A Review of the Collecta-Procon Liliensternus Dinosaur Model

Liliensternus – Terror of the Late Triassic

The Triassic Period, the first geological period that makes up the Mesozoic era saw the rise and the establishment of the dinosaurs as the dominant land creatures. This period lasted from approximately 248 million years ago to 199 million years ago and it precedes the better known Jurassic. It was during the latter part of the Triassic that the Dinosauria began to diversify and evolve into a myriad of new forms and Liliensternus was one of the first large, meat-eating dinosaurs, part of a lineage that would produce more iconic prehistoric animals such as Allosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus rex.

Liliensternus fossils have been found in western Germany and France. It was probably the largest land carnivore in that part of the world during the Late Triassic. Scientists estimate that this dinosaur reached lengths in excess of six meters and it weighed around 450 kilograms. It had a long neck, a long tail and large hind legs. The front limbs had five fingers but digits four and five were very much reduced; a trait that would lead to the more typical three-fingered anatomy of later Theropods. The jaws were narrow, the skull quite light but the many sharp, serrated teeth and the long claws on the fingers provide evidence that this dinosaur was indeed a meat-eater. It had a distinct crest on its head, that scientists believe would have been brightly colored, possibly to signal to other members of its species or sometimes to show adulthood and maturity had been reached.

Only two skeletons of this dinosaur have ever been found, so palaeontologists are unsure as to whether this animal hunted in packs like wolves and hunting dogs do today, or whether it was more of a systematic hunter, hunting in a similar way to big cats such as mountain lions and jaguars. It would have preyed upon Lystrosaurs and Prosauropods and probably even attacked smaller meat-eating dinosaurs.

The Liliensternus Dinosaur Model from Collecta / Procon

The Collecta Liliensternus dinosaur model, marks a departure from British based Theropod dinosaurs for this particular manufacturer, although this replica does not seem out-of-place among the other members of this not-to-scale model range. The model measures a little over sixteen centimetres in length and the design team are to be congratulated as they have managed to create a stable, well balanced model of this nimble, agile dinosaur. This is a feat in itself as making models of Coelophysid meat-eaters is very difficult due to their long necks, small heads and long tails. This anatomy makes it very difficult to manufacture replicas that stand up properly, but unfortunately the model makers at Collecta have achieved this and still retained the distinctive features of this particular dinosaur. The head shows lots of detail and the body is painted mostly in green with some darker blotches – good camouflage for a predator that would have stalked low-lying areas and the swamplands of western Europe.

The distinct crest is a particularly nice feature. It is thin, just like in the real dinosaur skeleton and it is painted a strong, crimson color. This contrasts well with the rest of the dinosaur model coloring and helps to reinvent the theory that the crest was an important signaling device for this hunter.

All in all an attractive dinosaur model, one that goes well with the rest of the Collecta dinosaur model range.



Source by Mike Walley

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