Haolonggood - New for 2025

[Sim]

I know when the PNSO Iguanodon was first shown, people thought its head is inaccurate and based on that of Mantellisaurus.  But one of the Italian forum members, I forget which one, posted that video commenting on how PNSO based it on an apparently quite well-known specimen of Iguanodon.  But it seems people have just refused to accept this.

I'm not sure enough is known to rule out resonating chambers for the Haolonggood Iguanodon, I can still imagine them looping, even ankylosaurids have looping tubes in their skulls.  I think weirder things are possible.

[SidB]

I know when the PNSO Iguanodon was first shown, people thought its head is inaccurate and based on that of Mantellisaurus.  But one of the Italian forum members, I forget which one, posted that video commenting on how PNSO based it on an apparently quite well-known specimen of Iguanodon.  But it seems people have just refused to accept this.

I'm not sure enough is known to rule out resonating chambers for the Haolonggood Iguanodon, I can still imagine them looping, even ankylosaurids have looping tubes in their skulls.  I think weirder things are possible.

It was L @Leyster, a very knowledgeable source, who asserted that the PNSO Iguanodon's Mantellisaurus-like head is within the range of possibilities for Iguanodon skulls.

[The Templar of the Past]

well-known specimen of Iguanodon

If so that's so much the better, as I had already eyed the PNSO Iguanodon for its similar paintjob to the old CollectA Iguanodon, and considering one of the causes that led me to collecting again was replacing or updating my original 61 piece core collection figures that look like a direct update of older ones are very welcome.

I wonder if there are other figures like that, PNSO Pachyrhinosaurus also looks similar in color to the CollectA one.

[Flaffy]

But it seems people have just refused to accept this.

Because there is good evidence that points to the skull being based off of Mantellisaurus.

[Sim]

Not as far as I'm aware.  PNSO has literally showed they based the head of their figure on an Iguanodon specimen's which was confirmed by Leyster and is supported by that link to Paleofile I provided.

[TheCambrianCrusader]

Well thats a handsome fellow. I already have both the collecta and safari so Im not hurting for a new Iguanodon but this lad is tempting. I do hope that the digit 5 is a just paint issue, because that would be a shame if it was sculpted like a spur. Not a deal breaker in my opinion but unfortunate. Especially since they correctly made sure that digit 4 doesnt have an ungual, something both the collecta and safari got wrong.

[Sim]

I've made a comparison image.

All the skulls are made the same length.  The first is the skull used by PNSO to model their Iguanodon's head on.  The next three are all Mantellisaurus skulls.  The last one is an Iguanodon skull.  Seeing them like this makes it clear to me PNSO used an Iguanodon skull for their figure.  Compare the shape of the eye sockets, the thickness of the lower jaw, the shape of the back of the head and the shape of the temporal fenestra.  The skull in PNSO's video doesn't match the Mantellisaurus skulls while it looks like the Iguanodon skull at the bottom of the comparison.

[Flaffy]

Not as far as I'm aware.  PNSO has literally showed they based the head of their figure on an Iguanodon specimen's which was confirmed by Leyster and is supported by that link to Paleofile I provided.

Yeah, one of the Bernissart Iguanodons I believe was shown in the video. I am skeptical this is the actual skull used in the sculpting of the PNSO Iguanodon due to various discrepancies detailed below. And to add, directly tracing over an asymmetrically crushed skull does not lend to the most reliable of in-life reconstructions.


Bernissart Iguanodon skull cast in Oxford Museum, my pic. Note the crushed side.

Moreover if we're considering external media, why selectively ignore the Mantellisaurus skull used for their official accompanying skeletal and promotional posts?



For those interested in my more detailed rationale:

Spoiler

I usually agree with Leyster and Matt's judgement, but this is a rare instance where I disagree. PNSO's reconstructive process is very weird and inconsistent, and I have noticed the following four scenarios:

a) Model and accompanying media matches up with modern science.

b) Model matches up with modern science, but is distinct from accompanying media (skeletals, artwork, video promotions etc).
- Example: Suchomimus, Torvosaurus, Gorgosaurus, *Megalosaurus, Giganotosaurus(?), Allosaurus(?)
*Megalosaurus, the figure itself closely follows Dan Folkes's skeletal, but PNSO's artwork and skeletal are distinctly allosauroid. Even Hartman's high-crested reconstruction cannot account for how weird PNSO chose to restore their Megalosaurus in past media.

c) Model matches up with accompanying skeletal, but is otherwise inconsistent with past PNSO media and/or modern science.
- Example: Iguanodon, Tarbosaurus(?)

d) Model is inconsistent with both accompanying media AND modern science.
- Example: Sinraptor


Speaking as a person who's seen the NHMUK Mantellisaurus specimen in-person many times before, along with a bunch of Iguanodon skulls from various museums, I just don't see how the PNSO reconstruction is meant to be a proper Iguanodon. Please note I have no qualifications in the field, just a guy with an unhealthy obsession with anatomy.

The rounded profile of Mantellisaurus's skull is very very distinct from Iguanodon's angular slope. As shown in DinosDragons comparison, while the Mantellisaurus skull comfortablely fits; IRSNB 1534 on the other hand struggles to. I've tried to do my own comparisons and have noticed very weird things.

Link to google slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wlAM341x_inBlHb5FXxXgVtCUhuy25a2iDLXHGu_osY/edit?usp=sharing

Two major issues with these comparisons:
1) In the video, the text box being situated right at the most crucial point of comparison (temporal fenestrae) doesn't help
2) Most if not all images of the actual figure are at an angle rather than a perfect profile shot, so comparisons aren't 100% accurate

That being said, all comparisons with the actual released figure, the Mantellisaurus skull fits better than IRSNB 1534. But when compared with the red digital prototype seen in the video, the situation becomes unclear and muddled. I've tried superimposing the image of the digital prototype on top of the actual figure, and found it impossible for the two to line up perfectly. My tinfoil hat theory is that the digital prototype is in some way different from the final release, but with 1) and 2) pending, it is impossible to say for sure.

