Photo/Illutration A robotic monument of a fish-eating dinosaur called Suchomimus has been set up at the west exit of Fukui Station. (Keiko Nagai)

FUKUI—A crocodile-like robot showed up at the west exit of Fukui Station, marking the end to construction of a dinosaur statue project here.

The reproduction of the large carnivore, known as Suchomimus, from the early Cretaceous period (100 million years ago) was installed by the Fukui prefectural government.

Now, all 23 robotic and other monuments have become accessible to visitors.

Fukui Prefecture is famed for a trove of locally excavated fossils and is promoting itself as Dinosaur Kingdom.

Measuring 10 meters long and 4 meters tall, the newcomer dinosaur around Fukui Station is believed to have preyed on fish.

Suchomimus, which means “crocodile mimic,” had 100 teeth in its long, thin head that resembles that of modern reptile species. Its forelegs were equipped with massive sharp claws.

The dinosaur robot was completed toward the end of September after careful adjustments to the statue’s expression and movement. It can move its head and neck while roaring.

The base of the statue was decorated to recreate a prehistoric waterfront wetland.

Before its completion, families and other passers-by stopped by to snap photos.

Under Fukui Prefecture’s initial plan, the dinosaur monument was to be set up in time for the opening of an extension to the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line in the prefecture in March.

But the introduction was postponed due to parts procurement difficulty caused by the war in Ukraine among other factors.

Costs to incorporate Suchomimus totaled 100 million yen ($690,000).

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