This figure is represents a breeding colour Cherry Salmon (or Masu Salmon), Oncorhynchus masou masou . It is stamped with a number 5—meaning that while this figure may share the name of figure 03 (the ‘normal’ cherry salmon, written about here) it is a re-paint of the Chum Salmon figure (posted here).
Bonobo, female (Wild Life Africa by Schleich)
5 (4 votes)
Review and images by stemturtle; edited by bmathison1972
Schleich released a lovely bonobo, Pan paniscus (Schleich Wild Life #14875), in 2024. This review will compare the figure to the chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes, instead of describing it in great detail. A former name, pygmy chimpanzee, was a mistake, since the bonobo is a separate species from the chimp.
Chum Salmon (Freshwater Fish Pictorial Book, Series 1, revised release by Yujin)
5 (4 votes)
This figure is the adult Chum Salmon, also known as Dog Salmon or Keta salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, number 05 from the first series. This trout is widespread throughout Pacific Asia and North America, ranging widely in the oceans and travelling far inland for breeding. The Chum salmon is a very deep bodied salmon species.
Alpine Ibex, 2024 (Wild Life Europe by Schleich)
4.4 (7 votes)
Review and images by Kikimalou; edited by bmathison1972
What about the new Alpine ibex proposed by Schleich for 2024?
The real Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is a stocky animal with sturdy legs and a short, broad muzzle. The coat is dull and brownish over most of the body, lighter on the belly, with darker markings on the chin and throat.
Rainbow Trout (Freshwater Fish Pictorial Book, Series 1, revised by Yujin)
5 (6 votes)
This figure is the Rainbow Trout, probably one of the most familiar North American game fish, Oncorhynchus mykiss, number 04 from the first series. This trout is widespread throughout North America, and parts of the Kamchatka peninsula; they are also introduced into many other places including, of course, Japan.
Cormorant (Marine Life by Papo)
4.8 (9 votes)
My recent review of the Safari blue-footed booby motivated me to review another Suliforme bird that I featured in a comparison photo in that review, the 2020 Papo cormorant, which is also my most recent acquisition.
Cormorants, along with shags, make up the Phalacrocoracidae family, made up of about 40 species.
Cherry Salmon (Freshwater Fish Pictorial Book, Series 1, original release AND revised release by Yujin)
4.8 (4 votes)
This figure is the Cherry Salmon (sakura masu in Japan, meaning cherry troug; the landlocked form is known as Yamame), Oncorhynchus masou masou, number 03 from the first series. This salmon is a widespread, anadromous subspecies found along the Pacific Coast in Japan and Korea. Not surprisingly, Cherry Salmon are fished commercially and as game fish.
Barn Owl (Wild Animals by Papo)
4.5 (6 votes)
The barn owl is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful birds of prey in the world. With its white, golden-ash plumage, and uncannily silent flight, there’s an otherworldly allure to these birds; undoubtedly this is why the bird is also nicknamed the ghost owl, and how it’s managed to spook many a farmer or unwary traveler throughout history.
Dolly Varden (Freshwater Fish Pictorial Book, Series 1, revised release by Yujin)
5 (6 votes)
This figure is the Japanese Dolly Varden (also known as Miyabeiwana or Miyabe Char in Japan), Salvelinus malma miyabei, a Secret Figure from the first series revised release (so, the third release of series 1 for those keeping track). I believe it is numbered #17 in the set, although it is based on model #2.
White-spotted Char (Freshwater Fish Pictorial Book, Series 1, revised by Yujin)
4.8 (4 votes)
This figure is the White-spotted Char (also known as iwana in Japan), Salvelinus leucomaensis, number 02 from the first series. This salmon and trout relative is a fish found in East Asia, and can be landlocked or ocean-running. As with many Japanese fish models (though not all) it is widely fished for.
Chimpanzee with baby, 2010 (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
5 (4 votes)
This toy (#295929) was released in 2010, the same year Safari Ltd retired an earlier and very similar sculpt of a chimpanzee with baby (#272229, released 1998). So, in effect, this model was a direct replacement, and a notable upgrade.
The young chimp is piggybacking on the adult and convincingly looks like it’s clinging on tightly.
Weasel (Wild Safari North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4.7 (6 votes)
Today we’re looking at the Safari 2020 weasel, part of their North American Wildlife Collection. Safari’s website doesn’t specify the species, just that it belongs to the Mustela genus. The Mustela genus contains about 18 species, including the domestic ferret, European mink, stoats, and the least weasel…the smallest member of Carnivora.
Hummingbird (ChocoEgg Series 6 by Furuta)
4 (3 votes)
This miniature in the ChocoEgg Series 6 by Furuta is usually listed under the broad name “hummingbird”, so that’s how I’m listing it in the title here, but some websites specify it as the swallow-tailed hummingbird, Eupetomena macoura, a species of hummingbird from South America. However, since the figurine lacks many of the distinctive characteristics of that specific bird, not least a forked swallow-like tail, something is clearly amiss, and that’s why I was reluctant to adopt the specific name at face value.
Tiger Shark (Sea Life by Schleich)
4.2 (5 votes)
Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972
To close out my Schleich figure reviews, I would be looking into their tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). They are the largest of of the requiem sharks, averaging 400-550 cm from snout to the tip of the caudal fin. They are found in tropical and temperature waters and are characterized by their squarish snouts and stripes on their body, which give them their name.
Blue-Footed Booby (Wings of the World by Safari Ltd.)
5 (5 votes)
At the start of the year, I received an email notification from Safari Ltd. that they would be having a 50% off sale on their already discounted, discontinued figures. Not only were some of these figures now up to 75% off but this was also my last chance to get them, I didn’t squander it.