Rauisuchus is a genus of pseudosuchian that lived within the late Triassic of what’s now Brazil. Additionally it is the newest pseudosuchian and Triassic taxa provided from Mattel, who has miraculously produced extra of those animals than some other toy firm I can consider. Moreso than their mega theropods, gigantic sauropods, and even most of the choices within the Hammond Assortment, these obscure Triassic animals are what excite me essentially the most. The Triassic is one in every of my favourite geologic intervals and I by no means would have thought {that a} line of Jurassic World motion figures could be on the forefront of popularizing this typically missed interval and its distinctive fauna.
Rauisuchus is understood from the Santa Maria Formation, which is similar formation that Prestosuchus is understood from. Mattel made a Prestosuchus too however with its gnarly outsized head and eel tail I had no real interest in buying it. This Rauisuchus is considerably higher and extra inline with Mattel’s higher Triassic choices, such because the Poposaurus and Herrerasaurus.
Rauisuchus is estimated to have reached a size of 13’ (5 meters) and a peak of 35” (90 cm) on the hips. The Mattel toy measures about 8” lengthy and stands 3” tall on the hips. This places it at about 1/19 in scale. There’s no motion function with this toy, just a few fundamental articulation. The jaw can open and shut, the pinnacle and neck can carry up and down and rotate round, and the legs can rotate round. The legs are mushy and pliable which suggests they warp straightforward, mine can’t stand with all 4 ft flat on the bottom.
One of many issues I like most about this determine is its posture. It’s in a ahead transferring quadrupedal pose however the hindquarters are longer than the entrance, with the bottom of the tail lifted significantly excessive after which sharply drooping again down and to the left. It appears to recommend that this rauisuchian can undertake a bipedal posture. Whereas some rauisuchians have been quadrupedal, others have been bipedal, and a few may in all probability change between the 2 modes of locomotion. I don’t know what the consensus about Rauisuchus is and I’ve seen it depicted each methods.
The toy has a tough and scaly texture throughout, with crocodile-like osteoderms working down the neck, again, and tail. These on the tail are the tallest which creates a visually cool mohawk-like look. These osteoderms are detailed with tough grooves. Scales of varied shapes and sizes will be seen on totally different elements of the physique. These on the stomach are flat and plate-like. The torso has a lean construct to it and together with the muscular legs offers it an athletic kind.
The determine is painted drab inexperienced and darkish turquoise, with the turquoise working down alongside the again, masking your complete tail, after which working again throughout a portion of the stomach. The eyes are orange with slit pupils which might be the identical colour because the turquoise the skull is molded in. The roof of the mouth can also be turquoise whereas the tongue is pink, and the tooth are white. Watch out for sloppy paint utility. I used to be so targeted on the eyes once I bought my copy that I didn’t discover the milk mustache on one aspect and the seen turquoise alongside the gum line on the opposite! Additionally value declaring is that the colour of the tail differs barely from the colour elsewhere on the physique.
The Mattel Rauisuchus has lots going for it. It’s the primary toy of its genus and being a Triassic pseudosuchian offers it quite a lot of enchantment to a big subset of collectors. That it’s fairly correct and doesn’t exhibit too lots of Mattel’s goofier inclinations works vastly in its favor too. The Mattel Rauisuchus is at present accessible and retails for about $8.
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