My introduction to Estemmenosuchus came from the 1994 episode of Paleo-World titled “Tail of a Sail”, which was about Dimetrodon and other synapsids, their evolution, and how they relate to mammals. Estemmenosuchus was only featured briefly via images of its skull and a couple pieces of paleoart but that was enough for me to become enamored with this animal and to help broaden my appreciation for prehistoric life beyond the Mesozoic.
Review: Sarcosuchus (2021)(Jurassic World: Massive Biters by Mattel)
3.2 (82 votes)
Many of the most vibrantly coloured vertebrates living on the planet today are reptiles, particularly squamates such as the gold dust day gecko, the collared lizard, the rainbow boa, and the eastern coral snake. Certain testudines including the red-eared slider, the eastern box turtle, and the northern river terrapin also feature bold patterning and coloration.
Review: Woolly Mammoth (TNG)
4.8 (44 votes)
Review and photos by Kikimalou, edited by Suspsy
An emblematic figure of prehistory, almost as much as the Tyrannosaurus rex, the woolly mammoth has survived many extinctions in the toy world. The first versions are probably those cast in lead by CBG Mignot and in composition by Chilau.
Review: Mapusaurus (Prehistoric Animal Models by PNSO)
4.4 (75 votes)
My sincere thanks to Happy Hen Toys for furnishing this review sample.
Several other companies have made Mapusaurus figures before, including Bandai, Playmates, and CollectA. So far, however, we’ve only reviewed CollectA’s four (!!!) versions on the blog. A brief re-introduction might be useful, then: Mapusaurus hails from the Huincul Formation (English approximation: “ween-COOL”) in Argentina, just like its recently described relative Meraxes and the famous Argentinosaurus.
News: Upcoming releases from Haolonggood (New for 2023)
4.8 (37 votes)
Relative newcomer Haolonggood has been on something of a role these last two months, unveiling a series of highly impressive prehistoric figures, each one available in two different colour schemes, that easily rival anything from the other companies. Here’s hoping that this happy trend continues, and that Haolonggood gets wider distribution!
Review: Triceratops (Subadult) (Beasts of the Mesozoic by Creative Beast Studio)
4.8 (60 votes)
For almost every Tyrannosaurus toy on the market, there’s a Triceratops toy to face off with – as it should be, considering the rich history of fossils and iconic paleo media depicting these legendary Cretaceous contemporaries. Triceratops was more than just a prime steak to fill a theropod’s belly, of course; this colossal herbivore would have been a spectacular animal in its own right, and a powerful presence roaming the forests and hills of Western North America.
Review: Kronosaurus (Jurassic World Dino Trackers, Wild Roar by Mattel)
3.5 (77 votes)
There’s no real debate about it. The Mattel Jurassic World Mosasaurus is still one of the line’s best toys. Pushing 30” in length and covered in rubbery “real feel” material, it has also been released and re-released consistently over the last 5 years. A testament to its quality.
Review: Gallimimus (Schleich)
Review: Geosternbergia (Jurassic World Legacy Collection)
1.8 (54 votes)
Mattel has serious distribution problems going as far back as 2004. I collect Batman figures, and I am also a completist, if you haven’t noticed. The final few waves of the Comic Book style Batman series, as well as some figures from The Batman were only released on Europe, and sometimes in Latin America.
Review: Dinosaur Colosseum (2019 release by Takara Tomy)
2.5 (48 votes)
Hello, who’s this?
Takara Tomy is a prolific toy manufacturer which has produced a number of dinosaur-related toys in the past. Most of these toys have been released under the ANIA (sometimes “Animal Adventure”) line, but some have received more unique lines of their own.
Review: Stygimoloch (Dino Dana by Safari Ltd.)
3.1 (74 votes)
I first learned about Stygimoloch back in the late 1980s when I came across a painting of it by the late paleoartist Ely Kish in a dinosaur book, and I distinctly recall being rather excited at the prospect of another North American pachycephalosaur besides Pachycephalosaurus itself and Stegoceras.