Schleich is a German company that has really evolved a lot, especially in the last 20 years or so, from making more simplistic figurines to becoming a creator of some of the most realistic animal figures I’ve ever seen. That being said, I do still like some of the slightly older Schleichs and have been occasionally seeking to add some of the older ones to my collection. Most recently, I acquired the older Schleich crocodile from 2007 (model number 14305) for an excellent price on eBay, especially considering the mint condition of the figure! I used to see this one at the Tractor store near where I lived as a boy, but was never able to get one at that time.
An interesting question to ponder is, what species of crocodile is this? The dark gray coloration is interesting to me in how it differs from the mottled brown coloration of the 2016 Schleich crocodile, which appears very much like a Nile crocodile. However it is worth noting that a description of the saltwater crocodile is associated with the 2016 figure on the Schleich website, and in my opinion the resemblance to the Nile crocodile based on the coloring is very obvious. The 2007 Schleich crocodile was sold alongside replicas of African wildlife, so it would be a natural assumption to think it is also a Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). As a side-note, however, in my professional opinion the 2007 Schleich crocodile most closely resembles a recently-recognized subspecies of crocodile, recently named Crocodylus suchus, also known as the desert crocodile or the sacred crocodile. These crocodiles are smaller than full-size Nile crocodiles, considerably less aggressive, and tend to have more solid , grayish coloring. This species was kept by the Ancient Egyptians and the crocodile mummies from Egypt have been recently identified as C. suchus.
This Schleich crocodile is in many ways a mirror image of the newer Schleich crocodile from 2016, with a similar serpentine pose but turned the opposite way. The skin is covered with the usual osteoderms along its back and tail, the round scales on the rest of its body are nicely sculpted, and the mouth is filled with slightly chunky white teeth. The skin is a dark gray with darker mottling. The inside of the mouth is pink, and the eyes are brown with slitty black pupils. The pebbled scales on the face and back of the neck are a point I especially like, and the flat, rectangular scales along the belly are well-represented. Unlike the 2016 version, the jaw on this crocodile is not articulated, but that’s not a big negative in my opinion. I frankly like the more “Classic Schleich” look as it strongly resembles the animal toys available during my childhood. Accuracy sticklers may point out that the teeth are too chunky, although I am not bothered by this. The figure is nicely sculpted with an appealing paint job and attention to detail, and probably my new favorite in my collection of animal figures. I like its slightly robust look, too.
It is unfortunately retired, so you will probably have to look on eBay to find this one if you want it. I was very fortunate to get one in such perfect condition for a good price.
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Great review. Schleich is more immaginative with their online identifications then with their models. This figure was identified online as (Osteolaemus tetraspis), a dwarf crocodile. It is as doubtful as the new one being identified as a saltwater. It is a pity the saltwater crocodile from Southlands replicas was never released.
Hey, I’ve just identified a new Nile crocodile figure from Papi that I am thinking about getting. Would anyone be interested? I don’t see it reviewed on the blog. Thanks!
Go for it!
Thank you! There’s also a Safari ltd crocodile that’s never been reviewed, but I’ll start with the Papo one. 🐊