Collection: Mesozoic Mash-Up

MESOZOIC MASH-UP

Dinosaurs throughout the Mesozoic era come in various shapes and sizes, from small theropods the size of turkeys to large herbivores bigger than a school bus. Dinosaurs evolved a wide range of forms to fill in various ecological roles which are similar to the natural world today. The assortment of the unique families of dinosaurs made the Dinosauria a very interesting group for scientists and popular culture to tap into. 

Mesozoic Mash-Up, acrylic on canvas, 2020. Set of 9, each piece 10" X 10" 

Baryonyx

Baryonyx in habitat, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Baryonyx means "heavy claw", which refers to the large claw on each of its hands. Most scientists believe that Baryonyx used its large hand claws to catch its primary prey item, fish. Baryonyx lived in England during the early Cretaceous period, where it shared its habitat with plant-eating dinosaurs like Mantellisaurus, a more slender-built relative of the Iguanodon, and the pterosaur Ornithocheirus.

Kentrosaurus

Kentrosaurus, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Kentrosaurus ("pointed lizard") is a cousin of the Stegosaurus which can be identified for the large spines on its front shoulders and back. It lived in east Africa in the late Jurassic period along with a variety of dinosaurs such as the long-necked Giraffatitan and the small carnivore Elaphrosaurus. 

Pentaceratops

Pentaceratops, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Pentaceratops (meaning “five-horned face”) is a horned dinosaur which is said to have one of the largest skulls of any known dinosaur. Its name refers to the combination of three horns on its head and another two bony structures on the sides at the back of its head.

Saltasaurus

Saltasaurus, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Saltasaurus is a long-necked dinosaur known for the armor plating on its back which is made of bony plates embedded in its skin. It lived in South America in the late Cretaceous period. In the illustration, a Saltasaurus defends its nest of hatching young from a Carnotaurus, a carnivorous dinosaur.

Edmontosaurus

Edmontosaurus, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Edmontosaurus is a plant-eating dinosaur which is named after the city near the site where its first fossils were first found, which is Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. It was one of the last ornithopods to walk the Earth, roaming the North American continent in the late Cretaceous period until the extinction of the dinosaurs. In the illustration, several individuals pass by a Troodon while a primitive bird, Alexornis, flies overhead.

Dilophosaurus

Dilophosaurus in habitat, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Dilophosaurus lived in where it is now North America during the early Jurassic period, roughly 193 million years ago. It shared its habitat with small, plant-eating dinosaurs like Anchisaurus and the primitive crocodilian Protosuchus.

Allosaurus

Allosaurus in habitat, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Allosaurus prowled the grassy plains in North America during the late Jurassic period, where it hunted for plant-eating dinosaurs such as Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus and Camptosaurus. In the painting, the Allosaurus encounters a smaller carnivorous dinosaur named Coelurus that is defending its nest.

Pachycephalosaurus

Pachycephalosaurus, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Pachycephalosaurus is the best-known member of the pachycephalosaurid family which is known for their thick, domed skulls. One of the most popular beliefs in the function of their skulls is that they are used in combat or defense. Pachycephalosaurus lived in North America during the late Cretaceous period and is a herbivore.

Deinocheirus

Deinocheirus, acrylic on canvas, 2020

A member of the theropod family, Deinocheirus ("terrible hands") has been a mystery to scientists for decades. The first fossils of the dinosaur, a pair of large, clawed arms, were discovered in Mongolia in 1965. The current look of the dinosaur was updated after two complete specimens were found in the area in 2014. Deinocheirus is the largest member of the ostrich dinosaur group and lived alongside some well-known Mongolian dinosaurs like Protoceratops and Tarbosaurus, a relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex. Unlike other theropods which are mostly carnivorous, Deinocheirus is said to have been a vegetarian.