HAOLONGGOOD - 2025 Hopes and Dreams

[Ajax88]

Unrealistic? Could Spinosaurus not swim?

Sure, but no more than any other theropod. Spinosaurids had stiffened tails, being members of tetanurae, and they would have been mediocre propulsion systems. An enormous rigid sail would have made underwater swimming extremely difficult.A heron-like lifestyle is still really the most plausible for Spinosaurus.

Great comparison to a group characterised by proportionally long legs

Spinosaurus had legs plenty long enough to wade. My paleontology Master's advisor about burst out laughing when he heard the aquatic Spinosaurus theory (and his specialty is Crocodilians). The biomechanics just aren't there. A highly pneumatic theropod with an immense sail was not routinely diving and swimming in open water. Further reading if you are interested.

https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2021/3219-the-ecology-of-spinosaurus

https://elifesciences.org/articles/80092

Worth noting spinosaurus had very dense bones for a dinosaur, to the point where computer models suggest swimming is highly likely. The current consensus is swimming spino, the debate is how much of a role swimming played in hunting.

Only the leg bones were dense, the rest of the skeleton was still highly pneumatic. And the leg bones lack the inflated pachyostosis of animals evolved to submerge in water.

[Samrukia]

this thread is falling off topic

[GojiraGuy1954]

Unrealistic? Could Spinosaurus not swim?

Sure, but no more than any other theropod. Spinosaurids had stiffened tails, being members of tetanurae, and they would have been mediocre propulsion systems. An enormous rigid sail would have made underwater swimming extremely difficult.A heron-like lifestyle is still really the most plausible for Spinosaurus.

Great comparison to a group characterised by proportionally long legs

Spinosaurus had legs plenty long enough to wade. My paleontology Master's advisor about burst out laughing when he heard the aquatic Spinosaurus theory (and his specialty is Crocodilians). The biomechanics just aren't there. A highly pneumatic theropod with an immense sail was not routinely diving and swimming in open water. Further reading if you are interested.

https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2021/3219-the-ecology-of-spinosaurus

https://elifesciences.org/articles/80092

Diving is not required for an animal to hunt in the water, especially if it has the longs arms and neck of Spinosaurus. Nobody is arguing that Spinosaurus lived like a Crocodilian. But Herons as an ecological ananlogy are also a terrible analogue. However Spinosaurus was surviving, I heavily doubt any modern animal is appropriate for a 1:1 comparison.

[Ajax88]

Unrealistic? Could Spinosaurus not swim?
[/quote

Unrealistic? Could Spinosaurus not swim?

Sure, but no more than any other theropod. Spinosaurids had stiffened tails, being members of tetanurae, and they would have been mediocre propulsion systems. An enormous rigid sail would have made underwater swimming extremely difficult.A heron-like lifestyle is still really the most plausible for Spinosaurus.

Great comparison to a group characterised by proportionally long legs

Spinosaurus had legs plenty long enough to wade. My paleontology Master's advisor about burst out laughing when he heard the aquatic Spinosaurus theory (and his specialty is Crocodilians). The biomechanics just aren't there. A highly pneumatic theropod with an immense sail was not routinely diving and swimming in open water. Further reading if you are interested.

https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2021/3219-the-ecology-of-spinosaurus

https://elifesciences.org/articles/80092

Diving is not required for an animal to hunt in the water, especially if it has the longs arms and neck of Spinosaurus. Nobody is arguing that Spinosaurus lived like a Crocodilian. But Herons as an ecological ananlogy are also a terrible analogue. However Spinosaurus was surviving, I heavily doubt any modern animal is appropriate for a 1:1 comparison.

Sure, but no more than any other theropod. Spinosaurids had stiffened tails, being members of tetanurae, and they would have been mediocre propulsion systems. An enormous rigid sail would have made underwater swimming extremely difficult.A heron-like lifestyle is still really the most plausible for Spinosaurus.

Great comparison to a group characterised by proportionally long legs

Spinosaurus had legs plenty long enough to wade. My paleontology Master's advisor about burst out laughing when he heard the aquatic Spinosaurus theory (and his specialty is Crocodilians). The biomechanics just aren't there. A highly pneumatic theropod with an immense sail was not routinely diving and swimming in open water. Further reading if you are interested.

https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2021/3219-the-ecology-of-spinosaurus

https://elifesciences.org/articles/80092

Diving is not required for an animal to hunt in the water, especially if it has the longs arms and neck of Spinosaurus. Nobody is arguing that Spinosaurus lived like a Crocodilian. But Herons as an ecological ananlogy are also a terrible analogue. However Spinosaurus was surviving, I heavily doubt any modern animal is appropriate for a 1:1 comparison.

Unrealistic? Could Spinosaurus not swim?

