All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
//April
30 04, 2020

What Makes “Crazy Beast” So Crazy

By | April 30th, 2020|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

The Very Strange Adalatherium hui

This week, has seen the publication in the journal “Nature” of a scientific paper describing a new species of bizarre mammal from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar.  Named Adalatherium (A. hui), this cat-sized animal shared its island home with a variety of predators such as abelisaurid dinosaurs, crocodilians and snakes.  At an estimated three kilograms, Adalatherium was no giant, but the fossilised remains, which represent a near complete skeleton of an individual, indicate that this mammal was not yet fully mature when it died and as such, it is one of the largest members of the crown group of mammals described from Upper Cretaceous material.

Adalatherium hui

A Life Reconstruction of Adalatherium (A. hui)

Adalatherium life reconstruction.
A life reconstruction of Adalatherium hui.

Picture credit: Reuters

Madagascar became isolated from the rest of Gondwana around 88 million years ago.  Animals on the island were effectively marooned and many pursued a different evolutionary route compared to related forms on the rest of the super-continent.  Classified as a member of the Gondwanatheria, an extinct group of mammaliaforms confined to the southern hemisphere and up until now, only known from isolated teeth and fragmentary bones, the Adalatherium lineage developed an unusual and unique set of characteristics never seen before in a tetrapod.

“Crazy Beast”

The backbone has more vertebrae than any other Mesozoic mammal and one of its rear leg bones (tibia) was bowed.  How this animal moved around is a bit of a mystery, but the authors of the scientific paper suggest that this animal lived in burrows (fossorial).  The snout shows a mixture of primitive and very advanced anatomical traits.  Adalatherium had more foraminia, small holes in the nasal cavity that served as passageways for nerves and blood vessels, than any other mammal extinct or living today.

The snout was probably extremely sensitive and covered in whiskers, they may have helped it find its way about underground.  One foramen (hole for nerves or blood vessels), at the top of the snout has no know parallel with any other mammal.

These strange characteristics inspired the researchers to name this animal “crazy beast” from the local Malagasy and from the Greek.

The Preserved Skeleton of Adalatherium and Accompanying Line Drawing

Adalatherium fossil material and interpretative line drawing.
The articulated remains of Adalatherium hui and an accompanying line drawing.  Note scale bar in (a) equals 5 cm.

Picture credit: Krause et al.

Adalatherium hui – Bending and Breaking a Lot of Rules

Corresponding author, Dr David Krause (Denver Museum of Nature and Science), commented:

“Knowing what we know about the skeletal anatomy of all living and extinct mammals, it is difficult to imagine that a mammal like Adalatherium hui could have evolved, it bends and even breaks a lot of rules.”

Dr Krause is no stranger to bizarre prehistoric animals from Madagascar.  In 2008, Everything Dinosaur wrote a blog post about the “frog from Hell”, a research team led by Dr Krause had discovered the fossilised remains of a giant frog that inhabited the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar.

To read more about this: Beelzebufo ampinga – a frog that could jump continents!

The scientific paper: “Skeleton of a Cretaceous mammal from Madagascar reflects long-term insularity” by David W. Krause, Simone Hoffmann, Yaoming Hu, John R. Wible, Guillermo W. Rougier, E. Christopher Kirk, Joseph R. Groenke, Raymond R. Rogers, James B. Rossie, Julia A. Schultz, Alistair R. Evans, Wighart von Koenigswald and Lydia J. Rahantarisoa published in the journal Nature.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

30 04, 2020

“Crazy Beast” Lived Amongst the Last of the Dinosaurs

By | April 30th, 2020|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2, Key Stage 3/4|Comments Off on “Crazy Beast” Lived Amongst the Last of the Dinosaurs

Adalatherium hui – “Crazy Beast” from Madagascar

Scientists have published a scientific paper in the academic journal “Nature” that describes a cat-sized mammal that lived alongside the dinosaurs at the very end of the Cretaceous.  The furry little creature has been named Adalatherium hui and its fossils have been found on the island of Madagascar.

