The Prehistoric Pals had some Human Visitors Last Week. Neighbors Kathy, Daughter Danielle & Grandson Nathan stopped by with Uncle David his kids and friends. The Carnivores always enjoy Visitors. Danielle & Nathan and the rest of the kids pose with Raphael a Raptor from the Deinonychus Family. The Triceratops brothers Paul & Christopher photo bomb the shot. A quick Hi to Stanley the Stegosaurus and then the kids pose with Teresa the Triceratops and me. One of the girls tries the head in the mouth trick with Teresa! It’s Good that Teresa’s a Herbivore. Xavier gives a thumbs up hanging on to her tail.
We have a discussion about Angie the Augustynolophus – can you say Augustynolophus fast five times? Did you know Augustynolophus is California’s Official State Dinosaur? Yes, California has a State Dinosaur it became Official in late 2017! Angie is a member of the Hadrosaur or duck-billed Dinosaur Family. After admiring Angie’s Golden California Colors, we head over to Pamela the Pachycephalosaurus. Don’t worry I won’t ask. Pachycephalosaurs are Omnivores, eating leaves, fruit, seeds and insects. Primarily known for their extremely thick skull roof.
Special Thanks to: James St. John for the Complete Skelton photo, to Janine & Jim Eden for the Skull photo & John R. Horner & Mark B. Goodman for the two angle Skull photos of Pachycephalosaurus. Pamela & I greatly appreciate them.
Pachycephalosaurus is most closely related to Dracorex and Stimoloch (which had flat skulls), although current thought is these many be juvenile forms of Pachycephalosaurus. It was believed that the males would ram each other headlong. They would make their head, neck and body horizontally straight in order to transmit stress during ramming. However, No breaks, bone lesions or other injuries were found on the domes of a number of specimens, which would be expected if they were commonly used as battering rams. It is now believed these were either juveniles or female and this behavior would not be expected of them. Some theorize that the skulls were used to attract mates or to differentiate species. Perhaps it was all of the above.
Thank You Ryan Steiskal by the beautiful Head Butting Artwork for Pachycephalosaurus
Another theory is that they would more likely have glancing blows due to the round shape of their heads or have engaged in flank butting in combat. In this situation an individual may have stood roughly parallel or faced its rival directly, using intimidation displays to cow its rival. Failing this, the Pachycephalosaurus would bend its head downward and to the side, striking the rival on its flank. Studies have determined that Pachycephalosaurid domes are composed of a unique form of fibrolamellar bone which contains fibroblasts that play a critical role in wound healing and are capable of rapidly depositing bone during remodeling. This would explain the dome shape head development in the adults and the belief that Dracorex and Stimoloch are juvenile Pachycephalosaurus.
They lived during Late Cretaceous with Tyrannosaurus and lasted up until the very end of the reign of the Dinosaurs. They were estimated to reach 16 feet long and weigh up to 660 lbs.
Check out the article on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachycephalosaurus
Visit Your Local Library or Museum for more on Pachycephalosaurus and other Prehistoric Pals!
After chatting with Pamela, we head back to the house. Spencer “Spike” the Spinosaurus and Stewart the Brontosaurus greet us before we go inside. Fourteen of the Prehistoric Pals were in the Dino-Room (Family Room) studying and making paper Dinosaurs & Pterosaurs. Six T-Rexes, two Raptors, two Brontosaurs, a Brachiosaurus, a Stegosaurus, a Triceratop and a Pterosaur on a coffee table Greeted Our Guests. (Almost sounds like a Christmas Carol.) Kathy & Nathan enjoy Cindy the Brontosaurs company, Uncle David in the Entry, Danielle and the other kids check out the rest of the Prehistoric Pals. Three of the girls pose with Antonio the Pterodactyl.
It was a Fun Visit. Colin also Kathy’s grandson has been to the Park a couple of times. Here posing with Calvin & Hobbes the Green T-Rexes. Our Longest Distance Visitors (so far) are from Brisbane, Australia. Danielle’s sister-in-law Nicola and niece Scarlet hangout with Pamela. Whether Down the Street or Down Under, Humans Find Adventure at the Park.
Wishing You Many Happy Adventures!
Cool Off this Summer with “Antarctic Dinosaurs” at
The Natural History Museum in Los Angeles
a Special Exhibit ending January 5th!
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
Your feedback is appreciated, Thank you!
Your website is fantastic! I live in Des Moines, Iowa, Dinosaurs are hard to come by around here and they are expensive because of distance from suppliers. I’m new to Dinosaurs only having them in my house and garden for the past couple years but they have quickly taken over! Getting to the point now, I acquired a huge metal 8′ T-Rex that was discounted 75% off so I took the plunge and adopted it. I named him Little Lucky. Your website has encouraged me and given me ideas to take care of some rust spots on it and even gave me the inspiration to paint the eyes of another metal T-Rex I have called Rusty. I’ve never painted before but your sculptures just look so cool I had to give it a try, so I painted the eyes vivid orange with black centers, it looks great, thankyou! Even though I did okay, I would love to see a post detailing how you do the eyes!
Derek,
I love Little Lucky! Your tale of how you acquired him is great! It you check out the “About Me” page, the story of how I found my first Dinosaur is also one of those it was meant to be tales. You’ll have to take some pictures of you next to Little Lucky to give a real perspective on his size. Check out my posts “Metal Dinosaurs in the Desert parts 1 & 2” Oct. 15 & 22, 2016 and you will understand what I mean. I made a number of posts on T-Rexes most recently November 16, 23, 30 & December 7, 2018. You may also like my post “Meet Alan Sam a Metal Sculpture Artist in Zimbabwe” August 11, 2017. Alan & his team created a life size Tyrannosaur! I really like the head and eye design.
Lighting for Your Dinosaur can create really scary effects for nighttime fun. “Dinosaurs in the Spotlight” April 13, 2018 provides my latest experiences with solar lights. Your Woodland setting may be too shady for solar. I would enjoy seeing pictures of your progress with Rusty, as well.
You asked about painting the eyes. I am working on a post continuing the detailing of 3 of the 4 raptors, which will cover eyes, teeth & tongue. However, You might enjoy my post “Bette Davis Eyes” May 16, 2016. I discuss different choices for the eyes. Your too young for when Kim Carnes released her song “She’s Got Bette Davis Eyes” but they still play it on stations that include ’80’s music in their format. The second link to the song in my post will get you to music video. I couldn’t resist putting it in my post with the Dinosaur Eyes options.
You mentioned cost being high in your area for Dinosaurs. I know almost all of my Dinosaurs come from Mexico and the rest I believe did too. As a result the cost is much more affordable than Artists that live in the US. It might be worth it for you to check for metal sculpture suppliers near board states closest to you, to see if they carry metal dinosaurs and their sources. Have them text you pictures and get pricing on the ones you like. A pickup with a small trailer can carry some good sized dinosaurs. Buying more than one at a time can get you better pricing and make the trip worth it, especially if you are renting a vehicle.
Being a horticulturist perhaps you can give us suggestions for plants that have a prehistoric look to make our Dinosaurs feel more at home. Conifers, Ferns and Magnolias were around but no grasses. I found a plant gopher purge – Euphorbia lathyris that gives me that look and is supposed to deter gophers. I would love to have large ferns, but my area is prone to heavy frosts in the winter. I would enjoy your thoughts on “Plants for Dinosaurs”!
Keep me posted on Your Dinosaur Encounters and Thank You for Your positive comments.
Happy Dinosaur Hunting,
Paul