And another six inch figure from Replica Toy Fish. This time it’s a hybrid species, the tiger muskellunge or tiger muskie, Esox lucius x masquinongy or Esox masquinongy x lucius (it depends on on which the male is, indicated first). The tiger muskie, as indicated by the species name, is a hybrid animal animal with northern pike and muskellunge parents, and are usually sterile.
Northern Pike (6 Inch Series by Replica Toy Fish)
4.9 (12 votes)
Back with another of the larger figures from Replica Toy Fish, this time the ‘six inch’ northern pike Esox lucius. This is a species that is familiar throughout a broad Holarctic range in cool waters across North America, Europe, and Russia, plus populations have been introduced in other areas as well.
Caiman (Wild Animals by Papo)
5 (17 votes)
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
Caimans are members of the alligator family that reside in Central and South America. There are presently six living species ranging in size from the 1.4 metre-long Cuvier’s dwarf caiman, which is the smallest living crocodilian, to the 5 metre-long black caiman, which is the largest member of Alligatoridae.
Northwoods Fish Set Part 1: Smallmouth Bass, Brook Trout, Walleye (Replica Toy Fish)
4.7 (16 votes)
I’m back with another look at some Replica Toy Fish models. Last time was the 6″ channel catfish figure, this time I’ll be looking at one of the initial sets of three inch figures. There were two sets of six, but I will split them into two posts of three figures just to keep them a little shorter!
Giant Anteater (Wild Rush 02 by Kaiyodo)
4.7 (13 votes)
Review and images by Sam; edited by bmathison1972
The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is an animal of unusual proportions. These insectivorous mammals are native to the tropical rainforests and grasslands of Central and South America, and in Brazil, they are known as tamanduá-bandeira, which translates to “flag anteater,” a reference to their big, fanlike tail.
White-tailed Deer, Buck 2012 (Wild Safari North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)
4.6 (9 votes)
In May 2016 the President of the United States signed the National Bison Legacy Act, making the North American bison the official National Mammal of the United States. I think they made the wrong choice and should have gone with the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) instead. Hear me out.
Pig Family Playset (Toymany)
5 (6 votes)
Before I start this review, I must again thank @Kenc and the folks at Toymany for gifting me this set as a review sample for the Blog!
The set we are looking at today consists of eight figures of domestic pigs. There are four sculpts: 1) sow, standing; 2) boar, sitting; 3) piglet, resting; and 4) piglet, standing.
Channel Catfish (6 Inch Series by Replica Toy Fish)
4.9 (9 votes)
I guess it’s been too long since a fish review…or maybe I just realized it would be good to start reviewing the long-lost series of figures from Replica Toy Fish (RTF). For those not aware, this was a company that existed from around 2010 to 2017 or so. In that time, several wonderful fish models were made, focused almost exclusively on freshwater North American species, primarily ones familiar to anglers (that was the originally conceived target market…don’t get me started).
Frogs Figurines Playset (Toymany)
5 (8 votes)
Today I will be presenting a brief overview of the 2024 Frogs collection by Toymany, which was kindly gifted as a review sample by @Kenc and the folks at Toymany for the Blog. This was intended to be posted yesterday when the set was announced, but I was traveling for work so it’s coming up a day late.
Sea Lion (Sealife by CollectA)
5 (6 votes)
Review and images by Sam; edited by bmathison1972
Sea lions are some of the most popular sea animals on the planet. Often confused with true seals (Phocidae), they are classified as eared seals (Otariidae). These playful creatures are known for their remarkable swimming behavior and their social behavior and loud vocalizations.
Common Raven (Wild Life Europe/Forest Life by Schleich)
5 (7 votes)
Happy Halloween! I got the special date this year, so I’m bringing you thrills and chills…in the form of the Schleich common raven, Corvus corax, item number 14241. The way ravens are closely tied to all things sinister and spooky was already well-covered a few years ago, an animal well-established throughout the northern hemisphere.
Bats (Play Visions)
5 (3 votes)
There are two mammals, or perhaps broadly groups of mammals, that exemplify Halloween. One is the black cat. The other is the bat. Bats have a long history in human folklore, tradition, and fictional literature and cinema. In North America, the Creek, Cherokee, and Apache viewed the bat as a trickster god.
Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog (Wild Animals by Papo)
5 (3 votes)
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
While toads have long been associated with witchcraft and the occult due to their unpleasing appearances (to some) and the toxins they excrete from their backs, they have nothing on the poison dart frogs of Central and South America in terms of lethality.
Tobacco Hornworm (Accoutrements)
4 (3 votes)
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Hard to believe my first two Halloween-inspired posts this year would be sphingid moths, not a group of animals typically associated with being scary, spooky, or dangerous. But after having very recently acquired this big bad beast, I had to channel my inner Shobijin and summon it for the Blog!
Sea Lamprey (Great Lakes Fishery Commission by Safari Ltd)
5 (7 votes)
Back in time for Halloween with our scary animals! Some are traditionally ‘Halloween’ animals, but this one is more in the spirit…one that rightly feels disturbing and causes nightmares in some places for real. I am speaking of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, one of those animals that just seems appropriately creepy for the season.