Type: Figurine

Manta Ray (Sharks of the World Museum Model by Colorata)

3.7 (3 votes)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

When it comes to chondrichthyes, the sharks always come up at the top of the popularity lists. In fact, whenever a toy company makes a fish figure, it’s always almost going to be a shark, usually a great white shark. Their cousins, the rays and chimaeras, are not so lucky in terms of treatment, and the luckiest non-shark chondrichthian to receive figure treatment is the largest of the rays and largest fish that isn’t a shark alive today, the manta ray.

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Giant Armadillo (Authentics Rainforest by Safari Ltd.)

Name(s): Giant armadillo, Priodontes, Priodontes maximus Brand: Safari Ltd. Classification: Mammals, Sloths, Anteaters & Armadillos Type: Figurine Range: South America

3 (4 votes)

Originally I was going to cover another bird in my next review but then it hit me, I haven’t reviewed a mammal since April with the Safari Great Lakes Toob, and I haven’t reviewed a standalone mammal figure since November 2019! So, to remedy that fact I decided it’s mammal time and that I would have to cover at least one before moving on to my more traditional subjects.

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Short-beaked Echidna (Southlands Replicas)

Name(s): short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus, Tachyglossus aculeatus Brand: Southlands Replicas Classification: Mammals, Monotremes Type: Figurine Range: Oceania

5 (3 votes)

Review by Lanthanotus; edited by bmathison1972

If there are oddballs amongst mammals (and there certainly are), the monotremes are heavy competitors for first place. The order Monotremata includes only five extant species, all of which are threatened to different degress. Most popular is the improbable platypus which was first thought to be a faux by those Europeans who only knew it from imported, stuffed specimens.

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White Tigress Roaring (AAA)

Name(s): Panthera, Panthera tigris, tiger Brand: AAA Classification: Carnivorans, Cats, Mammals Type: Figurine

1.6 (5 votes)

Among the modern cats, none are bigger than the tiger, and famous among these is the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). The stripes on each being an individuals’ fingerprint, and the orange hiding it in the forests of India. But every so often, one is born heavier and larger than others, as well as lacks the vibrant orange, but instead a bright white.

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Moorish Idol (Saltwater Fish in Colour Part 1 by Yujin)

Name(s): Moorish idol, Zanclus, Zanclus cornutus Brand: Yujin Classification: Fish, Surgeonfish & kin Type: Figurine Range: Indian Ocean, Oceania, Pacific Ocean

5 (2 votes)

Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972

When it comes to reef fish, no species is as distinct and instantly recognizable as the Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus). They are included on almost every ocean-related merchandise and media out there: from towels, utensils, coins and one even was a character in the 2003 Disney/Pixar movie Finding Nemo.

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Ladybug (Wild Animals by Papo)

Name(s): Coccinella, Coccinella septempunctata, seven-spotted lady beetle Brand: Papo Classification: Arthropods, Beetles, Insects Type: Figurine Range: Asia, Europe, North America

4.3 (3 votes)

In 2016, Papo released their first two arthropods, a European wolf spider (a.k.a., tarantula) and a fat-tailed scorpion, which probably represent the best spider and scorpion figures outside of Japan (and the wolf spider may just be the best spider figure, period!). For someone like me who, at the time, only collected arthropods, this was a welcome sign!

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Dolphin (Authentics Sealife by Safari Ltd.)

Name(s): common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops, Tursiops truncatus Brand: Safari Ltd. Classification: Mammals, Whales & Dolphins Type: Figurine

3 (2 votes)

Among the animals of the world known for intelligence, one of the top three is the dolphin. These crafty cetaceans are known to be playful, agile and inventive, learning to deal with their ever changing world in many ways, like using river banks and bubbles to hunt. These clever critters do suffer as a result of humans, whether caught in nets, polluted oceans or captured to be used for our entertainment.

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Red Swamp Crayfish (Living Things Series by Fujimi Mokei)

Name(s): Procambrus, Procambrus clarkii, red swamp crayfish Brand: Fujimi Mokei Classification: Arthropods, Crustaceans Type: Figurine, Kit Range: Asia, North America

4.7 (3 votes)

Today I am reviewing a model kit by Fujimi Mokei in their Living Things Series collection. The subject of the review is the red swamp crayfish (also called the Louisiana crayfish), Procambrus clarkii, which is No. 24 in the series. The kit was released earlier this year. Forum member Isurus reviewed another model kit in this series, the Chinese mantis, although that review featured a walkaround of the final, painted product whereas mine will take the reader on a step-by-step assembly process!

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Black Rhinoceros, 2008 (Wild Life by Schleich)

Name(s): black rhinoceros, Diceros, Diceros bicornis Brand: Schleich Classification: Mammals, Rhinoceroses Type: Figurine

4.4 (7 votes)

Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972

2020 seems to be the year of the rhino on this blog with the Schleich 2018 Indian rhinoceros and the Safari Ltd 2010 white rhinoceros being the first two to be featured. The black rhino (Diceros bicornis) makes its debut for this review.

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Père David’s Deer (Wildlife by CollectA)

Name(s): Elaphurus, Elaphurus davidianus, Père David's deer Brand: CollectA Classification: Deer, Mammals Type: Figurine

4.5 (8 votes)

When it comes describing CollectA’s choice of species to produce, it starts to sound like a broken record. But true to their mission statement, they continue to mine the long list of unique and often obscure animals that no one had paid attention to and bring them up to the spotlight.

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Giant Panda, right front paw up (AAA)

Name(s): Ailuropoda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, Giant panda Brand: AAA Classification: Bears, Carnivorans, Mammals Type: Figurine

4.5 (2 votes)

When one thinks of animal conservation, the image of one rare animal will often pops into mind: the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). The symbol of the World Wildlife Federation, this magnificent bear nearly became extinct in the wild, but fortunately, it is in a better state than it was, now listed as venerable, so it can continue to live carefree, bamboo eating lives.

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Butterflies to Go (Club Earth)

5 (1 votes)

I recently completed a Holy Grail collection, so I thought to share it on the Blog. I am referring to the Butterflies to Go collection by Club Earth. I am not sure when it was released, but it was probably alongside the classic Play Visions collections in the late 1990s. The set consists of 12 species of butterflies.

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