All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
3 05, 2025

The Ultimate Triceratops Garden Ornament

By |2025-05-05T10:02:01+01:00May 3rd, 2025|Dinosaur Fans|0 Comments

Dinosaurs are everywhere. For example, on a visit to a garden centre team members from Everything Dinosaur spotted a Triceratops dinosaur model.  The horned dinosaur had inspired a designer to make a garden ornament.  It is quite a hefty piece, too large for many gardens. Perhaps it will appeal to someone trying to create their very own “Jurassic Park”.  Triceratops is an iconic dinosaur.  It captivates imaginations, perhaps because of its impressive size and its distinctive headshield.  Furthermore, with three prominent horns it is instantly recognisable.  Triceratops is popular with both children and adults.

A Triceratops garden ornament.

The Triceratops garden ornament with a Velociraptor figure in the background. Create your own valley of the dinosaurs. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

We suspect this horned dinosaur model will be popular.

Not the Most Accurate Dinosaur Model

We congratulate the designer for their horned dinosaur.  Although, it is not the most accurate Triceratops dinosaur model that we have encountered.  However, what it lacks in anatomical accuracy it more than makes up with its consumer appeal.  Sadly, this ceratopsian sculpture will not be heading back to the Everything Dinosaur warehouse.  We have enough horned dinosaur figures of our own.

There are more accurate Triceratops models available.  For example, the recently introduced CollectA Deluxe Triceratops model has been praised by serious collectors for its accuracy.

CollectA Triceratops horridus 1:40 scale model. In search of Triceratops.

CollectA Triceratops horridus dinosaur model (left lateral view). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the CollectA Deluxe range of prehistoric animal scale models: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animal Figures.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Dinosaur models and figures seem to turn up everywhere.  They are ubiquitous.  Even a visit to a garden centre provides an opportunity to view dinosaurs.”

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

2 05, 2025

The Latest Edition of “Prehistoric Times” is Reviewed

By |2025-05-05T06:46:26+01:00May 2nd, 2025|Magazine Reviews|0 Comments

Issue 153 (spring, 2025) of “Prehistoric Times” magazine has arrived.  This edition is packed with lots of fascinating articles and amazing illustrations. Our congratulations to all the contributors. Gryposaurus is one of Phil Hore’s featured animals, and it is on the front cover thanks to some excellent artwork by Chuck Egnaczak. Gryposaurus (G. notabilis) was named by the Canadian palaeontologist Lawrence Lambe (1914).  Palaeontologist Jordan Mallon of the Canadian Museum of Nature discusses this hadrosaur and documents his successful fund raising to restore the grave of Lawrence Lambe.

Issue 153 of "Prehistoric Times" magazine.

The front cover of “Prehistoric Times” magazine issue 153. Picture credit: Mike Fredericks.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

There are lots of reader-supplied Gryposaurus illustrations.  Nick Papadimitriou included a drawing of a Gryposaurus skeleton along with a close-up view of the head in his contribution.  Tony Pichler drew a pair of adults accompanied by a juvenile.  Elvind Bovor depicted a group crossing a small stream, whilst front cover artist Chuck Egnaczak chose to illustrate two species (G. latidens and G. notabilis).

Issue 153 of “Prehistoric Times” Magazine

Tracy L. Ford continues his analysis of dinosaur skin by starting a topic concerning the integumentary coverings associated with armoured dinosaurs. In contrast, J.R. Lavas focuses upon three groups of extinct proboscideans in his long-running series documenting the artwork of Zdeněk Burian.  We learn that Hydrodamalis gigas, otherwise known as Steller’s sea cow, is related to proboscideans in the clade Tethyheria.  Phil Hore provides a history lesson documenting the exploration of Alaska and explains how within twenty-seven years of being discovered Steller’s sea cow was extinct.  The article includes some wonderful illustrations.  Congratulations to John Trotter, William Stout, Ethan Martinicky and Mark Hallett for their contributions.  The article even features an excellent sculpture by Jaime Martinez.

