2025_Catalog-A5_COVER

Staying true to its traditions, CollectA's new models for 2025 showcase the incredible variety of prehistoric animals depicted in the fossil record. This year, seven new prehistoric figures are being introduced. In partnership with the extremely talented German sculptor Matthias Geiger, CollectA has created a captivating array of creatures that highlight the remarkable diversity of animals from our planet’s prehistoric past. A new horned dinosaur figure is added to the Age of Dinosaurs Popular series. Furcatoceratops roamed Montana towards the end of the Cretaceous. Its large brow horns curved sharply downwards. Furcatoceratops is known from a remarkably complete but disarticulated skeleton which represents a subadult animal. The beautiful, three-dimensionally preserved fossil bones have provided palaeontologists with valuable insights into the anatomy and growth rates of horned dinosaurs. A 1:20 scale model of a giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus) is a welcome addition to CollectA's extensive range of prehistoric mammals. The model represents a male, when rearing up onto its hind legs it would have stood around 3.4 metres tall. This enormous prehistoric bear had a short, deep snout and powerful jaws. Arctodus simus is one of the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammals known to science. It only recently became extinct, the last of these huge beasts died out around 12,800 years ago. CollectA have travelled much further back in time and include a 1:20 scale model of Jaekelopterus, one of the largest arthropods to have ever lived. Known from fragmentary fossil material including a giant claw fossil, part of an enormous pair of grasping pincers, Jaekelopterus rhenaniae is estimated to have measured around 2.6 metres in length. It was an apex predator of the Early Devonian, living in estuaries and freshwater. Fossils of primitive jawless fish have been found with deep puncture wounds, probably caused by the massive pincers of Jaekelopterus. The CollectA model is supplied with a replica of a jawless fish, a victim of this formidable predator. The Age of Dinosaurs Deluxe series will include a 1:40 scale replica of the giant Triassic dinosaur Ingentia prima. Ingentia roamed northwestern Argentina around 210 million years ago. It measured approximately 10 metres in length and is thought to have weighed 10 tonnes. It was one of the first, big dinosaurs to evolve. Although Ingentia bones demonstrate several adaptations to gigantism, it still lacks many of the anatomical features associated with the distantly related Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus. For example, its legs were bent and not the huge, weight-bearing columns associated with the later Jurassic sauropods. Matthias Geiger Matthias is a German sculptor with a great passion for Dinosaurs. In collaboration with Anthony Beeson and other consultants, he brings life to CollectA’s vision of prehistoric animals. A 1:40 scale model of the ostrich mimic dinosaur Gallimimus is another exciting addition to the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Deluxe range. Gallimimus measured around 6 metres long and it was probably covered in feathers. The CollectA Deluxe figure features a brightly coloured and fleshy wattle on the throat. Scientists have noted the discovery of three-toed tracks near the foot bones of a Gallimimus. Finding dinosaur tracks in close association with body fossils is quite rare. Sadly, many dinosaur fossil dig sites have fallen victim to poachers. It’s likely that the rest of the Gallimimus skeleton was stolen. Examples of these footprints are depicted on the display base of the Gallimimus figure, the base also features the fossil foot bones, highlighting the issues surrounding illegal fossil poaching. In addition, a 1:40 scale replica of the fearsome "megaraptor" Maip macrothorax has been included in the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Deluxe range. Maip roamed southern Argentina at the very end of the Cretaceous. It is the biggest member of the Megaraptoridae family of meat-eating dinosaurs to have been scientifically described. Rib bones indicate that Maip was deep chested and extremely robust. It was named after an evil spirit from Andean legend. The seventh figure is a 1:20 scale replica of the "Terror Bird" Phorusrhacos. This large, flightless bird is known from the Miocene of South America. It had a total body length of around 2.8 metres, and it stood approximately 2.4 metres tall. The skull was nearly 65 cm long and it had a huge, hooked beak that was probably used to stab prey. Fossilised footprints from a "Terror Bird" have revealed that these predators had a large, curved claw on their second toe, just like the sickle-shaped toe claw of Velociraptor! Wishing you all a happy and peaceful year.