Jurassic North America was dwelling to an astonishingly various assemblage of sauropod dinosaurs, roughly 20 species have been recovered from the Morrison Formation, together with iconic genera corresponding to Brontosaurus, Diplodocus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, and Brachiosaurus. Then, by the point the late Cretaceous began, sauropods have been all gone. In what is called the “sauropod hiatus” western North America seems to have skilled a 30-million-year interval the place sauropods now not occupied Laramidia. The place they went is a thriller however then, in the course of the tail finish of the Cretaceous, Alamosaurus exhibits up.
Alamosaurus in all probability immigrated from South America however irrespective of, the looks of Alamosaurus ends the sauropod hiatus and though it’s only a single genus of sauropod, what a sauropod it’s! Alamosaurus has many accolades to its identify. It was the biggest dinosaur to ever roam North America, the one sauropod to reside in North America on the finish of the Cretaceous, the one titanosaur to ever reside in North America, and one of many final surviving non-avian dinosaurs. Alamosaurus would have rubbed shoulders with the likes of Quetzalcoatlus, Torosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus, which suggests a possible battel between Tyrannosaurus and a sauropod isn’t purely the stuff of fiction. Talking of which, Alamosaurus is definitely featured in Jurassic Park. The sauropod skeleton dealing with off with Tyrannosaurus within the customer middle rotunda is an Alamosaurus.
All of that ought to make Alamosaurus a extra standard animal than it’s but it surely stays comparatively obscure. That appears to be altering although, as folks begin to acknowledge what an vital and spectacular animal it’s. It lately had an look in Prehistoric Planet and is exhibiting up in video video games as effectively. Most vital to us collectors although are the discharge of two back-to-back Alamosaurus fashions from PNSO and Haolonggood. The primary respectable fashions of the genus ever! And sure, CollectA did make an Alamosaurus a few years in the past, but it surely hardly did the genus justice.
The dimensions of PNSO’s Alamosaurus is what we’ll tackle first because it has been a problem of competition inside the group. The determine stands about 11.5” (29 cm) tall and measures about 16” (40 cm) lengthy. That’s not the whole size of the mannequin itself although, and when measured down the midline of the again the determine comes out to be about 21.5” (54.61 cm). Utilizing that, the determine matches the 1:35 scale when scaled down from an animal measuring 64’ (19.5 meters). However…most most measurement estimates for Alamosaurus put it at about 98’ (29.8 meters). Utilizing that size, the determine comes out to be nearer to 1/55 in scale.
This revelation clearly disappoints numerous collectors, and I don’t blame them. When displaying one of many largest animals to ever reside you need it to be scaled down from its most size. When you strictly gather 1/35 it should look smaller in your assortment than you may like. However there’s an argument to be made for a smaller measurement too. Most animals don’t attain their most measurement potential and common out a lot smaller. A 65’ sauropod remains to be an enormous animal and certain inside the common measurement vary for Alamosaurus. Additionally, it simply saves house. I don’t have numerous these massive sauropod fashions just because they take up numerous house in my show cupboard. So, for me it is a good measurement, and if you would like a bigger Alamosaurus then look into Haolonggood’s.
Dimension apart, the PNSO Alamosaurus nonetheless has presence. It’s introduced striding ahead with the left forelimb barely lifted. The tail organically snakes out behind the determine, veering upwards in direction of the left after which again down with the tip bending rightward. The top is wanting barely rightward. What makes this mannequin notably spectacular is the thickness of the neck, which at its base is almost as thick because the strong torso. I like sauropods with thick necks and that provides Samuel a slight edge over Haolonggood’s Alamosaurus, a minimum of on this occasion.
Regardless of having materials from a number of specimens of assorted sizes we nonetheless don’t have an Alamosaurus cranium, simply their peg-shaped enamel. The heads of titanosaurs are uncommon on the whole. PNSO gave this determine a cranium related in form to that of Nemegtosaurus, a titanosaur for which the cranium is understood. The muzzle is slim with the mouth missing cheeks, and with a beak on the tip, a function identified from Camarasaurus however seldom utilized to different sauropods. The enamel are uncovered and whereas I’m not a fan of uncovered enamel the top is so small that it’s not a problem, the enamel are barely seen. The nostrils are appropriately positioned in direction of the tip of the snout as a substitute of additional again.
The dimensions element is so positive that it’s barely seen, however that’s factor on a sauropod determine of this scale. The place they’re seen the scales are small and pebbly whereas sq. formed scales are current on the stomach. A row of small scales additionally runs down the midline of the again. Small keeled osteoderms are scattered across the base of the neck, torso, and tail with bigger pointed osteoderms working down the again and transitioning to a single row on the tail.
Osteoderms are identified from a lot of titanosaurs, together with Alamosaurus, however too few of them are identified to confidently recreate their measurement, quantity, or distribution right here. I don’t actually thoughts a little bit of hypothesis although, and the osteoderms add numerous attraction right here. Barely raised pores and skin and clusters of scales across the osteoderms give them a pure look. And naturally, there are many pores and skin folds and wrinkles for added element and texture. The wrinkling is current principally across the decrease torso and limb joints however is most blatant and appreciated alongside the neck.
PNSO has chosen to provide Samuel thumb spikes on the manus, nonetheless titanosaurs by-and-large have utterly misplaced their phalanges. There are exceptions to this nonetheless, and the titanosaur Diamantinasaurus nonetheless possessed phalanges and thumb claws. On this occasion their addition could be thought-about speculative, however I wouldn’t name it inaccurate. The manus remains to be appropriately horseshoe-shaped with the remainder of the manus encased in flesh. The hindfeet possess three clawed digits.
Samuel has a tan coloured neck with a darkish wash over it that brings out the considerable wrinkling and positive scale element. The top is grey with a tan coloured jaw. The tan coloration continues up across the orbit and is highlighted in pink. The beak is brown, enamel white, and eyes orange with black pupils. Grey bands run down the neck and the grey coloration turns into dominant on the torso the place solely the stomach and inside floor of the limbs are tan. There’s a little bit of a brown transition between the grey and tan parts on the torso. The tail resumes the tan with grey band configuration we see on the neck.
Smaller osteoderms are the identical coloration because the pores and skin however the bigger osteoderms are tipped in brown. Paint utility on the bigger osteoderms isn’t nice and lots of of them should not utterly painted. The toenails are brown, and the cloaca has a faint brown wash round it but it surely’s not soiled wanting like a few of CollectA’s figures. Total, I discover this to be a sexy paintjob that finds a stability between wanting pure however attention-grabbing too.
PNSO’s Alamosaurus didn’t have a very long time within the limelight and was shortly forgotten as soon as Haolonggood’s Alamosaurus was launched. Most collectors appear to have gravitated in direction of Haolonggood’s, which admittedly has higher attraction when it comes to measurement, positive element, and with their decisions of paintjobs. However every determine has its professionals and cons and there’s a lot to be admired about PNSO’s Alamosaurus. Its smaller measurement has an attraction of its personal to these with house constraints and a few elements of its anatomy is perhaps extra interesting too, just like the thickness of the neck. It’s good to have choices and there’s no denying that we’re spoiled for alternative. Hopefully somebody will evaluate the Haolonggood Alamosaurus so it has a presence on the weblog as effectively. The PNSO Alamosaurus is presently in manufacturing and retails for $74.99. That makes it about $100 cheaper than Haolonggood’s, in order that’s one thing else to consider.
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