The rest of Tiktaalik

[Halichoeres]

After a long wait, the rest of the preserved skeleton of Tiktaalik has been described and published. The vertebrae, ribs, and hip girdle had been embedded in rock, but a bunch of new CT scans form the basis of their thorough description.

Open access in PNAS: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2316106121

Be sure to check out the animations showing the whole reconstructed skeleton in rotation. I think there will be a bunch of 3d artists producing models of Tiktaalik pretty soon.

[Faelrin]

All the more reason I hope to see a figure of this animal. It's so fascinating, especially seeing the reconstruction with all the elements in place. I really like their reconstructions of other early tetrapodomorphs showing the evolution of the group, like in how the different anatomical aspects of the animals changed over time to give tetrapods the limbs they use now. Even more fascinating to think of animals that returned to living in the water like marine reptiles and whales.

[Concavenator]

Can we count on CollectA to make it?

[ceratopsian]

They seem a likely suspect!  I hope someone rises to the challenge - and thanks @Halichoeres for the heads up.

Can we count on CollectA to make it?

[Flaffy]

Now there's absolutely NO excuse for companies to keep avoiding Tiktaalik. Arguably one of the most important paleontological discoveries IMO.

Perfect candidate for a "Evolution of tetrapods" toob by Safari

[Carnoking]

Just finished reading Your Inner Fish so the timing couldn't be better for me!

[Faelrin]

@Flaffy Funny thing is that I asked for that and/or a prehistoric amphibian toob years back. At this rate I wonder if CollectA would be all the more likely to deliver something like that considering the wonderful Koolasuchus (that I still need to finish reviewing) they did.

[Halichoeres]

CollectA seems like almost the only major company that might be willing to make Tiktaalik. A tetrapod evolution Toob from Safari would be amazing, but considering they haven't made a new prehistoric Toob in 11 years, I'm not holding my breath.

[Flaffy]

CollectA seems like almost the only major company that might be willing to make Tiktaalik. A tetrapod evolution Toob from Safari would be amazing, but considering they haven't made a new prehistoric Toob in 11 years, I'm not holding my breath.

Is it that niche prehistoric toobs don't sell I wonder? I reckon those dinosaur toobs fly off shelves on the regular.

[stargatedalek]

I'm surprised Kaiyodo never made one. Considering the really obscure species they did make, it probably just happened to not end up on the roster.

I feel like a tetrapod evolution set would be too niche for general audiences. Tiktaalik might have a better shot in a set of "prehistoric accessory" species. Toss in a trilobite, ammonite, maybe an Eohippus and a small pterosaur or bird.

[Flaffy]

I'm surprised Kaiyodo never made one. Considering the really obscure species they did make, it probably just happened to not end up on the roster.

Yeah that is odd actually. Kaiyodo's made fantastic Eusthenopteron, Acanthostega and Icthyostega already. Would be great to see them do a Tiktaalik at some point.

[Faelrin]

I'd love if Kaiyodo made Tiktaalik as well. It would fit perfectly among the rest that they have done (though not to scale).

[Halichoeres]

CollectA seems like almost the only major company that might be willing to make Tiktaalik. A tetrapod evolution Toob from Safari would be amazing, but considering they haven't made a new prehistoric Toob in 11 years, I'm not holding my breath.

Is it that niche prehistoric toobs don't sell I wonder? I reckon those dinosaur toobs fly off shelves on the regular.

Yeah, those 20-plus-year old ones remain in production. All my favorites have been retired, except the feathered dinos one, which was merely severely downgraded on paint.

I'd love if Kaiyodo made Tiktaalik as well. It would fit perfectly among the rest that they have done (though not to scale).

I guess a new paper does slightly increase the probability!