The northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) is among the most widespread otariids of the North Pacific. This species, like other ”fur seals”, is more closely related to sea lions than to ”true seals”. This species is mostly pelagic, living across the North Pacific, Bering Sea, and Sea of Okhotsk.
Reindeer, Special Holiday Edition 2022 (Schleich)
3 (4 votes)
Review and images by Saarlooswolfhound; edited by bmathison1972
Happy Holidays everybody! How ever you choose to celebrate this season, I hope that you choose to include some plastic animal figures to enjoy. They always seem to brighten my holidays! This year I have selected the new 2022 Schleich special edition reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) #72189 to present here.
Apache Trout (Marsh Education by Safari Ltd.)
4.7 (6 votes)
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 (4 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 (Hidden Kingdom 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.