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Paper models show up in the oddest of places! This 2.5D velociraptor papercraft is a free download at the Spanish language paleontology illustration blog "Las conicas de Pabluratops". The velociraptor (or "raptor" for short) depicted by the paper model is specifically Velociraptor mongoliensis, named for the fact that several fossils of the creature have been found in Mongolia. In the 1993 movie Jurassiac Park, raptors are portrayed as cunning and ruthless killers. The four piece template for this raptor papercraft may be found here.
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Pterosaurs are the earliest known vertebrates to have the ability of powered flight. The word "pterosaur" literally means "winged lizard". This papercraft version of a pterosaur skeleton was created by Italian papercrafter Emiliano Capuzzo. The template for this papercraft was based on a 3D plywood puzzle. A PDF file of the template may be downloaded here by clicking on the word "Pterosauro" just above the first photo on the page.
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The tyrannosaurus rex is in the top ten of most everyone's list of favorite dinosaurs, so it is no surprise that natural history museums like to have fossilized t-rex skeletons as a draw. Now thanks to the Paper Museum website operated by the Sanwa Paper Company you can have your own miniature tyrannosaurus skeleton at home. Look for the download at the bottom of the page here.
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A couple of weeks ago I did a post on a papercraft trilobite. However, I am much more impressed with this origami trilobite designed and folded by Sipho Mabona in 2008. The trilobite was wet folded from a single 24.4" (62 cm) square of paper. The level of detail of the legs on the underside is truly amazing. I don't think I have the time or the patience to attempt one of these myself, but if you would like to try, Mabona has provided a folding template here. Mabona also has done some other incredible origami animals as well which can be seen in his flickr gallery here.
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While it may look like some kind of science fiction cockroach, this papercraft is of an actual animal that lived on Earth millions of years ago. Trilobites were a group of marine animals that according to scientists became extinct around 250 million years ago. This paper model trilobite was originally created by the Australian Geological Survey Organisation to teach children about fossils. The one page, hand drawn template for the trilobite may be downloaded from the Houston Gem & Mineral Society website here.
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