Author: Callmejoe3

All reviews by this author

Green Sea Turtle, 1996 (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)

1.7 (3 votes)
With the loss of the great Mesozoic marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs, mosasaurs, and plesiosaurs, turtles remain the most popular reptilian taxa that are recognized for roaming the Earth’s oceans. Seven species currently exist, and among the most popular and longest-studied is the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).

Dolphins TOOB (Safari Ltd.)

4.7 (7 votes)
Oceanic dolphins are among the most fascinating and exciting group of marine mammals. Delphinidae are the most species-rich family of extant cetaceans, with roughly 35 recognized extant species. This lineage arose roughly 10-17 million years ago during the Miocene, branching off from its common ancestor with porpoises and monodontids.  This family is very diverse, ranging from the Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) that maxes out at 1.6 meters and 60 kilograms, to the killer whale (Orcinus orca) that can surpass 9 meters and 9 metric tons.

Sea Otter, pair (Monterey Bay Aquarium by Safari Ltd.)

3.5 (4 votes)
Today’s item will mark the blog’s first post on otters, as we’re covering the sea otter (Enhydra lutris). Sea otters are part of the Lutrinae subfamily of mustelids that includes all of the genera of otters. Three subspecies are recognized between the Asian sea otter in Russia and northern Japan, the northern sea otter in Alaska, and the southern sea otter in California.

Hippopotamus, male 1996 (Wild Life by Schleich)

4.7 (3 votes)
Today will offer another look at this iconic member of the African safari, the hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius). Hippos were historically proposed to be relatives of pigs due to molar patterns; however molecular evidence reveals that cetaceans are the closest extant relatives of hippos. These two groups form a clade that diverged from ruminants 60 million years ago and shared a common ancestor over 54 million years ago, with anthracotheres being the stem lineage that hippos evolved from.

Pygmy Sperm Whale (Sealife by CollectA)

4.3 (6 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

Our latest cetacean review will shift its attention to a long-overlooked species, the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps). The cetacean clade ‘’Physeteroidea’’, is one of the oldest lineages within the odontocete order. Its only extant members are the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and the species within the Kogia genus.

Epaulette Shark (Wild Republic by K&M International)

4 (2 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

The blog will now take its first look into the epaulette shark species. Epaulette sharks belong to the genus Hemiscyllium, composed of nine formally described species, with one having yet to be described. This genus belongs to the Orectolobiformes order of sharks, commonly described as ‘’carpet sharks’’, which also includes nurse and whale sharks.

Octopus (AAA)

3 (3 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

Today marks a return to cataloging a member of the group of eight-limbed cephalopods. The order of octopuses, Octopoda, contains 300 extant species. These creatures inhabit a wide range of habitats ranging from pelagic waters and coral reefs to the deepest parts of the oceans.

Killer Whale (Sealife by Mojö Fun)

4 (3 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

This blog managed to cover a wide variety of cetaceans before getting to today’s species, the killer whale (Orcinus orca). The public perception of killer whales has a rather dramatic history compared to most cetaceans. While revered by Indigenous cultures in North America, Europeans viewed killer whales as a malevolent nuisance and threat.

Tiger Shark (Monterey Bay Aquarium by Safari Ltd.)

4 (5 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

Among the various impressive macropredators in the ocean, the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), is among the most powerful and strangest. The tiger shark belongs to the Carcharhinidae family, often referred to as the “requiem sharks”. The Galeocerdo genus was once diverse, but the tiger shark remains the only extant species within this clade.

Black Rhinoceros, 2008 (Wild Life by Schleich)

4.3 (6 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

2020 seems to be the year of the rhino on this blog with the Schleich 2018 Indian rhinoceros and the Safari Ltd 2010 white rhinoceros being the first two to be featured. The black rhino (Diceros bicornis) makes its debut for this review.

Humpback Whale (Maia & Borges, Schleich, Mojö Fun)

4 (5 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

This review will cover an exceptional mysticete, the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). The humpback is a well-recognized whale due to its breaching behavior and unique appearance. While placed in a separate genus from most other rorquals, modern genomic studies consistently report the humpback whale as the closest relative to the fin whale (Balenoptera physalus).

Gray Whale (Maia & Borges, Schleich, Mojö Fun, Unknown Company)

4.7 (3 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

Today’s review will cover the Northern Pacific voyager, the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). The gray whale is a very well-known mysticete due to frequent sightings during whale-watching tours along the American west coast. Gray whales were also known as the ‘’Devil-fish’’ due to the aggression they display when defending against whalers and natural predators.

Beluga Whale, adult and calf (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)

4.3 (3 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

Today will be the blog’s first time covering the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), a charismatic arctic denizen. The beluga whale is the sole member of its genus, with the narwhal (Monodon monoceros) serving as its only extant relative within the family ‘’Monodontidae’’.

Blue Whale (Marine Life by Papo)

4 (6 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is among the most famous of all cetaceans, as it is recognized as the largest known animal currently living, and likely to have ever lived, on Earth. This whale is alternatively referred to as the ‘’sulfur-bottom’’ due to the growth of diatoms creating a yellowish pigmentation on the ventral body.

Pilot Whale (Sealife by CollectA)

5 (4 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

When it comes to cetaceans, I generally find all mysticetes equally interesting, but I have strong preferences between different odontocetes. Outside of sperm whales and orcas, my next favorites are the members of the Globicephalinae subfamily of oceanic dolphins. This taxon contains all the species of dolphins referred to as ‘’blackfish’’, other than the killer whale.

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