Review and images by Alopias superciliosus; edited by bmathison1972
I appreciate Shark Week on the Animal Toy Blog far more than I do the actual shark week programming on Discovery because the reviews on the Blog are more in line with what Shark Week should be and once was: an educational look at a fascinating group of animals, as opposed to over-dramatized, fear-mongering pseudo-science.
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
For Shark Week this year, I’m covering this charming plush hammerhead from BJ Toy Company. I acquired it back in 2009 when I visited the Memphis Zoo in Memphis, Tennessee. And it ended up coming in rather handy when my suitcase got lost on the flight back home.
Review and images by Sam; edited by bmathison1972
Three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes sp.) are truly remarkable creatures. They are known for its ability to roll into a complete ball when threatened, and are the only armadillo species that are capable of this, contrary to popular belief. They are closely related to sloths and anteaters in the superorder Xenarthra.
Review and images by ALeahgator; edited by bmathison1972
The emperor penguin, or Aptenodytes forsteri, is an iconic winter-themed animal and also a popular symbol of Antarctica. It would be hard to think of an animal more iconic of Earth’s polar regions, except for the woolly mammoth which is now extinct.
I thought I was done with reviews for spooky season this year but with only a few days left until Halloween I was determined to make sure this cutie was featured on the blog before season’s end. This is the death’s-head hawkmoth (genus Acherontia) by Squishable. Death’s-head hawkmoths seem to be all the rage this year.
Review and images by Sam; edited by bmathison1972
Just recently, I went on a vacation to New York City, where I was born and raised, and during this vacation, I visited the Staten Island Zoo, one of my favorite zoos of all time. To commemorate this trip, I knew I had to stop in the gift shop.
Edited by bmathison1972
The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the largest species of penguin in the world and also nearly everyone’s favorite. This small emperor penguin plush by Douglas Cuddle Toys has become my new favorite animal. Penguins are popular. Late 90s and early 2000s kids may remember Pingu the Penguin from PBS, and later in 2005 came the penguins from Madagascar–who can forget Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private?
For my first ATB review for 2024, I would like to review a very special plush Dachshund created by Douglas Cuddle Toys, which is one of my favorite toy companies. Douglas Cuddle Toys was founded in 1956 and has been making designer-quality stuffed animals ever since in Keene, New Hampshire. Douglas Cuddle Toys is probably best-known for their variety of breed-specific dogs and cats, so it is fitting that my new favorite is a Douglas dog.
Review and images by Fembrogon; edited by bmathison1972
The trouble with collectibles is you often have to act quickly – or, at least, not slowly – to get what you want. The same is true if you wish to share your find with others. A while back I visited a local reptile expo and found myself coming home with several critters – not real ones, sadly, but ones of the plastic and plush varieties, charming enough in their own way to win over me and my wallet.
What better creature to feature for spooky season than a parasitic blood sucking worm with important ties to antiquated and horrifying medical practices? Although there are 680 described species of leech what we’re looking at today is the European medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) which is the species most used in medical practices, as both the common and scientific name suggest.
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
Behold, I give you the biggest shark toy in my possession, the great white (Carcharodon carcharias) from Folkmanis! I came across this magnificent puppet in a local toy store more than fifteen years ago. I was in my mid-twenties at the time, single without any children, and the price tag was a hefty $89.99 Canadian.
The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is not an animal that you would expect to find an exhibit dedicated to at the zoo, but it is a fascinating North American animal that most of us probably have some familiarity with. Interestingly, opossums do not “play dead,” as many people say, implying a conscious choice, but rather enter a catatonic state when frightened by a predator, and anal glands produce an odor resembling the stink of a decomposing dead body.
