Happy Halloween! I got the special date this year, so I’m bringing you thrills and chills…in the form of the Schleich common raven, Corvus corax, item number 14241. The way ravens are closely tied to all things sinister and spooky was already well-covered a few years ago, an animal well-established throughout the northern hemisphere.
Author: sbell
Hey, my name is Sean, known as SBell on this and many other forums. I have a background in physical anthropology and vertebrate palaeontology but I don’t do any of that now. I have been a dedicated animal figure collector for over 25 years, with a focus on freshwater, prehistoric and unusual fishes (sometimes there’s overlap!); prehistoric mammals; other interesting prehistoric animals; and modern carnivores (especially hyenas), but I will also pick up almost anything that appeals to me (I recently realized that includes salamanders...huh). I used to run an online figure store for a while, then transitioned that into a personal blog about my figures there as well. Recently, that blog was adopted into the ATB/DTB umbrella and can now be found here, mostly as a curated site so that it isn't lost (you can find it here now) When I’m not taking endless photos of my figures for posts or managing my ridiculous collection database I spend time taking care of the fish tank (polypterids rule!), being with the family, and trying to get outside before the Canadian winter forces us inside.All reviews by this author
Sea Lamprey (Great Lakes Fishery Commission by Safari Ltd)
5 (7 votes)
Back in time for Halloween with our scary animals! Some are traditionally ‘Halloween’ animals, but this one is more in the spirit…one that rightly feels disturbing and causes nightmares in some places for real. I am speaking of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, one of those animals that just seems appropriately creepy for the season.
News: Fauna Figures moves home!
5 (4 votes)
For those who know me, back in 2019 I started my own blog site to explore my collection: Fauna Figures. The blog was a follow up to my online store of the same name. As my collection ranges across time and taxa (currently 4432 figures, and it was much higher when I started – lots of sales/trades, but also continual additions) I discussed all manner of figures, companies, and ‘clades’ or ‘grades’.
Longnose Lancetfish (Mini Collection Deep Sea Fish by Bandai)
4.2 (5 votes)
We’re back with another small figure from Bandai in their mini capsule series. I failed to recognize before that all of these models are part of what is now called the “Diversity of Life on Earth” series, which covers not only these capsule animals but a number of other figure types.
Red-cheeked Salamander (Great Smoky Mountains Park Shop by Safari Ltd.)
5 (6 votes)
Over the course of the summer I reviewed the entirety of Safari’s famous and sadly discontinued Tennessee Aquarium Salamanders line, a set of 7 life-like and life-size models released in 1995 (one in 1997) and retired in the mid-2000s. But I also hinted at a spiritual successor that, while not in the line, fits alongside them in theme, style, and production…also geographically.
Common Mudpuppy (Tennessee Aquarium Salamander Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (7 votes)
So here we are–the final figure in the Tennessee Aquarium series from Safari, the only figure released after 1995 (1997 to be exact). This is the common mudpuppy Necturus maculosus, number 210672, probably the hardest to find one and, when stacked together, the largest and most imposing by a wide margin.
Northern Crested Newt (Tennessee Aquarium Salamander Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (7 votes)
For the first time since I introduced the Tennessee Aquarium salamander figures with the fire salamander we are going back to Europe, the northern crested newt, Triturus cristatus, and this is also the last European species in the series. This one is item number 210572, the sixth and final figure in the original 1995 releases–and the penultimate figure in the series overall.
Yonahlossee Salamander (Tennessee Aquarium Salamander Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (6 votes)
Here is one more lungless plethodontid salamander from the official Tennessee Aquarium series, the yonahlossee salamander Plethodon yonahlossee, item number 210472. Probably the figure with the most distinctive colours, it may also be one of the salamander figures with the longest lasting presence on the various Safari lines overall.
Marbled Salamander (Tennessee Aquarium Salamander Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (7 votes)
The next figure to discuss from the Safari Tennessee Aquarium is the marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum, item number 210372. This is pretty much the smallest figure in the series, which is fitting as the marbled salamander is relatively small for it’s genus. Unlike the last few salamander figures we’ve looked at, this species is a member of the Ambystomatidae, the mole and giant salamanders; Ambystoma is the mole salamanders.
Red Salamander (Tennessee Aquarium Salamander Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (5 votes)
The next figure to look at from Safari’s Tennessee Aquarium Salamander collection is the red salamander, Pseudotriton ruber, series number 210272. It represents a species that is fairly widespread in the United States east of the Mississippi river, from New York state south to Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia.
Green Salamander (Tennessee Aquarium Salamander Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (7 votes)
Now for a review of another of the Tennessee Aquarium salamander models from Safari, this time the green salamander Aneides aeneus, product number 210172 in the line. Green salamanders are notable for a few features, not least of which is their distinctive green colour; this species is the only salamander in North America with green colouration.
Pyjama Shark (Return to Isle of Jaws by Discovery Science)
3.8 (8 votes)
Hard to believe it’s already Shark Week again! And while I don’t usually follow the TV version, it’s always a good time to pull out something shark related from the collection and celebrate this awesome group of animals. For my contribution, I am going to look at a figure from a Discovery Science set called Return to Isle of Jaws that was made in conjunction with a Shark Week show of the same name.
Fire Salamander (Tennessee Aquarium Salamander Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (6 votes)
After so many fish, it was time to take on a group of animals that I’m less familiar with…from a set that is either a holy grail for collectors (if they missed it), or a treasured part of the collection (if they didn’t miss it!) It’s a series of salamanders and newts produced by Safari Ltd in association with the Tennessee Aquarium.
Asian Arowana (Monster Fish by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.)
5 (2 votes)
After recently discussing some Takara figures from a Monster Fish set (…the Fishing Wars) I thought I’d go into some others. So I am looking at the pair of Asian arowana figures from an earlier Takara Tomy series…also called Monster Fish (!?) but not fishing themed I guess? In fact the theme is pretty loose (the other two figures are deep sea fish…) I don’t actually have those other two, but I do like bonytongue figures.
Alligator Gar (Mini Ancient Fish Series 1 by Bandai)
5 (6 votes)
Back with another Bandai ‘Mini Ancient Fish’ model, but this time from series 1. As it is, it’s the only figure I have from this particular set, but it went without saying that I would add another alligator gar Atractosteus spatula to the collection! Like the more recent Series 2 (of which I have the whole set and have already discussed) the hallmarks of the series were there in the first series.