Author: Guest Reviews

Reviews submitted by Animal Toy Blog readers are published under the author 'Guest Reviews'. If you would like to submit a review please follow the directions on our 'Submit a review' page.

All reviews by this author

Siberian Tiger, 2015 (Wildlife by CollectA)

4.8 (8 votes)

Review and photographs by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

The tiger (Panthera tigris), with its magnificent orange coat and dark stripes, is the largest living cat, even larger the lion. And it is just as famous and revered in human society as its kingly relative, from its honoured status in Asian myth and art to memorable characters such as Shere Khan from The Jungle Book, Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes, Richard Parker from Life of Pi, and Tony the Tiger, mascot for Frosted Flakes cereal.

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Common Kingfisher (Playmobil)

Name(s): Alcedo, Alcedo atthis, common kingfisher Brand: Playmobil Classification: Birds, Kingfishers & Bee-eaters Type: Figurine Range: Africa, Asia, Europe

4 (4 votes)

Review and photographs by stargatedalek; edited by bmathison1972

While often regarded as the underdog of the two, especially by adult collectors, I have found consistently that Playmobil boasts a quality and variety of sculpts that LEGO simply can’t match, at least when it comes to the zoological variety! Where Playmobil has at least a half dozen molds of sportfish alone, LEGO will use the same mold for a bass and a flounder.

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African Lion, 2017 (Wildlife by CollectA)

Name(s): African lion, Panthera, Panthera leo Brand: CollectA Classification: Carnivorans, Cats, Mammals Type: Figurine Range: Africa

4.8 (8 votes)

Review and photographs by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

The African lion (Panthera leo) is the modern day equivalent of Tyrannosaurus rex: a huge land carnivore whose raw power and undeniable charisma has led it to be dubbed “king of the beasts.” And from the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet to the biblical tale of Daniel to Richard the Lionheart to Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia to the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz to Leo the MGM Studios mascot and to The Lion King franchise, its status as a cultural icon is absolutely incontrovertible.

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Hippopotamus (Wildlife by CollectA)

Name(s): common hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius Brand: CollectA Classification: Hippopotamuses, Mammals Type: Figurine Range: Africa

5 (5 votes)

Review and photographs by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

While the Nile crocodile may be the biggest and deadliest predator in Africa’s waterways, it is still no match one on one for an even bigger and arguably more dangerous resident. A creature that rivals a rhinoceros in weight, can outrun a human on land, and boasts an immense mouth full of savage teeth.

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Domestic Pigeon (Unknown Company)

Name(s): Columba, Columba livia, Columba livia domestica, domestic pigeon, rock dove Brand: Unknown Company Classification: Birds, Pigeons & Doves Type: Figurine Range: Cosmopolitan

4.5 (2 votes)

Review and images by stargatedalek; edited by bmathison1972

Not long ago I received an eBay coupon as a consolation prize in one of their contests. Unsure what to spend it on, I remembered seeing some surprisingly impressive birds made using a plastic base with real feathers attached and decided to see if they were in fact any higher in quality than the equivalents I once had from many a local dollar store.

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Giraffe (Wild Life Africa by Schleich)

Name(s): Giraffa, Giraffa reticulata, reticulated giraffe Brand: Schleich Classification: Giraffes, Okapi & Pronghorn, Mammals Type: Figurine Range: Africa

4.7 (9 votes)

Review and photographs by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

With their super-long necks and equally long limbs, giraffes are among evolution’s most wondrous marvels. It was long thought that there was only one species and nine subspecies, but a 2007 study proposed that there may be six species (at the very least genetic populations), including the reticulated giraffe, Giraffa reticulata.

