Today I am reviewing a figure that I think needs some special attention, the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), that was released by Safari Ltd in 2018 for their North American Wildlife line. When promo pics first came out for this figure, it got a lot of negative feedback, much of which I think is undeserving given the complex morphology of the actual animal (more on that below).
Brand: Safari Ltd.
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.
Nurse Shark (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
4.2 (5 votes)
Well, this upcoming week is Shark Week (and Shark Fest was last week, apparently) so here’s our mandatory shark review to celebrate the event. Not that we need an excuse to review sharks, we appreciate sharks all year long around here. Counting this review, I’ve now covered a baker’s dozen cartilaginous fishes.
Ocean Sunfish (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
4.3 (6 votes)
When we think of the big ocean fishes it’s the billfishes, tuna, and sharks that typically come to mind. Strong, sleek, torpedo shaped apex predators. But one of the largest bony fishes in the sea strays far from that mold. The ocean sunfish (Mola mola) can reach 2,205lbs (1,000 kg) and in appearance looks like an enormous disembodied fish head with fins but no tail, and that’s basically what it is.
Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
5 (4 votes)
Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972
When it comes to dangerous sharks to humans, most people will always think about the great white, the tiger, or the bull shark. However, there is a runner up for the most dangerous shark that not many people have heard of, and it’s the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus).
Okapi, 1999 (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4.7 (3 votes)
In this edition of the “Savannah Summer”, we head to the Republic of the Congo to see an incredibly rare and fascinating animal, the Okapi (Okapia johnstoni). Despite the stripy legs, this animal is related to the giraffe, as can be seen by it’s ossicones and long, prehensile tongue.
Okapi, 2022 (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4.8 (9 votes)
I was inspired by a recent purchase to look at a newer figure from Safari, probably the second most popular species of giraffe in toy form. I am of course speaking of Okapia johnstoni (Sclater, 1901). The information about this species has been covered in fantastic detail on previous reviews of figures of this animal, so doing so again would be unnecessary (for those details see the in depth review by OkapiBoy, I seriously have no way of adding on!)
I have been fortunate to see live okapis not once, but twice, in zoos.
Opossum, with babies (Wild Safari North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4.8 (6 votes)
A cute and unique figure (and one of my favourites from the series) is the North American Wildlife collection figure, the Virginia opossum with babies, Didelphis virginiana Gray, 1821. With a total length of 139 mm and a snout-vent length of 96 mm the scale would be approx. 1:4 – 1:5.
Orange-barred Sulfur (Hidden Kingdom Insects by Safari Ltd.)
4.5 (4 votes)
A lot of my posts for the Blog to date have been to introduce interesting lines or add some new broad taxa. But, it is time for me to go back to my entomological roots! So today I am reviewing the orange-barred sulfur (Phoebis philea) that was released by Safari Ltd.
Ornate Horned Frog (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd)
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.
Osprey (Wings of the World by Safari Ltd.)
4.9 (12 votes)
I do not engage in the ‘wishes and wants’ and ‘predictions’ threads on the forums. For one reason, I like to be surprised, and I find it more rewarding when something is announced that wasn’t expected. Secondly, is that many people’s wishes and wants tend to be really obscure things that have a low probability of getting produced, thus resulting in disappointment when official announcements are made.
Ostrich (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4.6 (5 votes)
Walk-around of the Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Wildlife (but also listed in the Safari Farm line) ostrich, Struthio camelus Linnaeus, 1758, originally released in 2010. Height is 88 mm but the figure is not standing fully upright and would be over 100 mm if it did. So the scale would be between approx.