Welcome back to another “Savanah Summer”!! Over the years, companies across the globe have produced many different species, from Starlux to Safari Ltd. One of the older lines to do this is Britains, a British company that have made all sorts, from toy soldiers to farm and zoo species. They produced some very interesting species, such as this one; the common eland (Taurotragus oryx), the second largest antelope in the world, second to only the Giant Eland.
Classification: Mammals
White Rhinoceros, 1996 (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
3.7 (3 votes)
Another ride out on the “Savanah Summer” and we cover a figure of the last of the Big Five African mammals for me to review, the Rhino. In this case, it is the largest of the rhinos, the White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum). There are two subspecies, the more common southern and the near extinct northern, now with only two individuals remain.
Cape Buffalo (Wild Life Africa by Schleich)
2.6 (7 votes)
Carrying on with the “Savannah Summer”, I realised that what I should do is cover the big five, five large and rare mammals in Africa. This was originally a term used for big game hunting, as they these five were the hardest to get, but is now used in safaris, being the best to go and see.
Muskox, 2004 (Wild Life Arctic and Antarctic by Schleich)
4 (2 votes)
Within the Bovidae family, among the most interesting may be the last of the ovibovines, the muskox (Ovibovis moschatus). The muskox’s name is misleading, as it’s actually a closer relative of sheep and goats rather than cattle. The name refers to the musk emitted by males during seasonal rut, which serves to attract females.
Elk, 2013 bull (Wild Safari North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
Sperm Whale, 2019 (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
4.7 (6 votes)
Review and images by Cachalot; edited by bmathison1972
Recently I have gotten interested in sea animals, whales in particular. The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is my favorite; it is an animal of extremes. It has the largest brain on earth, 17 to 20 pounds. There are music ditties about this creature being brainy.
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.
Leopard Seal (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
4.2 (15 votes)
The leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is the antithesis of what we think of when we think of most pinnipeds: seals, sealions, and walruses. The only member of its genus, the leopard seal is about as far from a chubby harbor seal, or playful California sea lion, as you can get.
Humpback Whale, adult and calf (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (7 votes)
The sounds of whales often fill the ambiance of the ocean, and none are more popular than the songs of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). This species traditionally occupies the sole Balaenopterid genus outside of Balaenoptera, but molecular studies position the humpback as the closest relative of the fin whale (B.phylsaus), rendering Balaenoptera paraphyletic.
Oryx (Wild Animals by Papo)
4.3 (6 votes)
Carrying on with the “Savannah Summer”, we head to the Kalahari, the land of great thirst. The precipitation is low, so survival can be tricky. Even still, life finds a way, and even relatively large species can call the area home. Take the gemsbok or oryx (Oryx gazella), a large species of antelope, which is a native to this large, often dry expanse.
African Bush Elephant, pair (Noah’s Pals by Caboodle! Toys LLC)
2.8 (4 votes)
Continuing on with my “Savannah Summer”, when on safari, you want to see the largest species a country have to offer. And when it comes to Africa, there is no larger than the largest land animal on earth, the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana). These powerful proboscidians populate a large section of Africa, though their numbers are in decline as a result of poaching for ivory made from their tusks.
Alpaca, adult with baby (City Life Zoo by Playmobil)
5 (2 votes)
Review and images by Animal Lover, edited by bmathison1972
The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated breed of South-American camel-like ungulates. It resembles a sheep in appearance, but is larger and has a long, erect neck. Alpacas have been domesticated for thousands of years until modern times in Peru, most famously because of its prized wool.