218: PNSO Therizinosaurus Review

[@dinobarb3452]

He feels like the fiery counterpart to the blue deinocheirus. I’m so glad I preordered mine. It should be here pretty soon if you just got yours

[@DinosDragons]

You're right! Fire and ice is a good analogy. They are different and yet so complementary. I suspect you'll want to have them close together in your own display 🙂

[@simonecappiello3937]

They lived alongside, same geographical Area and Time with Tarbosaurus, so a perfect Threesome.

[@rabidL3M0NS]

It’s impossible not to come back and rewatch your old videos, they’re so informative and the way you go in depth into the science is certainly my favourite aspect. Therizinosaurus has been my favourite dinosaur ever since I watched that episode of Chased by dinosaurs with Nigel Marvin as a kid, so I absolutely MUST get a therizinosaurus figure, but the fact that this figure isn’t plantigrade is making me so distraught 😅. I had no idea that Therizinosaurs were likely to be plantigrade before I first watched this video (as if therizinosaurs weren’t strange enough beforehand). Also the fact that you can teach me something new about even my favourite dinosaur is just amazing. But yeah you’ve now convinced me that they were plantigrade and so now I can’t allow myself to get a figure of my favourite dinosaur until that aspect of their anatomy is addressed 😅, I just hope to god we get a plantigrade version of this dinosaur some time soon haha.

[@DinosDragons]

Wow, thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate them! I've been interested in dinosaurs as a kid, and that never died as an adult. If anything I got more interested, especially into the anatomy and speculative physiology of these wonderful animals. The fascinating thing to me are that things that were very much mysteries in my time have started to get solved with the passing years as I grow up, and so that interest only continues. It's really great to see that there are people who are interested in the science as well, because my videos tend to be long and I understand most people prefer videos that just "get to the money" and focus on the models. Please make sure to check out my descriptions. One thing I love about this community is the number of experts who often point out errors or inaccuracies in my own studies and understanding, so I put any errata right on top in the description boxes. Finally, the Nigel Marven series is very near and dear to my heart, and I'm glad to know that there are people who haven't forgotten! Who knows, another discovery might come along completely flipping the script on this weird and wonderful animal!

[@Sino-pteryx]

As a dinosaur model maker, I recently made a figure of Therizinosaurus. I was planning to publish it on Twitter, but at the same time Therizinosaurus was published by PNSO. I have my own ideas for restoring Therizinosaurus and it fits perfectly into the PNSO design.

[@nachotrystan]

You mind adding your twitter? Model maker myself and I’d love to see your work☺️

[@Sino-pteryx]

@@nachotrystan If you search, you will find many IDs with the same name. which one?

[@DinosDragons]

Wow, please put up an address or handle. I love seeing viewers own works as well! Especially since I can't model or paint to save my life ☹

[@Faelrin]

Another fantastic review, and once again I appreciate the breakdown of science of the animal here. Also worth mentioning Therizinosaurus was also featured in the Prehistoric Planet series. I really do like the duller, redder coloration used on it here. I think it's nice to keep only one vibrant, which is the Deinocheirus in this case (which I just got in hand yesterday) to prevent overdoing it on the eyes, especially if one plans on displaying this figure alongside it, and the Tarbosaurus, with all three being from the Nemegt formation. As you mentioned the colors here also compliment the Deinocheirus, and provide contrast with it. I do appreciate them making the first digit weight bearing. So many have forgotten about that prior (much like Spinosaurus as well, which PNSO also paid attention to on the 2020 model). Interesting to learn about it potentially being plantigrade, as if it wasn't already unique among theropods, even if PNSO went with a conservative digitigrade restoration here. I'm also glad they went with a balance of bare belly, and feathered back, like the previous Deinocheirus. I don't know how much evidence there is to suggest this on an animal as large as Therizinosaurus, but since it had relatives with a dense coat of feathers, who knows. I think this is a happy middle ground here, and it's aesthetically pleasing. I also hope PNSO gives us more Nemegt formation fauna, such as Gallimimus, Saurolophus, Saichania, Tarchia, and maybe some new minis for smaller animals like Mononykus that would benefit from such.

