In 1971, Water Coombs revealed a paper titled The Ankylosauridae. In it, he argued that there was just one species of ankylosaurid residing in the course of the Campanian age of Late Cretaceous North America and synonymized Anodontosaurus, Dyoplosaurus, and Scolosaurus with Euoplocephalus. Newer papers would overturn Coombs’s paper, discovering every of these genera to be legitimate, however the implications of that paper could be far reaching, particularly in paleoart. For more often than not since that paper was revealed depictions of Euoplocephalus armor ended up being largely based mostly on NHMUK R5161, the fantastically preserved Scolosaurus holotype. Fairly often, bits had been used from different genera too, making many reconstructions of Euoplocephalus hybrids of assorted genera.
After I determined that I needed to overview the Euoplocephalus from Haolonggood I didn’t suppose I must take a deep dive into Campanian ankylosaurid taxonomy, however I used to be clearly mistaken. I debated how closely I needed to get into it however to do that determine justice I spotted I couldn’t ignore it, a lot to my dismay. Afterall, how do we all know the Haolonggood Euoplocephalus is a Euoplocephalus in any respect? A whole lot of chatter throughout the web appears to counsel it’s a Scolosaurus.
In figuring out this toy as Euoplocephalus it’s necessary to know that every genus as soon as lumped with it has a particular association of caputegulae (armor on the pinnacle). For the sake of time and sanity (the pinnacle is smaller than my fingertip) I’m solely going to deal with the obvious head ornamentation, the squamosal horns. Scolosaurus has lengthy backswept squamosal horns whereas Euoplocephalus has pointed pyramidal squamosal horn. I believe the pinnacle of the Haolonggood mannequin matches higher with Euoplocephalus.
The top form can also be appropriately broad, blunt, tall, and sloping, with a triangular form when seen from above. The nostrils are precisely ahead going through, not like these in Ankylosaurus that are on the perimeters of its head. A cluster of what is perhaps osteoderms might be seen between the squamosal and quadratojugal horns. In the event that they’re meant to be osteoderms then their presence is inaccurate. Scolosaurus and Anodontosaurus would have had them there, however not Euoplocephalus. I wouldn’t contemplate their presence diagnostic although. Haolonggood was most likely simply placing osteoderms there so as to add element and never giving it as a lot thought as some collectors may.
Extra importantly than the pinnacle in diagnosing this determine as Euoplocephalus is the construction of the cervical half rings on the neck. In Scolosaurus, the 2 medial osteoderms are considerably flat and possess a centrally positioned bump. In Euoplocephalus, these identical two osteoderms are keeled and spiked. Based mostly on that, this mannequin represents Euoplocephalus. I have to be aware nevertheless that the determine solely has 4 osteoderms on every cervical half ring when it ought to have six. Maybe Haolonggood referenced Gregory Paul’s skeletal drawing, which additionally consists of solely 4 osteoderms per half ring.
Talking of Gregory Paul, his affect on this mannequin may also be seen with the tail membership. In Paul’s skeletal, the Euoplocephalus has an axe formed membership with pointed sides. That is just like the tail membership of Anadontosaurus, not Euoplocephalus, which might have had a spherical tail membership.
I’m about accomplished addressing accuracy, however it’s price mentioning that the general physiology of the toy is appropriate for an ankylosaurid. It has a squat, broad, flattened physique. The limbs are surprisingly dainty for such a solidly constructed animal. The forelimbs possess 5 digits with the final two decreased. They need to even be clawless however aren’t, though they’re too small to be price caring about. Three digits are sculpted on the hindlimbs. The “deal with” of the tail is appropriately skinny and stiffened. All of the advantageous particulars that make ankylosaur toys enjoyable to carry and study are there, with numerous smaller osteoderms packed in between the bigger ones.
There are different issues we might scrutinize, just like the small osteoderms on the base of the big osteoderms, however this overview is already lengthy, and we’ve solely mentioned identification and accuracy to date. Crucial options have been addressed: the pinnacle, cervical half rings, and tail membership.
Full disclaimer, whereas I did do quite a lot of analysis to prep for this overview, I’m not a paleontologist, don’t like pretending to be one, and ankylosaurid taxonomy is a large number. If I acquired any particulars flawed or missed one thing, be happy to say it within the feedback. Additionally, this endeavor would have been unattainable with out Victoria Arbour’s Pseudoplocephalus weblog (here, here, and here).
Euoplocephalus is estimated to have measured 17’ (5.3 meters) lengthy. The Haolonggood determine measures about 6.75” (17 cm) which places the determine at about 1/30 in scale. The determine is marketed as being 1/35 in scale. The determine is positively lovely, fortunately trotting together with two limbs kicking off the bottom. The top is lifted excessive and alert with a cute little smirk and a worry-free expression. I’ve seen some folks criticize the smile and surprise why it’s there, however I don’t suppose it’s meant to be a smile, the dinosaur simply has a naturally upturned mouth. A lot of animals appear to be they’re perpetually smiling however aren’t actually, like dolphins and turtles.
This determine comes with two completely different paint jobs. There’s a darkish one with uninteresting orange osteoderms and an orange one with darkish osteoderms. Each look nice however I considerably randomly went with the darker determine. It’s darkish grey over the again with a pink wash. The flanks and underside transition to gentle pink. The deal with of the tail can also be pink. A lot of the smaller osteoderms are brown with the bigger ones being brown on the base and extra orange in direction of the information. The tail membership is grey with a white wash over it, and the toenails are black. The eyes are blue with black pupils and seem broad open and alert, which provides to the lovable issue. The paint software is superb, and the paintjob fits the determine properly even when it’s a bit typical.
Aesthetically, the Haolonggood Euoplocephalus is a properly crafted and charming little toy with quite a lot of character. Scientifically, it’s not good (I blame Greg Paul), however that is nonetheless one of the best Euoplocephalus out there. The Haolonggood Euoplocephalus is presently in manufacturing and retails for about $20.
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