The Curious Compendium 2023-2025: The end!

[sbell]

Hey! You slipped a whitefish in there!

Salmonids, but totally different clade (Coregoninae)!

But that reminds me that I never did get my hands on the other Bullyland trout (which is very obviously a brown trout, an actual European species.

It's funny that of all of the possibilities, they put one north american species in, and it's a brook trout.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Thanks for the heads up Sean! In this case, I was referring to the Salmonidae page on the ATW: https://toyanimalwiki.mywikis.wiki/wiki/Salmonidae

I can let editors know that its in the wrong spot. Thanks again!

[sbell]

Thanks for the heads up Sean! In this case, I was referring to the Salmonidae page on the ATW: https://toyanimalwiki.mywikis.wiki/wiki/Salmonidae

I can let editors know that its in the wrong spot. Thanks again!

I mean, technically a relative, but not a trout. Salmonidae is correct, but there would be a greater distinction between whitefish and trout (two separate subfamilies) than between trout and salmon  (same subfamily)

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Ah, so its not in the trout/salmon family strictly speaking but it is a relative. Thanks for explaining!

[Gwangi]

Whitefish belong to Coregoninae, trout and salmon to Salmoninae. 

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Seahorses!





Leafy seadragons are the official emblem of Southern Australia. Along with their seaweed like appendages, they can also change color to help camoflage themselves. They do not have teeth nor a stomach organ- this means they must eat constantly to stay alive. They are currently listed as near threatened due to habitat destruction, pollution, and the pet/aquarium trade.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Whale sharks!



Their spot patterns act like fingerprints as the arrangement is unique to each. They also have quite thick skin- up to 30 cm/12 in in some places. They are filter feeders with 3,000 microteeth which help them filter feed. Despite their reputation of being very docile, you still want to be careful when fiving around them; their size means they can pack a punch even on accident.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Another grouping of my favorite predatory fish!



The northern pike is one of the fastest growing freshwater species and can live up to 20 years and can grow to 40 inches! These predators camoflage themselves by staying very still for long periods of time and can then burst into speeds of 8-10mph to snatch prey; mostly fish, frogs, crustaceans, insects, and small mammals and birds. Even blind pike can hunt successfully using their lateral lines to locate and grab prey. In areas where they are both found, pike and muskellunge have been known to hybridize.

[BlueKrono]

What is the stout green one in the middle? Looks like maybe a repaint?

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Yes, that was a repaint project from a few years ago on a vintage mould figure (not a vintage figure but a mould that's been used for decades). It wasn't a perfect fit for a pike but the project ended up a success anyway as it was my first try at using metallic colors!

[sbell]

Yes, that was a repaint project from a few years ago on a vintage mould figure (not a vintage figure but a mould that's been used for decades). It wasn't a perfect fit for a pike but the project ended up a success anyway as it was my first try at using metallic colors!

I wondered the same thing. With a small tweak to the face (and pelvic fins) it almost looks like the related mudminnow (different colors of course)

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Interesting! I am going to have to read more on those.

More sharks! Lemons and leopards.



Lemon sharks are very social and are known to make close bonds with other specific lemon shark individuals. After a gestation of 12 months, they can birth (they are viviparious sharks) up to 17 pups in a litter. Individuals also have an established home range and seem to prefer to return a particular area periodically (as if they have locations they consider home).

[bmathison1972]

lemons and leopards? Sounds like a real sour puss!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

That actually made me laugh out loud (the grouping was purely unintentional but I love the pun!)

A double posting just for kicks!
Sawfish and guitarfish!



Bowmouth guitarfish may look shark-like but they are classified as rays given their gills and mouth are on the underside of their bodies. These gals are ovoviviparous and gestate for about a year. Sadly, these animals are critically endangered due to overfishing and habitat degredation.

And some more of my freshwater faves!



Chinese sturgeon are one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world. Sturgeons date back as far as 140 million years; this species can grow to a surplus of 16 feet long and 1,300 lbs. Again, these animals are also critically endangered due to overfishing, dam construction, and water pollution.

Another story about fish I'd like to share: On my very same field trip to the Bonneville fish hatchery as a kid, I got the chance to meet a literal dinosaur (as far as I am concerned). Walking up to the glass where there was only a mere 3 inches between us, it is still an incredible memory for me that I met such an amazing animal that to my pintsize form at the time seemed enormous!

Herman the (white) sturgeon is still to this day one of my favorite animals I have ever met (twice now- hopefully many more meetings to come!). He is enormous, has a well documented history, has been attacked and survived multiple life threatening events, and is just a really neat animal. If you'd like to read more about him, you can here.

But just all in all, he is an incredible ambassador animal and really made an impression on me that will last my lifetime. I have some photos of him somewhere I will try to find...

[Saarlooswolfhound]

mixed sharks: Sand tiger, crocodile, silky, bull, nurse, and gray reef sharks!





Sand tiger sharks (also known as ragged tooth sharks and gray nurse sharks) are the only known shark that gulps surface air not for breathing, but to maintain their buoyancy. These guys are pretty long lived- able to reach 40 years old! They reproduce slowly, only having one or two pups every 2-3 years, and are relatively slow swimming/low activity species. Their teeth are still visible even when their mouth is closed, but despite their menacing appearance, they are known to be quite calm sharks and a very low threat to humans.

[sbell]

I'm pretty sure, despite the label, that the Safari toob 'gray reef sharks' are actually crocodile sharks. There's a larger figure of the same species that looks exactly the same (and gray reef sharks have a far more typical carcharhinid look to them)

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I'm pretty sure, despite the label, that the Safari toob 'gray reef sharks' are actually crocodile sharks. There's a larger figure of the same species that looks exactly the same (and gray reef sharks have a far more typical carcharhinid look to them)

Ok, this was another silly mistake on my part! The gray reef I am referring to is the actual marketed one by Safari in the bottom right corner. But you are right, when I was posting this last night I somehow missed listing the 2 toob species on the middle row left: two crocodile sharks and a silky shark. Whoops! I adjusted the description.

[sbell]

I'm pretty sure, despite the label, that the Safari toob 'gray reef sharks' are actually crocodile sharks. There's a larger figure of the same species that looks exactly the same (and gray reef sharks have a far more typical carcharhinid look to them)

Ok, this was another silly mistake on my part! The gray reef I am referring to is the actual marketed one by Safari in the bottom right corner. But you are right, when I was posting this last night I somehow missed listing the 2 toob species on the middle row left: two crocodile sharks and a silky shark. Whoops! I adjusted the description.

And I didn't notice the silky! Don't you have the larger one from last year yet?

Won't ask about the large crocodile shark. It's been oop for about 10 years and can be tricky to find

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I don't yet have their big silky shark but I really should make a Safari order soon! I have a frw stragglers from the year before I need to snag too. I would *love* to find the big croc shark too and have missed out on some ebay auctions but someday it will come along! But I am still fishing for one if anyone notices a listing somewhere...

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Mixed fish species!



The loach minnow is native to Arizona and New Mexico where, sadly, it is now endangered due to habitat loss, water diversion, and the introduction if nonnative species. They are adapted to live in fast running waters like rivers and streams; they use their ventrally flattened body, downward turned mouth, and large, flat pectoral fins to stay on the bottom and hoover up their prey. They are opportunistic insectivores who instead of pursuing food items usually let them be driven to them while they rest on the river bottom. They only live 1-2 years, and the colors presented on this Safari model reflect a male in vibrant breeding season colors.