[@firegator6853]

after the past 2 releases i feel like the possibilities for a saurolophus are high but its just how i feel

[@DinosDragons]

Thanks for your considered comments as always, @Faelrin ! I definitely agree with your points. I hadn't considered that collectors might want to put Nemegt Formation fauna together, and indeed, it would be jarring, even ridiculous, to have this one as flamboyantly coloured as Deinocheirus. I forgot to show Therizinosaurus, Deinocheirus, and Tarbosaurus altogether in one shot, but when you get this one in hand you'll see that they go together most famously. I updated my description box. Unfortunately, I carelessly left out the point that plantigrady is probably the case for _the largest_ therizinosaurs, and it doesn't mean that _all_ therizinosaurs were plantigrade. In fact, it's possble that smaller ones were digitigrade. Indeed, fossils have been found suggesting this, but these were of possible Erlikosaurus-sized therizinosaurs. I would most _definitely_ welcome Saurolophus, the namesake of the saurolophine hadrosaurs. I think it's clear that there are many serious collectors who would be happy to have 'plainer' looking dinosaurs and not every one has to be flamboyant with crazy headgear. Let's see what happens! I also want that Tarchia and Mononykus!

[@KnyghtErrant]

Thank you for another fascinating review / lesson! I really like this interpretation of the Therizinosaurus (digitigrade feet aside) compared to the GR Toys version. I partially take back what I said in the comments on that video, haha. I look forward to this model joining Deinocheirus on the shelf!

[@DinosDragons]

Always a pleasant surprise to see you here mate! If it's any consolation, I should mention that there are still somewho think it could still be digitigrade based on various fossils, for example Fiorillo et al 2012. In fact what I should have mentioned clearly was that the plantigrade condition is probably more for the _largest, heaviest_ therizinosaurids. In that paper the average footprints were a lot smaller, and possibly belonging to something Erlikosaurus-sze. Sennikov 2021 was actually aware of tha tpaper but dismisses the digitigrade interpretation as a mistake, so in his mind probably _most_ therizinosaurids were invariably plantigrade. I explained a bit more in the updated description box. Hopefully this little doubt could improve your feelings about it even more! 😁

[@paleoguy2165]

Just got mine. So much bigger than I thought! I love it so much. Really does the species justice

[@DinosDragons]

Exactly! I like how PNSO makes conscious decisions not to do the obvious, though their focus on realism does sometimes constrain them a little, I feel. I like how this one contrasts with the Therizinosaurus, illustrating so beautifully how different they really are. I used to mix the two up many years ago!

[@keepcalmlovedinosaurs8934]

Can't wait to get hold of one! This is galaxies better than the half-baked job done with the collecta Therizinosaur! The colouration is like a cross between a sub bear and anteater.

[@DinosDragons]

Very good point! I don't know as much about extant animals so I didn't catch the possible colouration reference. Were you referring to the CollectA Deluxe Therizinosaurus? That and the Papo have the kind of typical gesticulating arms that I'm certainly glad this one doesn't! You're going to love this!

[@keepcalmlovedinosaurs8934]

@@DinosDragons I was referring to the collectA Deluxe therizinosaurus. Prior to doing my review I had considered doing the Papo model as the coloration was more appropriate and the plumage textured, though the Papo model had claws that were too short.

[@michaelkawano1951]

Yet another great and informative review. I can’t wait for mine to arrive!

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you! I'm sure you've received yours by now, and have absoutely no cause for regret! 🙂

[@michaelkawano1951]

@@DinosDragons thanks! Yeah, I have it and am really happy with the quality.

[@vicgarb2288]

Argh! I wish i hadn’t gotten the GR Toys model! Great review, thanks!

[@DinosDragons]

You're most welcome! I did think that the GR was still acceptable generally, and there were certainly some highlights in _that_ model. But when juxtaposed against this... well there's just no getting away from the fact that if I had to have just one, this PNSO would be it.

