Atopodentatus (Ultimate Dinosaurs by Yowie Group)

Although I’ve reviewed a number of these Yowie figures there’s one above all others that I’ve been wanting to obtain, the Atopodentatus, and I guess the 12^th times the charm! Although listed as “common” on the Yowie rarity chart it had frustratingly eluded me for two months. Upon opening it I squealed with the kind of excitement that only blind bags and presents can bring. And now that I have it my purchase of Yowie eggs is sure to decline. There are few left that I need and fewer still that I want.

My enthusiasm for this one needs no explanation. It’s a small-scale figure of an obscure animal, an always popular sort of figure in our hobby. Included within a set of overdone and mundane taxa this was clearly the standout. I already have the large PNSO Atopodentatus but this is the kind of animal I don’t mind having multiples of, and since I missed out on the PNSO mini it’s nice to get a little figure of the genus.

Atopodentatus is without question one of the coolest prehistoric animals to have been discovered in recent years. The type of discovery that makes paleontology exciting. Atopodentatus is a Triassic sauropterygian (plesiosaurs, placodonts, nothosaurs, and other strange beasties) and is noteworthy for being the oldest known herbivorous marine reptile and in possession of some bizarre adaptations. Among these adaptations was its broad, hammer-shaped face, and chisel-like teeth that allowed it to scrape algae from the sea floor. The name Atopodentatus unicus means “unique unusual tooth” and it was described in 2014. It was discovered in the Yunnan Province of China. The Yowie figure is the third mass produced figure of this animal and the only one not made by PNSO.

Along the curves on its neck, body, and tail the figure measures 3.25” (8.25 cm) long. The actual Atopodentatus is estimated to have reached 9’ (2.7 meters) in length which puts the toy at 1/33 in scale, which I think should appeal to a lot of collectors. Its posture is similar to the large PNSO figure with the neck and tail both bending towards the right and the limbs swept back behind the figure. There are even some undulations sculpted within the tail, again, like PNSO’s.

Accuracy wise the figure is pretty darn good and lightyears better than Yowie’s other offerings. The neck might be a tad too long but it’s easy to overlook. The head is appropriately small with its broad mouth well displayed. The entire body is elongated with a deep tail and robust limbs. Fine details are sparse on this smooth-bodied figure but there’s some nice muscle definition on the underside of the neck, a ridge along the back that transitions to an undulating fin of sorts above the tail, and skin folds along the limbs and their joints.

The figure is painted white with purple stripes on the head, neck, and tail, bands connecting the purple limbs, and purple circles on the torso, base of the neck, and base of the tail. The entire underside is white. It’s certainly an unusual combination of colors and patterns but a unique one somehow befitting this oddball animal.

The Yowie Atopodentatus is the standout figure from Yowie’s set of 17 prehistoric animals. Indeed, for discerning collectors it might be the only figure worth seeking out. This is the sort of taxa that makes Yowie collecting so popular among extant animal collectors and an exemplar of what this whole set should have been. If you’re interested in hunting one down then check out various big box stores, grocery stores, and pharmacies where Yowie eggs are sold. I find them at Walmart, Five Below, and Food Lion. You can also get a guaranteed figure of the one you’re seeking on eBay, but you’ll pay more for it, which might still be cheaper than gambling with blind bags like I’ve been doing. Even if you’re not interested in Yowie figures, this one is worth the effort!