The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is the largest frog species native to North America and a member of the Ranidae, or true frog, family. Bullfrogs are native to most of eastern North America but have been introduced elsewhere in North America and around the world. Bullfrogs are bold and voracious feeders, eating anything that moves in front of them that they can fit in their mouths.
Dolphins TOOB (Safari Ltd.)
4.8 (8 votes)
Oceanic dolphins are among the most fascinating and exciting group of marine mammals. Delphinidae are the most species-rich family of extant cetaceans, with roughly 35 recognized extant species. This lineage arose roughly 10-17 million years ago during the Miocene, branching off from its common ancestor with porpoises and monodontids. This family is very diverse, ranging from the Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) that maxes out at 1.6 meters and 60 kilograms, to the killer whale (Orcinus orca) that can surpass 9 meters and 9 metric tons.
Tiger, pair (Noah’s Pals by Caboodle! Toys LLC)
3.3 (3 votes)
“Tyger, Tyger, burning bright,
In the forest of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Can frame thy fearful symmetry?” The Tyger, William Blake, 1794
This poem, used in the Songs of Experience by William Blake, was a counterpoint of the Songs of Innocence poem, The Lamb, and you can see why.
Serval (Wild Rush 01 by Kaiyodo)
4.8 (5 votes)
Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972
When it comes to cats on the African savanna, those that comes to mind to most people are the lions, leopards, and cheetahs. There are other cats that people don’t think off, like the caracal or the subject of this review, the serval (Leptailurus serval).
Honey Bee (Wild Animals by Papo)
4 (2 votes)
The honey bee. Apis mellifera. Probably the most iconic insect in human history. Surprisingly, not commonly made in toy form, at least not at the species level by manufacturers of collectible animal models (almost every ‘bin-style’ set of toy bugs has a generic bee, however). Also, when bees are made, they are rarely super accurate models; I suppose it is because it is such a familiar animal, it is easily recognizable with minimal effort (sort of like an elephant; it doesn’t have to be a good elephant, but a smooth, gray mammal with a trunk, pair of tusks, and big floppy ears will be immediately recognizable as an elephant).
Atlantic Wolffish (Wild Water Series by Yowie Group)
4 (2 votes)
Review and images by Lanthanotus; edited by bmathison1972
Today I want you to introduce to a really nasty looking fish, the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) or seawolf. Few people know this fish, although a lot have probably eaten it as part of those fish dishes that do not specify a certain species of fish, as the famous “fish and chips” on the British Islands for example.
American Bullfrog (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd.)
5 (3 votes)
The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is an iconic American animal. A fixture in still, shallow water portions of swamps, rivers, marshes, lakes, and ponds. Anyone out enjoying a summer night within its range is no doubt familiar with its deep, bellowing, “Jug-O-Rum” call.
Robust Cicada (Insects of Japan Vol. 1 by Yujin)
Marbled Flounder, Greater Amberjack, Splendid Alfonsino, Alaskan Pollock & Largehead Hairtail (Primary Saltwater Fish by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.)
5 (3 votes)
Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972
Over the last few years, various companies have given us a whole slew of fish figures: Yujin with their accurate depictions of the Finding Nemo characters, along with some obscure species like the pineapple fish in their first Saltwater Fish in Colour set; Kaiyodo pumping out obscure fish species like the dorado, Kidako moray, and the Clark’s anemone fish for their Aquatales lines; Colorata with their various fish sets: the Fossil Fish and Deep Sea Fish sets are two examples; Safari Ltd.
Sea Otter, pair (Monterey Bay Aquarium by Safari Ltd.)
3.5 (4 votes)
Today’s item will mark the blog’s first post on otters, as we’re covering the sea otter (Enhydra lutris). Sea otters are part of the Lutrinae subfamily of mustelids that includes all of the genera of otters. Three subspecies are recognized between the Asian sea otter in Russia and northern Japan, the northern sea otter in Alaska, and the southern sea otter in California.
Pronghorn (Wildlife by Mojö Fun)
2.8 (4 votes)
In nature, anachronisms are an interesting mystery. Why do Lemurs cry out in terror of birds that won’t attack them? Why do avocados’ have such large seeds? Why do the trees of New Zealand have sharp leaves as saplings? The animal of this review has an intriguing be partially useful anachronism, the pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), an animal looking like an antelope or deer, but actually being closer related genetically to giraffe and okapi.
Endangered Species Reptiles Box (Colorata)
3.8 (4 votes)
Review and images by Lanthanotus; edited by bmathison1972
Colorata is a Japanese company that has been around for several decades. The internet and global market made their models available to the world outside Asia and the quality of their products made them desirable collector items. A lot of Colorata’s figures have been released as parts of a box, set, of which there are quite a lot to choose from, “fossil fish”, birds of prey, sharks, dinosaurs, cats and a lot more.
Reef Squid (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd.)
4.8 (5 votes)
The reef squid, also known as the Caribbean reef squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea) is a small member of the Loliginidae (pencil squid) family. At first, it might seem like a somewhat random addition to Safari’s Incredible Creatures line, just one out of over 300 squid species and with nothing particularly remarkable about it.
Grasshopper (Wild Animals by Papo)
4.5 (2 votes)
Today I am continuing my review of the 2020 Papo invertebrates with their grasshopper figure. First, we should discuss the possible identity of the species. Given the shape (especially head shape), color, and that France-based Papo likes to focus on its local fauna, I am identifying the figure as the common green grasshopper, Omocestus viridulus.
Mountain Gorilla, baby (Wildlife by CollectA)
4.2 (5 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.