[@mauragon7311]

Nice! Another cool addition.... Keep it going PNSO.... thank you for your review....

[@DinosDragons]

You're most welcome! I really enjoy doing this for these beautiful models. PNSO just really keeps on going!

[@ArawnsFire]

I truly appreciate the paint scheme from a naturalist perspective. Inhabiting woodland forests such coloration would provid camouflage. I suspect the claws were mostly ornamental and used for intraspecies displays. Perhaps they even used them to produce clattering sounds to announce their presence. The decision to abandon the plantigrade stance may be attributed to all the skeletal drawings depicting them as digitigrade. Only fossilized pes will one day confirm.

[@DinosDragons]

Thanks for your thoughts! I added some more clarification in my description box. I was careless and didn't differentiate that the plantigrady was only for the very large therizinosaurids. There have been prints of smaller therizinosaurs from Alaska, for example, that show a digitigrade print. I like your idea about the production of sound with the claws. I don't believe I've seen that mentioned before! Pretty amazing how little we know, and how much we therefore have to speculate on!

[@MrRajithasandaruwan]

Another amazing, well-detailed, and educational video as always. And I must say, I lost it when you pushed that little puny human figure with this gentle giant Therizinosaurus🤣😂 I must state that I love dark colors. So after that glamorous Microraptor figure, this is by far the darkest paint job I've seen in a PNSO figure. Also, I would love to see PNSO use more Black on their figures. Eagerly waiting for the next video my dear Sir. Please keep up the excellent work. Wish you all the best 🖤

[@DinosDragons]

Thanks for your comments as always @Rajitha Sandaruwan! I have to say when I saw that little figure there, I just couldn't help it. Seems to me that any bully would probably think of doing exactly that, as we saw in the JWD movie! This has really grown on me as well. At first I thought he wouldn't hold a candle to the Deinocheirus, but the more I look at it, the more I like it. Having some black painted well and appropriately really gives it a kind of coolness that more garish dinosaurs don't!

[@AndyCog_1710]

Could you review the Eofauna Diplodocus sometime? Would love to hear your thoughts on it. :)

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you for your support! I generally do not review EoFauna, Safari or CollectA because even though they're made in China (ironically), it is always planned that the West gets an earlier release. By the time we get ours, plenty of reviews have already been out, and I don't think I could value-add much by putting up another review. That said, I would love to review it, and indeed I would want to talk about specific gravities in the science part of _that_ video. Unfortunately, I am way behind on my dragons and I have had to interrupt my posting plans due to other stuff. I might do it one day! 🙂

[@AndyCog_1710]

@@DinosDragons thank you for the answer and I hadn’t thought about that, but that seems very reasonable. At least when it comes to the Eofauna Diplodocus, as you say it’s very interesting Eofauna based their reconstruction on their own study. It’s interesting dinosaurs were indeed lighter than we imagine, and that makes even more sense in sauropods. If they weighted as much as one would initially expect, you would essentially get a creature that could barely move at all! Also this PNSO Therizinosaurus is very nice and also very tempting, but fragmentary species are restricted from my collection. A Segnosaurus, Nothronychus or Falcarius I think would be better choices. At least it’s nice to see PNSO increase their phylogenetic diversity with these 2 latest releases.

[@Arnoldiepin]

Splendid review, as ever. Thanks! What are you thought on the Vitae Tiantaiosaurus, on the topic of therezinosaurs?

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you! Well to be honest, I know nothing about this dinosaur! I understand it was mentioned in an unpublished manuscript, so I can't say anything intelligent about it. That said, from the images it just as a model, it looks really good, with a very nice base. The form seems to follow a more ornithomimosaurid bauplan, which are believed to be closely related to therizinosaurs as well. If it weren't for the lack of space, I would have gotten one.

[@Arnoldiepin]

Yes yes! Very handsome in figure terms alone, which is the most we can say for such a fragmentary specimen!

[@Fed.E]

And there it goes another great review, as always, the science part of the video is so rich in knowlenge. I knew about the four bearing digits, but I didn´t know the locomotion was plantigrade, neither that there were icnofossils associated with these animals.