There are some excellent photographs of sea cow fossils illustrating the interview of Dr Jonathan Hoffman (Curator of Earth Science at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History). The interview was conducted by Krishna García-Martínez.

Comic book fans are treated to an article that discusses the work of illustrator George Wilson and Randy Knol examines sauropodomorph figures in his regular “Dinosaur Collector News” feature.  Editor Mike Fredericks discusses the new CollectA figures, we recognise the illustrations, and he also provides an update on newly published books and other media.  For example, he looks at a new boxed set containing all three “Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic World” films.

Maip macrothorax illustration.

A drawing of the large megaraptorid Maip macrothorax. Picture credit: Mike Fredericks.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

Exploring the Burgess Shale and Accessing an Amazing Australian Fossil Collection

Issue 153 includes an interview with Luke Sparke, the director of “Primitive War”, a film adaptation of the multimedia novel series created by Ethan Pettus. How the powerful jaws of some ornithischian dinosaurs could have deterred predators is discussed and Joey Shaffar provides a guided tour of his vast collection of fossils and minerals from Australia. Sean Kotz outlines how he painted a 1:20 scale Styracosaurus and Pat Schaefer returns to discuss the last of the Marx prehistoric playsets.

Dr Andreas Forrer profiles some of the inhabitants of the famous Burgess Shale of British Columbia.  In addition, he explains the importance of the extensive Cambrian fossil collection housed at the Field Museum (Chicago).

The spring edition of “Prehistoric Times” magazine is a triumph. It boasts an extensive and diverse range of fascinating articles complemented beautifully by the impressive reader art submissions

To learn more about the magazine and to subscribe: “Prehistoric Times” Magazine.

1 05, 2025

New Haolonggood Saurolophus Dinosaur Models Coming into Stock

By |2025-05-01T22:16:19+01:00May 1st, 2025|Haolonggood Prehistoric Animal Models|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur team members confirm that the company will be stocking the new Haolonggood Saurolophus models. Both colour versions will be stocked.  These duck-billed dinosaur figures will be available in a few weeks.

The two Saurolophus models are:

  • Yue He (the brown Saurolophus figure).
  • Song Qing (the grey Saurolophus figure).
Haolonggood Saurolophus models.

The two new Haolonggood Saurolophus models. Foreground, Yue He (brown) and in the background Song Qing.

 

The Haolonggood Saurolophus Models

These beautiful figures measure twenty-two centimetres in length.  The head crest stands some seven and a half centimetres high.  These models have a declared scale of 1:35.

To view the range of Haolonggood figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Haolonggood Prehistoric Animal Figures.

The two Haolonggood Saurolophus models.

The two Haolonggood Saurolophus dinosaur models. The grey coloured Song Qing (top). The brown coloured Yue He (bottom).

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Hadrosaurs tend to be under-represented in most model collections.  It is great to see a pair of Saurolophus models being added to the Haolonggood model range.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

30 04, 2025

A New Dinosaur Book – “The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs”

By |2025-04-29T22:11:49+01:00April 30th, 2025|Book Reviews|0 Comments

Exciting news for fans of dinosaurs, palaeontology and fossils.  A new book written by the extremely talented Dr Dean Lomax is due to be published later this year.  The book, entitled “The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs: Unearthing the Real Behaviors of Prehistoric Animals” will be available in September (2025).  Published by Columbia University Press, it will be available from all good booksellers, including Amazon, and it can be pre-ordered from the publisher’s website ninety days prior to the publication date.  However, we at Everything Dinosaur have been given access to the front cover image and a sneak preview.

The "Secret Lives of Dinosaurs" by Dr Dean Lomax and illustrated by Bob Nicholls.

The “Secret Lives of Dinosaurs” by Dr Dean Lomax and illustrated by Bob Nicholls. This exciting new book will be published in September (2025). Picture credit: Dr Dean Lomax.

