Sheep Ked (unknown manufacturer)

[bmathison1972]

Walk-around of a rather bizarre creature in toy form, a sheep ked Melophagus ovinus (Linnaeus, 1758), a wingless fly species that lives as an ectoparasite on sheep. Native to the Palearctic, it occurs nearly worldwide in sheep-raising regions.

I bought this figure at a dollar store back in 2002. It is a rehash of some of the vintage 'jiggler' figures of the 1950s-1970s (called jigglers because they are made of a soft, rubbery plastic).

The figure is rather simple but I thought I would showcase it since it represents a species that many people would never guess would ever be made. That, and I am a parasitologist (although I focus on human parasites, not veterinary unless they are zoonotic).

On to the pics:







With another vintage jiggler, originally distributed by Doon Vending Services (DVS) to be sold in bubble-gum machines.

[animaltoyforum]

What a funny figure. I wonder why they choose that species over, say, a spider. With no marking to state otherwise, I'm sure that's what most people would think it is anyway!