Review by Dan, Photos by Jeremy
After a slight delay, Sideshow has finally released their first Dinosauria statue of 2011. They have elected to market the statue under the name “Tupuxuara – Pterodactyl,” likely to foster recognition among mainstream demographics. Fortunately, the Tupuxuara is indeed a pterodactyloid, a term that would furrow fewer brows than a separate suborder such as “rhamphorhynchoidea.” Tupuxuara is also considered a member of the popular Tapejarid family, strongly associated with elaborate cranial crests.
Classification: Pterosaur
Review: Rhamphorhynchus (Wild Safari by Safari ltd.)
4.2 (12 votes)
Dinosaur toys are one of the most popular items with any toy company and as most people know, where there are dinosaurs being represented, there are always pterosaurs right along with them. Rhamphorhynchus is one pterosaur that I specifically remember growing up with as a kid along with Pteranodon, Dimorphodon and Quetzalcoatlus.
Review: Tapejara (Wild Safari Collection by Safari Ltd)
4.3 (10 votes)
Tapejara is a pterosaur from the Cretaceous deposits of Brazil. Historically, several species have been referred to this genus, each species was differentiated based on the shape and size of their head crests. Safari’s offering shows a tall semicircular crest and a long prong protruding from the back of the head, this arrangement is characteristic of the species Tapejara imperator.
Review: Pteranodon longiceps (Bullyland)
2.8 (8 votes)
One of several Pteranodon figures from Bullyland. This figure appears to represent P. longiceps and contrasts with Bully’s smaller P. sternbergi figures (one reviewed previously: here)
Notice the metal ring attached to the back so you can hang this figure for display.
Review: Pteranodon (Papo)
2.9 (27 votes)
This figure is obviously based on the pterosaurs in Jurassic park 3 and, most egregiously, the creature has teeth. Interestingly, and pertinent to the very nature of this blog, there is an interesting story relevant to this figure…
Many cheap dinosaurs (known as ‘Chinasaurs’ in the dinosaur toy collecting community because they are typically manufactured there) have a habit of adding vicious teeth to each and every species of prehistoric creature, predatory stegosaurs and triceratops abound for example, and Pteranodons; the name means ‘winged and (ironically) toothless’, with a ferocious maw.
Review: Pteranodon sternbergi (standing version)(Museum Line by Bullyland)
4.7 (17 votes)
Pterosaurs are delicate gangly creatures, so it is unsurprising that toy companies have tended to create simple ‘in flight’ postures for their pterosaur figures. Pterosaurs with the wings outstretched are easier to make. Bullyland broke the mold when they produced a pair of pterosaurs, a typical flying version (I will call this version 1, it also has a fish in its mouth), and a standing version (I’ll call this version 2), with wings partially folded up.