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Nile Crocodile, 2016 (Wild Life by Schleich)

Name(s): Crocodylus, Crocodylus niloticus, Nile crocodile Brand: Schleich Classification: Alligators & Crocodiles, Reptiles Type: Figurine Range: Africa

4.2 (11 votes)

Review and photographs by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

Crocodiles are some of the most awesome and ancient predators on Earth, and as such, they have proven quite the mainstay in the world of animal toys. Indeed, it is probably fair to say that they are the most popular and frequent reptiles to appear in toy form.

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Rattlesnake (Fingerlings: Untamed Snakes by WowWee)

Name(s): Crotalus Brand: WowWee Classification: Reptiles, Snakes Type: Figurine Range: North America, South America

3.7 (3 votes)

Review and images by stargatedalek; edited by bmathison1972

Quite the mouthful of a title this one has. Introducing “Toxin the Rattlesnake”, part of the Untamed Snakes set of the Fingerlings line by WowWee.

Full disclosure, this toy is awful and no one should ever buy it, I regret doing so heavily.

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Secretary Bird (Wildlife by CollectA)

Name(s): Sagittarius, Sagittarius serpentarius, secretary burd Brand: CollectA Classification: Birds, Birds of Prey Type: Figurine Range: Africa

4.8 (6 votes)

Review and images by MammothsProductions, edited by bmathison1972

Sagittarius serpentarius. To many, these words are an arbitrary phrase, without meaning or purpose. Yet, to avid birders and ornithologists, these two annunciations bring thoughts of regal wings gliding through the air, of the brilliant dance between the bird and the serpent.

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Green Anaconda (Wildlife by CollectA)

Name(s): common anaconda, Eunectes, Eunectes murinus, green anaconda Brand: CollectA Classification: Reptiles, Snakes Type: Figurine Range: South America

4 (8 votes)

Review and photographs by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

The green anaconda (also known as the common anaconda, Eunectes murinus) is the world’s heaviest snake, and second only to the reticulated python in length. Females, which grow far larger than males, can be at least 17 feet (5.2 metres) long and weigh 215 lbs (97.5 kg).

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Two-toed Sloth (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)

Name(s): Choloepus, Choloepus hoffmanni, Hoffmann's two-toed sloth Brand: Safari Ltd., Wild Safari Wildlife Classification: Mammals, Sloths, Anteaters & Armadillos Type: Figurine Range: North America, South America

4.1 (7 votes)

Review and photographs by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

The word “sloth” means slowness, laziness, indolence, or a habitual disinclination to exertion, and looking at the arboreal South American mammals called sloths, one might think that they fit their name to a tee. But while sloths are indeed slow-moving, they are not at all lazy.

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Sichuan Takin (CBIOV)

Name(s): Budorcas, Budorcas taxicolor, takin Brand: CBIOV Classification: Mammals, Sheep, Goats & Musk Ox Type: Figurine Range: Asia

4.8 (5 votes)

Review and photographs by Isidro; edited by bmathison1972

Editor’s note: It gives me great pleasure to present the 100th post on the Animal Toy Blog! And our first by forum member, Isidro! Double congratulations!

Here’s the review of the CBIOV takin (Budorcas taxicolor). CBIOV is not a big brand and as far as I know it only produced two species in figure form: the takin and the finless porpoise.

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Brand
Name(s)
Classification
Product Type
Range

Author: Guest Reviews

All reviews by this author

Siberian Tiger, 2015 (Wildlife by CollectA)

Common Kingfisher (Playmobil)

African Lion, 2017 (Wildlife by CollectA)

Hippopotamus (Wildlife by CollectA)

Domestic Pigeon (Unknown Company)

Giraffe (Wild Life Africa by Schleich)

Nile Crocodile, 2016 (Wild Life by Schleich)

Rattlesnake (Fingerlings: Untamed Snakes by WowWee)

Secretary Bird (Wildlife by CollectA)

Green Anaconda (Wildlife by CollectA)

Two-toed Sloth (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)

Sichuan Takin (CBIOV)

Brand

Name(s)

Classification

Product Type

Range

Brand

Name(s)

Classification

Product Type

Range

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