Regardless of being described again in 2014 (Lü et al), I’ve solely just lately turn into enamored with Qianzhousaurus, informally generally known as the “Pinocchio rex”. Whereas that includes within the likes of Prehistoric Planet, and Jurassic World Evolution 2, it was the Beasts of the Mesozoic determine that cemented my curiosity in it, due to the vivid coloration it sported. Actually that is nonetheless my favourite take of the genus on the market (Prehistoric Planet’s is an in depth second although).
In any case Qianzhousaurus is a reasonably fascinating tyrannosaurid. Each it and its relative Alioramus are distinctive among the many Tyrannosauridae in having reasonably lengthy skinny snouts, just like some tyrannosauroids just like the controversial Nanotyrannus that has had fairly the glow up these days. Each Qianzhousaurus and the 2 species of Alioramus are from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), and each from Asia, with Qianzhousaurus being from the Chinese language Nanxiong Formation 67-66 ma, and the latter two Alioramus species (A. remotus, and A. altai) being from the Mongolian Nemegt Formation 70 ma. To assist put it into perspective, Qianzhousaurus would have been alive when Dryptosaurus, Nanotyrannus, and Tyrannosaurus was current in North America, whereas Alioramus lived alongside Tarbosaurus within the Nemegt Formation.
As talked about earlier Qianzhousaurus was from the Chinese language Nanxiong Formation. It was first found in 2010, and was named after the place it was found, in Ganzhou, or reasonably Qianzhou, which the world was traditionally generally known as through the Sui dynasty. Just one specimen has been recovered to today, and it’s a partially full subadult, with an almost full cranium and jaw lacking largely solely the enamel. The physique has a lot of the neck vertebrae, a number of the shoulders, components of the pelvis, and far of the left hindlimb, and a number of the tail. The Nanxiong Formation was additionally residence to crocodilians, lizards, turtles, alongside a variety of dinosaur fauna together with some sauropods, a plethora of oviraptorosaurs (reminiscent of Corythoraptor, which was hunted by the Qianzhousaurus in Prehistoric Planet), Nanshiungosaurus (a therizinosaur), and the just lately named Asiatyrannus.
Beginning with the package deal, the art work was accomplished by Shannon Beaumont, exhibiting the animal scratching its head, with a cloudy sky and sundown within the again. Fairly the beautiful scene. Like the various different Tyrannosaur Sequence figures, it comes with additional units of toes, a base, and a collector’s card that includes the art work on the package deal. It doesn’t include additional legs, just like the bigger physique 3, 4, and 5 figures, and that’s as a result of it doesn’t want them, as a result of in contrast to them this one does include a standing rod giving higher long run assist (likewise with the physique 1 figures, reminiscent of Guanlong and Proceratosaurus, which additionally include one). The background insert is of that fantastic cloudy sundown sky from the package deal art work. The bottom work is very nice too. I’ve all the time actually loved the sculpt work David did of the bases for the Tyrannosaur Sequence and Raptor Sequence, and I nearly miss them for the diorama side, and the inventive fantastic thing about them, even when the newer stands are maybe functionally higher. Other than the colours, I actually just like the inclusion of the footprints on the sculpt of the bottom, and the pegs are a pleasant possibility to assist in giving it some further stability if wanted, with or with out the standing rod.
The coloration of the determine was first revealed again in February 2021, with the idea artwork accomplished by David Silva. The colours had been taken from the blue Malayan coral snake (Calliophis bivirgatus), primarily consisting of a pink head, stomach, and tail tip, with a blue and black striped physique. Whereas the supply inspiration is venomous, and makes use of these vibrant colours as a defensive measure, and whereas Qianzhousaurus was not, the colours make for a reasonably eye catching determine, serving to it to face out on a combined shelf, regardless of its smaller measurement. I feel David Silva did a unbelievable job translating these colours onto the determine, not simply with the idea artwork design, but in addition the paintwork of the unique painted prototype. I additionally actually just like the addition of the sunshine sky blue on the lacrimal and nasal crests. The sample work on the legs is very nice too. The stripes taking place the toes remind me of the Strolling with Dinosaurs Coelophysis design. If for no matter motive I may solely have at most 5 figures of the Tyrannosaur Sequence, then this would definitely be considered one of them, and that’s solely simply from the colour scheme, however let’s tackle the sculpt and articulation as nicely, as a result of they’re additionally nice.
