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

Ornate Horned Frog (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd)

Name(s): Ceratophrys, Ornate horned frog Brand: Incredible Creatures, Safari Ltd. Classification: Amphibians, Frogs & Toads Type: Figurine Range: South America

4.4 (5 votes)

For this post I am revisiting a figure that I originally discussed on the Animal Toy Forum here, the Safari Ltd Horned Frog from 1997! This figure has a few sources of mystery around it due to a few factors–first, the line it is part of. In the few places it is referenced online, it is referred to as a part of the Incredible Creatures line–this makes sense as it is nearly perfect 1:1 scale and has the typical hollow-cast design.

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Canada Lynx (North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd)

Name(s): Canada Lynx, Lynx, Lynx canadensis Brand: Safari Ltd., Wild Safari Wildlife Classification: Carnivores, Cats, Mammals Type: Figurine Range: North America

4.9 (7 votes)

Today I am in a city being hit by the first winter storm of the year…in September. Again. Which immediately put me in the mood to discuss an animal that might be far more comfortable with this miserable weather–the Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis Kerr 1792 made by Safari Ltd released as part of their North American Wildlife (NAW) line of animals in 2016.

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Striped Hyena (Wild Animals by Starlux)

Name(s): Hyaena, Hyaena hyaena, Striped hyena Brand: Starlux Classification: Carnivores, Hyenas, Mammals Type: Figurine Range: Africa, Asia

3.8 (4 votes)

Today we are going back in time with a figure, to one that may predate many of us here on the blog! I am speaking about a Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena (Linnaeus, 1758) by vintage company Starlux. So I can bring out another species of hyena, and bring up a classic series of figures as well.

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Japanese Clawed Salamander (River Life by Colorata)

Name(s): Japanese clawed salamander, Onychodactylus, Onychodactylus japonicus Brand: Colorata Classification: Amphibians, Newts & Salamanders Type: Figurine Range: Asia

3.7 (3 votes)

So just going over my shelves, wondering what I could review, and my eyes fell on what might be the original Colorata set (or one of them)–their River Life set! What sets this one apart is the diversity–3 frogs, several fish, and one exclusive never-again-released salamander, a Japanese Clawed Salamander Onychodactylus japonicus (Houttuyn, 1882).

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Aye-aye (Ueno Zoo Box by Colorata)

Name(s): aye-aye, Daubentonia, Daubentonia madagascariensis Brand: Colorata Classification: Mammals, Primates Type: Figurine Range: Africa

3 (3 votes)

This time around I’m going to introduce what I think is the first primate to the blog…and what could be more appropriate than one of the more primitive modern primates, a strepsirrhine, a lemur to be exact? Specifically, the aye-aye Daubentonia madagascariensis Gmelin 1788. So, also one of the weirdest primates as well, and an endangered on as well (on an island of full weird and endangered organisms).

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Spotted Hyena (New Heroes by Schleich)

Name(s): Crocuta crocuta, spotted hyena Brand: Schleich Classification: Carnivores, Hyenas, Mammals Type: Figurine Range: Africa

2.2 (6 votes)

So, adding to the Spotted Hyena clan again, this time with a short-lived companion from the Schleich ‘New Heroes’ series. For those who don’t remember the series (from 2011-2013) it featured various human figures representing famous warrior-types from history (Thracian, Ninja, Samurai, etc) as well as some random gladiators, most of whom had names.

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Spotted Hyena (Ricolino)

Name(s): Crocuta, Crocuta crocuta, spotted hyena Brand: Ricolino Classification: Carnivores, Hyenas, Mammals Type: Figurine Range: Africa

1.8 (5 votes)

I’m going to start by saying that it’s my own fault that the first hyena post on this blog did not come from me…pretty much, of all my collection, freshwater fish and hyenas are the main focus, yet I didn’t give any attention to the latter. It does, however, save me from having to talk about hyenas as a group…more toy talk then, I guess?

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Loach Minnow (Marsh Education by Safari Ltd.)

Name(s): Loach minnow, Rhinichthys cobitis Brand: Marsh Education, Safari Ltd. Classification: Carp, minnows & suckers, Fish Type: Figurine Range: North America

5 (5 votes)

I promise I will eventually not write about a fish…but today will not be that day. Instead, I’m going to write about a really interesting fish, and a really unusual–and rare–figure produced to represent it (spoiler, it’s in the title!). I am speaking of course about the Safari Ltd Loach Minnow, produced for Marsh & Associates LLC (as part of their Marsh Education program).

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Saddled Bichir (Colorata Fossil Fishes Box, release 2 & 3)

Name(s): Polypterus, Polypterus endlicherii, saddled bichir Brand: Colorata Classification: Bichir, Fish Type: Figurine Range: Africa

The Colorata Saddled bichir represents one of the coolest groups of fish alive today. One that is sadly underrepresented in toy form, but this figure is a good start!

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Endangered Animals–Marine TOOB (Safari Ltd)

Name(s): Aetomylaeus, Aetomylaeus vespertilio, Amblyrhynchus, Amblyrhynchus cristatus, Balaenoptera, Balaenoptera musculus, blue whale, California sea lion, Eretmochelys imbricata, Galapagos penguin, great hammerhead shark, hawksbill sea turtle, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys, Lepidochelys kempii, longcomb sawfish, marine iguana, ornate eagle ray, Pristis, Pristis zijsron, Rhincodon, Rhincodon typus, Spheniscus, Spheniscus mendiculus, Sphyrna, Sphyrna mokarran, whale shark, Zalophus, Zalophus californianus Brand: Safari Ltd. Classification: Birds, Carnivores, Fish, Lizards, Mammals, Penguins, Reptiles, Seals, Sea Lions & Walrus, Sharks, Rays & Kin, Turtles & Tortoises, Whales & Dolphins Type: Figurine, Set Range: Arctic Ocean, Asia, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, North America, Oceania, Pacific Ocean, South America, Southern Ocean

4.3 (6 votes)

So for my next foray into Animal Toy Blog I am going to discuss a full set of ten figures from a relatively new set from Safari Ltd, released in 2017 (but I only just discovered it…go figure). I’m going to come out and say, there will be brief parts (in point format) and longer parts (paragraphs) as I will discuss the toob figures individually (save two).

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Slender Oarfish (Deep Sea Fishes version 2 by Colorata)

Name(s): Regalecus, Regalecus russelii, slender oarfish Brand: Colorata Classification: Fish, Oarfish Type: Figurine Range: Asia, Pacific Ocean

4.3 (6 votes)

After all of these years, I’m finally doing a blog post for the Toy Forums! It is of course a fish, and since it’s hard to decide I went with one that arrived only a couple of days ago–the updated Slender Oarfish Regalecus russelii (Cuvier, 1816) made for the revised Colorata Deep Sea Fishes box.

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