Review and images by callmejoe3; edited by bmathison1972
Among the various impressive macropredators in the ocean, the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), is among the most powerful and strangest. The tiger shark belongs to the Carcharhinidae family, often referred to as the “requiem sharks”. The Galeocerdo genus was once diverse, but the tiger shark remains the only extant species within this clade.
The order Carnivora has had some interesting members over the millennia. From wolves to sabre-toothed cats, they have filled the world with variety, often being apex predators in their regions. They even lay claim to the oceans, becoming adept aquatic agents, capable of chasing and killing prey (hopefully without being caught by even more adapted predators, like sharks and whales).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
It was August 16th, 2004, a dry hot and sunny day. I was working as a farmhand in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. On that particular day I was driving a tractor down an old dusty dirt lane running between two pastures used for grazing beef cattle. The tractor was an Allis Chalmers WD model produced some time in the 1940-50’s.
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!
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.
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.
It’s that time of year again, when the United States celebrates Thanksgiving and everything relating to the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and its domesticated counterparts. Last year I missed the opportunity to review a specimen of this highly symbolic bird but I’ve come prepared this year. This turkey is part of the Wild Republic Audubon Birds line of plush birds that emit authentic vocalizations provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
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.