[@DinosDragons]

Thank you! Just to clarify, I have added some clarification that I was remiss in making, in the description box. Please have a read! 🙂

[@Lotosaurus]

Track in Alaska shows that some therizinosauria species are potentially digitigrade，so I have reservations about Zhao’s choice🤔.

[@DinosDragons]

That's really interesting! Do you know if this has been published somewhere? I always like to read articles on both sides of an argument.

[@firegator6853]

He also mentions its debatable so they adopted the classic digitigrade posture we all know, but it seems in the package artwork they show the plantigrade opinion, in my opinion it's the safest choice and it's good in pnso's part that they displayed the idea only o the artwork

[@Lotosaurus]

@@DinosDragons Since I can‘t post the link here😥，you can get more information by searching“An unusual association of hadrosaur and therizinosaur tracks within Late Cretaceous rocks of Denali National Park, Alaska”on Nature.

[@DinosDragons]

@@Lotosaurus Hey thanks I actually have that paper and I realise that I should have been clear in the video. I meant that the idea is the _large/ largest_ therizinosaurids were plantigrade, not all therizinosaurids per se. The foot prints in the Fiorillo et al 2018 hardosaur paper has foot prints that averaged around 21cm in length. Macropodosaurus averaged 50cm. Fiorillo suggests Erlikosaurus as the possible originator of those tracks, and that's a smaller therizinosaur than Therizinosaurus. I'm going to put a more detailed correction/clarification in the description box. Thanks for pointing this out to me; always appreciate it when knowledgeable viewers do this for me 😊

[@horse14t]

I had no idea Therizinosaurus was plantigrade! Really cool! Still going to pick this one up at some point though. I love the yellow on the tail fan and the oranges!

[@jaisonfire1]

Actually plantigrade therizinosaurs are still being debated, but most i've heard from are on the side of it being digitigrade rather than plantigrade.

[@DinosDragons]

@horse14t From what I've read I'm inclined to thinking so, but I realise I left out saying that there is still some debate on that. Sorry about that! But check out the references I posted, and see what you think🙂.

[@DinosDragons]

@horse14t I realise also I wasn't clear on my messaging, so I added some clarification that I was remiss in making, in the description box. Please have a read! 🙂

[@The_PokeSaurus]

Getting a little frustrated with PNSO... I don't have the money to keep up with all these great new figures!

[@DinosDragons]

Then imagine what it would have been like if they were as crazy as last year.... at one point it felt like a new one every 7 to 10 days! 😫😫

[@tomaszgliwa1044]

​@@DinosDragons we are the same my first pnso figure is basilosaurus and you too!

[@shawntorres9299]

I love this fugure and it’s the definitive therizinosaurus

[@DinosDragons]

For sure! In fact, I'd donated my old Safari to charity, and am thinking of letting go of the GR Toys one. This is one dinosaur I really need only one of!

[@greekfire7980]

Great quality video as always! I've come to understand that "early runs" come with better paint jobs as you've previously mentioned. If I may ask, how do you know if you're getting an early run sculpture? And can you get those early ones from anywhere as long as you order early? (For example, amazon, Dan's Dinosaurs etc.) Thank you in advance!

[@DinosDragons]

Good day @Greek Fire (great incendiary name.) In general, as long as you buy the first batch that comes to market, you should be getting the first run ones. For me I'll obviously buy from China from a trusted source, as soon as he tells me something is available, so I have confidence. If you're in the West, preorders you make should belong in that first run category. If it is not offered for preorder then just ordering when announcements are made should be safe. This would be so for reputable companies like Dan's Dinosaurs, Everythingdinosaur, and PNSO's official Amazon store. Also, the advantage of ordering from people like Dan and Mike is that you are talking to real, live people with a genuine love and interest in dinosaurs. So if you're not sure, just drop them an email and they will let you know what run you are likely getting. It's tricky because there will probably be a good one or two runs where the model is still recent, and so the paintjob will still be good. The question is how long this keeps up before they move on to prioritize another figure. Thus I would say for companies like PNSO that have a fast turnover between models, you don't want to wait too long. Finally, I also recommend you check out Jurassic Plastic's KZbin channel. He goes really indepth on the issue of paint applications over two very insightful videos. If you were to pop a question below, I'm sure he will have a lot more good advice for you. Good luck!

