So, today is my birthday. I was thinking of doing something special for my B-day, but I could not could not come up with anything creative. I started looking at the numerical date (4-2-1972) and applying it to my collection database (for example, the fourth tab, second clade, line 1972), but I could not find a logistical way to do it.
Tsuchinoko (Sofubi Toybox by Kaiyodo)
5 (3 votes)
Review and images by stargatedalek; edited by bmathison1972
Editor’s Comment: We are posting this in appreciation of April Fool’s Day. However, please note that fantasy creatures in general will not be accepted for potential Blog reviews, except for fun occasions such as this or after Admin/Editor approval.
The Tsuchinoko is a small pit viper native to southern Japan.
Alpine Salamander (NaturimBild.at)
5 (2 votes)
Review and photos by Lanthanotus; edited by bmathison1972
Being new to the blog I decided to go with something very European… [editor’s note: Lanthanotus may be new to the Animal Toy Blog, but he is a regular reviewer for the Dinosaur Toy Blog]
The Alpine Salamander (Salamandra atra) is a livebearing, totally terrestrial species restricted to the Middle-European Alps and parts of the Dinarides.
Wild Boar (Wild Life by Schleich)
4.6 (11 votes)
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
The pugnacious wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the most widespread and numerous of the wild pigs, with a natural range spanning most of Europe and Asia. It’s also a destructive invasive species in the Americas and Australia, unfortunately. And just as the grey wolf gave rise to the domestic dog, the wild boar gave rise to the domestic pig, thus making it one of the more significant beasts in human history.
Snowy Owl (Wild Life by Schleich)
5 (3 votes)
A couple days ago we had a random Spring snow storm, so I took advantage and snapped a few pics of a species that would normally be home in such a climate, the snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus. What is interesting, I posted the first review on the blog and that figure was Schleich’s tawny owl.
Tropical Rain Forest Frogs, Part 2 (Real Figure Collection Box by Colorata)
3 (2 votes)
This is the second part of a two-part review of the Tropical Rain Forest Frogs collection box by Colorata. Part 1 covered the Neotropical species. This second part covers the African, Madagascan, and Asian species.
Each figure is a single, solid piece of plastic. Five of the figures in the set come with a habitat-style base, three of which appear to be permanently attached to the base.
Tropical Rain Forest Frogs, Part 1 (Real Figure Collection Box by Colorata)
2.7 (3 votes)
When researching the frog species in the recent Capsule Q Museum release by Kaiyodo, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that 14 of the 16 figures in the Tropical Rain Forest Frogs collection box by Colorata were new species for me! I decided to buy a complete set, as paying for a whole set for 14 figures is still more cost-effective than hunting down individual figures of interest.
African Leopard, 2007 (Wild Life by Schleich)
3.5 (6 votes)
Review and images by spacelab; edited by bmathison1972
The Leopard. One of the most iconic wild-life animals and without a doubt one of the prettiest predators in the world. A wild cat with beautiful body structure, power and flexibility, that became a cult symbol, having also enormous presence in the pop/rock culture, especially in the 70’s.
Red Fox, 2008 (Wild Safari North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4 (4 votes)
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
What it lacks in size and strength, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) more than makes up for in cunning and versatility. It is one of the most widespread of all canids, occurring naturally throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, and as an invasive species in Australia.
Ocean Sunfish (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
4.3 (6 votes)
When we think of the big ocean fishes it’s the billfishes, tuna, and sharks that typically come to mind. Strong, sleek, torpedo shaped apex predators. But one of the largest bony fishes in the sea strays far from that mold. The ocean sunfish (Mola mola) can reach 2,205lbs (1,000 kg) and in appearance looks like an enormous disembodied fish head with fins but no tail, and that’s basically what it is.
Right Whale (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
4.1 (9 votes)
Walk-around of the Safari Wild Safari Sealife 2017 Right Whale, Eubalaena sp.; item No. 2042-29. Total length is approx. 233 mm so the scale is between approx. 1:47 and 1:80 for an animal of 11-18.5 m total length. Human figure (man in suit by Preiser, last image) is approx.
White Rhinoceros, 2016 (2010) (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4.5 (6 votes)
Today I am presenting one of my favorite ‘large mammals’. As a kid growing up in Phoenix, one of my favorite animals to see at the Phoenix Zoo was the white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum. As with most large, familiar animals, this species is no stranger to toy form.
Red Kangaroo, female with joey (Wild Life by Schleich)
5 (4 votes)
Review and photos by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
Kangaroo reproduction is truly astounding. A mother gives birth after only 33 days of gestation, upon which the jellybean-sized, underdeveloped neonate crawls blindly from the vagina to the pouch. Once inside, it latches on to a teat and continues to grow until it is finally ready to leave the pouch for good after about 235 days.
Dust Mite (Wolff Marketing Group, Inc.)
5 (1 votes)
Today I am reviewing a rather unusual figure. It is a model of a dust mite sold in a snow globe-type display! The figure was produced by Wolff Marketing Group, Inc. for the allergy medication Zyrtec (which was first manufactured by Pfizer but is now sold by by Johnson & Johnson – I am not sure how old the figure is, so I am not sure which company this figure was produced for).
Tasmanian Devil (Wildlife by CollectA)
5 (4 votes)
Review and photographs by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
Contrary to what was shown in Looney Toons, a Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) doesn’t have brown fur, doesn’t have a short muzzle or tufts of fur resembling horns, doesn’t walk upright, and doesn’t travel around by spinning rapidly like a tornado.