Ceoptera (that means “mist wing”) is a genus of darwinopteran that lived in Scotland throughout the mid-Jurassic. It’s notable in a number of respects. It’s the one pterosaur identified from the Kilmaluag Formation, one of many solely pterosaurs identified from the center Jurassic, the second described pterosaur from Scotland (Dearc is the primary), and essentially the most full pterosaur discovered within the UK since Mary Anning found Dimorphodon within the 1800’s. All that mentioned, there’s nonetheless not rather a lot to work with. Ceoptera is thought from some vertebra, fragments of the sternum and pelvis, an entire scapulocoracoid, and a few bones from the left forelimb and hindlimb. There is no such thing as a preserved cranium, so reconstructions of Ceoptera must borrow from associated pterosaurs.
Immediately we’re trying on the Mattel Ceoptera, a part of their Frenzy Pack line of Jurassic World toys. Not solely is it the one determine of its genus, it’s additionally the one determine of a darwinopteran, at the least that I can discover. As a part of the Frenzy Pack line, it is a small toy with primary motion options. The toy has an articulated jaw, hindlimbs that may rotate forwards and again, and wings which can be articulated on the shoulders with ball and hinge joints.
The Mattel Ceoptera measures 5.5” (13.97 cm) lengthy and has a ten” (25.4 cm) wingspan. The precise Ceoptera is estimated to have had a wingspan of 5.2’ (1.6 meters) and utilizing wingspan places the toy at 1/6.24 in scale.
This toy has a ghoulish look with a sunken-in head, blunted, oddly spaced tooth, a goofy overbite, and a bumpy, leathery cover. All that mentioned, it’s not unhealthy for a retro-style, Mattel pterosaur. The bumpy pores and skin is nicely detailed, and the wings are liberally sculpted with veins and little nicks and cuts alongside the membrane, and so they look nice because of this.
Anatomy-wise it isn’t horrible both. The speculative crest seem like the one normally given to Ceoptera that mimics the crests of associated species. The wings are lengthy, slim, and look proportionate to the physique. There are 4 fingers on every forelimb, together with the elongated fourth finger that helps the wing membrane. A pteroid bone might be seen extending from the wrist to assist the propatagium that runs between it and the shoulder. There is no such thing as a membrane connecting the legs to the tail, however this enables the legs to be articulated so I by no means thoughts its absence on a lot of these toys. There are 5 digits on every foot, and the tail has a vertical fin at its tip. It actually is just too unhealthy that Mattel didn’t give the toy a furry coat as that alone would have made this a significantly better toy from an accuracy standpoint.
The toy is forged in a considerably ugly greenish-brown colour with inexperienced flecks and has darkish brown edges and spots alongside the dorsal floor of the wings. The crest is darkish inexperienced, and the eyes are lime inexperienced with black pupils. The tooth are white and the tongue is pink. The claws will not be painted, neither is the underside of the wings. The paintjob just isn’t significantly engaging, however it’s naturalistic and compliments the toy’s ghoulish look. This Ceoptera seems prefer it flew straight out of the swamps of Cranium Island.
The Mattel Ceoptera received’t win any magnificence contests however is one in every of Mattel’s higher small-sized pterosaurs and matches in nicely with the Jurassic World toy line. This toy was launched in the summertime of 2025 as a part of the Rebirth wave and didn’t have nice distribution. Fellow reviewer, Suspsy, was alleged to evaluate it however was by no means capable of finding it in Canada and mine is the one specimen of it I ever got here throughout. It’s now out of manufacturing however can nonetheless be discovered on-line within the secondary marketplace for lower than $20, which isn’t unhealthy for a retired toy that was by no means simple to seek out in shops.
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