Dracorex Dinosaur Model Reviewed

A model of a dinosaur associated with wizards and magic has been added to the Wild Dinosaurs replica series manufactured by Safari Ltd.  This model is one of four new additions to this prehistoric animal figure range this year.  The other new dinosaurs featured are Ceratosaurus, Acrocanthosaurus (both predators) and the horned dinosaur Vagaceratops.  Everything Dinosaur team members review the Wild Dinos Dracorex model.

Wild Dinos Dracorex Model

Dracorex is a member of the pachycephalosaur family, a group of dinosaurs that are also known as “bone-heads”, as in some types of pachycephalosaur the brain cases of these dinosaurs were thickened and reinforced.  Fossils of pachycephalosaurs are extremely rare, only one fossil specimen of Dracorex has been discovered to date, the fossil remains consist of a very well preserved skull, some cervical vertebrae (neck bones) and a single tooth.   The fossils of this dinosaur were found in the famous Hell Creek Formation, Dracorex was named and described by the American palaeontologist Bob Bakker in 2006.  Although, not large by dinosaur standards, this animal measured something like three metres in length and would have weighed perhaps as much as ninety kilograms.

The New Dracorex Dinosaur Model (Safari Ltd Wild Dinos)

New Dracorex dinosaur model available.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The species name Dracorex hogwartsia honours the author J. K. Rowling, the writer of the Harry Potter books.  The scientists thought that the skull of this dinosaur resembled the skull of a dragon and with its strange lumps and bumps it looked quite magical.  This coupled with the reaction of young visitors to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, where the skull was first put on display, convinced the scientists to name this dinosaur after dragons and the fictional school – Hogwarts from the Harry Potter books.  This dinosaur with its fearsome appearance may have inspired its name of “Dragon King of Hogwarts School” but it was  in fact a herbivore.

The Safari Ltd model depicts this particular dinosaur as a facultative quadruped, an animal that may have walked on all fours, but was capable, when it wanted to, of being able to run on its hind legs only – adopting a bipedal stance.  The model measures twenty centimetres long approximately and based on the actual animal being around three metres in length, we estimate that this dinosaur model is in 1:15 scale.

Just for a bit of fun, our dinosaur experts, at Everything Dinosaur, played around with the Dracorex images and tried to create an impression of what a juvenile member of this species might have looked like.

Dracorex Adult and Juvenile as Depicted by Everything Dinosaur

Mum and baby dragons.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To create the juvenile we toned down the cheek colour, reduced the amount of dermal armour shown in the hide and scaled down the illustration.  No fossils of juveniles have ever been found, but this illustration was made using fossil material examples from immature dinosaurs and sub-adults preserved in the fossil record.

Dracorex Dinosaur Replica

The dinosaur replica is beautifully painted with a combination of bright green, mustard yellow and black.  The cheek areas (this dinosaur could chew its food and so possessed cheeks to help it process plant material in its mouth most probably), are painted a vivid, striking orange.  The various knobs, bumps and horns on the skull are nicely depicted and the design team have given Dracorex a rough skin texture with small pieces of dermal armour embedded in its back.

To view dinosaur models in the Safari Ltd prehistoric animal model series: Safari Ltd – Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

It is good to see such an unusual member of the Dinosauria added to a quality dinosaur model range such as the Wild Dinos series.  This highly detailed replica will no doubt, prove popular with dinosaur model collectors as well as fans of science and fantasy novels.

A Review of the Wild Safari Dinos Vagaceratops Dinosaur Model

Part the 2012 additions to the Safari Ltd “Wild Dinos” model series, this model of the Vagaceratops is bound to be of interest to dinosaur model collectors. Although the fossil material relating to this dinosaur was first studied more than ten years ago, it was only in 2010 that the genus of Vagaceratops was established (following a review of the fossils and the discovery of Kosmoceratops).

Wild Safari Dinos Vagaceratops

This model represents one of four new models in the Wild Dinos series made by Safari Ltd.  Ironically, the Marginocephalia (bird-hipped dinosaurs with a bony shelf at the back of their heads), represent fifty percent of the new additions, with this Vagaceratops being joined by the pachycephalosaur Dracorex.

The Vagaceratops Dinosaur Model (Wild Dinos Series)

“Wandering Horned Dinosaur” – Vagaceratops.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Provincial Park Formation

Known from a few isolated pieces of skull and the one distorted skeleton found in the Dinosaur Provincial Park Formation of Alberta, Canada, Vagaceratops had a large neck frill that was about one metre wide at the top. The frill was not solid bone.  It had a pair of large holes within it, these were very probably covered in skin.  These holes (the scientific term is  fenestrae), served to lighten the skull.  This dinosaur had a single, broad horn located on the top of its snout.

