Even when surrounded by amazing large cats and herbivores that can weigh several tons, the common ostrich (Struthio camelus), does not fail to impress. Ostriches are the largest of the extant land birds alongside other birds of the infraclass, ratites, like emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and cassowaries (Casuarius spp.). Originally placed in the same genus as …
Today we are looking at the fourth figure in Kaiyodo’s Revogeo line, following the emperor scorpion (2019), red-clawed crab (2019), and Asian giant hornet (2020). The subject of today’s review is the Japanese giant water bug, Kirkaldyia deyrollei (historically referred to as Lethocerus deyrollei). This giant belostomatid occurs throught much of East Asia, including eastern …
Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972 Eagle rays are fascinating creatures. These fish move through the water column by flapping their pectoral fins like wings, similar to the land animal that they are named after. They come in many fascinating forms: from the rounded snouts of cownose (Rhinoptera) and bat rays (Myliobatis) to …
The Galápagos Islands are an incredible biome, full of an array of different species, perfectly adapted for their environment. This resulted in Charles Darwin developing his theories of evolution. It also resulted in a lot of damaged to this ecosystem, as the animals were decimated by the introduction of European animals and hunters. One species well …
Review and images by Bryan Divers; edited by bmathison1972 The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is a common staple of swamp wildlife in North America; particularly in places such as North Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. Souvenir shops in these states abound with alligator paraphernalia, and you might even see one in one of the rivers or …
Review and images by Bryan Divers; edited by bmathison1972 I am aware that there is quite a lot of complaining about perceived accuracy flaws in Schleich’s dinosaur toys, but I have to say that since my formerly local Tractor Supply store began carrying them, I have been impressed with the realism of their animal toys. …
Albatrosses, members of the family Diomedeidae, are some of the most spectacular seabirds, perfectly adapted to a life of sea and air. Albatrosses are some of the largest flying animals alive today, with the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) having a wingspan of up to 12.2’ (3.7 meters) and weighing in excess of 20 lbs (9 …
Review and images by Lanthanotus; edited by bmathison1972 If there’s an iconic animal of the desert, then it sure would be the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), sometimes also called ‘ship of the desert’ for its rocking moves when used for human transportation. The dromedary has a long history with humans; it was first domesticated around 4000 …
Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972 What rivals the great white shark in terms of length, lives in saltwater, brackish, and freshwater conditions tn tropical and subtropical regions, and is seriously endangered? If you said the sawfish (Pristidae), you are correct. There are 5 species alive today, ranging from the smallest, the dwarf …
If there’s any cetacean that sets the North Pacific apart from the rest of the world, it’s the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). Gray whales are a very familiar species, as their skin color and overall appearance make them easily distinguishable from other baleen whales. Gray whales have been traditionally placed in their only family from …