While commonly referred to as the ‘Old World swallowtail’, Papilio machaon has a very wide distribution, widest of any of the Papilionidae, covering most of the Palearctic and into western North America. Part of the species’ success is its tolerance for a variety of habitats and host plants. The butterfly can be found in forests, grasslands, hilltops, Alpine meadows, tundra, wetlands, disturbed areas, parks, and gardens.
Type: Baby Animal
African Lioness and Cub, 2019 (Wild Life Africa by Schleich)
4.8 (6 votes)
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
African lions (Panthera leo) are by far the most social of wild felids thanks to their practice of living in groups of around 15 to 30 individuals, commonly called prides. The males, with their greater size and distinctive manes, occupy themselves primarily with defending the pride against intruders.
Capybara, adult and babies (Wildlife by CollectA)
5 (5 votes)
When most think of rodents, they think of things like the infamous black rat and it’s fleas, the verminous plague bringers of the world. This is unfair on all fronts, including the idea of them being small, as some can get sizeable. The largest today is the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), a relative of the Guinea pig and likewise found in South America, quite commonly too.
Gray Wolf, mother and pups (Boxed Sets of Wild Life by Schleich)
3.7 (3 votes)
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
Wolves (Canis lupus) are burdened with an unjustly sinister reputation for a variety of reasons and one is the centuries-old myth of werewolves. One most frightful tale is that of Peter Stubbe, ‘the Werewolf of Bedburg.’ In 1589, he confessed under torture to having received a wolfskin belt from the Devil that allowed him to transform into “the likeness of a greedy, devouring wolf, strong and mighty, with eyes great and large, which in the night sparkled like fire, a mouth great and wide, with most sharp and cruel teeth, a huge body, and mighty paws.” I will not go on to describe the many horrific crimes Stubbe committed, or the equally horrific punishment that was meted out to him on October 31, but suffice it to say, you shouldn’t read the entire story if you’re squeamish.
Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle, life cycle (Bandai Spirits & F-toys)
5 (2 votes)
In just under two years ago, on August 21, 2019, I posted the first review here on the Animal Toy Blog. Now, I have the pleasure of posting review #500! Wow, 500 reviews just under two years! Many thanks to all the reviewers who have made this possible!
Allomyrina dichotoma is known as the Japanese rhinoceros beetle in English and kabutomushi in Japanese.
Zebra Shark, juvenile (Wild Water Series by Yowie Group)
5 (3 votes)
Since joining the Animal Toy Forum, the Yowie Group company has quickly caught my attention. The chocolate wrapped eggs they produce offer a wide range of toy animals inside them, many species not readily produced by other companies. For whatever reason I didn’t think I could get these Yowie eggs myself, I thought they were unique to other countries overseas.
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.
Golden-ringed Dragonfly (B.I.G. Insects by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.)
5 (2 votes)
Today we are looking at a rather ingenious set of figures by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S., representing the golden-ringed dragonfly (Anotogaster sieboldii), that was released as part of their 2021 B.I.G. Insects collection. Every year, Takara releases a set of five large and articulated arthropods in the B.I.G.
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.
Indian Elephants, 1998-2005 (Wild Life Asia and Australia by Schleich)
5 (3 votes)
Few animals encountered over the course of human history have a superlative reputation like elephants, especially the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Asian elephants are the only extant species within their genus and one of 3 living species of elephants, though Asian elephants are much more closely related to mammoths than they are to African elephants (Loxodon spp.
American Bison, adult and calf, 2004 (Wild Life America by Schleich)
4.8 (5 votes)
Few animals evoke the history of North American wildlife conservation like the American Bison (Bison bison). Prior to colonization, this species had a historical range extending from Eastern and Midwest parts of the United States into the interior of Mexico and Canada. Today it’s more scattered and sparse.
Manatee, adult and calf (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
3 (3 votes)
Whales typically dominate the discussion of fully aquatic mammals, though Sirenians should be acknowledged for making the transition around the same time. As oppose to ungulates, these creatures are related to proboscids and hyraxes. Amongst the extant species, there are 3 that belong to the manatee genus (Trichechus).
Dromedary, adult and calf (Wild Animals by Papo)
5 (4 votes)
Review and images by Lanthanotus; edited by bmathison1972
If there’s an iconic animal of the desert, then it sure would be the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), sometimes also called ‘ship of the desert’ for its rocking moves when used for human transportation.
The dromedary has a long history with humans; it was first domesticated around 4000 years ago in either North Africa or the Arabian Peninsula.
Gray Whale, calf (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)
4 (4 votes)
If there’s any cetacean that sets the North Pacific apart from the rest of the world, it’s the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). Gray whales are a very familiar species, as their skin color and overall appearance make them easily distinguishable from other baleen whales. Gray whales have been traditionally placed in their only family from other baleen whales, Eschrichtiidae, based on their morphology.
Mountain Gorilla, baby (Wildlife by CollectA)
4 (4 votes)
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
Like human babies, gorilla babies are born helpless and entirely dependent on their parents for care and protection. They do, however, develop much faster than human babies and will begin spending time on their own at less than two years of age. Their juvenile stage lasts from age three to six, after which they sleep apart from their mothers.