Sure, but no more than any other theropod. Spinosaurids had stiffened tails, being members of tetanurae, and they would have been mediocre propulsion systems. An enormous rigid sail would have made underwater swimming extremely difficult.A heron-like lifestyle is still really the most plausible for Spinosaurus.

Great comparison to a group characterised by proportionally long legs

Spinosaurus had legs plenty long enough to wade. My paleontology Master's advisor about burst out laughing when he heard the aquatic Spinosaurus theory (and his specialty is Crocodilians). The biomechanics just aren't there. A highly pneumatic theropod with an immense sail was not routinely diving and swimming in open water. Further reading if you are interested.

https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2021/3219-the-ecology-of-spinosaurus

https://elifesciences.org/articles/80092

Diving is not required for an animal to hunt in the water, especially if it has the longs arms and neck of Spinosaurus. Nobody is arguing that Spinosaurus lived like a Crocodilian. But Herons as an ecological ananlogy are also a terrible analogue. However Spinosaurus was surviving, I heavily doubt any modern animal is appropriate for a 1:1 comparison.

Okay, "Shoreline generalist that probably frequently crossed rivers". Truly something between a bear and a shoebill stork seems the most likely. It's just that every predatory animal that hunts in open water is HIGHLY adapted for rapid underwater pursuit, something Spinosaurus was definitely not doing. I guess I could imagine Spinosaurus floating on the surface of a large lake and snagging fish pelican-style, but it seems an inefficient strategy for a multi-ton carnivore.

[Duna]

I know @Duna has the REBOR "Kiss" (what a silly name), so I was curious about whether she has the REBOR Diplodocus too...

No, I don't have the REBOR diplodocus because I don't like the musculature of the front legs. I don't mind the flexible tail and neck, I like the thick neck.
But I would REALLY REALLY want Haolonggood to make a Diplodocus in the style of their other sauropods. I wouldn't mind a barosaurus or a supersaurus, either.

[Sim]

I hope that Haolonggood will produce figures with the beautiful dark green tones of the Schleich Saichania and PNSO Tuojiangosaurus shown below.

  (Image source)

  (Image source)

[thomasw100]

I hope that Haolonggood will produce figures with the beautiful dark green tones of the Schleich Saichania and PNSO Tuojiangosaurus shown below.

Haolonggood should have made enough money now to be able to purchase an extension of the color palette they have been using. I must admit though that they have made very clever use of the palette they have at their disposal. But it is quite obvious that the base colors of many figures are very close if not identical.

[Ajax88]

I would love to see more models without the "base color" and squiggles/dots/stripes added on top look. I think designs with more broadly patterned areas of the body look much nicer. e.g. PNSO Suchomimus, Alamosaurus are great, PNSO Machairoceratops, and HLG Wuerhosaurus are not so good.

[Joliezac]

Yeah I love Haolonggood's figures but I'd like to see updated color palettes/patterns. I still think their best figure to date paint wise is the Triceratops. Although that could change when I receive my Argentinosaurus.

[GojiraGuy1954]

Just a standard species wishlist

Sauropodomorpha:
Plateosaurus
Melanorosaurus
Nigersaurus
Brachytrachelopan
Europasaurus
Isisaurus
Rapetosaurus
Saltasaurus
Shunosaurus

Thyreophora:
Scolosaurus
Talaurus
Gigantspinosaurus
Kentrosaurus
Updated Dacentrurus (Miragaia)

Marginocephalia:
Udanoceratops
Bagaceratops
Zuniceratops
Wendiceratops
Albertaceratops
Achelousaurus
Agujaceratops
Torosaurus

Ornithopoda:
Muttaburrasaurus
Camptosaurus
Lurdusaurus
Iguanodon
Tsintaosaurus
Corythosaurus
Gryposaurus

[Ajax88]

Isisaurus is def overdue, such a funky little sauropod. A dynamic, rearing Bajadasaurus, Stellasaurus ancellae/Rubeosaurus and a Regaliceratops would be lovely to see as well. Haolonggood has really rapidly upped their quality of paint and sculpt to PNSO levels while keeping prices down. Excited to see what they drop before Christmas and into next year!

[Paleo Flo]

I could only repeat myself:

For 2025 an 1:1 Archeaopteryx would be fine...and more ceratopsians, of course.

[Tattu]

+1 for more ceratopsians. I wouldn't even be opposed to them giving us fragmentary species like Mercuriceratops. 2024 was a great year for ceratopsian lovers, and I would love for 2025 to spoil us silly.

[Sim]

I hope Haolonggood uses the light blue of the brown Majungasaurus by them on a species I want to have!

[DefinitelyNOTDilo]

Honestly, while I love HLG's Ceratopsians, I kinda hope they slow down a bit with em. We've already gotten so many this year. I'd still like a couple next year, but I hope they move on to a different group like hadrosaurs or ankylosaurs, or even just diversify and do all sorts of groups.

