Collecta Saurophaganax Dinosaur Model Review

Collecta Saurophaganax Dinosaur Model Review

Collecta, a manufacturer of figurines and replicas, has released a model of the dinosaur known as Saurophaganax in its series of prehistoric animal models. Saurophaganax may not be the best known of all dinosaurs, but it deserves more recognition as it could well become one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs of all. Some paleontologists have even suggested that this dinosaur was the size of Tyrannosaurus Rex.

jurassic predator

Fossils of this prehistoric reptile were first found in the state of Oklahoma. More recently, fossils attributed to this genus have been excavated in nearby New Mexico. This dinosaur was given the name Saurophagus in the early 1940s, but this name had to be changed as the scientific literature had already recognized that this genus was assigned to a species of flycatcher, a bird. The new name Saurophaganax was erected, however it was not until 1995 that this genus was established, following a review of fragmentary fossil material by Daniel Chure of Dinosaur National Monument (Utah).

Fantastic detail in this dinosaur model.

Unlike most of the Collecta range, this figure stands on a base. This allows the hind legs to be kept in rough proportion to the rest of the body. The figure is beautifully painted with a green body and cream underside with dark black stripes running down the trunk and long tail. The ridges over the eyes, so typical of an allosaurid dinosaur, are very prominent. They have been painted in an attractive pink colour, which contrasts very well with the paint on the rest of the replica. This dinosaur is presented with its huge jaws wide open, long tongue and rows of teeth can be clearly seen. Collecta is to be congratulated on the splendid care they have shown in getting the details of the skull so precise.

Allosaurus vs. Saurophaganax

The genus name (Saurophaganax) remains disputed and is not accepted by several scientists as a valid genus (nomen dubium). The fossils, first excavated in 1931, are extremely fragmentary and although the bone bed where the fossils were found could contain the remains of four meat-eating dinosaurs, no skull material has been discovered and the bones paleontologists have could be the of a very large allosaurus. Some scientists prefer to call this dinosaur allosaurus maximus instead of Saurophaganax maximus. These paleontologists think that the fossil bones do not represent a new genus at all, but rather represent a large species of an already named and described genus: Allosaurus.

Collecta this model of a Saurophaganax if you prefer allosaurus maximus, it is very well done and wonderfully well painted. We recommend this replica to fans of dinosaur models and to collectors.