Chuanjiesaurus (Kaiyodo)

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If you never have heard of Chuanjiesaurus you’re probably not alone. Remains of this sauropod were discovered in 1995 near the village of – you guess it – Chuanjie in the district of Lufeng (where the more popular Lufengosaurus comes from too), Yunnan Province, China. The first scientific description was published in 2000 but criticized for its briefness and the fact that it was published only in Chinese language. It took another eleven years until the fossil remains were described in a more elaborate form and English language allowing access for the broader public (Sekiya 2011).Compared to other sauropods, Chuanjiesaurus is known from a comparably great part of its skeleton and is counted towards the Mamenchisauridae. It lived around 170 mya in the Middle Jurassic and the remains suggest a total length of up to 25 metres.Kaiyodo released a finely sculpted figure of this sauropod for an exhibition that took place in 2004. As for some Dinotales models, Kaiyodo not only made a figure of the live animal, but also of its skeleton in just the same stance which is very nice to display next to each other. Due to limited availability and price asked, I just own the live reconstruction as of yet.The figure is sculpted in an active and alert pose, not surprisingly as it is made after the skeleton reconstruction shown in the exhibition, where the animal is attacked by two Shidaisaurus, a 6 metres long theropod of which fossil material was found near the Chuanjiesaurus remains. Including the base the figure stands 8 cm high and measures 11 cm in linear length. Unlike Dinotales figures is is made from heavier material and a one piece mold. Luckily, not only is the material heavier, but there’s also a very hard wire molded into, adding a lot of stability to the long and thin neck and tail. I found out so, because the figure I ordered came in a bubble wrap envelope with no more protection and the tail and neck were broken. The wire however held it all together and allowed an easy repair.I do not know the sculptor of the Chuanjiesaurus but the figure strongly reminds me of Kazunari Araki’s art. The details on the whole sculpt are amazing but one can’t miss the impression that the animal is strongly underfed and would very much profit from some kilogramms (or etons!) more. The paint scheme is simple but believable and attractive. A base color of light blueish gray is washed with a light reddisch brown and a fine pale reddish brown stripe pattern runs all along from the head to the tip of the tail. In terms of accuracy there’s nothing really to moan, maybe the head is a bit on the big side, but the head is not known anyway and looks reasonable accurate.A very fine addition are the worked in fossil remains in the base. As said before, Chuanjiesaurus is known from comparably lot of material and the remains were prepared in situ, meaning they have been left in their original location and a building protects them from the elements and allows for visitors to admire the bonebed in China’s biggest dinosaur theme park since 2008.Kaiyodos Chuanjiesaurus is a highly recommended figure not only for sauropod collectors. It can be found on ebay now and then or could be obtained via forum member brettnj.