Most prehistoric proboscideans adopted the identical primary physique plan: an enormous physique on large legs and an enormous head with large ears and an enormous nostril. Even ones with comparatively small ears and noses like Deinotherium nonetheless had them larger than every other group of mammals. Teeth are at all times a surefire technique of distinguishing mammoths from mastodons or gomphotheres from deinotheres, but when they have been all nonetheless alive right this moment, the quickest means you’d be capable of inform them aside can be their tusks. Take Stegodon, for instance. Whereas it resembled a contemporary elephant, to the purpose the place it was previously labeled as a part of Elephantidae earlier than being reassigned to Stegodontidae, its spectacular tusks made it fairly unmistakable.
That is the TNG Stegodon, launched in 2023. And let’s simply get the proverbial elephant within the room (heh) addressed and out of the best way, we could? TNG does certainly seem to have copied (or bootlegged, should you want to make use of that time period) most if not all of their gadgets from present sculpts, as proven here. For its half, the Stegodon seems very very similar to this high end statue from Dinone. However I’ll be utterly sincere as at all times: this actually didn’t weigh on me in any respect once I bought the toy from AliExpress. I simply wished so as to add one other proboscidean to my assortment with out paying an enormous quantity.
Now then. The Stegodon is posed in a steady strolling stance with its proper entrance leg stepping ahead and its left hind leg prolonged again. The pinnacle is held excessive and turning to the suitable. And at last, the trunk is draped over the tusks with the tip dangling down on the lefthand facet. Not by selection, however by necessity, as you may plainly see. Stegodon possessed a number of the largest tusks of any proboscidean, with some approaching 4 metres in size. Furthermore, some people’ tusks have been spaced so carefully collectively that it might have been fairly inconceivable for his or her trunks to suit between them. The tusks on this toy are spaced about 4 mm aside at their roots, however then come nearer collectively halfway, leaving a distance of however 1 mm between them. They then lastly department out to a width of two.6 cm on the suggestions. That’s fairly spectacular work. Clearly, whoever sculpted this beast possesses immense expertise.
The Stegodon measures about 10 cm tall and simply over 25 cm lengthy from its left hind foot to the guidelines of its tusks, making it simply the suitable dimension for a prehistoric proboscidean, no less than in my ebook. It’s painted gentle taupe gray with some very pale pink patches utilized behind the entrance limbs and in entrance of the hind limbs. The decrease limbs and ft are darkish gray with gentle gray nails and the tail tuft is dary gray as properly. The ears have pink alongside their edges with tiny black freckles. The uncovered tongue and the nostrils are pink and the eyes are very darkish brown with black pupils. Lastly, the tusks are white with beige wash. This color scheme could be very paying homage to an Asian elephant’s, though all those I’ve seen no less than are a barely darker shade of gray.
As you’d count on with any non-woolly proboscidean, the Stegodon‘s pores and skin could be very wrinkly and saggy saggy, even on the soles of its ft, and there’s a sizeable tuft on the tip of the tail for swatting away flies. The pinnacle strongly resembles an Asian elephant’s, with comparatively small ears and a raised skull with twin humps. The tip of the tremendous wrinkly trunk has a single prehensile finger, additionally like an Asian elephant. The best way it’s draped over the tusks with the tip curling barely upward makes it seem heavy and real looking. By the way, the Safari Ltd. Prehistoric Mammal Skulls Toob contains what’s formally billed as an American mastodon cranium, however in truth extra carefully resembles that of Stegodon.
The exceptional tusks have shallow grooves and are fabricated from comparatively delicate plastic to assist keep away from imbalance and breakage. The legs look robust and durable and the distinguished shoulder hump furthers provides to the animal’s highly effective look. I reckon the true Stegodon bore a powerful resemblance to this toy if not an ideal match. Oh, and this particular person is clearly a mature bull.
And talking of mature bulls, right here’s what I do know you’ve all been eager to see: the Stegodon alongside the fabulous four from Eofauna.
It holds up fairly properly certainly with them, wouldn’t you say? They make a pleasant quintet!
Total, I reckon the TNG Stegodon is a fairly darned cool prehistoric mammal toy. It’s bought nice sculpting, it’s a superb dimension, it’s moderately priced, and it’s bought the distinctiveness issue going for it. Properly value buying, particularly should you already personal some or all the different proboscideans proven on this evaluate.
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