Madagascar started to  break away from the super-continent of Gondwana around 88 million years ago and so animals such as Adalatherium evolved in relative isolation, separated from other populations of mammals on larger landmasses.  At around three kilograms in weight and not being fully grown when it died, it challenges the perception that all mammals were very small during the time of the dinosaurs.

A Life Reconstruction of the Late Cretaceous Mammaliaform Adalatherium hui

Adalatherium life reconstruction.
A life reconstruction of Adalatherium hui.

Picture credit: Reuters

“Crazy Beast”

Adalatherium lived around 72 million to 66 million years ago (Late Cretaceous).  The genus name translated from the Greek and native Malagasy means “crazy beast”, as the discovery of skull and postcranial fossil material of this badger-like creature challenges a lot of scientific assumptions about the evolution of mammals during the latter stages of the Mesozoic.

The snout had a large congregation of nerves within it, making the nose of this animal extremely sensitive.  This suggests that sense of smell was very important and therefore, it has been proposed that Adalatherium lived underground, that it was a burrowing animal (fossorial – an animal adapted to digging and living in burrows).

Adalatherium shared its island home with a number of predatory dinosaurs, including abelisaurids, dromaeosaurs and noasaurids as well as at least three species of crocodilians, both ancient forms and distant relatives of today’s living crocodiles (Neosuchian crocodilians).

Perhaps living underground was a very sensible strategy when surrounded by large predators.

Teaching Extensions Associated with Adalatherium

  • Make a list of animals alive today that live in burrows
  • What similarities do they have?  What differences can you spot?
  • Can you design a dinosaur that could live underground?  What sort of adaptations would this animal have?

For further information about educational resources: Email Everything Dinosaur.

29 04, 2020

Let’s Ear It for Thalattosuchians (Evolution of Cetaceans)

By | April 29th, 2020|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Prehistoric Crocodiles and Whales  – Convergent Evolution

The evolution of the cetaceans from terrestrial ancestors to the fully adapted pelagic forms we see today has been well documented.  However, a group of archosaurs, specifically a clade of crocodyliformes – the thalattosuchians, underwent the transition from terrestrial animals to become fast swimming predators over a hundred million years earlier.

Two very different types of tetrapod became adapted to marine environments by developing flippers from limbs, streamlining their bodies and evolving tail flukes to aid propulsion in water.  New research from a team of scientists led by Julia Schwab of the University of Edinburgh, also reveals that part of the inner ear changed to and that both thalattosuchians and the later synapsids that became modern whales ended up with very similar inner ear anatomy – an example of convergent evolution.

Thalattosaurs Evolved into Fully Pelagic Marine Reptiles from Terrestrial Ancestors

Illustrating thalattosaurs.
Thalattosaurs illustrated.  The Thalattosuchia is a specious and both temporally and geographically widespread clade of marine crocodylomorphs that originated in the Early Jurassic.  This clade is regarded by most palaeontologists as comprising two families (Teleosauridae and Metriorhynchidae).  A new scientific paper suggests that these diapsids evolved an inner ear structure that was mimicked by later synapsids that evolved into modern whales and dolphins.

Picture credit: David Peters

Computerised Tomography of Thalattosaur Skulls

Writing in the academic journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America), the researchers report on the use of CAT scans to examine the fossil skulls of a dozen different types of marine crocodile to examine the vestibular system of the inner ear.  This system consists of three looping semi-circular canals and helps with spatial awareness and balance.  As thalattosuchians evolved into fully marine forms, during a long semi-aquatic phase, the morphology of their ear canals changed.  The ear canals became smaller and fatter – a shape that made their sensory system less sensitive, an ear canal morphology shared with today’s extant cetaceans.

A Seven-metre-long Late Jurassic Marine Predator (Plesiosuchus manselii)

Marine crocodile (Plesiosuchus).
Plesiosuchus manselii illustrated.

Picture credit: Fabio Manucci/University of Edinburgh

Adapting to a Marine Existence

The inner ear canal shape that is common to both thalattosaurs and cetaceans is an adaptation to a marine existence, whereby the buoyancy of the water supports the animal in what tends to be a more uniform medium such as the the Epipelagic and the Mesopelagic zones of the ocean.  This contrasts to the environment encountered by a terrestrial animal which has to cope with the full effect of gravity on its body and a more complex landscape.

