| The increasing number of Spinosaurus Models on the | | | | much more deeper set, especially towards the hip |
| Market | | | | region. The forelimbs are much longer in the German |
| Ever since Jurassic Park III hit the cinema screens in | | | | model, giving this Theropod the appearance of a |
| 2001, so the popularity of Spinosaurus has soared. | | | | facultative Theropod. A facultative Theropod is a |
| The script writers wanted to introduce a new | | | | meat-eater which normally walks on just its hind legs |
| meat-eating dinosaur, one that would give T. rex the | | | | but would be capable of adopting a quadrupedal |
| principle dinosaur in the first two movies a run for its | | | | stance should it choose to do so. The forelimbs on |
| money. This resulted in Spinosaurus (Spinosaurus | | | | the Carnegie model are much shorter and there is a |
| aegyptiacus) being introduced to a whole new | | | | definite emphasis on bipedalism. |
| generation of dinosaur fans. Described by the famous | | | | The thumb claw on the American model is much |
| German palaeontologist/geologist Ernst Stromer von | | | | more pronounced than the Schleich version, the front |
| Reichenbach in 1915, from fossil material collected | | | | claws of the German model are of almost equal |
| from several expeditions to Egypt, Spinosaurus is | | | | length, whereas in the American version the thumb |
| regarded as one of the largest of all the known | | | | claw is over twice as long as the claws to be found |
| Theropod dinosaurs in the fossil record. Although, | | | | on the other two digits. Interestingly, the snout of |
| more lightly built than the Tyrannosaurs and | | | | the American model is much thinner than that of the |
| Allosaurids the largest specimens would have weighed | | | | German figure. It is beautifully painted but the delicate |
| something approaching five metric tonnes and | | | | jaws and long thumb claws make this model prone to |
| reached lengths in excess of 17 metres. | | | | damage. It is always sensible to check a model's jaws |
| The Diversity of the Spinosaurids | | | | before making a purchase (or to buy from a |
| Spinosaurid fossils have been found in many parts of | | | | reputable model supplier and avoid auction site |
| the world, Spinosaurus itself, is known from North | | | | purchases for this particular Spinosaur model). The |
| Africa (Egypt and Morocco), then there is Baryonyx | | | | Carnegie Spinosaurus with its long thumb claws and |
| from England and Spain, Suchomimimus from Niger | | | | long narrow jaws is prone to having the jaws snap |
| and Irritator from South America. Other Spinosaur | | | | and claws break off. The open-mouthed pose of the |
| fossils have been found in Asia, most notably China, | | | | Carnegie Spinosaurus makes this model particularly |
| Thailand and Japan. These predators are | | | | prone to jaw damage. The Schleich model has much |
| characterised by their long, narrow snouts, armed | | | | stronger looking jaws and as it is posed with its |
| with many sharp, conical teeth. Indeed, most | | | | mouth closed the chances of any damage is |
| Spinosaurs had more teeth in their jaws than the | | | | minimised. Such a pity as the detail in the Carnegie |
| large Allosaurs or Tyrannosaurs. These dinosaurs also | | | | model around the snout is superb. |
| had a distinctive big claw on the thumb of each hand. | | | | Speculating on the Reasons for the Differences |
| It has been suggested that these animals were | | | | Diffrent sculptors have different ideas on the |
| fish-eaters and the large claw was used to "hook" | | | | appearance of dinosaurs. Often the same dinosaur |
| fish out of the water rather in the same way that | | | | genus can be interpreted very differently by two |
| extant Grizzly Bears grab Salmon. Recent work by a | | | | design teams. In many cases, different fossil |
| research team from the University of Lyon (France) | | | | collections are used to verify and clarify information |
| has suggested that many species of Spinosaur may | | | | and varying sources of information and reference |
| have been semi-aquatic, or at least lived near bodies | | | | lead to different models being produced. However, |
| of water. Whether these animals actually lived in | | | | there may be another, perhaps more subtle reason |
| water and hunted in the water is unknown. | | | | why the two models are so very different. The |
| Schleich Saurus Spinosaurus versus Carnegie Safari | | | | German model team may have been keen to portray |
| Spinosaurus | | | | Spinosaurus in the pose and stance described by |
| The two Spinosaurus models, from Carnegie Safari of | | | | Stromer in 1915. Stromer, perceived Spinosaurus to |
| the USA and the Schleich Spinosaurus (Germany) are | | | | be a much more stocky dinosaur with a broader |
| very contrasting models on first examination each | | | | snout. A rival to the American Tyrannosaurus Rex |
| model could represent a different genus, but they | | | | for the empire building German nation. Stromer's |
| are Spinosaurus. | | | | specimen did not have skull material so the head was |
| The Carnegie model shows a much more gracile | | | | based on similarly sized Theropods. Unfortunately, |
| creature, launched in 2008 the model is dark green | | | | much of the German fossil material was lost as the |
| with a light pale underside a long tail making up almost | | | | Alte Akademie Museum (Munich) was destroyed by |
| half the length of the model and an orange coloured | | | | an American bombing raid in 1944. The American |
| sail on its back. The Schleich Spinosaurus in contrast | | | | model may have been based on fossils found more |
| depicts a much more robust and heavy set animal. | | | | recently in Morocco. In this instance, skull and jaw |
| This model, introduced in 2009, depicts a more | | | | material was present and this material, along with |
| stocky and heavily built animal. The colouration is a | | | | other Spinosaurid fossils from around the world may |
| dark brown, with flecks of red around he prominent | | | | have influenced the American's interpretation. After |
| eye crests, the crest is a lighter colour and like the | | | | all, they could not have anything too big, otherwise |
| Carnegie model is predominately orange. | | | | that would rival their own Tyrannosaurus Rex. |
| The tail is much shorter in the Schleich model and | | | | |