However, in the end I think it's only fair to judge a figure based on it's final release, as that is the version of the product that ends up in customers hands. Both DinosDragons and DinoScreamReviews have done comparisons with Mantellisaurus skulls (the latter unknowingly, as Greg beleived he was using an Iguanodon skull) using the real product and have come to the same conclusion as I have, that the skull fits Mantellisaurus a lot more than any Iguanodon skull. As of writing, I am not convinced that there hasn't been at least some Mantellisaurus influence in the sculpt.

As for the head of the PNSO Iguanodon, it has been shown that there is an Iguanodon specimen with that head.

We've had this conversation before, thus I agree to disagree. Me along with many others believe that its a Mantellisaurus head. The PNSO Iguanodon is one of the rare instances where the skeletal matches up with the figure reconstruction, and the skeletal unequivocally displays a Mantellisaurus skull. Having studied (not academically, but for art referencing) the actual specimen housed in the NHMUK multiple times in person confirms this for me.

Comparing & contrasting with online skeletals can only get you so far. Yes certain Iguanodon skulls do show more gracile morphology, but when observed in person (and not just in a perfect profile view on a screen), the angularities of said "gracile" Iguanodon skulls becomes more than obvious that it's different from both Mantellisaurus and the PNSO figure. Not to mention the more obvious discrepancies like the angle of the temporal fenestra, forehead and premaxilla; along with the mandible being far more square & robust in actual Iguanodon skulls.

I feel like the comparisons speak for themselves. (Credit: DinosDragons)



PNSO Skeletal, Mantellisaurus skull, Iguanodon skull:

Spoiler

[close]

[close]

[Sim]

And to add, directly tracing over an asymmetrically crushed skull does not lend to the most reliable of in-life reconstructions.

Well, in the video PNSO shows it was roughly copying the shape of the skull.  I don't think they are incompetant.

Moreover if we're considering external media, why selectively ignore the Mantellisaurus skull used for their official accompanying skeletal and promotional posts?

I didn't remember this skeletal.  I agree that it has a Mantellisaurus skull.  However, PNSO's skeletals don't always match their figures, e.g. their Allosaurus and first Giganotosaurus have skulls that are very different to the skeletals PNSO provided.

along with the mandible being far more square & robust in actual Iguanodon skulls.

But I'm coming to the conclusion that the PNSO figure's lower jaw is too thick to match a Mantellisaurus skull.  Thanks for linking to the past conversation about the PNSO Iguanodon's skull, I had forgotten about it.

I think it's possible the PNSO figure's head could be different to the digital sculpt in the video, so I've made another comparison image with the final PNSO figure in it.

Now the figure comes closer to the 2nd and 3rd Mantellisaurus skulls, but it still looks closest to the Iguanodon skull to me, particularly in the shape of the eye socket and temporal fenestra.

[Paleo Flo]

It's a very cool discussion here. Very exciting and rich of knowledge.

Somehow I think the discussion mirrors the palentology-history of the varoius Iguanodon-specimens.

In the early 2000s Iguanodons taxonomy had undergo many revisions.
A whole bunch of species had been reassigned.

So it seems to be a though way to find the ultimate conclusion. But I guess PNSO's head is right but I could had been more clearly.

And maybe it could work as Barilium or Hypselospinus..

[Turkeysaurus]

From Paleofiguras Facebook

[Paleo Flo]

Hmmm...shape of the head seems to fit the skull. I compared it to my skull replica by favourite.
The snouth fits, the eyesocket too...the soft tissue well...it's ok I guess

[oscars_dinos]

Wow. In terms of detail I think this is one of there best. with the discussion of pnsos head maybe not being to off after all I was starting to think about maybe getting it as it would match my mainly pnso collection in terms of aesthetics but damn. this is a really good figure that hlg pumped out. I'll deff need some comparisons pics.

[oscars_dinos]

Wow. In terms of detail I think this is one of there best. with the discussion of pnsos head maybe not being to off after all I was starting to think about maybe getting it as it would match my mainly pnso collection in terms of aesthetics but damn. this is a really good figure that hlg pumped out. I'll deff need some comparisons pics.

one thing I do wish he was a bit more round in the torso, but maybe i just like my dinos chunky

[crazy8wizard]

The nose has a circular line around it suggesting a big open fenestra and fossae like they did with the other openings in the skull. I still don't think this is purely soft tissue.

[oscars_dinos]

comparing the pnso and the hlg. And ignoring the shape of the head, does the hlg have a overall larger head compared to its body? it looks that way to me

[Turkeysaurus]

comparing the pnso and the hlg. And ignoring the shape of the head, does the hlg have a overall larger head compared to its body? it looks that way to me

I can't tell but it's head looks boxier and wider while body seems more narrow so that might make it look that way. Also it's neck upright unlike Pnso.

[Samrukia]

hmm, it seems to me that this blue is of different shade compared to Saurolophus/Torosaurus.
let's wait for video reviews and comparisons

[Turkeysaurus]

hmm, it seems to me that this blue is of different shade compared to Saurolophus/Torosaurus.
let's wait for video reviews and comparisons

It's closer to blue Brachiosaurus imo.

[Pinbacker]

According to Paleofiguras on FB, a Haolonggood Diplodocus is in the works.