Earlier than we start the evaluate, I want to lengthen my gratitude in the direction of Pleased Hen Toys for sending this determine alongside as a evaluate pattern. Pleased Hen Toys is a U.S. distributor of animal figures and one of many solely locations within the nation the place you will get CollectA figures at an affordable worth. Try their choice by clicking the banner under.
Placerias is a genus of dicynodont that lived within the Triassic Interval 220-250 million years in the past. It was thought to have been the final surviving dicynodont till the invention of Lisowicia, which is understood from the late Triassic Interval, 210–205 million years in the past. Placerias is understood from Arizona’s Chinle Formation the place it lived alongside different notable animals similar to Coelophysis and Postosuchus. The Chinle Formation and its fauna have been featured in BBC’s Strolling with Dinosaurs, bringing these fascinating Triassic animals some a lot wanted consciousness.
Regardless of being dropped at the highlight by way of Strolling with Dinosaurs, Placerias has remained largely obscure and ignored by toy firms. There’s the classic Tyco Placerias that was a part of the Dino-Riders line, in addition to a as soon as sought-after cheaposaur that till the discharge of at the moment’s evaluate topic was one of the best illustration of the genus accessible. I suppose the demand for that toy shall be dropping now that CollectA has produced a Placerias that makes that one out of date.
Placerias would have been one of many largest herbivores of its time and place, measuring 11’ (3.5 meters) in size and weighing 1,800–2,200 lbs. (800-1,000 kg). CollectA’s determine measures 7” (17.78 cm) lengthy and stands 3.5” (8.89 cm) tall on the high of its head. This places the determine at 1/18 in scale. I show all my synapsids collectively, so this determine does look odd when scaled in opposition to most mammal figures, nevertheless it does scale effectively with figures representing its contemporaries, which I suppose is preferable.
CollectA’s Placerias is offered in a working posture, with its proper forelimb stretching ahead and proper hindlimb pushing again. The top is lifted excessive with its mouth open. Perhaps it’s a cantankerous male defending his turf, or maybe it’s a frightened particular person fleeing a predator. It’s a dynamic and versatile determine.
Anatomically, issues look fairly sound. The physique is appropriately barrel formed with stout five-toed limbs, a brief tail, and thick neck. A kind of crest may be seen behind the cranium that will have anchored neck muscle tissues in life. Some reconstructions thicken the neck much more, in order that the crest is much less seen than what we see right here. I are inclined to favor these however I’m not going to complain in regards to the route CollectA took. All bodily orifices are current, together with a cloaca and earholes.
The beak is toothless with a brief tusk on both facet. It’s thought that these tusks have been used for sexual show and interspecies fight, since specimens exhibit two totally different tusk lengths which counsel sexual dimorphism. Placerias is believed to have lived in shallow wetlands the place it will feed on vegetation alongside the shoreline, and it wouldn’t shock me if these tusks have been additionally used to dig and forage.
CollectA has given their Placerias a wrinkled pores and skin texture with a patch of sparse hair working alongside the again. Hair for Placerias is speculative however preserved hair in Permian coprolites means that dicynodonts might need had it. Thick sagging pores and skin folds and rolls may be seen alongside the nape, decrease torso, and limb joints. Small bumps may be seen randomly scattered throughout the cover. The pores and skin is just like what we see in mummified Lystrosaurus specimens.
The determine is painted brown with a pale underside and pink working alongside the perimeters, across the orbits, and alongside the flanks. The brown physique has a darkish wash over it that brings out the main points of the wrinkles whereas there’s a grey wash alongside the underside. The claws are black, and the beak and tusks are tan. The eyes and nostrils are black with a shiny sheen. The cloaca is highlighted in black, persevering with CollectA’s soiled cloaca trademark. The paintjob is conservative however naturalistic with wonderful gradients and transitions. It really works effectively.
The CollectA Placerias is a superb and lengthy overdue mannequin that’s important to any prehistoric animal assortment, it was additionally my most anticipated mannequin from CollectA this 12 months. Because of CollectA and Jurassic World merchandise I’ve been capable of amass a pleasant little assortment of dicynodonts over the previous few years, however I would like extra. Since that is CollectA’s second dicynodont lately hopefully meaning we’ll see extra sooner or later. The CollectA Placerias is new for 2024 and at present accessible. If you happen to reside in the US then Pleased Hen Toy can be one of the best place to accumulate one, here.
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