A lot of the sculpt half shares with the juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex determine, in any other case generally known as physique 2, which was additionally shared with Alectrosaurus, and Teratophoenus (in addition to an upcoming Alioramus remotus), and was sculpted by David Silva. Price noting that whereas that physique sort was primarily meant to be for a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex when it was designed and sculpted initially, the “Jane” specimen (BMRP 2002.4.1) the determine’s sculpt seems to be based mostly upon has since been assigned because the holotype of Nanotyrannus lethaeus per Zanno and Napoli, 2025. In any case the head, neck, and hands for this Qianzhosaurus determine had been sculpted by Jake Baardse, with half separation from Aaron Doyle. I’m unsure what the palms had been based mostly on, if something, as there isn’t any such materials from it, and even both species of Alioramus. The pinnacle may be very clearly based mostly on the fossil materials in any case, together with the decreased nasal crests when in comparison with both species of Alioramus. As many of the sculpt is sharing components with the juvenile Tyrannosaurus determine I wouldn’t count on the proportions to be 1-1 for Qianzhousaurus, however it’s value noting it was additionally a reasonably lengthy leggy animal. Oh and there does look like a cloaca current, albeit a really delicate one. The tiny scales sculpted throughout are additionally actually immaculate. A spherical of applause for all concerned with the element work, as a result of it simply blows my thoughts.
The 2014 paper from Lü et al (linked earlier) measures the cranium to be 90 cm from the tip of the snout (premaxilla) to the decrease again half of the cranium (quadrate). The cranium on the determine is about 1.75 inches/4.44 cm lengthy when measured in an identical method, placing it round 1:20 scale. The determine is about 12.75 inches/32.38 cm lengthy when the neck and tail are straightened out fairly a bit. With a extra pure neck pose the determine could be about 12.5 inches/31.75 cm lengthy. And as regular with motion figures the size can fluctuate on the pose. Physique measurement estimates vary from 6.3 meters to 7.5 to 9 meters. Scaling the determine with the smaller estimate of 6.3 meters, and each the measurements I took put right into a scale calculator, places it at round 1:19 to 1:20 scale. Whereas with the 7.5 meter estimate I received about 1:23 scale, and about 1:28 scale for the 9 meter one. The smaller estimates (together with the cranium) are fairly near the marketed 1:18 scale for what it’s value.
Now for the articulation, I feel that is among the many finest out of any of the tyrannosaur collection (physique sort 1 would possibly are available in second). Proper off the bat the jaw can shut flush, or practically flush. Adequate for me anyhow. It could possibly additionally open extraordinarily broad. We’re speaking outdated Allosaurus hatchet jaw 90 diploma angle broad. In fact the jaw tissue gained’t accommodate having the jaw open that broad, however neat that it even has that form of vary within the first place. The tiny tongue additionally has articulation. The neck has two ball joints, one on the base of the pinnacle, and the opposite on the base of the neck the place it meets the torso. Now the neck additionally has extraordinarily good vary on it. You may have this factor in a throwing its head again howling on the moon sort pose, or a feeding/ingesting sort pose. Fairly a little bit of facet to facet vary as nicely. The arms have full 360 diploma rotation on the shoulders, the elbows can at the least transfer up and down, and the wrists can fold out and in, and rotate 360 as nicely.
The hip joints can even get 360 diploma rotation, and are solely hindered by width of the torso, however it will probably nonetheless be accomplished (although maybe on the value of some potential paint rubbing). As a fast comparability, that’s extra vary than on the more moderen Dilophosaurus (which I just lately reviewed). You may get the determine in a pleasant sitting pose because of this (although perhaps not probably the most pure for a theropod, unsure). The torso additionally has a joint which permits for some facet to facet motion. The knees have the usual quantity of vary on the Tyrannosaur Sequence, although maybe barely extra because the undersides of the thighs do have slightly bit carved out on them, just like a number of the Raptor and Ceratopsian Sequence figures, however maybe to a lesser diploma. This enables the joints to bend at practically 90 levels, when folding the legs in. Like its bigger family within the line, there’s additionally full rotation on the knee joints. Ankles can even rotate all the best way round and the hinges permit the toes to go fairly far again (reasonably unnaturally if one so wishes), and forth. The toes are additionally on a ball joint, however might be simply popped on and off in my expertise, and the toes themselves practically have as a lot vary because the later disc joints (like on the Dilophosaurus once more), and I used to be simply utilizing the default standing toes testing that out. Lastly the tail has a joint permitting some facet to facet, and up and down movement, and there’s after all a flexible wire permitting for quite a lot of poses it may be put in.
Sadly for anybody eager to get considered one of these they’re offered out in every single place. I very fortunately managed to get my order in for one on creative-beast when it was low inventory through the summer time final yr. Whereas removed from the identical, and it even has a speculative third digit, the Alectrosaurus is the one one with this physique sort nonetheless accessible (although maybe not for lengthy, as inventory is at the moment solely accessible on creative-beast for that one). I’m really hoping I can handle to select that one up within the coming months earlier than these are additionally gone, because it nonetheless wants a assessment right here. And as talked about earlier, if one is prepared to be affected person there’s an Alioramus remotus within the works (revealed in December 2024), with the pinnacle and neck additionally designed by Jake Baardse.
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