Author: Guest Reviews

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All reviews by this author

Maned Wolf (Wildlife by CollectA)

4.8 (11 votes)

Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest wild dog on the South American continent and with its very fox-like head and coloration, and long, spindly limbs, easily one of the weirdest-looking members of the entire dog family.

Released in 2013, the CollectA maned wolf is sculpted in a walking stance with its head turned to look to the right, its right front paw extended forward, and its left hind paw raised very slightly off the ground.

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Giant River Otter (Wild Water Series by Yowie Group)

Name(s): giant river otter, Pteronura, Pteronura brasiliensis Brand: Cadbury/Yowie Group Classification: Carnivorans, Mammals, Weasles, Otters & Kin Type: Figurine Range: South America

5 (6 votes)

Review and images by Sam; edited by bmathison1972

The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is the world’s largest otter species as well as the longest member of the Mustellidae family. It originates from South America, and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only 5,000 giant otters remaining in the wild.

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Blue-ringed Octopus (3D Picture Book Poisonous Creatures by Toys Spirits)

Name(s): Hapalochlaena Brand: SO-TA/Toys Spirits Classification: Mollusks Type: Figurine Range: Oceania, Pacific Ocean

4.2 (6 votes)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

Octopuses in the genus Hapalochlaena are probably the most striking out of them all, especially with their yellowish bodies and iconic blue rings on their bodies, which become more vibrant when threatened (although one species, Hapalochlaena fasciata, has lines rather than rings on its mantle).

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Mini Sharks (Diversity of Life on Earth by Bandai)

4.8 (5 votes)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

As previously mentioned, 2023 has been a great year for cartilaginous fish fans with, many figures from big and small companies alike. Today, we will be taking a look at the Bandai’s Mini Sharks collection which is part of their Diversity of Life on Earth series.

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Saltwater Fish in Colour Part 1, Part 3: The Secrets (Yujin)

Name(s): Blue Damselfish, bluestreak cleaner wrasse, Cheilinus, Cheilinus undulatus, Chrysiptera, Chrysiptera cyanea, giant moray eel, Gymnothorax, Gymnothorax isingteena, Gymnothorax javanicus, humphead wrasse, Labroides, Labroides dimidiatus, spotted moray eel Brand: Yujin Classification: Clownfish & damselfish, Eel & tarpon, Fish, Wrasse Type: Figurine, Set Range: Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

4.3 (6 votes)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

To close off my Yujin Saltwater Fish in Colour Part 1 reviews (see the first parts here and here), I am hereby reviewing the last 3 of the fish; they’re all the secret and chase pieces. Instead of going by numerical numbers, I’ll start from the weakest to the best (in my opinion).

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Green Anaconda (Wildlife by Mojö Fun)

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

4.8 (19 votes)

Review and images by Kikimalou; edited by bmathison1972

After Schleich and Safari Ltd. in 2022, Mojö Fun is also offering its version of the famous green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, new for 2023. Until now, my collection has lacked a serious representative of the species. Initially tempted by the Safari Ltd., I finally fell for the Mojö version.

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Great White Shark (Folkmanis)

Name(s): Carcharodon, Carcharodon carcharias, great white shark Brand: Folkmanis Classification: Fish, Sharks, Rays & Kin Type: Plush Range: Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Oceania, Pacific Ocean

4 (9 votes)

Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

Behold, I give you the biggest shark toy in my possession, the great white (Carcharodon carcharias) from Folkmanis! I came across this magnificent puppet in a local toy store more than fifteen years ago. I was in my mid-twenties at the time, single without any children, and the price tag was a hefty $89.99 Canadian.

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Goblin Skark (The Sharks Vol. 2 by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.)

Name(s): goblin shark, Mitsukurina, Mitsukurina owstoni Brand: Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. Classification: Fish, Sharks, Rays & Kin Type: Figurine Range: Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Oceania, Pacific Ocean

4 (8 votes)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

The goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is the only living member of the family Mitsukurinidae, with other members dating back to the early Cretaceous, which is in the order Lamniformes which includes such All Stars such as the great white, mako, basking, megamouth, and others.

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Greenland Shark (True Scale Museum Collection: Sharks by Larami)

Name(s): Greenland shark, Somniosus, Somniosus microcephalus Brand: Larami Classification: Fish, Sharks, Rays & Kin Type: Figurine Range: Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean

4.1 (14 votes)

Review and images by Alopias superciliosus; edited by bmathison1972

The Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is the largest of the Sleeper Sharks (family Somniosidae), and one of the largest extant species of sharks, attaining lengths of up to 23 ft (7 m) and weighing up to 3,090 lbs (1,400 kg).

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Blue Whale, 2018 (Sealife by CollectA)

Name(s): Balaenoptera, Balaenoptera musculus, blue whale Brand: CollectA Classification: Mammals, Whales & Dolphins Type: Figurine Range: Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Southern Ocean

4.8 (12 votes)

Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

Well, here it is, my review of the final sample animal toy from Happy Hen Toys—for now. Once again I must express my deepest thanks to them for such wonderful generosity. And I’ve saved the very biggest for last: CollectA’s second version of the massive and marvelous blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus).

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Japan Deep Sea Life Bath Bomb Collection (Moritoku)

Name(s): Bathynomus, Clione, Grimpoteuthis, Himantolophus Brand: Moritoku Classification: Anglerfish & frogfish, Arthropods, Crustaceans, Fish, Mollusks Type: Figurine, Set Range: Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

4.2 (5 votes)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

While deep sea life figures are seen as a rare treat amongst the western market, Japan has been mass-producing them for many years since the early 2000s, where they have been made into both high quality figures for collectors and sometimes also cheap novelty toys.

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Spotted Eagle Ray (Marine Life by Papo)

Name(s): Aetobatus, Aetobatus narinari, spotted eagle ray Brand: Papo Classification: Fish, Sharks, Rays & Kin Type: Figurine Range: Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

5 (6 votes)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

In the past reviews, I’ve lamented on how there isn’t enough rays represented in plastic. So far, in the last 3 years there have been quite a few cartilaginous fish figures made, some that are underrepresented: 2021 gives us a Helicoprion and Cretoxyrhina from PNSO, a really stylised great white shark branded as a megalodon from Papo, an awesome basking shark from CollectA, a set of stylized ray figures from Kitan Club, and a Xingu river ray by Kaiyodo.

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