The researchers conclude that the adaptations to the thalattosaurs sensory capabilities evolved in response to their marine existence, rather than driving them into it.

Commenting on the significance of this study, co-author Steve Brusatte (University of Edinburgh), stated:

“The ancient aquatic crocs developed unusual inner ears after modifying their skeletons to become better swimmers.  Whales also changed their ears in a similar way, but did it soon after entering the water.  It seems like the crocs and whales took similar, but different, evolutionary routes from land to water.”

The scientific paper: “Inner ear sensory system changes as extinct crocodylomorphs transitioned from land to water” by Julia A. Schwab, Mark T. Young, James M. Neenan, Stig A. Walsh, Lawrence M. Witmer, Yanina Herrera, Ronan Allain, Christopher A. Brochu, Jonah N. Choiniere, James M. Clark, Kathleen N. Dollman, Steve Etches, Guido Fritsch, Paul M. Gignac, Alexander Ruebenstahl, Sven Sachs, Alan H. Turner, Patrick Vignaud, Eric W. Wilberg, Xing Xu, Lindsay E. Zanno and Stephen L. Brusatte published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur’s Website.

28 04, 2020

New Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops “Turntable Tuesday”

By | April 28th, 2020|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

“Turntable Tuesday” – Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops

It’s “Turntable Tuesday” at Everything Dinosaur and this week we take the Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops for a spin.  This is the second Paleo-Creatures figure that we have featured in this series, following hot on the heels of Moschops comes this beautiful figure of “ornate horned face”.

“Turntable Tuesday” Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops Dinosaur Model Goes for a Spin

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops Figure

The Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops figure measures around thirteen centimetres in length and it is approximately in 1:38 scale.  This hand-crafted figure is just one of an excellent range of figures all designed and sculpted by the talented Jesús Toledo.  Formally described in 2010, this horned dinosaur lived around 76-74 million years ago (Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous).  The binomial scientific name is Kosmoceratops richardsoni, the species name honours Scott Richardson, who discovered the first fossils associated with this species in Utah in 2006.  The naming of Kosmoceratops after Scott Richardson was also in recognition for his work in mapping the geology of the “Beehive state”.

The Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops richardsoni Dinosaur Model in 1:38 Scale

Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops figure.
The Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops dinosaur model.  This hand-crafted model is supplied with a data card and its own display place complete with Kosmoceratops tracks.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops “Turntable Tuesday”

The aim of Everything Dinosaur’s “turntable Tuesday” videos is to post up once a week, a short video showcasing a prehistoric animal figure on our YouTube channel.  The turntable allows viewers to see the figure in close detail from all angles, it is a 360 degree tour of a model.  The Kosmoceratops figure video lasts around ninety seconds, our objective is to produce a video that lasts between a minute and two and a half minutes in length.  With our own studio, we intend to make more videos including detailed reviews of dinosaur models in the near future.

Going for a Spin – The Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops on Everything Dinosaur’s Turntable

Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops model.
Paleo-Creatures Kosmoceratops figure goes for a spin on “turntable Tuesday”.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur on YouTube

The Everything Dinosaur YouTube channel provides a myriad of helpful information on prehistoric animals including numerous model reviews and “turntable Tuesday” videos.  It has already attracted thousands of subscribers and clocked up over 1.25 million views.  To view the rest of the “turntable Tuesday” series and all the other videos on the Everything Dinosaur YouTube channel: Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.

We recommend that dinosaur fans and collectors subscribe to Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.

The view the range of prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

27 04, 2020

New Late Cretaceous Giant Shark from Spain

By | April 27th, 2020|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Ptychodontid Sharks Grew Big and Lived for a Long Time

Scientists from the University of Vienna have been able to determine the approximate age and to estimate the rate of growth of an extinct species of shark that lived around 85 million years ago.  In addition, the researchers, writing in the open access on-line journal PLOS One, have estimated that this ammonite crunching fish could have been in excess of seven metres in length, but even though it was a giant, this shark was not yet fully mature and still had some growing to do.

