Beasts of the Mesozoic Scale Reference Thread

[stargatedalek]

BOTM figures are marketed grouped by scale, but concessions in scale and (sometimes slight sacrifices in proportions) must be made to account for the lines part sharing that allows for its articulation features. The goal of this thread is to provide an ever updated list of scales for BOTM figures, as well as note potential sources of scale inconsistency from proportions.

Raptor series:
Saurornitholestes langstoni Fans Choice;
Full body length estimate: 1:5.2*, 1:5.7**, 1:6***, 1:7.2***
Skull based estimate: 1:4.5

Spoiler

Skull is roughly estimated at 25cm long based on figures in Cranial Anatomy of New Specimens of Saurornitholestes langstoni (Dinosauria, Theropoda, Dromaeosauridae) from the Dinosaur Park Formation (Campanian) of Alberta https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.24241

(*based on Wikipedia's uncited 180cm total length estimate)
(**based on 200cm total length estimate from Theropod Database)
(***Based on 90cm snout to vent length estimate from the aforelinked paper.)
(****based on the 200cm specimen being a subadult [added 50cm, as some skeletal authors have opted to do])

http://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=9750.msg298218#msg298218

[close]

*reserved for additional entries*

[stargatedalek]

For now I can only give detailed measurements for the only one I currently have, the fans choice Saurornitholestes. The rest will need to use the advertised lengths loosely referenced to total length estimates, until anyone else has any measurements to submit anyway!

Wikipedia currently cites Saurornitholestes (both species broadly, annoyingly) at 1.8 meters (180cm) in full body length. And despite being known from good remains no skeletals with useful scale references seem to be easily found, so that's all there is to go on.

The figure is 34.5cm measured loosely along the spine, which places it at 1:5.2, pending if anyone might hopefully have better (*or conflicting) references (skull length for example). Skull length of the figure is 5.5cm.

[Sim]

@stargatedalek, I've found several references for Saurornitholestes langstoni's length.

1. The Theropod Database has total length and skull length estimates for the nearly complete specimen, UALVP 55700: https://theropoddatabase.com/Dromaeosaurs.htm#Saurornitholesteslangstoni

2. This paper, provided by @ITdactyl in another thread, has useful images of the skull of S. langstoni and provides another total length estimate: https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.24241

3. This skeletal by GetAwayTrike: https://twitter.com/get_away_trike/status/1113788592654958593

[Faelrin]

I can probably provide some estimates later this week. I have the Velociraptor, Dromaeosaurus, Acheroraptor, and all four accessory pack critters, in addition to the fan's choice Saurornitholestes.

I think Acheroraptor could be challenging as the only remains are fragmentary skull and jaw tips. Mononykus also does not have a skull but perhaps relative Shuuvia could pitch in.

[stargatedalek]

@stargatedalek, I've found several references for Saurornitholestes langstoni's length.

1. The Theropod Database has total length and skull length estimates for the nearly complete specimen, UALVP 55700: https://theropoddatabase.com/Dromaeosaurs.htm#Saurornitholesteslangstoni

2. This paper, provided by @ITdactyl in another thread, has useful images of the skull of S. langstoni and provides another total length estimate: https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.24241

3. This skeletal by GetAwayTrike: https://twitter.com/get_away_trike/status/1113788592654958593

Very interesting indeed, this gives us quite a range of sizes. A 90cm and a 200cm full body length, ~25cm skull, and that skeletal seems a bit over two meters despite being the same specimen? I think I'll include ranges for all of these to play it safe, thank you a ton for finding all of these.

*edit* 90cm was snout to vent. Which, might actually be even more useful of an estimate.

[Appalachiosaurus]

Perfect scale is always going to be rough because full length measurements are usually based on lining all the vertebrae up in a long row, not accounting for cartilage or how they would actually connect (that's how Sue was accidentally reported to be two feet longer than they really are). Ceratopsians especially get hurt by this because in-life their spinal column is basically a crescent moon. Plus that's only if there's a full skeleton, most of the time it's just guesswork. Skull measurements could also end up problematic simply because, no offense to the man, Silvia can get the proportions a little wonky especially with the raptors. The results ain't gonna be cut and dry, but I'm still curious for how they all hold up to the reported sizes.