In 2005, Safari LTD produced a line of 4 figures for the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, IL. Among these is one of the best hadrosaur figures of recent years. Most famous for its role as the hapless victim of Tyrannosaurus in the classic Walking With Dinosaurs series, Anatotitan was a large hadrosaur that lived 68 – 65 million years ago in North America, coexisting with more famous dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, and Ankylosaurus. This figure does justice to the outshone species, and is quite accurate to boot.
One thing that the dinosaur toy collecting community is often quick to note is the lack of hadrosaur figures. Since the Wild Safari Hapacrosaurus, there haven’t been many mass-produced hadrosaur figures of good quality. The Field Museum Anatotitan changes that. This small 6 inch (15 cm) figure is one of the most accurate hadrosaur figures available. The proportions are all correct, the tail is properly stiff, and the head is the correct shape. There is even a row of small spines running down the back of the figure. Hadrosaurs were discovered to have these spines from various mummified fossil specimens that preserved skin impressions. If there is one complaint to be made, it is about the hands. Hadrosaur hands, similar to titanosaur hands, had no claws on their hands. Despite this one inaccuracy, this figure is still one of the most accurate hadrosaur figures available.
The detailing on this figure is some of the best I’ve seen. It’s better than that of the newer Wild Safari figures, and second only to the detailing on Papo figures.The skin consists of a very well-done pebbly scaling texture, which is also consistent with mummified hadrosaur remains. The musculature is very well defined, and are there are even small wrinkles below the eyes, similar to reptiles today. There’s even a cloacal opening (as another reviewer here once said, I check these things so you don’t have to).
Unlike many other hadrosaur figures, the Field Museum Anatotitan has a very dynamic pose. It is in a quadrapedal stance with one leg raise, looking like it is prepared to run. The eyes are wide open and the beak is agape, as if startled by some unseen Tyrannosaurus. The head is turned toward the Anatotitan’s right, which could be to detect the location of a predator in hiding.
A pleasant color scheme is yet another great attribute of this figure. A simple tannish brown along with light red stripes make up the main color scheme of the Field Museum Anatotitan. The details, such as the spines, claws, and beak are grey, and the eyes are a lifelike shade of yellow. Unlike some of the Wild Safari or Carnegie Collection figure also produced by Safari LTD, the Field Museum line figures do not have sloppy paint jobs that other Safari figures may occasionally have.
One of the best hadrosaur figures in existence, the Field Museum Anatotitan is certainly worth acquiring. Unfortunately, the line is now retired. However, the Anatotitan is the easiest to find of all the figures from the line. It is usually available on eBay for no more than a few dollars. If you ever find yourself in Chicago, then you should probably pay a visit to The Field Museum. Besides the great fossils on display, the gift shop has every one of the Field Museum figures available. No matter how you get it, it’s still a great figure, worthy for the collections of hadrosaur and dinosaur enthusiasts alike.
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You also forgot to mention that Anatotitan is a junior synonym of Edmontosaurus annectens. I will be getting the Geoworld Edmontosaurus for my collection.
You’re also commenting on this 7 years later. In 2011, Anatotitan was still considered valid.
Looks okay, Just maybe a bit too big to be a baby for the safari edmontosaurus
[…] “plain” hadrosaurines. Granted, Safari did produce an excellent little rendition of Anatotitan for the Field Museum’s “Sue” line, but even that piece has fallen out of […]
Theres set to be a few new dino releases for 2011, the attention to detail on some of these figurines are incredible. Good find!
Seijun says: Isn’t the head too big for the body?
I think I agree with Seijun, the head seems to be a tad too big, I’m comparing mine with the skeletals in Princeton Field guide, just a little long but not objectionable. Good figure though.
¡Ojala que el Edmontosaurus sea por lo menos igual de bueno que el Anatotitan! La pena es su minúsculo tamaño, para una persona enamorada de los tamaños medianamente grandes de dinosaurios, me es un poco frustrante, más no desagradable.
Pena que se comercialicen los productos Safari tan mal en España y se prefieran otras marcas, de menor calidad, como por ejemplo el infame Schleich
Just realized I forgot a comma in my previous comment. And stoneage, they were found in Canada, and its pretty cold there.
I didn’t realize they lived in such a cold climate!
No, proportions look to be right. And sorry, I was watching South Park while writing this.
Isn’t the head too big for the body?
“One of the best hadrosaur figures in existence, the Field Museum Anatotitan is one of the best hadrosaur figures in existence.” Yeah, we get it! 😉 But yes, I’d certainly like to get hold of one of these, it’s really well done.