Parasaurolophus (PNSO)

Review and photos by Faelrin, edited by Suspsy

Parasaurolophus is easily one of the most recognizable and famous herbivorous dinosaurs, and ornithopods along with Iguanodon and Edmontosaurus. The long, hollow tube like crest is its most distinctive feature, easily recognizable, and setting it apart from most hadrosaurids, except for its close kin Charonosaurus and the newly described Tlatolophus. It has featured in numerous toy lines spanning many decades, so it is no surprise to see it finally join the ranks of PNSO’s fantastic line up as well this very year. And what a beauty this model is! Let’s take a closer look at it.

As typical for PNSO’s products featuring in their Prehistoric Animal Models line, this Parasaurolophus model has been given a name, Wyatt, and a number 44. This model was directly based upon the holotype specimen, ROM 768, which was discovered in 1920. Both Wyatt and ROM 768 feature a rather unique pathology alongside the spinal column (as well as various other areas of the body), and there was a recent study published which goes into great detail about the extent of this damage. The study also suggests that there were numerous possible scenarios that could have caused the damage, such as a fallen object like a tree or rock, if not another animal. The famous V-shaped gap wound also showed signs of healing, meaning the animal was alive for some time (at least months) after the incident. The PNSO model reflects this as well by showing skin covering the area, with only an interruption among the ridges alongside its back. The same study also goes into great detail about the nuchal ligament, a muscle attachment that gives support to the neck, and its likely placement on the animal, although this model seems to have been sculpted prior to its publication as it does not take their suggestions into account. Instead, it has the neck and head raised farther up and without the tissue connecting from the back of the head to the dorsal vertebrae.

The PNSO model has been exquisitely sculpted with tiny pebbly scales dotting its hide, which is something we know for a fact that Parasaurolophus sported in real life thanks to fossil skin impressions for the holotype specimen (see page 32 of this study) and for RAM 14000, a juvenile specimen found in the Kaiparowits Formation. The model is sculpted with lots of muscle along its body, giving the look that this animal is healthy and well fed, and the wound it sports along its back has clearly healed. The famous crest is sculpted in a way that makes it appear to have keratin covering it, and the bill also has some keratinous growth. The second and third digits of the forelimbs have been sculpted to have “hooves,” which is based on a currently unpublished find regarding the famous mummified specimen of Edmontosaurus annectens known as “Dakota.” Previously, hadrosaurids were typically restored to have their manus/hands covered in what were essentially fleshy mittens, based upon a previous understanding of AMNH 5060, another mummified Edmontosaurus. Whether Parasaurolophus and other hadrosaurids shared this feature is currently hard to say without some published material analyzing this find further. In any case, PNSO have been quite bold to go with it, being the first company to depict this animal in this way. Their Corythosaurus and Lambeosaurus have also been sculpted with this feature.

The coloration of the model is very natural, and in my case, very pleasing to look at it. Most of the body is a medium shade of brown, although there is some countershading present on the underbelly. The hands and feet are colored darker brown, contrasting with the lighter shade on the body, and the tips of the “hooves” have been painted dark grey. From the back to the tail, there is some white striping along with a pale blue stripe running down the spine over top. The crest and bill have been colored in an orange to yellow gradient and the eyes have been painted a striking blue coloration. The cloaca and surrounding area have some pink to them. The Parasaurolophus‘ coloration is ultimately quite faithful to the prototype or promotional images used to advertise it. It displays nicely and also stands out when displayed alongside the other PNSO hadrosaurids, the Lambeosaurus and the Corythosaurus, though not all to scale (this thread discusses this matter further).

The type species Parasaurolophus walkeri, which this model is based upon, lived during the Late Cretaceous Campanian about 76.5 to 75.3 million years ago in what is now the Dinosaur Park Formation located in the province of Alberta, Canada. With only a handful of known specimens, it appears to have been relatively rare in its environment. It coexisted with the ceratopsians Chasmosaurus, Centrosaurus, Spinops, and Styracosaurus, the pachycephalosaur Stegoceras, the ankylosaurs Dyoplosaurus, Edmontonia, Euoplocephalus, and Scolosaurus, and its hadrosaurids Corythosaurus, Gryposaurus, and Lambeosaurus. Potential large predators included the tyrannosaurids Gorgosaurus and Daspletosaurus as well as smaller predators like Dromaeosaurus, Saurornitholestes, and Stenonychosaurus. PNSO has also made a Corythosaurus, a Lambeosaurus, and a Spinops that one could pair alongside this Parasaurolophus. Other brands such as Safari Ltd. have made some of the other genera that could also go nicely with it, such as the retired 2013 Gryposaurus, the 2019 Styracosaurus, or the new 2021 Daspletosaurus. There was also an Edmontonia teased by PNSO late last year, but no further info has surfaced since.

Lastly, this model comes with a pamphlet containing information about Parasaurolophus, and a little story of the particular specimen this model is of. The back of the pamphlet also features stunning poster artwork of the animal. This model measures about 10.5 inches/26.67 cm from the tip of the snout to the tip of the (slightly warped) tail and 4.5 inches/11.43 cm high from the tip of the crest to the bottom of the digits on the forelimbs.

PNSO products including the Parasaurolophus can be bought from retailers such as Dan’s Dinosaurs, Happy Hen Toys, Everything Dinosaur, Amazon, or from numerous sellers on Aliexpress, if not others out there. I personally got my model off My Online Toy Store at Aliexpress and opted for the no box option because it was cheaper, and I unfortunately do not have much space to be able to store the boxes anyway. I highly recommend this Parasaurolophus and their other models to anyone that is a fan of ornithopods or dinosaurs in general.