Picture credit: Dr Dean Lomax/Bob Nicholls

“The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs”

This amazing new book is illustrated throughout by the world-renowned palaeoartist Bob Nicholls.  It tells the stories behind some incredible fossil discoveries that focus on direct evidence of behaviours.  How remarkable insights into the lives of prehistoric animals have been captured in deep geological time.  With Dr Lomax acting as your guide, the reader is provided with a forensic, behind-the-scenes examination of some astonishing fossils.  From ammonite eggs to the meals of mosasaurs and a pregnant ichthyosaur that ate a bird.  Each chapter sheds new light on the private lives and intimate moments of animals that once inhabited our planet.  Vivid, full-colour illustrations by Bob Nicholls bring these incredible stories and insights to life.

“The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs” builds upon the phenomenally successful and best-seller “Locked in Time”.  This was an earlier collaboration between Dr Lomax and Bob Nicholls (published 2021).  It told the stories of extinct animal’s behaviour perceived from fifty extraordinary fossils.  However, this new book offers an entirely different approach.

To read our review of “Locked in Time”: “Locked in Time” Reviewed.

The book "Locked in Time"

The front cover of the book “Locked in Time – Animal Behaviour Unearthed in 50 Extraordinary Fossils” by Dean Lomax with illustrations by Bob Nicholls. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mammals Feeding on Dinosaurs

Dr Lomax takes readers on a journey through the grand cycle of life.  The scientific explanations are given extra authority and relevance as Dr Lomax writes about his own escapades and adventures.  Of course, this highly enjoyable book is imbued with a dash of dinosaur humour too.

The prehistoric animal behaviours described in “The Secret Life of Dinosaurs” include evidence that dinosaurs were not always the predator.  Our mammalian ancestors more than held their own ground against the “terrible lizards”.  For example, one section of the book outlines how a mammal took down a dinosaur!

We were fascinated by the cover of the book! The two-headed animal is a type of aquatic reptile from the time of the dinosaurs. We asked Dr Lomax about the cover choice and he replied:

“I am thrilled that you love the cover! Believe me, Bob and I spent a lot of time working up many ideas with various animals – mostly dinosaurs – on the cover. In the end, we both agreed, as did the team at Columbia University Press, that this book is so different to anything else in the dinosaur/palaeo book world that the cover should represent that. So, we thought, why not go for one of the most extraordinarily rare fossils – a two-headed reptile. Sure, it’s not a dinosaur, but the book is not entirely dedicated to dinosaurs, hence the subtitle. We’re very proud of the cover and know that people will be blown away by some of the remarkable stories that are featured in this book.”

Marine reptile casts - "Proteosaurus" cast from the Natural History Museum (Berlin, Germany)

Dr Dean Lomax working on an ichthyosaur cast from the Natural History Museum (Berlin). This new book features marine reptiles too. Picture credit: Dr Dean Lomax/University of Manchester.

Picture credit: Dr Dean Lomax/University of Manchester

Book Details – “The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs”

Title: “The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs”
Author: Dr Dean Lomax
Illustrator: Bob Nicholls
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Publication Date: September 3rd, 2025
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 312
ISBN: 9780231211307

List Price: $38.95/£32.00

Also available as an E-book

Available from Columbia University Press: More Details/Order “The Secret Life of Dinosaurs”.

29 04, 2025

Haolonggood T. rex Models to be Stocked by Everything Dinosaur

By |2025-04-28T15:17:05+01:00April 29th, 2025|Haolonggood Prehistoric Animal Models|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur has confirmed that they will be stocking the new Haolonggood T. rex models.  These 1:35 scale tyrannosaur figures are due to be in stock later this spring. Dinosaur model fans can choose from the brown-coloured variant (Chao Gai) or the grey variant (Lu Jun Yi).  Both models measure approximately thirty-three centimetres in length.

Haolonggood T. rex models.

