During the last Ice Age most of Canada and the northern United States would have been covered in a sheet of ice while the American southwest would have been lush, wet, and cool. A far cry from the comparatively hot, dry, and parched land of the modern southwest. It was the warming climate at the end of the Ice Age that would alter much of the southwest but small islands of temperate climates and rich biodiversity are still present in high elevation mountain ranges and wetlands.
Colorado Pikeminnow (Marsh Education by Safari Ltd.)
5 (6 votes)
To the layman, minnow is a catchall term for any small fish, including the baby fish of larger species. But scientifically, a minnow is a specific kind of fish belonging to the families Cyprinidae and Leucisidae (which until recently was lumped together with the Cyprinidae family) and the size of the fish is not at all a factor.
Caterpillars to Go (Club Earth)
3.2 (6 votes)
Nearly two years ago to the day, I reviewed Club Earth’s Butterflies to Go collection after acquiring the last figures for that Holy Grail collection. Now today I get to do the same thing for the Caterpillars to Go collection, again having received the last figure in this Holy Grail Collection.
Turkey (Mojö Woodland by Mojö Fun)
4.5 (8 votes)
Thanks to the American holiday of Thanksgiving*, the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is the most reviewed bird on the ATB** with (counting this one) five reviews in total. This one is my 3rd contribution, but I fear it is my last. My previous reviews covered turkeys produced in plush and ceramic, but I’ve finally acquired a plastic representative for my own collection and have no aspirations to acquire any more.
Cob, Black Tobiano, rearing (Horses by Mojö Fun)
4.3 (3 votes)
Review and images by Harecraft Horses; edited by bmathison1972
My first must-buy of Mojö’s horses this year was the rearing cob, a really good addition to the range to complete the family – even though they already had a mare and youngster, the new rearing pose for the stallion means he’s plenty different to the others, and that he’s fun for photography as well as play.
Canada Goose (Wild Animals by Papo)
4.3 (6 votes)
Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
If you had to name the most fearless and ferocious bird in the world, which one would you choose? The great horned owl, which regularly preys on hawks and other owls larger than itself? The harpy eagle, which boasts the biggest talons of any bird of prey and can carry off a 15-pound sloth?
Black Widow (Smithsonian Insects by Safari Ltd.)
3.5 (2 votes)
So for my Halloween blog review, which I regret is my only one this year, I will be covering the Smithsonian Insects black widow (Latrodectus mactans) by Safari Ltd., originally produced back in 1998. One of my Halloween reviews last year was also L. mactans, but a novelty toy specifically sold as Halloween decor.
Gray Wolf (Wild Animals by Papo)
4.5 (6 votes)
Rounding out my spooky animal reviews for October it’s time to look at one of the many renditions of the gray wolf (Canis lupis), an animal whose history is intricately woven into our own like few other animals. For much of human history, the wolf would have been a competitor and potential predator of humans.
Townsends’s Big-eared Bat (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd.)
5 (5 votes)
Walk-around of the Safari Ltd. Incredible Creatures Townsend’s big-eared bat, Corynorhinus (Plecotus) townsendii Cooper, 1837, originally released in 2013. Really, I could not think of a better bat replica! Snout-vent length is approx. 90 mm plus 45 mm tail, wingspan measures approx. 275 mm in direct line but would stretch out to approx.
Barn Spider (North Coast Creations)
4.3 (3 votes)
Today’s review is significant in a couple of ways. For one, it’s October, which means it is now spooky season on the blog. A time to focus our reviews on the creepy critters usually associated with Halloween. It also just so happens to be my 100th review. Coming up with a sentimental or special figure to review, that also ties in with our seasonal theme, seemed like such an impossible task that I almost gave up on it.
Coyote (Wild Safari North American Wildlife by Safari Ltd)
4.7 (10 votes)
It was an early spring evening in 1999, in central New York. I was doing what I did most evenings back then, sitting quietly on the bank of an active beaver pond with a VHS camcorder in hand, waiting for whatever wildlife might stroll by. Off in the distance I could hear a pack of coyotes (Canis latrans), a chorus of high-pitched barks and yips.
Spiny Lobster (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd.)
5 (4 votes)
Walk-around of the California spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus (Randall, 1840) by Safari LTD, Incredible Creatures, released in 2018. The figure is not marketed at the species level, but given its morphology, color, and that it was originally hinted at being North American, P. interruptus is the most-likely candidate.
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
4.4 (7 votes)
The Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) is a member of the family Delphinidae that can be found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the Atlantic. Calves are born unspotted, and spots don’t appear until 3-4 years of age, on average. More spots appear as the dolphin ages and physically mature dolphins have the heaviest spotting, although the amount of spotting can still vary between individuals.
Tiger Salamander (Wild Republic by K&M International)
4.5 (2 votes)
Review and images by stemturtle; edited by bmathison1972
Eastern tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum (K&M). Length is 10.5 inches or 27 cm.
This figure is made of soft rubber. The paint did not hold up well to my granddaughter’s play, so I touched-up the green spots.
Appaloosa Stallion, Blue Roan (Horse Country by CollectA)
5 (5 votes)
Review and images by Harecraft Horses; edited by bmathison1972
This is, as I’m sure all CollectA horse fans will recognise, an older mould re-released in a brand new colour for 2022.
Here he is alongside two of the older releases on the mould; the original Black Appaloosa Stallion from 2010, and the Buckskin Appaloosa (sometimes listed as Light Brown Appaloosa Stallion) from 2021.