Much of what we know about prehistoric sharks comes from studies of their fossilised teeth.  However, apart from providing indications on size, taxonomy and potential diet, these teeth do not provide a great deal of information about the life and the age of the individual.  In contrast, the calcified vertebrae of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays), specifically the centra, yield important information about ecological and biological traits.  Two fossil shark vertebrae assigned to the genus Ptychodus found in northern Spain, have enabled researchers to gain valuable information on the life of a single individual animal that lived during the Late Cretaceous.

Site Photographs of the Shark Vertebrae

The shark vertebrae (articulated and disarticulated specimens).
Additional articulated (A, B) and disarticulated shark vertebrae (C,D) found in situ.  Scale bar (A) = 20 cm and scale bar = 3 cm in B, C and D).

Picture credit:  K. Oppermann

A Shark from Northern Spain

The fossil material consists of a portion of the spine representing five articulated and several disarticulated vertebral centra from a single animal.  The fossils were found in Upper Cretaceous strata around six miles west of the town of Santander in northern Spain, from a limestone exposure close to the village of Soto de la Marina.

The extensive marine sediments document much of the Late Cretaceous – ranging from early Santonian through to Maastrichtian-aged deposits.  The shark fossils come a bedding plane representing the earliest Santonian (circa 85 million years ago).  Although no teeth were found in association with the fossil material, the scientists have referred this material to the Ptychodus genus.  A relatively common and widespread genus that specialised in eating hard-shelled animals such as shellfish and ammonites (duraphagous diet).

Calculating the Size of the Prehistoric Shark

Previous research had shown a link between the total length attained for several living shark species and the diameter of the vertebral centra.  The linear regression used to calculate potential length was applied to these fossils and the scientists concluded that the shark was between 4.3 to 7.07 metres in length.

Estimating the Size of the Ptychodus spp.

Scale drawing of Ptychodus specimen based on size estimates.
Estimated size of between 4.3 and 7.07 metres for the Ptychodus spp. from the Santonian of Spain.

Picture credit: Patrick L. Jambura (University of Vienna)

Intriguingly, the centra of sharks also preserve evidence of growth rate, from which an age range can be deduced, just as the rings on a tree stump can provide an indication of the tree’s age.  An analysis of the centra from two fossils indicated that this shark was around thirty years old when it died, quite an age for a shark, although what age some sharks species alive today can live to remains unknown.  Based on this study, the researchers propose that ptychodontid sharks grew very slowly, matured very late, but also showed high longevity and had the potential to reach huge body sizes.

Calcification Pattern on the Centra Can Provide an Indication of Growth Rate and Age

Calculating the age of a prehistoric shark.
Close view and line drawing of the vertebral centra EMRG-Chond-SK-1a (A), whilst (B) shows a close view and accompanying line drawing of  EMRG-Chond-SK-1b, the second centra examined in this study.  Note scale = 1.5 cm.

Picture credit: PLOS One (Jambura and Kriwet)

The scientific paper: “Articulated remains of the extinct shark Ptychodus (Elasmobranchii, Ptychodontidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Spain provide insights into gigantism, growth rate and life history of ptychodontid sharks” by Patrick L. Jambura and Jürgen Kriwet published in PLOS One.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

26 04, 2020

Out and About with the new for 2020 Mojo Fun Brontosaurus

By | April 26th, 2020|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Product Reviews|0 Comments

New for 2020 Mojo Fun Brontosaurus Model – Out and About with Brontosaurus

Everything Dinosaur is expecting deliveries of Papo prehistoric animals, Safari Ltd figures and CollectA models over the next few days.  All these figures have been put on stand-by, ready for team members to move into our warehouse – all part of our contingency plans put in place prior to the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  By implementing good hygiene and ensuring social distancing is observed, our mail order operations can keep going.

The Mojo Fun Brontosaurus Dinosaur Model

However, despite our best efforts and all that planning, the production schedules for many new figures have had to be delayed.  For example, we are still awaiting the arrival of the new for 2020 Mojo Fun prehistoric animal and extinct figures.  We do have some production samples around the office, so we thought we would take advantage of the good weather to photograph one or two of these new models.