The Haolonggood T. rex models. Lu Jun Yi is left) and the brown coloured variant Chao Gai is on the right.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that customers who contacted the company would be added to the priority reserve list for these two figures.

To view the range of Haolonggood models in stock: Haolonggood Dinosaur Models.

Haolonggood T. rex Models

There is one other Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurid dinosaur currently represented in the Haolonggood range.  The company has already produced a replica of Daspletosaurus (D. torosus). The Haolonggood Daspletosaurus models (Lu Zhi Sheng and Wu Song) also have a declared scale of 1:35. However, the new for 2025 Haolonggood Tyrannosaurus rex figures are about four centimetres longer.  This is in keeping with current scientific evidence that indicates that T. rex was larger than the geologically older Daspletosaurus taxon.

The new Haolonggood Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur model (Chao Gai).

Haolonggood Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur model (Chao Gai).

The image (above) shows the brown variant (Chao Gai).  This dinosaur figure, just like its counterpart (Lu Jun Yi) shows some amazing detail.

The new Haolonggood Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur model (Lu Jun Yi).

Haolonggood Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur model (Lu Jun Yi).

The image (above) shows the grey colour version of Tyrannosaurus rex.  This figure has been named Lu Jun Yi.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are looking forward to getting these two fine tyrannosaur figures into stock.  Our congratulations to the design team at Haolonggood.”

To visit the multi-award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

28 04, 2025

A Wonderful Achillobator giganticus Drawing

By |2025-04-24T15:55:41+01:00April 28th, 2025|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings|0 Comments

Our thanks to Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur a wonderful Achillobator giganticus drawing.  Caldey is a big fan of the Beasts of the Mesozoic/Cyberzoic series.  To show her appreciation she sent into us her latest dromaeosaurid drawing. Our congratulations to you Caldey, it is a carefully composed and beautifully observed composition.

An Achillobator dinosaur drawing by Caldey.

A fabulous illustration of the dromaeosaurid Achillobator by Caldey. The drawing shows a tremendous amount of detail, even individual feathers on the tail have been highlighted. Congratulations! Picture credit: Caldey.

Picture credit: Caldey

An Achillobator giganticus Drawing

Caldey has captured the movement of this lithe, but robust dromaeosaurid dinosaur. Achillobator is estimated to have reached a length of around five metres. It roamed the arid landscape of Late Cretaceous Mongolia. It was not as agile as smaller dinosaurs, but it was still capable of rapid movements. The long tail, most likely covered in plumage, helped this animal balance as it turned. It has been speculated that Achillobator was a pack hunter, and that this dromaeosaur specialised in hunting prey larger than itself.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It is a dynamic drawing!  The dromaeosaur is depicted with its head raised and its large jaws open.  It could be pursuing prey or perhaps squabbling with another pack member.  I really like Caldey’s illustration, even individual feathers have been picked out.  It is a fantastic illustration of a dinosaur.”

Inspired by the Beasts of the Mesozoic Range

The artwork and figures in the Beasts of the Mesozoic model range have inspired several artists.  Team members have received lots of dinosaur drawings.  The beautiful package art for the Achillobator model (pictured below) was created by Brennan Stokkermans.  These are extremely realistic depictions of dromaeosaurids.

Beasts of the Mesozoic Achillobator and the Utahraptor figure.

Superb product packaging! The new Beasts of the Mesozoic Utahraptor model (top). The product packaging for the Achillobator giganticus figure is shown underneath. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Beasts of the Mesozoic/Cyberzoic figures: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models.

Mike continued his praise for Caldey’s illustration commenting:

“Preserved tissue traces on the femur and tibia indicate that Achillobator had powerful legs. In addition, analysis of the pelvis and hip area suggests that this dinosaur was adapted for leaping. Although not as manoeuvrable as smaller dromaeosaurs, despite its size Achillobator was probably extremely agile.  Caldey’s drawing highlights the agility of this carnivorous dinosaur.”

