Playable Figure Over 40 cm Long, Made of Soft, Durable Material
A Vinyl Model of Spinosaurus depicting its recently proposed semi-aquatic, quadrupedal adaptation.Made from safe materials that are gentle for small children to touch, it can be played with safely in the living room or children’s room.
Spinosaurus
Classification: Saurischia/Theropoda/Spinosauridae
Size: Total length13～15 m
Period: Late Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous
Its most distinctive feature is the sail on its back, which could reach 1.8 m in height and is thought to have been used for thermoregulation, intimidation, and display. It also differs from other theropods in having relatively straight teeth and a long, slender jaw. A fossil specimen excavated in 1912 was lost during air raids in World War II, delaying research, but fossils discovered in recent years have suggested that Spinosaurus may have had a semi-aquatic lifestyle similar to that of a crocodile.
Interview with Supervisor Kazunari Araki
- This is the second Spinosaurus in the Dinosaur Vinyl Model lineup. What was the concept behind the sculpting of the Spinosaurus Quadrupedal Version Vinyl Model?
- The FD-304 Spinosaurus Vinyl Model, the previous orange version, had a bipedal stance with long hind legs. A new theory was later proposed for Spinosaurus as an amphibious, quadrupedal animal. Rather than making the Vinyl Model strictly realistic, I created a stylized form that would be approachable for small children while capturing the distinctive look suggested by the new theory.
- What did you focus on, and what challenges did you face, when sculpting this new Spinosaurus adapted to both land and water?
- What I found interesting about the new theory was its knuckle-walking forelimbs, using the backs of the fists to walk on all fours like a gorilla. The back sail is also an unusual fan shape rather than the semicircular shape seen previously, which I found interesting. An aquatic adaptation is represented by webbing on the hind feet. I cannot recall many carnivorous dinosaurs depicted as quadrupeds, but the shape of the forelimbs gives it a stance like a sumo wrestler preparing to charge, and I think it conveys the feeling that it is about to rush at its prey.
- You also worked on the FD-304 Spinosaurus Vinyl Model (the previous orange version). What are the sculpting differences and changes between it and this Spinosaurus Quadrupedal Version Vinyl Model?
- I was surprised that the appearance of the same Spinosaurus could change so much with a new theory. Its fish-eating diet had already been inferred from the skull and teeth, so an aquatic adaptation was not unexpected. The biggest difference is the quadrupedal stance. For the Soft Model, I sculpted it swimming underwater, while for the Vinyl Model I chose a walking pose on land so that children could hold and play with it.
- The vivid blue coloring is striking. What image inspired the color scheme?
- I wanted to give the Vinyl Model series an original look, and I thought a bright blue would suit a waterside animal. The deformed fan-shaped sail is especially appealing, so I added white lines to create a pattern that complements its shape.
- Please give us your final comments on this model.
- Quadrupedal carnivorous dinosaurs are very unusual, so have fun playing with it—try putting a fish figure in its mouth!
Supervisor Profile
Kazunari Araki
One of Japan’s leading dinosaur model artists, he creates dinosaur reconstruction models for natural history museums and master models for dinosaur encyclopedias and other publications.