The New for 2020 Mojo Fun Brontosaurus Dinosaur Model

Mojo Fun Brontosaurus.
A Mojo Fun Brontosaurus.  This is the new for 2020 Mojo Fun Brontosaurus model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A More Muted Colour Scheme

The Mojo Fun Deluxe Brontosaurus has a much more muted colour scheme than the Diplodocus figure that was introduced in 2018.  The skin shows nice texturing and in order to reduce the length of the model as well as to animate the figure, the head and that thick sauropod neck is turned to the side and the tail curved round as if the dinosaur was just about to flick it out to deter a predator.

A Close-up Showing the Detailed Skin Texturing on the Neck of the Mojo Fun Deluxe Brontosaurus

Mojo Fun Brontosaurus dinosaur model.
A close-up view of the Mojo Fun Brontosaurus dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Following the extensive review of the Diplodocidae and the resurrection of the Brontosaurus genus, Mojo Fun is the latest manufacturer to introduce a replica of this iconic dinosaur.  A Brontosaurus model has been added recently by CollectA (2018), to their not for scale “Prehistoric Life” range.  It is likely that more Brontosaurus models will be made in the future.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the revision of the diplodocids which led to the revival of the Brontosaurus genus: The Return of Brontosaurus.

A Closer View of the Anterior Portion of the Mojo Fun Brontosaurus Model

Mojo Fun Brontosaurus model.
The Mojo Fun Brontosaurus model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

A Morrison Formation Favourite – Brontosaurus

Out and about with a Mojo Fun Brontosaurus model.
A Mojo Fun Brontosaurus dinosaur model on display. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mojo Fun Brontosaurus Measurements

Team members have measured the figure.  It is approximately 22 cm long and the head is around 11 cm off the ground.  It is hoped that this new figure and the rest of the new for 2020 Mojo Fun prehistoric animal models will be in stock later on this year.  If we get any additional information with regards to a delivery date we will be sure to post up this news onto our various social media pages.

A Brontosaurus Attacked by Allosaurus (New for 2020 Mojo Fun Allosaurus Dinosaur Model)

Mojo Fun Allosaurus attacks the Mojo Fun Brontosaurus
A Mojo Fun Brontosaurus dinosaur model being attacked by the new for 2020 Mojo Fun Allosaurus figure. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Sixteen New Mojo Fun Prehistoric and Extinct Models

Everything Dinosaur estimates that there are sixteen new Mojo Fun prehistoric animal models for 2020, including a new model of Allosaurus (pictured above).

To view the current range of Mojo prehistoric animals available from Everything Dinosaur: Mojo Fun Prehistoric and Extinct Models and Replicas.

25 04, 2020

New Processes Helps Mail Order Business Continue to Operate

By | April 25th, 2020|Adobe CS5, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur Mail Order Business Still Operating

These are certainly challenging times for us all.  The coronavirus pandemic continues and team members at Everything Dinosaur would like to convey our thoughts and sympathies to all those people who have been affected by the virus.  We would also like to extend our very best wishes to each and every one of our customers, social media followers and friends.  We are all living through a very difficult set of circumstances but Everything Dinosaur continues to provide assistance, advice and support.

Everything Dinosaur Providing Assistance and Support

Our mail order business is still operating, we have been following UK Government advice implementing hygiene measures, social distancing and cleanliness regimes.  Fortunately, we were kept very well informed with regards to the position in China earlier on in the year and in January (2020), we began to put into place new practices and contingency plans that enabled our mail order business to keep operating.

Everything Dinosaur’s Mail Order Business is Still Operating

Everything Dinosaur still operating the mail order business.
Everything Dinosaur’s mail order business is still operating during the coronavirus pandemic.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur continues to pack and despatch orders.  Our mail order business is still open and we continue to send out parcels to our customers all over the world.  Everything Dinosaur is not extinct!

Uncharted Territory for Businesses

COVID-19 and all its implications represent uncharted territory for all businesses.  Everything Dinosaur has been challenged on numerous fronts but we are doing all we can to continue operating.  We are still able to pack and depatch parcels and we have arranged a collection routine that means that parcels can be collected by various couriers and Royal Mail staff using a rota system.  This has enabled us to provide collections twice daily and on certain days of the week three times a day.