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

27 04, 2025

Beautiful Dinosaur Models Enjoying the Sunshine

By |2025-04-27T20:00:02+01:00April 27th, 2025|Dinosaur Fans|0 Comments

Our thanks to Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur photographs of two of her dinosaur models outdoors.  These dinosaur figures are enjoying the sunshine.  One of the figures, the CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus dinosaur model is feeding on a conifer.  The photographer has carefully considered the composition.  The camera is looking down at the figure to enable most of the model to be included in the shot.   The contrast between the areas in direct sunlight and the areas in shade add depth and interest.  The sauropods head is shaded by the fir, indicating that it is feeding on the tree canopy. The body far below is sunlit.

CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus dinosaur model photographed outside.

A CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus dinosaur model photographed outside in the sunshine. Picture credit: Caldey.

Picture credit: Caldey

The CollectA Deluxe Ruyangosaurus Model

The CollectA Ruyangosaurus model has a declared scale of 1:100.  It was introduced into the CollectA Deluxe range in 2023.

To view the range of CollectA Deluxe figures in stock: CollectA Deluxe Models.

Ruyangosaurus (R. giganteus) was formally named and described in 2009 (Lü et al). It roamed eastern China in the Early Cretaceous. Size estimates vary, but this sauropod could have measured in excess of thirty metres in length. It is one of the largest Cretaceous dinosaurs known from Asia.

Photographing Armoured Dinosaurs

The second photograph we received features a Haolonggood armoured dinosaur. The figure has been carefully placed amongst some succulents.  It looks as if this herbivorous dinosaur is feeding on the plants.

Haolonggood armoured dinosaur model grazing on some plants.

Haolonggood armoured dinosaur model grazing on some plants. Can you name the genus? Picture credit: Caldey.

Picture credit: Caldey

The photographer has captured the vibrancy and detail of the figure. Photographing this dinosaur model in the warm sunshine brings it life and the colours of the model are brought into perspective. The garden has been turned into a person’s very own “Jurassic Park”, a prehistoric wonderland filled with imagination and creativity.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur congratulated Caldey on her choice of model and composition selection.

He added:

“Our thanks to Caldey for emailing these wonderful images to us.  Some dinosaurs feeding in the spring sunshine.  Seeing these photographs made our day.”

26 04, 2025

An Exclusive Phorusrhacos Terror Bird Scale Drawing

By |2025-04-19T18:13:14+01:00April 26th, 2025|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur has commissioned a Phorusrhacos scale drawing.  This illustration is to be used in the Phorusrhacos fact sheet.  This fact sheet will be sent out free of charge with sales of the new CollectA Deluxe Phorusrhacos figure.  Commonly referred to as a “Terror Bird”, Phorusrhacos (P. longissimus) is thought to have measured around 2.8 metres long.  It stood around 2.4 metres high.  Furthermore, the skull was huge, one of the largest known in the Aves.  The skull measured around sixty-five centimetres long.

Phorusrhacos scale drawing.

Phorusrhacos (P. longissimus) is thought to have stood approximately 2.4 metres high. This apex predator probably weighed around 130 kilograms. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are expecting the CollectA Deluxe Phorusrhacos model to be in stock shortly.  Fans of these giant birds have been requesting a new and updated figure.  It joins the Kelenken model that was introduced by CollectA back in 2011.”

The Phorusrhacos Scale Drawing

Scale drawings of prehistoric animals, such as Phorusrhacos longissimus, help model collectors visualise the size and proportions of “Terror Birds”. These illustrations help to enhance understanding. In addition, the free fact sheets supplied by Everything Dinosaur are valuable educational tools.

One of the new for 2025 CollectA Deluxe prehistoric animal models - the 1:20 scale Phorusrhacos.

The CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Phorusrhacos model.

To view the range of CollectA Deluxe figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Figures.