[@greekfire7980]

​@@DinosDragons Haha Thank you! You are amazing and your advice is top notch, just like your videos. I appreciate you taking the time and thank you so so much. I reside in Australia and since the figures and the shipping cost so much already, I admit I am a little hesitant. I was specifically thinking of getting some combination of these: Wilson the T. Rex, Acro, Carcharodontosaurus, Allosaurus and Essien the Spinosaurus. Would you still personally recommend getting them or any figures from PNSO even if they aren't early runs? I am a bit of a perfectionist myself and I can’t help but feel bad if the figures’ quality drop is obvious. Thank you again so very much. I will continue to appreciate your great work for time to come!

[@rabidL3M0NS]

They really remind me of moa, if moa had forelimbs instead of literally nothing lol. They’re basically a cross between moa and ground sloths.

[@DinosDragons]

Ah I wish I'd thought of that! But yes exactly, with that colouration too, it sure evokes my memories of moas!

[@tharukkus]

If this Therizinosaurus is a let down color-wise coming after the Deinocheirus, we should give it grace. Going by the numbering, it was supposed to come out BEFORE Jacques. I'm thinking PNSO held off because Haolonggood released THEIR Therizinosaurus just before PNSO released their Deinocheirus. Therizinosaurs should have a "subname" like "Vicissosaurs" (Reverse Lizards) because everything about them is opposite of typical Therapods! Ei; Small heads, beaks, long necks, long forelimbs, pot bellies, short hindlimbs, 4 weight bearing toes, shorter tails, herbivorous & horizontal postures!

[@DinosDragons]

Interesting, I hadn't considered that they timed this in relation to GR Toy's release. I thought it was more to do with the Prehistoric Planet and which dinosaurs were featured in that. Indeed, it would be interesting to name a clade based on their contrary nature to something more accepted 🙂

[@firegator6853]

I didn't know about the plantigrade! Although to be honest there are Alaskan therizinosaur tracks that show digitigrade locomotion I wouldn't call plantigrade 100% the case for sure, Zhao Chuang also mentions its kinda debatable so they adopted digitigrade locomotion on the figure since it's the most accepted idea and only the artwork shows the idea of plantigrade locomotion and I think that for now digitigrade makes more sense Not to mention of it was plamtigrade the footprints would be longer since the last leg bone before the digits is as long as the toes if not a bit longer, these footprints don't really look that long...I would suspect that the therizinosaurus was walking in digitigrade locomotion but it kept its toes relatively close to each other So in the end yes digitigrade is probably a better choice if you want to stay on the safe side of scientific accuracy Totally the best therizinosaurus on the market and I will get it for sure

[@DinosDragons]

Thanks for your comment! I have in fact that paper, and I added some clarification that I was remiss in making, in the description box. Please have a read! 🙂

[@firegator6853]

@@DinosDragons yes i will! i love how you explain scientific stuff in your reviews, its the reason when a pnso figure comes out i always wait for you to make a review

[@tyrannotherium7873]

It’s dope to as well

[@DinosDragons]

It really is! PSNO is really one of the best companies out there now and I hope they maintain their high standards!

[@tyrannotherium7873]

@@DinosDragons Indeed it is without a doubt the best of the best dinosaur figure company in my personal opinion

[@kangweiyan7012]

不错哦

[@DinosDragons]

非常优美。尤其是它那自然的站姿！不想别家公司镰刀龙那么夸张！

[@therumbleinthejunglee]

is this 1:35 scale?