Working closely with our postal partners across the globe we have been able to maintain delivery services.  However, delivery delays are to be expected.  Many countries have implemented special measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and these measures have had an impact on delivery times.

Whilst the situation remains fluid, it is reassuring for Everything Dinosaur’s customers to note that we have maintained our five-star rating for customer service (as independently verified by the rating company Feefo).  Indeed, many of our customers have praised our team members for packing and despatching orders so promptly permitting swift deliveries to be made.

Everything Dinosaur Maintaining their Mail Order Operations

Everything Dinosaur taking steps to ensure business as usual.
Everything Dinosaur has put in place a number of measures that means the company can operate their mail order business.  Times may be difficult but our dedicated team are doing all they can to help support customers. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The models featured in the image (above) are Mojo Fun models.

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

Everything Dinosaur Comments

A spokesperson for Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Our dedicated staff are doing all they can to assist and help customers.  We do appreciate that being able to place and receive orders at this time helps to provide a sense of normality and that our customers are trying to sort birthday presents and other gifts for loved ones.  Being able to indulge in a hobby such us model collecting can help with mental well-being when many of our customers are self-isolating at home.  We are doing all we can to maintain mail order operations.  In additon, we continue to provide free teaching resources, fact sheets, puzzles and quizzes as well as finding time to support key workers in our community.”

Everything Dinosaur remains committed to doing all that it can to assist parents, guardians, teaching professionals and all the many thousands of followers, customers, social media followers and fans that we have.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

24 04, 2020

Everything Dinosaur and Rebor Titanoboa

By | April 24th, 2020|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|9 Comments

Everything Dinosaur and Rebor Titanoboa

Fans of the excellent Rebor range of replicas and figures may be aware that news has been announced about the release of the eagerly anticipated Rebor Titanoboa (T. cerrejonensis) figure.  Everything Dinosaur team members have kept in close contact with all our suppliers in what are difficult and challenging times for us all.  We commend all the staff at Rebor for managing to get this figure produced and made available.

The Rebor Titanoboa 1:35 Scale Replica “Monty”

"Monty" the Rebor Titanoboa model.
Rebor “Monty” Titanoboa model.

Production Schedule and Availability

The model is scheduled to be available for sending out from the factory to our warehouse in the UK at the end of May.  This means, that if a shipping service is used* then we can expect this item to be available on-line at Everything Dinosaur in July (possibly a little earlier).

*Shipping – air freight may not be possible for this figure. It is important that cargo flights give priority to the global movement of medical equipment, personal protective equipment and other essential items at the time of this worldwide crisis (coronavirus).

For Rebor models and figures: Rebor Figures and Models.

This means that these figures may not arrive as promptly as usual, but at this difficult time we are sure our customers can understand the situation and the restrictions on logistics in these unprecedented circumstances.

The Price of Rebor Titanoboa

The published price of this figure for the moment is £29.16 plus VAT if appropriate and postage (pricing may change due to changes in freight prices, currency fluctuations and other factors).

Rebor “Monty” Titanoboa cerrejonensis Model

"Monty" the Rebor Titanoboa model.
Rebor “Monty” Titanoboa model.

Securing your Rebor Titanoboa with Everything Dinosaur

Originally, there were plans to release several colour variants of this 1:35 scale figure.  For the time being, “Monty” will only be available in one colour scheme and stock of this item is limited.

We have a reserve list for this item.  Anyone who has expressed an interest in the Rebor Titanoboa and has been placed on our reserve list will be emailed in the next 24-hours by Everything Dinosaur.

If you wish to join our reserve list for the Rebor Titanoboa, simply send an email to us: Email Everything Dinosaur about Rebor Titanoboa.

IN SUMMARY

  • Rebor Titanoboa “Monty” – likely to be available July 2020 (approximately).
  • Published price at the moment is £29.16 GBP (plus sales tax if appropriate) and postage.
  • One colour variant available.
  • Limited stocks.
  • Everything Dinosaur customers who have already expressed an interest in this model will be emailed by Everything Dinosaur and updated.
  • If you wish to join our reserve list for the Rebor Titanoboa: Email Everything Dinosaur.

Please note our reservation list for the first batch of this model is now closed (25th April 2020).