Mike added:

“The new CollectA Deluxe Phorusrhacos is on a base.  The base itself has plenty of detail including a shed canine tooth from a sparassodont.  Scientists now know that these types of cursorial birds had an enlarged claw on their second toe.  This large claw, similar to the killing claw of Velociraptors may have been used to pin prey.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Toys.

25 04, 2025

The New PNSO Russo the Coronosaurus Dinosaur Model

By |2025-04-26T06:25:07+01:00April 25th, 2025|PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur will be stocking the new for 2025 PNSO Russo the Coronosaurus dinosaur model. This new horned dinosaur figure will be in stock shortly.  The last four dinosaur models to be introduced by PNSO have all been horned dinosaurs.

The models are:

  • Frederik the Lokiceratops (Centrosaurinae).
  • Judith the Spiclypeus (Chasmosaurinae).
  • Stella the Stellasaurus (Centrosaurinae).
  • Russo the Coronosaurus (Centrosaurinae).
PNSO Russo the Coronosaurus.

The new PNSO Russo the Coronosaurus dinosaur model.

The New PNSO Russo the Coronosaurus Dinosaur Model

The new Coronosaurus dinosaur model measures sixteen centimetres in length.  Those beautiful and ornate frills on the top of the neck frill are a little over five centimetres off the ground. Originally thought to represent a new species of Centrosaurus, a review in 2012 led to the establishment of the Coronosaurus genus. The name means “crown lizard”. It is a reference to the numerous additional epiparietals that adorn the parietal giving the neck frill a crown-like appearance. Moreover, one of the palaeontologists that named this dinosaur, Michael J. Ryan stated that the neck shield ornamentation reminded him of the corona of the sun.

Michael J. Ryan was also one of the scientists that described Stellasaurus (S. ancellae). Recently, PNSO announced that they were adding a Stellasaurus figure to their range.

To read a blog post about Stella the Stellasaurus: PNSO Announces a New Horned Dinosaur Model (Stellasaurus).

The model will be supplied with a full-colour A3-sized poster and a sixty-four-page booklet. In addition, Everything Dinosaur customers will receive a free Coronosaurus fact sheet.

PNSO Coronosaurus accessories.

This new for 2025 horned dinosaur model is supplied with an A3-sized Sci-Art poster and a full-colour, sixty-four-page booklet. In addition, Everything Dinosaur customers will receive a free Coronosaurus fact sheet.

A Beautiful Centrosaurine Figure

Coronosaurus (C. brinkmani) is a member of the ceratopsid subfamily the Centrosaurinae.  It is estimated to have measured around five metres in length and weighed approximately two tonnes. Coronosaurus fossil material is known from two bone beds, both located in Alberta, Canada. These bone beds consist of strata associated with the upper unit of the Oldman Formation. Coronosaurus roamed southern Canada around seventy-seven million years ago.

To view the range of PNSO models and figures in stock: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Figures.

PNSO Russo the Coronosaurus.

The centrosaurine figure (PNSO Coronosaurus) shown in anterior view.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It is wonderful to see another centrosaurine added to the PNSO range.  Moreover, all these horned dinosaur figures help to illustrate the incredible diversity of ceratopsians present in North America towards the end of the Cretaceous.”

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Toys.

24 04, 2025

The Remarkable Phytosaur Giants

By |2025-04-21T15:31:00+01:00April 24th, 2025|Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Phytosaurs were a geographically widespread group of semiaquatic reptiles that thrived in the Late Triassic. Everything Dinosaur team members look at the remarkable phytosaur Colossosuchus techniensis and other related genera.

The phylogenetic position of the phytosaurs remains disputed. This is in part as little is known about their ancestral forms. For example, some scientists classify phytosaurs as members of the Archosauria, uniting them in the same clade as crocodiles, pterosaurs, dinosaurs and birds. However, other researchers, notably the American palaeontologist Sterling Nesbitt does not define the Phytosauria as archosaurs, but as close relatives to the Archosauria (Archosauriformes).