Although a horned dinosaur associated with northern latitudes, it seems that it shared its environment with another horned dinosaur, as fossils of Styracosaurus have been found in the same aged strata.

The model measures a little under twenty centimetres in length from the tip of its horny beak at the front of its jaws down to the tip of the tail.  As palaeontologists have estimated this ceratopsian to have been around four and a half metres in length we estimate that this dinosaur model is in approximately 1:20 scale.

To view dinosaur models, including Vagaceratops available from Everything Dinosaur: Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Prehistoric World Horned Dinosaurs.

The model is well painted.  It being coloured in a predominately sandy/brown hue.  This is an interesting choice by the designers at Safari Ltd, as the fossils of this particular horned dinosaur have been found in strata laid down in a lush, wet, floodplain environment.   The colour choice on this dinosaur model, seems more suited to a dinosaur that may have lived in dry, arid, desert environments.

The skin on the model shows lots of texture and fine detail, the face and the open mouth have been carefully painted and the characteristic curled over bony, lumps on the top of the animal’s neck frill can be clearly made out on the model.  The design team have obviously paid attention to the fossil material ascribed to this genus.

The dinosaur’s tail has a set of stripes on it and it is pleasing to note that this horned dinosaur has the correct number of toes on each foot, an error in some horned dinosaur models of lesser quality.

In all in, an exciting edition to the Wild Dinos range and one that will impress dinosaur enthusiasts and model collectors.

The Everything Dinosaur Banner Showing Some new Safari Ltd Models

Dinosaur models on display a banner by Everything Dinosaur.

“High-Spined Lizard” Gets a Makeover

Newly introduced into the eclectic Wild Safari Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life model series is this new interpretation of the Early Cretaceous, super-predator Acrocanthosaurus.  Safari had introduced many years ago now, a model of this American dinosaur as part of their Carnegie Collectibles range, but this replica was retired about twelve months ago.  This new, not-to-scale Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model is an updated version, reflecting the latest scientific interpretation of this formidable carnivore.

Acrocanthosaurus, means “High-spined Lizard”.  This dinosaur was named after the tall neural spines that ran along the animal’s backbone, the function of these spines, some of which measure nearly three times the height of the vertebrae from which they project, is not known although some palaeontologists have suggested that these spines supported a fleshy hump that allowed this reptile to store fat to enable it to get through seasons when food resources would have been scarce.  This Wild Safari Dinos Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model is certainly an excellent replica.

Being able to store food would have been an effective strategy for such a large predator, especially since some scientists who have studied dinosaur tracks found in Texas have proposed that this dinosaur may have lived and hunted in packs.  Such a group of Acrocanthosaurus dinosaurs, perhaps half a dozen individuals would have needed substantial quantities of meat to keep themselves fit (assuming that these animals were warm-blooded).

Acrocanthosaurus Dinosaur Model

Known from just a handful of fossil specimens, representing four individuals, scientists have been unable to establish just how big this dinosaur (Acrocanthosaurus atokensis) was, but conservative estimates have given this animal’s length at around twelve metres, a hip height in excess of four metres and a body weight of around two tonnes.

An Illustration of Acrocanthosaurus (based on earlier Safari Ltd Replica

An illustration of Acrocanthosaurus.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The new model made by Safari Ltd, measures around twenty-two centimetres in length, with a head-height in excess of nine centimetres.  Painted a light, brown colour for the most part, this model has a white underneath and a contrasting black band running from the top of the snout, across the back for the skull and down the backbone to the tip of the long tail.  This replica has been posed with the tail extended out behind it, a change from the earlier Safari Ltd model of this dinosaur that had the end of the tail touching the ground.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s Safari Ltd model collection including lots of models of theropod dinosaurs: Safari Ltd. Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

The long, slightly narrow jaws and the broad muzzle of this meat-eating dinosaur are re-created in detail on this model.  The head shows lots of care and attention to detail with the painting.  The majority of the head is an off-white colour which contrasts well against the black band that runs along the top of the skull.

The Wild Safari Dinosaurs Acrocanthosaurus

Interesting colour scheme for a predatory dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The different colours on the head, reflect current scientific thinking that visual signals were very important to the Dinosauria.  Such a striking appearance may have come about as the animals matured and became the dominant members of their pack.  This replica with its deep, broad chest and strong forelimbs, each ending in three-clawed fingers depicts Acrocanthosaurus as a powerful, active hunter.  No doubt this new interpretation will proved popular with dinosaur model collectors.

New “Arm Lizard” Model from Schleich

As well as a model of the Apatosaurus, a second sauropod has been included in the new Schleich “World of History” prehistoric animal model range – a replica of the huge dinosaur known as Brachiosaurus. A Brachiosaurus dinosaur model is being added to the Schleich prehistoric animal model range.

