There are presently around 40 known genera of mosasaur, ranging from relatively small fry like Halisaurus and Kourisodon to frightening behemoths like Gnathomortis and Prognathodon. There were also some truly unique ones like Globidens, with its rounded teeth for pulverising ammonites, and Plotosaurus, the most advanced swimmer of them all.
Age: Cretaceous
Review: Spinosaurus (Wild Safari by Safari ltd. – 2021 ver)
3.9 (24 votes)
Given how unstable our scientific understanding is regarding this giant theropod, perhaps it’s understandable Safari would want to offer another option to reflect the creature’s ever-changing image. How well, then, does this new model hold up as an up-to-date iteration?
2021 was an understandably odd year for many, following the tumultuous events of the year 2020, and merchandise companies were no exception.
Review: Struthiomimus (Thunder-Beasts by Sky Kids)
1.9 (13 votes)
Growing up in the 90’s I had quite the collection of toy dinosaurs from a multitude of companies. Everything from UKRD, AAA, and Larami, to Carnegie, Tyco, Kenner, and Playskool. One brand I didn’t have represented was Thunder Beasts, so when I recently came across this ornithomimid that was stamped 1993 on the bottom, I was truly vexed as to its origin.
Review: Velociraptor (male, JPIII – Amber Collection by Mattel)
3.5 (15 votes)
Mattel’s Amber Collection has had a rocky release history, but before the line ground to a halt, Mattel decided to go out on a bang with the highly anticipated male Velociraptor design from Jurassic Park III. Fans were both excited and cautious: would this fan-favorite design be done the justice it deserved?
Review: Tyrannosaurus rex (Tamiya)
4.7 (22 votes)
Review by GiganotosaurusFan, edited by Suspsy
It was 1993.
*AAGUH!*
“It’s . . . it’s a dinosaur!”
“We have a T. rex.”
*ROARRR!*
“Life . . . uh . . . finds a way.”
“AAAAHHH!”
“Gosh darn it!”
*ROOOOOOOAARRRR!
Review: Majungasaurus (Schleich)
3.7 (32 votes)
Madagascar has always been an island of oddities. From giant lemurs to horned crocodiles, there are a lot of interesting species to see. The Mesozoic likewise has some interesting animals, such as the late Cretaceous Madagascan monster Majungasaurus, an Abelisaurid known for being cannibalistic.
Review: Pteranodon sternbergi (CollectA)
4.9 (36 votes)
While the popular image of Pteranodon will always be P. longiceps with its long, blade-like crest jutting out from the back of its skull, P. sternbergi was even larger and arguably much better-looking. That is, if it can be said to have actually existed.
Review: Tyrannosaurus rex (Dinoland by Sinclair)
4.1 (14 votes)
Sinclair’s unique figurine was probably one of the finest renditions of the tyrant lizard king a child could ever hope to own in 1964, and remains a delightful piece of vintage memorabilia to this day.
In 1933, in conjunction with the Chicago World’s Fair, Sinclair Oil company commissioned an exhibit of life-sized dinosaur models for display.
Review: Tylosaurus (PNSO)
4.8 (38 votes)
The vast inland sea known as the Western Interior Seaway of the Late Cretaceous split the continent that we would come to know today as North America from north to south. As the landmasses on either side were ruled by dinosaurs and other terrestrial animals, this inland sea was ruled by huge marine reptiles.
Review: Prehistoric Diorama (Usborne)
4.7 (14 votes)
Paper is usually not the material of choice for collectors of any sort. I anyway want to introduce you to something that may be of interest for a dinosaur collector, though it are probably not the figures….
The introduced cut out model was first released in 1993 under the title “Make these Dinosaurs” and the art of it, especially the dinosaur desgin, certainly represents this time.
Review: Pteranodon (Jurassic Park: Legacy Amber Collection by Mattel)
3.1 (15 votes)
The Amber Collection Pteranodon is actually quite a mixed bag, with great coloration and good sculpting, but noticeable flaws in articulation.
Say what you will about the film as a whole, but Jurassic Park III had arguably some of the best creature designs in the Jurassic franchise (scientific [in]accuracies notwithstanding).
Review: Iguanodon (PNSO)
4.6 (34 votes)
Common legends says, that the first remains of Iguanodon were discovered in the heaps of a road cut by the wife of an English country doctor. Now, this may be true or not, but the doctor, Gideon Mantell, described the species in 1825 on basis of just a few teeth.