I’m fascinated by how depictions of prehistoric animals change over time within the face of recent proof. That is the theme of my latest kids’s guide, The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers, which focusses on T. rex as a case examine for this ‘make-over’ phenomenon. Nevertheless, whereas the looks of some prehistoric creatures, T. rex included, has step by step shifted over many many years, some prehistoric creatures have undergone drastic in a single day reinterpretations. Atopodentatus is a type of creatures, and this makes the short-lived ‘model 1’ Paleo-Creatures depiction of this marine reptile a curious snap-shot of the stochastic palaeontological course of.
Atopodentatus was described in 2014 from the Triassic of China based mostly on an nearly full skeleton with a cranium, which appeared to point out a hooked snout with an uncommon zipper-like slit. For 2 brief years that is how the animal was depicted, and in 2016 Jesús Toledo, higher know as Jetoar on our DinoToyForum, launched this determine for his Paleo-Creatures line. However cruelly, even whereas he was sculpting, Atopodentatus was getting an overhaul. New skulls of the animal, described that very same 12 months, confirmed how the hooked zipper snout was flawed, the unique fossil was crushed. As a substitute, the snout of Atopodentatus was really expanded right into a broad hammer like form, additionally somewhat weird, sufficient to justify the identify “Unusually Toothed”, however perhaps rather less so than the unique interpretation.
So, the determine we’re contemplating at present is a devoted restoration of Atopodentatus circa 2014. At 13 cm lengthy the animal is 1:20 scale. The figurine and the bottom are each solid in a polyurethane resin, surprisingly light-weight. The determine will not be mounted to the bottom, it simply rests on it. The physique is a roughly generic reptilian kind, with a tubbier than normal torso. Fashionable depictions give it an extended extra slender physique. The arms and toes have the proper variety of digits, 5 on every, with the impression of webbing.
The bottom is a rocky platform on a shoreline, with waves washing up in opposition to it. The creature seems to be at house resting on the rocks, looking to the uneven sea, dwelling on the existential disaster she’s about to face (I wish to suppose). The underside of the bottom is embossed with the animal identify, scale, and model.
The sculpting element and texture isn’t fairly as refined as fashionable established manufacturers, so there’s a light however pleasing cartoonish high quality to the mannequin. For instance, there are solely 4 tooth picked out on all sides of the slit. The mannequin is hand-painted in gray and blue with stripes on the tail, with black claws and particulars on the top (to make the mouth extra pronounced), golden eyes, and white tooth.
In 2017, Paleo-Creations modified this Atopodentatus sculpture to account for the brand new proof, broadening out the snout right into a hammer-like form and eradicating the inaccurate slit. I don’t have that model to check immediately – perhaps in the future. However, actually, I fairly like having this short-lived time capsule of an interpretation. I like my figures precisely inaccurate. Clearly this model was instantly discontinued when it was changed in 2017, so I’ve an actual collector’s merchandise on my arms. That stated, I don’t suppose any model is accessible anymore.
The Paleo-Creatures line was once accessible on All the pieces Dinosaur and Dan’s Dinosaurs, however apparently not any extra, so the road appears to have been discontinued. Possibly Jetoar can replace us if he reads this.
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