[Sim]

I really hope Haolonggood doesn't focus on hadrosaurids.  It would be a nightmare for me to have to go through!

[GnastyGnorc]

I really hope Haolonggood doesn't focus on hadrosaurids.  It would be a nightmare for me to have to go through!

What?! Why the hadrosaur hate lol. They are so elegant.

[Sim]

Well, since you asked...  I don't find them elegant, I tend to find them boring.  I find their beak boring, their hands boring (in comparison to the more interesting hands of basal ornithopds such as Iguanodon and Ouranosaurus), their feet boring, their inflexible tails boring, their behaviour boring...  The only thing I like about hadrosaurids are a few with crests I find appealing, specifically Parasaurolophus, Saurolophus, Lambeosaurus, Corythosaurus and Hypacrosaurus.  Otherwise I find hadrosaurids uninteresting.  The most uninteresting hadrosaurids for me are Edmontosaurus and Maiasaura and Haolonggood released both this year plus there was the one from PNSO.  I found it a challenge to get through those releases and lots more hadrosaurids being released would be an unpleasant thing for me to get through.  I imagine this is an unpopular opinion that would fit in the thread with that in its name, but it's really how I feel.

[thomasw100]

Well, since you asked...  I don't find them elegant, I tend to find them boring.  I find their beak boring, their hands boring (in comparison to the more interesting hands of basal ornithopds such as Iguanodon and Ouranosaurus), their feet boring, their inflexible tails boring, their behaviour boring...  The only thing I like about hadrosaurids are a few with crests I find appealing, specifically Parasaurolophus, Saurolophus, Lambeosaurus, Corythosaurus and Hypacrosaurus.  Otherwise I find hadrosaurids uninteresting.  The most uninteresting hadrosaurids for me are Edmontosaurus and Maiasaura and Haolonggood released both this year plus there was the one from PNSO.  I found it a challenge to get through those releases and lots more hadrosaurids being released would be an unpleasant thing for me to get through.  I imagine this is an unpopular opinion that would fit in the thread with that in its name, but it's really how I feel.

To be fair, Haolonggood has so far only released 3 hadrosaurids (Edmontosaurus, Maiasaura, and Tlatolophus). They have released more ceratopsians, theropods, sauropods and thyreophoreans. Given how important hadrosaurs were for Late Cretaceous ecosystems, hadrosaurids are actually underrepresented among the Haolonggood releases. And after all what should all the Late Cretaceous megatheropods eat if you have no hadrosaurids? These poor fellows will starve to death.

[Sim]

Theropods in terms of diversity are equivalent to Ornithischians as a group, not to specific ornithischian groups such as hadrosaurids.  Hadrosaurids are actually one of the best-represented groups by Haolonggood.  For comparison, below are the main non-bird dinosaur types with the species Haolonggood has made from each.

Basal Theropoda: (1) Dilophosaurus
Ceratosauria: (2) Carnotaurus, Majungasaurus
Megalosauroidea: (2) Spinosaurus, Baryonyx
Allosauroidea: (2) Carcharodontosaurus, Allosaurus
Tyrannosauroidea: (2) Tyrannosaurus, Daspletosaurus
Compsognathidae: (0)
Ornithomimosauria: (0)
Alvarezsauroidea: (0)
Therizinosauria: (1) Therizinosaurus
Oviraptorosauria: (0)
Dromaeosauridae: (0)
Troodontidae: (0)
Archaeopterygidae: (0)
Other Theropoda: (1) Megaraptor

Basal Ornithischia: (0)
Thescelosauridae: (0)
Basal Ornithopoda: (0)
Basal Ankylopollexia: (1) Ouranosaurus
Hadrosauridae: (3) Tlatolophus, Edmontosaurus, Maiasaura
Basal Ceratopsia: (0)
Centrosaurinae: (5) Nasutoceratops, Pachyrhinosaurus, Sinoceratops, Diabloceratops, Xenoceratops
Chasmosaurinae: (5) Pentaceratops, Kosmoceratops, Chasmosaurus, Triceratops, Utahceratops
Pachycephalosauria: (0)
Basal Thyreophora: (0)
Stegosauria: (4) Wuerhosaurus, Dacentrurus, Stegosaurus, Huayangosaurus
Ankylosauridae: (3) Tianzhenosaurus, Euoplocephalus, Saichania
Nodosauridae: (2) Edmontonia, Gastonia

Basal Sauropodomorpha: (0)
Basal Sauropoda: (1) Mamenchisaurus
Diplodocoidea: (3) Dicraeosaurus, Apatosaurus, Amargasaurus
Macronaria: (4) Ampelosaurus, Alamosaurus, Camarasaurus, Argentinosaurus

Looking at the lists above, ceratopsids are overrepresented compared to other groups, but I don't mind that...  Meanwhile, feathered dinosaurs are underrepresented...