In what seems to have become an annual trend, I am reviewing a southern black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) as part of the ‘spooky’ October reviews. In 2021, I reviewed one by Eastern Unlimited that was specifically sold as Halloween decor. Last year I reviewed Safari’s 1998 figure that was released for the Smithsonian Insects line.
Brand: Safari Ltd.
Black Widow (Smithsonian Insects by Safari Ltd.)
3.5 (2 votes)
So for my Halloween blog review, which I regret is my only one this year, I will be covering the Smithsonian Insects black widow (Latrodectus mactans) by Safari Ltd., originally produced back in 1998. One of my Halloween reviews last year was also L. mactans, but a novelty toy specifically sold as Halloween decor.
Black Wolf (Wild Safari North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4.3 (6 votes)
Review and photos by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
Melanism is a condition that causes an increased presence of dark pigmentation, such as when leopards and jaguars are born black or nearly black in colour. At some undetermined point in time after humans had bred the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) into existence, some of those dogs ended up breeding with their ancestors, grey wolves (wild-type C.
Blue Crab (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd.)
5 (3 votes)
The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is a species of swimming crab of the family Portunidae that ranges along the Atlantic coast of North and South America, from Cape Cod to Argentina. It has also been introduced to European and Japanese waters but nowhere is the blue crab better known and beloved than in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland and Virginia.
Blue Shark (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (3 votes)
Sharks are, generally speaking, the living embodiment of efficiency and elegance. Most of this is owed to the sleek, aerodynamic body plan possessed by the majority of shark species, but one shark takes these classic shark attributes to the next level. The blue shark (Prionace glauca) has refined the efficiency and elegance of sharks like no other, with its long, trim, lithe body.
Blue-and-Gold Macaw (Wings of the World by Safari Ltd.)
4.7 (9 votes)
Review and images by Sam; edited by bmathison1972
The blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) is one of the world’s most popular parrots. These beautiful birds come from Central and South America and the Caribbean, and are a resident in the countries of Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
Blue-Footed Booby (Wings of the World by Safari Ltd.)
4.5 (8 votes)
At the start of the year, I received an email notification from Safari Ltd. that they would be having a 50% off sale on their already discounted, discontinued figures. Not only were some of these figures now up to 75% off but this was also my last chance to get them, I didn’t squander it.
Bobcat (Wild Safari North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
5 (9 votes)
The bobcat or red lynx (Lynx rufus) is North America’s most abundant and wide-ranging species of wild cat. It can be found from southern Canada through most of the United States and into Mexico. Although heavily persecuted it has been able to maintain its range and a generally high population.
Bonnethead Shark (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
5 (3 votes)
In my last review I touched on the diversity of the hammerhead family Sphyrnidae while covering a toy representative of the family’s largest member, the great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran). Today we’re covering another member of that family, but one that is quite different from the great hammerhead and from what we think of when we think of hammerheads in general.
Bonytail Chub (Marsh Education by Safari Ltd.)
5 (6 votes)
Today’s review concludes our series of reviews on the Marsh Education fish figures, commissioned by the Marsh & Associates Native Fish Lab and produced by Safari Ltd. I didn’t necessarily save the best for last, but I did accidentally save perhaps the most endangered for last. The bonytail chub (Gila elegans) is native to the Colorado River Basin in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah.
Bornean Orangutan (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4.4 (9 votes)
I had to take a photo of this figure for today’s daily ‘Museum’ post and decided to throw together a quick review of it for the Blog, especially since we don’t have have a this species on the Blog yet! The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is, as its common name suggests, endemic to the island of Borneo.
Bottlenose Dolphin, adult and calf (Monterey Bay Aquarium by Safari Ltd)
4 (4 votes)
A creature that needs no introduction, the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The common bottlenose dolphin is a very widely-distributed species, covering the temperate and tropical waters of the world. With the species-level taxonomy still in revision, the Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin (T. aduncus) was split from T.truncatus in 2000 and 3 subspecies are currently recognized: the common subspecies (T.t.truncatus) Lahille’s (T.t.gephyreus), Black sea bottlenose dolphins (T.t.ponticus).
Bowhead Whale (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
3.5 (4 votes)
Today will be dedicated to the largest Arctic resident, the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus). When initially described by Linneaus in 1758, the bowhead whale was classified as the same species as other right whales (Eubalaena spp.). After decades of morphological and molecular studies, the bowhead was assigned to a separate genus within the shared family, Balaenidae.
Brahman Bull (Safari Farm by Safari Ltd.)
3.2 (6 votes)
Editor’s note: Time for another addition by brontodocus! This time we selected the 2006 Brahman bull by Safari LTD for their Safari Farm line. I selected this figure to introduce another group of mammals to the blog, and to introduce our first domesticated animal. The Brahman is a domestic breed of zebu (Bos taurus indicus).
Bullock’s Nudibranch (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd.)
4.8 (9 votes)
Bullock’s nudibranch (Hypselodoris bullockii) is a colorful and familiar sea slug from the Indo-Pacific region. They are benthic in nature and are often associated with coral reefs. It turns out, many historical records of H. bullockii are incorrect, due to morphologic confusion with other species in the bullockii-complex.