bone.  The open beak of this dinosaur figure is also painted this colour and the detail around the mouth is remarkable, the row of teeth that can be made out in the maxilla for example.

The Styracosaurus model measures seventeen centimetres from the tip of the beak to the end of the somewhat stumpy tail.  Based on an adult Styracosaurus albertensis, which might have reached lengths in excess of five and a half metres, it is estimated that the scale of this replica is approximately 1:32 scale.  The model gives an impression of a stocky, powerful animal, one that would have weighed nearly three tonnes in real life.

To view the Schleich range of prehistoric animal models: Schleich Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

It is pleasing to note that the design team at Schleich have taken care to get the number of digits on the front feet correct and the skin texture on this replica is excellent, there are even folds of skin behind the heavy-looking neck frill.

The Robust Ceratopsian Styracosaurus (Schleich Styracosaurus Dinosaur Model)

Styracosaurus dinosaur model.

Picture  credit: Everything Dinosaur

This is a solid and robust model of a solid and robust horned dinosaur, one of the more spectacular ceratopsians known from the Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous.  This herbivorous dinosaur probably lived in herds and a fully grown Styracosaurus would have been a formidable adversary of the large tyrannosaurids that were the apex predators in North America during this part of the Mesozoic.

An attractive dinosaur model, a welcome addition to the Schleich model range, one that marks the 100th anniversary of the naming of the first species of Styracosaurus with some style.