Review and images by ALeahgator; edited by bmathison1972
The emperor penguin, or Aptenodytes forsteri, is an iconic winter-themed animal and also a popular symbol of Antarctica. It would be hard to think of an animal more iconic of Earth’s polar regions, except for the woolly mammoth which is now extinct.
Edited by bmathison1972
The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the largest species of penguin in the world and also nearly everyone’s favorite. This small emperor penguin plush by Douglas Cuddle Toys has become my new favorite animal. Penguins are popular. Late 90s and early 2000s kids may remember Pingu the Penguin from PBS, and later in 2005 came the penguins from Madagascar–who can forget Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private?
For my first ATB review for 2024, I would like to review a very special plush Dachshund created by Douglas Cuddle Toys, which is one of my favorite toy companies. Douglas Cuddle Toys was founded in 1956 and has been making designer-quality stuffed animals ever since in Keene, New Hampshire. Douglas Cuddle Toys is probably best-known for their variety of breed-specific dogs and cats, so it is fitting that my new favorite is a Douglas dog.
The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is not an animal that you would expect to find an exhibit dedicated to at the zoo, but it is a fascinating North American animal that most of us probably have some familiarity with. Interestingly, opossums do not “play dead,” as many people say, implying a conscious choice, but rather enter a catatonic state when frightened by a predator, and anal glands produce an odor resembling the stink of a decomposing dead body.
One of the most powerful animals in the Animal Kingdom, having a bite force of over 3,000 psi and able to hold its breath underwater for over an hour, the crocodile is an impressive animal that is feared and yet even revered in some cultures, notably the Ancient Egyptians who worshipped them.
Review and images by aLeahgator; edited by bmathison1972
Few animals are as iconic of Africa and Asia as the elephant. Elephants are considered as intelligent as primates and cetaceans, and they are easily recognizable because of their large ears and long trunk. African elephant ears have been said to be the shape of Africa, and Indian elephant ears the shape of India.
Ever since the beginning of civilization, ancient humans in Africa and the Middle East have been fascinated by the crocodile. The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) once had a much larger range–all over Africa and even in Western Asia and the Middle East. A species of Nile crocodile lived in the Jordan River in Palestine until 1912, when the last known one was caught.
Schleich is a German company that has really evolved a lot, especially in the last 20 years or so, from making more simplistic figurines to becoming a creator of some of the most realistic animal figures I’ve ever seen. That being said, I do still like some of the slightly older Schleichs and have been occasionally seeking to add some of the older ones to my collection.
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 swamps in these states.
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. (Note to editor: by the way I’d like to give a shout out to the Dino Toy Blog here and let them know that I have Schleich’s new Allosaurus and would be happy to review it for the Dinosaur Blog).
One of the things that distinguishes an alligator from a crocodile is that an alligator is usually dark gray, green, or black in color, sometimes with bright yellow bands on juveniles and more faded ones on some adults. Crocodiles are lighter in color, often very light greens and browns with mottling.
Alligators have held a unique appeal for me for many years since I was quite small. I remember watching an old VHS on reptiles in 2003 that prominently featured alligators. It was called “Crocodile Rocks: Itty Bitty Kiddy Wildlife.” The program played classic rock in the background, but was quite informative about alligators.
This review makes a good companion to the first one I submitted, which is essentially a plush version of this plastic figure. An Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) female, with the classic smiling mouth, double-domed head, and convex curve to the back. I believe this is the second version of the Schleich female Asian elephant of three that I am aware of.
Now becoming increasingly rare, the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) has had a long history with humans, often being trained to do work; especially in India. They are also the closest living relative of the extinct woolly mammoth. Though we usually think today of the Asian elephant as a denizen of the Far East, such as in India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, historically in classical and ancient times they also roamed stretches of modern-day Iran and even nearly as far west as the northern part of Palestine, near Syria.
