Since their discovery in the Antarctic and other parts of the southern hemisphere, penguins are seen as rather adorable creatures. In the past, there were many large examples of this family, with even a subfamily featuring these giant examples. Here, we see a figure of one such species, Anthropornis.
Brand: Yowie
Review: Cohen’s Thingodonta/ Yalkaparidon (Lost Kingdoms Series A by Yowie)
4 (4 votes)
There aren’t many animals in the world known by their scientific name as opposed to a common name, yet the palaeo world seems to only use them, unless they are particularly well known, like the Woolly Mammoth or T. rex. That’s why I love this particular model, of an animal named Yalkaparidon (from the Aboriginal word for boomerang, based on the animals molar shape), but referred to in the common lexicon as Cohen’s Thingadonta, which is a brilliant name.
Review: Marsupial Tapir/ Palorchestes (Lost Kingdoms Series A by Yowie)
4 (4 votes)
Interpreting fossils is never an easy task. Unless the animal was complete when found, or very well preserved, it can be hard to tell what an animal looked like. Prehistoric animals can be revised over and over as new information comes in about them.
Review: Diprotodon (Lost Kingdoms Series A by Yowie)
3.3 (4 votes)
Marsupials are a fascinating group of mammals. With the ability to have multiple young at once and pouches to keep them safe. They have been around for millions of years, now restricted to Australia and South America. Australia once had the largest member of this class: Diprotodon, a giant Wombat relative the size of rhinos, they died out 50,000 years ago, just as the first Aborigines came to Australia.
Review: Hawaiian ‘O’ o (Forgotten Friends Series A by Yowie)
3.5 (4 votes)
As a volcanic island chain, Hawaii is not known for it’s ancient fossil fauna, but it has a selection of modern extinct species. The ‘O’ o (or Moho, based on the scientific name) were a group of birds that were native to Hawaii, now all extinct, the last being recent enough to have recordings of it’s mating call (worth hearing, though prepare to be moved to tears).
Review: Dodo (Forgotten Friends Series A by yowie)
4.2 (5 votes)
The Dodo has quite the reputation among extinct animals, but the image has always been a bit skewed. Most portarits are based either on third or fourth hand accounts, and most European depictions are from obese specimens kept by gentry that didn’t know how to care for them properly.
Review: Great Auk (Forgotten Friends Series A by Yowie)
3 (3 votes)
The tragedy of the Great Auk is a tale that covers much of the globe. These sea birds lived across the Atlantic, catching fish and having large flocks across islands throughout the Atlantic. They were killed for down in pillows, the bills for Native American charms and for fuel and food for sailors.
Review: Upland Moa (Forgotten Friends Series B by Yowie)
3 (3 votes)
When most people think of the Moa, it is likely they will only think about the giants of these birds, specifically the South Island Giant Moa. The reality is, however, that there were many Moa species across New Zealand, filling niches that in other parts of the world are filled by mammals.
Review: Coiled-Toothed Shark/Helicoprion (Lost Kingdoms Series B by Yowie)
3.5 (6 votes)
Evolution has thrown out some wonderful oddities across time life has existed on earth. The shark family has shown some incredible adaptations leaning towards the bizarre. From early examples like Stethacanthus, to the modern species, like the Hammerhead and Saw shark.
Review: Tasmaniosaurus (Lost Kingdoms Series A by Yowie)
4.3 (4 votes)
When most will think of extinct animals on the islands of Tasmania, they will think of the Thylacine. While it is very famous, there are, of course, many other extinct creatures that are worthy of note.One such example is Tasmaniosaurus, one of the most complete Triassic reptiles found in Australia.
Review: Deltasaurus (Lost Kingdoms series B by Yowie)
2.8 (5 votes)
Before the rise of crocodillians, the water ways were filled with a different kind of predator: giant amphibians. Though they were out competed by crocodillians and the only giant amphibian left is the Japanese Giant Salamander, they have left evidence of the greatness they once had.
Review: Ozraptor (Lost Kingdoms Series B by Yowie)
3.8 (4 votes)
The preservation of fossils can be a truly amazing thing, giving us a precise look at the ancient world, with preservation of complete specimens and even organic material being kept. On the other hand, it can also only give us fragmentary fossils and nothing more.