[@harrisonkemp5502]

Where do you get those little wooden manequins

[@DinosDragons]

Wonder Artistic Models. Check them out! 😁

[@laseriedeladilophosaure9246]

En réalité il existe des estimation plus grand de thérizinosaurus, thérizinosaurus aurait pu atteindre 9 et 10 peut-être plus pour une hauteur allant de 4 à 7 m de hauteur selon les estimation

[@AtrociCollector]

They should have gave it articulated arms like the Schleich one

[@dinoxels]

no

[@AtrociCollector]

@@dinoxels why not?

[@lambdadelta821]

No

[@AtrociCollector]

@@lambdadelta821 why not?

[@firegator6853]

no

[@blooky102]

Therizinosaurus to me is basically the dinosaur version of a giant ground sloth in its niche.

[@DinosDragons]

Exactly! Sennikov would agree with you 100% 😁

[@SevereWeatherBelgium]

Still waiting for a Namnu Therizinosaurus release. They made a figure of nearly all Jurassic Park dinosaurs, except that one...

[@DinosDragons]

I'm sure they'll get to it eventually. After all it was one of the breakout stars of JWD! They definitely won't let down the fans who want to recreate that last climactic scene!

[@toooldfordinosaurs]

I’m sorry but GR toys’ version looks even uglier next to this beauty than it did before on its own D‘: PNSO has definitely become THE dinosaur toy company for me. This figure is a must and almost everything I hoped for in a Therizinosaurus model but sadly it will have to wait a bit.

[@DinosDragons]

Very bluntly and yet astutely put! 😂 I do like some aspects of the GR Toys, but when I have that next to this, there is just absolutely no comparison. Not just the four weightbearing toes, but the _absolutely naturalistic_ pose without the theatrics that seem to be the norm for every Therizinosaurus toy I've seen. That with the understated yet stunning colouration makes this the only Therizinosaurus I think I need.

[@Austin-kl7yc]

I feel that the theri is Abit small compared to the deinocheirus

[@firegator6853]

nah its just more upright so in length obviously it doesnt reach deinocheirus

[@DinosDragons]

I thought it would be great if it was just _tiny bit_ bigger. But I think both fall into acceptable 1:35 scale if that's important to you 🙂

[@themightynanto3158]

Of course the PNSO one is the better of the two but i'd still say that the GR TOYS one is a wonderful figure in its own right (wrong feet aside). Too bad the PNSO one is cheaper.

[@DinosDragons]

The GR Toys is definitely a nice effort and it would be even better if you had it repainted! 😀

[@kilderok]

These guys made my early game hell, but they're no match for Argentavis.

[@DinosDragons]

Haha I know nothing about gaming, but I'm assuming you're talking about the Ark game.

[@kilderok]

@@DinosDragons Yyyep! You got it!

[@멀더fox]

이녀석 마음에들긴한데 크기가 작아 아쉽다..

[@DinosDragons]

It _is_ a little smaller than I would expect compared next to Deinocheirus. What scale would you say this was?

[@멀더fox]

@@DinosDragons I think the 1:35 scale is right But I feel like it's 1:45 right now

[@Insert_name_here2024]

Man when the fuck did this man get announced?

[@lambdadelta821]

like a week ago

[@scottbjorgum2134]

Order manraptoriforms family therizinosuridae deit herbivore

[@DinosDragons]

You know your classifications! 👍

[@Sirdilophosaurusthethird2.0]

First!

[@stephenwright6189]

It frustrates me that PNSO frequently has "fatal flaws" - everything is so well considered and executed, but then they make a simple scientific error. Oh well, I'm getting it, it's gorgeous.

[@DinosDragons]

To be fair, the plantigrade condition is not universally accepted. Please have a look at my updated description box. I realise that I was careless and should have specified that *large* therizinosaurids were probably plantigrade, and not all. Still this being one of the largest, it's probable. However this is not so egregious that it should affect your enjoyment of it much. Like lips on T rex, enough is in the air that you should still enjoy it 😁 What was really egregious in the GR was having three weightbearing toes, something this PNSO does not.

[@stephenwright6189]

@@DinosDragons I did see your update after I posted this comment, thanks!