Brachiosaurus was named in 1903 by the palaeontologist Elmer Riggs, the name means “arm lizard” as the fore-limbs of this Late Jurassic dinosaur were longer than its hind-limbs.  Brachiosaurus was one of the largest dinosaurs, scientists have estimated that this dinosaur could have weighed up to fifty tonnes in weight and measured more than twenty-three metres in length.  The new “World of History” Brachiosaurus model from Schleich, the German based figure manufacture measures approximately thirty centimetres in length.  This suggests that this particular replica is about 1:75 scale.   If this is the case, then this Brachiosaurus works well with the Apatosaurus model in this series as this model too, is approximately 1:75 scale.

Brachiosaurus Dinosaur Model

Early images of this new dinosaur model, released by Schleich suggested that the colouration would be a combination of dark and light brown stripes, but with the finished models the colour scheme has been toned down.  There is still evidence of stripes running down from the long neck to the tip of the stubby tail but they are muted.

The Brachiosaurus “World of History” Dinosaur Model

“Arm Lizard” replica from Schleich.

Palaeontologists have speculated as to where on the relatively small head of Brachiosaurs the nostrils were located.  The model makers at Schleich have located the nostrils at the top of the head, this is in keeping with current scientific thinking.  This is an excellent feature of the new Brachiosaurus dinosaur model from Schleich.

The muscular neck is not held vertically in what is often called the “swan neck” position, but the neck and the head is angled forward, making this model a little less tall than it would be if the head was held vertically aloft. Even so the head is over twenty centimetres off the ground.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s range of dinosaur models including Schleich models and figures: Schleich Dinosaur Models and Figures.

The sturdy legs give the model plenty of support and the impression of heavy animal has been created by the designers.  The skin texture is roughened and highly detailed, looking a little similar to the skin seen on large, land animals today such as the African elephant.   The tail is relatively stumpy and short but the model is well proportioned and provides an accurate impression of what this giant reptile may have looked like based on the fossil evidence.

The new Brachiosaurus model from Schleich is robust and well-made, it will help young dinosaur fans learn through creative play as well as being popular with model collectors.

“World of History” Schleich Apatosaurus Dinosaur Model

The longest and heaviest of the twelve prehistoric animals in the Schleich “World of History” prehistoric animal model series is the new interpretation of the dinosaur Apatosaurus.  This replica of the famous long-necked dinosaur, formerly known as Brontosaurus*, measures thirty-three centimetres in length and it is robust and great for creative, imaginative play. Everything Dinosaur team members review the Schleich Apatosaurus dinosaur model.

Schleich Apatosaurus Dinosaur Model

Apatosaurus has been classified as a heavily built member of the diplodocid family of lizard-hipped dinosaurs.  A number of species have been described and many of these creatures have been estimated to have exceeded twenty-five metres in length.  Based on a full-sized adult Apatosaurus, this new replica represents a model that is in approximately 1:75 scale.

The “World of History” Schleich Apatosaurus Dinosaur Model

New Apatosaurus dinosaur model from Schleich.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

These heavy-set herbivores had relatively small heads in proportion to their huge, bulky bodies.  The head on this new Schleich replica is carefully crafted, with the nostrils correctly positioned towards the top of the head, the position favoured by most palaeontologists these days.  The front feet have the correct number of toes, and the first digit has an enlarged claw, again, reflecting what can be seen in the fossil record.  The enlarged claw on the first digit, could have helped prevent this twenty tonne animal from slipping in soft mud, or it could have been used as a defensive weapon to fend off attacks from predatory dinosaurs.

Earlier Apatosaurus Dinosaur Models

In contrast, to earlier Apatosaurus dinosaur models made by Schleich, this model is very colourful.  Earlier replicas of this dinosaur, made by the German-based figure and replica maker tended to be painted a dull battleship grey.  This new dinosaur model reflects a trend to depict prehistoric animals as more brightly coloured creatures.

This model of the dinosaur Apatosaurus, is well-crafted with a sandy brown colouration, topped by reddy-brown markings running from the back of the head along the neck, down the spine and continuing along to the very tip of the this dinosaur’s long, thick tail.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s model range: Schleich World of History Prehistoric Animal Models.

In common with the other prehistoric animal models in the “World of History” model range, the skin texture is very detailed.  The skin of the Apatosaurus dinosaur model resembles that seen on a modern-day elephant.  The model makers have given this particular replica a very rough skin texture.  The model is very well painted and robustly built and it will prove to be an attractive collector’s item as well as encouraging creative, imaginative play amongst young dinosaur fans.

This new Schleich Apatosaurus dinosaur model, is an interesting and thought provoking replica of this very famous Late Jurassic dinosaur.

Note *Brontosaurus is now recognised as a valid genus.