Often depicted with a sprawling gait, a trackway assigned to a phytosaur (Apatopus) indicates that these reptiles adopted a “high walk” gait.  They had an erect stance, albeit with a tail drag, and a parasagittal gait, much as crocodiles do today.

Phytosaurs Resembled Extant Crocodilians

These animals superficially resembled crocodilians, although they were not closely related to modern crocodiles. This is an example of convergent evolution.  Convergent evolution is the process through which distantly related or unrelated organisms evolve similar characteristics or adaptations in response to similar environmental pressures.  For instance, most phytosaurs were probably aquatic ambush predators.  They occupied an environmental niche in ancient ecosystems similar to the niche occupied by extant crocodilians.

A typical phytosaur.

A museum exhibit featuring a typical phytosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Characteristics of Phytosaurs

Although superficially resembling crocodiles there were notable differences.  For example, the nostrils of phytosaurs were located high up on the skull, almost between the eyes. The nostrils were located atop a dome-like structure towards the posterior of the snout. In crocodilians, the nostrils are located at the tip of their long snouts.

Telling the difference between a phytosaur and a crocodile.

The location of the nostrils in a phytosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

In addition, phytosaurs lacked the bony secondary palate found in crocodilians.  Although, they probably possessed a fleshy secondary palate that enabled them to breathe whilst they had water in their mouths.  Unfortunately, the presumed presence of a fleshy palate is not confirmed in the fossil record, probably due to this structure’s poor preservation potential.

The arrangement of dermal armour was probably different too. Phytosaurs probably had a paired row of armoured scutes running down their backs. In contrast, crocodilians have multiple rows of scutes.

The manus (hand) of these reptiles such as the phytosaur Colossosuchus techniensis consisted of five digits.

A description of the phytosaur manus:

  • The manus is short and rounded with digit III being longest.
  • Digits II and IV are approximately the same length.
  • Moreover, digit V is the smallest digit. Digit I (pollex) is short but robust.
  • Claws are present on digits I to IV.
  • The largest claws being located on digit I and II.

A description of the phytosaur pes:

  • The pes had five digits.
  • Digit I was short and quite robust.
  • Digits II, III and IV were long and slender.
  • Digit IV was the longest.
  • It is believed that all the digits had claws.
  • Digit V was much reduced and the shortest digit. It did have a small claw.

How Big were the Largest Phytosaurs?

Scientists remain uncertain over the size of the largest taxa.  Some phytosaurs may have been bigger than the largest living crocodilian the Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) which rarely exceeds six metres in length. For example, Rutiodon carolinensis from the southeastern United States is thought to have measured about eight metres long.  It is known from numerous fossil specimens including skull material. The largest skull measures seventy-seven cm in length.

Furthermore, Smilosuchus gregorii is thought to have reached a length of around eight metres.  Some body length estimates for this species exceed twelve metres. However, these estimates are based on highly fragmentary specimens. The recently described Indian phytosaur Colossosuchus techniensis is also estimated to have reached a length of around eight metres.

The 2023 scientific paper describing the phytosaur Colossosuchus techniensis:

“A giant phytosaur (Diapsida, Archosauria) from the Upper Triassic of India with new insights on phytosaur migration, endemism and extinction” by Debajit Datta and Sanghamitra Ray published in Papers in Palaeontology.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Intriguingly, there are numerous examples of at least two phytosaur species being coeval.  One species is often narrow-snouted [Dolichorostral] with teeth that are very similar.  The second species often has a much more robust snout [Brachyrostral] with differently shaped teeth.  Often the robust snouted forms have long fangs at the end of their jaws.  This suggests that these two phytosaurs evolved to take advantage of different food resources although they shared the same environment. Niche partitioning seems to have taken place quite frequently within the Phytosauria.”

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Figures.

Palaeontologists explain this niche partitioning phenomena by suggesting that the ancestral phytosaur species specialised in eating different things.  They eventually diverged into two closely related but different species. It is remarkable that this evolutionary pattern is repeated so often within the Phytosauria fossil record.

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