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

24 04, 2020

Encouraging Children’s Learning and Development with a Triceratops

By | April 24th, 2020|General Teaching|Comments Off on Encouraging Children’s Learning and Development with a Triceratops

Triceratops Encourages Learning

The extensive range of dinosaur and fossil themed teaching resources available free of charge from Everything Dinosaur are not just for teaching professionals, mums and dads can use them too!  The dedicated and enthusiastic teaching team at Everything Dinosaur have prepared a large range of teaching resources to help support and assist all those having to home school at the moment.  It can be quite hard to motivate young learners at this challenging time (coronavirus outbreak), but we have prepared lesson plan suggestions, experiments, fact sheets, schemes of work, all with a prehistoric theme to provide inspiration for the next generation of young scientists currently confined to their homes.

Triceratops Encourages Learning

Don’t take our word for it, a Triceratops tells you how it is…

Triceratops Says Feel Free to use Everything Dinosaur’s Free Downloads

Triceratops helps with speech development.
Exploring emotions and helping to construct sentences. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: The Everything Dinosaur Website.

Exploring the Downloads Section of the Everything Dinosaur Site

To aid navigation around the downloads section of the Everything Dinosaur school website, this area has been divided into three subcategories based upon the standard teaching definitions found in most UK schools.

The subcategories are:

  • EYFS/Reception (resources suitable for children in nursery or reception classes)
  • KS1/KS2 (resources aimed at primary schools)
  • KS3/KS4 (resources aimed at those children in secondary education)

The downloads are not just for teachers, as our Triceratops states, they are available to everybody so those parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and guardians supporting home schooling can use them as well.

Feel free to contact Everything Dinosaur. These resources have been downloaded hundreds and hundreds of times.  Just one of the ways in which Everything Dinosaur team members are helping out in these difficult times.

Contact Everything Dinosaur: Email Everything Dinosaur.

23 04, 2020

St George’s Day – There Be Dragons

By | April 23rd, 2020|Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Happy St George’s Day

Today, April 23rd, is the patron saint day of England (and in a number of other countries such as Portugal and Malta).  April 23rd commemorates the saint’s day of England’s patron saint St George.  Legend has it, St George was a Knight, someone strongly associated with this sceptred isle as William Shakespeare wrote, who coincidentally is believed to have been born on this day in 1564 and also died on this day (1616).

St George was not English and he might be famous for slaying a dragon but this story was probably brought back to Europe by returning crusaders.  St George is believed to have been a Roman soldier who became a martyr following his execution for refusing to denounce his Christian faith.

The Dragon Metaphor May Have Influenced Early Illustrations of Prehistoric Animals

"Great Sea Dragons" illustration by John Martn
The circa 1840 illustration of marine reptiles and pterosaurs by John Martin.  Both the pterosaurs and the marine reptiles show a strong resemblance to the classical depiction of a dragon.

Picture credit: John Martin

Dinosaurs and Dragons

Dragons and dinosaurs are synonymous.  It has been suggested that the dragons from Chinese folklore, which actually pre-date St George by hundreds of years, were probably thought up to explain the large fossil bones found in many parts of China.  Those early Chinese scientists were remarkably close to the truth.  Many dinosaurs that have been discovered in China have the word “long” incorporated into the genus.  For example, Guanlong, Yinlong, Tianyulong, Xiongguanlong, Beishanlong and Zhenyuanlong.  The word “long” is derived from the Mandarin Chinese for dragon.

A Specimen of the Dromaeosaurid Dinosaur Zhenyuanlong (Z. suni

Zhenyuanlong fossil.
Large-bodied, short-armed Liaoning dromaeosaurid.  Zhenyuanlong suni fossil material, dinosaurs are still being named as “dragons” today.

Picture credit: Chinese Academy of Geological Science

The trend to name Chinese dinosaurs “dragons” shows no signs of abating.  For example, earlier this year, Everything Dinosaur reported upon the discovery of Wulong bohaiensis (dancing dragon).  W. bohaiensis has been classified as a member of the Microraptoria clade of feathered dromaeosaurs.

To read more about the discovery of this crow-sized dinosaur: Little Dancing Dragon Sheds Light on How Dinosaurs Grew Up.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

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