Walkaround of Pachycrocuta brevirostris from Paleo-Creatures

I was asked elsewhere for a walkaround of this figure elsewhere, so here it is--the only definite figure of the largest true hyenid yet known, Pachycrocuta brevirostris.

This large mammal roamed Eurasia in the Pliocene-Pleistocene (possibly in Africa, although those could be different species). As large as the modern spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta is, P. brevirostris was huge, around 110 kg, or the weight of a lioness (although more compact). They were powerfully built with massive jaws, probably living much like modern hunter-scavenger hyenas (less cursorial than spotteds). Their skulls and jaws indicated massive musles for crushing...everything. Like modern hyenas, but more!

I have seen them depicted as being closer to the brown hyena Parahyena brunnea with the thick mane and fur, and in a manner closer to the spotted, with a mane down the back and shorter overall hair. This figureès pattern and overall design is based on the work of Mauricio Anton, a true master of paleoart, especially of mammals. The coat markings are based on research that expected that hyenas, with close affinities to civets and genets, are more likely to have bars or stripes (the spots in the spotted hyena being a late evolutionary trait) as 3 out of four modern species, including the most primitive (the aardwolf) have a striped pattern.

But, of course, modified to suit the grassland environment where P. brevirostris was found--and, because, why not make it look different?

And now, photos !















The figure comes with a simple sand-brown base, with small depressions where the feet line up, but the figure stands well on its own


A good shot of the teeth:


And the mane:


The figure is roughly 1:17 scale, so here it is to rough scale wtih the only spotted hyena that is sized right (that I have), the Scanopedia spotted hyena!



And with a few brave rangers, who seem to be trying to determine the best food for a generalized animal like a hyena (vegggies? small animals?)



And with little Timmy, who seems to think this puppy wants to play!


But I think we know what P. brevirostris would like to eat now...


And yes, there are fossil hominin sites where the bones have likely been chewed by these (or similar) hyenas!

A beautieful figurine :)

Wow, what a stunning figure! I have always really liked the hyena family, they are such unique animals (and among those who got stuck with a reputation they don´t really deserve). Timmy, if you know what´s good for you, GET OUT OF THERE! But don´t run, that might make things worse...

As a side-note... where have I seen that Scanopedia figure before? The whole name Scanopedia is sounding terribly familiar... I could swear that, at some point, I did have a few figures related to that name...

That's a great walk around, thanks!
Figure has a wonderful pose, color, represents a very interesting species, size is also very good and price is affordable. I didn't know it could be removed from that base what is also a bonus.

Iuri97 wrote:

Wow, what a stunning figure! I have always really liked the hyena family, they are such unique animals (and among those who got stuck with a reputation they don´t really deserve). Timmy, if you know what´s good for you, GET OUT OF THERE! But don´t run, that might make things worse...

As a side-note... where have I seen that Scanopedia figure before? The whole name Scanopedia is sounding terribly familiar... I could swear that, at some point, I did have a few figures related to that name...

It was a short-lived attempt to integrate a digital learning toy with animal models. They made some really good ones--like the hyena--and some passable ones (many of the dinosaurs). They were made by Jakk, mostly sold in Toys R Us. I'm not sure if it didn't work because of high price, or because of poor distribution. The figures were mostly nice though; too bad there is a big blue dot on every figure...

sbell wrote:

It was a short-lived attempt to integrate a digital learning toy with animal models. They made some really good ones--like the hyena--and some passable ones (many of the dinosaurs). They were made by Jakk, mostly sold in Toys R Us. I'm not sure if it didn't work because of high price, or because of poor distribution. The figures were mostly nice though; too bad there is a big blue dot on every figure...

I have looked it up, and yes, now I definitely remember them! I remember them being sold in one of my local supermarkets. I think I even picked up a box, but since I wasn´t really collecting figures at the time, I don´t remember if I still have them with me.

Regardless, they aren´t bad figures at all! I agree, the blue dot... kind of annoys me, but since they were created to be sold along the scanner toy, that´s to be expected. Something else that feels out of place to me is their faces. Like the lion and the tiger. Their bodies are really great, but their faces... are too "cute" for me, and look almost out of place on a otherwise realistic figures. But other than that, they are good figures! It´s a shame there aren´t more of them.

Beautyful, beautyful    

sbell wrote: