Review by Faelrin, edited by Suspsy, photos by Lanthanotus
Last year, Safari Ltd unveiled and released a Feathered Tyrannosaurus rex that was widely praised for keeping up with the most recent findings. While Safari already has a Triceratops figure that was released back in 2007, it was starting to show its age, what with many of the recent findings. It was therefore a nice surprise to see the famous three-horned face getting an updated model for 2018. Besides, you can’t have a T. rex without a Triceratops. In fact both were contemporaries from the Hell Creek formation, over 66 million years ago, living alongside dinosaurs such as Ankylosaurus and Anzu (both have also received new figures for Safari’s 2018 lineup).
On to the figure itself. One of the most interesting qualities are the scales sculpted on most of its body. These are actually based upon the large skin impressions that were preserved alongside the mostly complete Triceratops specimen called Lane. While they have not been formally published yet, the images in the previous link show the impressions to have large polygonal scales, some with nipple-shaped structures. The belly scales sculpted on the model are also true to fossil evidence as well.
Unlike the previous Safari Triceratops, this new one has the proper proportions, and also corrects the front digits, with the fourth and fifth ones being reduced and clawless. The horns and beak have a smooth texture to them, possibly reflecting that they may have been covered in keratin in life, just like certain horned animals today. Most of the figure is a dark grey colour, with a beige belly and cream for the horns and beak. The frill features vibrant yellow patches, which demonstrate how such colouring was probably used for display purposes. The head also has some pink along the edges of the horns and frill. The eyes are gold with black pupils. This Triceratops also has a cloaca sculpted on its underside.
This figure is about 1/35 scale, which is in the same scale as the Feathered T. rex. It most likely represents Triceratops horridus, the earlier of the two species, the other being T. prorsus. The figure is over 20 cm long (over 8 inches) and about 10 cm tall (4 inches) including the horns.
If you are a fan of Triceratops, or ceratopsians, or Hell Creek animals in general, I can only recommend this figure very strongly. It’s up to date, it’s big, and it’s beautiful.
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Which species would this toy best represent? The relatively small nasal horn would suggest it’s T. horridus, but I’d like to get a more informed opinion.
I just picked this Safari Triceratops up, and it’s incredibly impressive. There is so much scientific accuracy with this figure. Even 4 years after its release, I still think it has not been surpassed IMO. I think it has the most spot on scalation details that perfectly matches skin impressions that have been found.
Great review and a beautiful model! I’m not keen on ceratopsians but I’m definitely gonna pick this guy up.
Another Doug Watson masterpiece. Fingers crossed for a new Stegosaurus in 2019!
I also cross my fingers so that Doug Watson makes a styracosaurus and a chasmosaurus to accompany this magnificent and beautiful triceratops.
In hand, it’s a substantial piece, with a strong presence. Color-wise, I find that it displays well as a pair with the older, and still decent model from Safari. Mom and Pop perhaps.
For me it is the best triceratops made to date by a toy company and I say this without underestimating the rest of dinosaur toy companies that have done quite good figures as is the case for example of PNSO and certain way the triceratops of Papo based in Jurassic Park. It is my humble opinion within my scientific ignorance.
I like their colors and their finish.