
I used to be keen on the South American abelisaur often known as Carnotaurus from the second I discovered about it again within the late Nineteen Eighties. And actually, who wouldn’t be? With its brief, boxy cranium, outstanding pointed horns, and nearly preposterously puny arms, it’s simply one of many weirdest-looking theropods, and thus one of many coolest.


Many toys have been manufactured from the “meat-eating bull,” together with ones from all the foremost firms, in fact. This one right here is the “Zhou Tong” model from Haolonggood, launched in 2023 alongside the “Li Zhong” version. At about 22.5 cm in size and eight cm in top, it is likely one of the smaller Carnotaurus toys, dwarfed by the Carnegie Collection, CollectA, and Schleich versions proven beneath.



This particular person is sculpted in a strolling stance with its left leg prolonged again and the guidelines of the toes touching the bottom. The tail is held out almost straight behind the torso with the tip curling barely to the appropriate. The top is raised and likewise turning to the appropriate and the decrease jaw is hinged, permitting the mouth to be opened to a level angle. The toy stands very effectively by itself two ft.

This is likely one of the least flashy Haolonggood toys. The primary colors are darkish greenish-grey and medium brown with a pinkish brown underbelly. Darkish brown stripes adorn the neck, torso, and tail and the claws are black. The eyes are yellow, the mouth is pink with streaks of purple, the enamel are white, and the well-known horns are medium brown. It’s life like, no query about that, but it surely’s not as fairly as many of the ceratopsians or the wonderful Stegosaurus.

The Carnotaurus‘ pores and skin is roofed in tiny scales throughout and can be very wrinkly, far more so than different such toys. The ft function the attribute rows of scutes and the horns have faint grooves. Bumpy scales cowl the area between the horns. The enamel are pleasingly sharp and the mouth includes a ribbed palate and a sizeable tongue. A row of small osteoderms operating down the backbone and there are a number of rows of spherical scales on the physique. Extra on these in only a bit.

The triangular horns are giant and intimidating. These have been in all probability employed for show and intraspecific battle. Because of their form, Carnotaurus in all probability didn’t quickly bash their heads collectively, as that would have shattered the horns. As a substitute, they could have pushed their skulls towards each other, or delivered blows to the neck and flanks. Carnotaurus was additionally as soon as considered a predator of enormous herbivorous dinosaurs just like the 8 ton titanosaurian sauropod Titanomachya, however it’s now thought to have possessed a relatively weak bite of 3392-3441 N. And as you’ll be able to see, there are not any lips current on this toy, regardless of the more and more rising consensus that theropods did certainly possess them. Haolonggood, like CollectA, has been annoyingly inconsistent about lips on their theropods. Additionally, whereas the pinnacle appears to be like good in profile, it’s a bit too large when seen from above or the entrance.


The arms are appropriately sized, however they’ve claws on all 4 digits, whereas it is extremely attainable that the true animal lacked claws altogether. The torso is thick and sturdy and the legs and tail are very muscular. Carnotaurus could have had a weak chew, but it surely was in all probability a reasonably quick runner, and will have specialised in pursuing small recreation.


And now let’s discuss concerning the scales and osteoderms. From the very starting, Carnotaurus has been depicted with osteoderms operating down its backbone and neat rows of spherical scales on its physique. Nevertheless, a 2021 study concluded that there have been no osteoderms, that the scales have been scattered all around the physique in a random vogue, and that the bigger scales have been conical. Virtually like physique armour in a approach. Maybe this association helped defend people from headbutts. In any case, the examine implies that this toy and just about each different Carnotaurus toy that has come earlier than it may be thought of inaccurate. And Mojo Enjoyable, which hasn’t had the perfect monitor file for scientifically correct dinosaurs, will get to put declare to 1 when their version comes out later this yr.

In case you’re searching for an out there, moderately priced, and pretty strong 1:35 scale Carnotaurus toy, then right here it’s. That stated, it does have some noticeable flaws to it, and to be completely sincere, I nonetheless just like the Carnegie and CollectA variations higher. Nonetheless, I don’t remorse getting this one. It may be picked up wherever Haolonggood toys are offered.

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