Plastic Boxer

WOOF!!!

Our Plastic Boxer Replica

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic boxer miniature is made of durable plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed fur and an attractive realistic pose. This boxer replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 2 1/2 inches long. A beautiful miniature replica in every way! Check out our other dog toys and gifts.

About Boxers

The boxer is a stocky medium-sized breed of domestic dog originally bred in Germany as a hunting and guard dog. Boxers range in weight from 55 - 70 pounds and have a typical lifespan of 10-12 years.

Boxers tend to be lively and friendly, although suspicious of strangers. This, combined with their natural strength, alertness, and agility make boxers delightful pets and formidable guard dogs. In addition to these roles, boxers have been used in many service roles, working with the blind, the elderly, and law enforcement. Even the military has made use of these versitile dogs as guards and messengers.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Bat Pins ~ Made in USA

It doesn't have to be Halloween to wear this fantastic pin!

Our Hand-Crafted Bat Pin

These gorgeous and unusual bat pins are made in Washington and Idaho by a team of U.S. artists. The high-quality lapel pins or oversized tie tacks are unique. They are exquisitely detailed; the quality of the painting elevates each pin to an item of wearable art. Each one is cast in pewter and painted by hand. You will be delighted with the professional quality and artistic details of your piece of fish jewelry. The finish is extremely smooth and shiny, as you can see by the highlight from the scanner. It is also extremely durable. The pin is secured by two sturdy tacks on the back so it stays upright, and the finished product is not only beautiful, but satisfyingly substantial in weight. It can be used as a lapel pin, hat pin, tie tack, and more. This collectible animal pin is heirloom quality, and the details are so realistic, they are found in museum gift shops and bought by organizations in need of the perfect animal to represent their group.

About Bats

The only mammal capable of true, sustainable flight, bats represent about 20% of all classified mammal species. About 70% of bats are insectivores, with most of the rest feeding predominantly on fruit. Very few species are non-insect carnivores, and the infamous vampire bat representing the only parasitic mammalian species.

Bats attain flight through a specialized webbing of skin between their legs and forward digits. Bats are capable of highly acrobatic and fast flight, in contrast to other "flying" mammals, such as flying squirrels, which glide rather than fly.

Bats feature prominently in popular fiction, folklore, and heraldry. The modern-day coat-of-arms of several Spanish and French cities feature bats, as well as the insignia of Royal Valentcia Yacht Club and two Spanish football clubs. The U.S. states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Virginia each have a official state bat.

 This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Doe

"Do...a deer...a fe-male deer!"

Our Plastic Doe

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic doe miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed fur and an attractive realistic pose. This deer replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 2 1/4 inches long, with dark brown fur. Check out our other deer and elk toys and gifts.

About Deer

Deer are herbivore mammals of the family Cervidae. Many species of deer exist on every continent except Australia and Antarctica, including the white-tailed, red, fallow, roe, chital, and Chinese water deer. Also included in the Family Cervidae are elk, moose, and reindeer. Deer typically weigh 70-600 pounds. They have slender frames and powerful legs, which make them exceptional runners, jumpers and swimmers. The earliest deer fossils date back to the Oligocene epoch, over 23 million years ago.

All male deer and female reindeer have antlers, bony forked appendages that grow from their heads. The only exception to this is the Chinese water deer, which has tusks. Antlers are shed and grow back annually. This makes them different from horns, which are permanent.

Deer have had a significant economic, cultural, and spiritual impact on humans throughout history. From the earliest European cave paintings to Walt Disney's movie "Bambi," Kate Seredy's book The White Stag, and Nintendo's Pokemon "Stantler," deer have captured our imagination. To this day, deer are pursued for sustenance, immortalized in heraldry and popular culture, and revered by belief systems old and new for their speed, strength, and nobility.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Geoffory Tufted-ear Marmoset

Check out this guy's funky hairdo!

Our Marmoset

This engaging-looking plastic Geoffory tufted-ear marmoset replica is made of solid plastic and stands on a branch. It is 2 inches tall. The color is somewhat imaginative since marmosets are generally gray with a ringed tail, but has distinctive highlights, especially the ears. Our marmoset miniature has a concerned expression but promises not to bite. This marmoset replica makes an interesting pet or gift and fits nicely into a shoebox diorama for a school project. Check out our other monkey toys and gifts.

About Marmosets

This Geoffory tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix geoffroyi) is an intelligent thick-furred monkey found in Brazil. Marmosets are highly active, living in the upper canopy of forest trees, and feeding on insects, fruit and leaves. They have long lower incisors, which allow them to chew holes in tree trunks and branches to harvest the gum inside. They also follow troops of army ants which force insects up tree trunks, making them easy prey. The Geoffrory tufted-ear marmoset is found often in zoos and breed there easily.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Barbary Macaque

The perfect addition to your jungle playset!

Our Plastic Barbary Macaque

This engaging-looking plastic macaque replica is made of solid plastic and stands on a branch. It is 2 inches long. The color is somewhat imaginative,but has distinctive highlights. Our barbary macaque miniature has a concerned expression but promises not to bite. This macaque replica makes an interesting pet or gift and fits nicely into a shoebox diorama for a school project. Check out our other monkey toys and gifts.

About Macaques

Macaques are a well-known species of primarily Old World monkeys. They are found as far North as Japan, but mainly are throughout hot temperate zones of Asia and Africa. The Barbary Macaque is diurnal and found mainly in Morroco and Algeria and has only a stub of a tail, which is vestigial. It is a hardy animal and lives in matriarchal groups of 10 to 30 individuals, feeding on fruits, roots, and leaves. It weighs up to 30 lbs., its front legs slightly longer than its rear legs and moves on all fours. It is both arboreal and terrestial.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Camel

This camel's back works better than my Camelbak, and I have to WEAR mine!

Our Plastic Camel

This plastic Bactrian camel looks quite real. Lines of the hair are moulded into the plastic. Made of solid plastic, it is sturdy and durable. The words "Bactrian Camel" are embossed on the underside. The length of 4 1/2 inches is measured from the nose to the bend in the tail, and the camel stands 3 1/2 inches tall. One of its humps is bent over at the top as if it had used up part of its fat supply. It comes with a small informational tag in French, Italian, Spanish, German, and English that says, "The Bactrian camel can withstand temperatures from -20 degrees F to 100 degrees F. After a drought, they can drink 29 gallons of water in only 10 minutes." (The information we found online said 18 gallons. Since we don't have a camel to test, let's just say it can drink a lot of water!) Made by Safari, Ltd., our camel is striking in form and detail, and will make a great addition to your collection. It is priced right for animal collectors, school projects, dioramas, and even for use as an educational children's toy.

About Bactarian Camels

The Bactrian (two-humped) camel lives in the cold, mountain and hight desert climates of Central Asia. It was domesticated over 4,500 years ago in an area called Bactria, near present-day Iran. The Bactrian's humps are filled with fat, not water, which is used to nourish the camel when there is little food or water. The Bactrian camel can go without water for long periods, drinking and storing up to 18 gallons (68 liters) at a time. The Bactrian camel can grow up to 11 feet long and 7 feet tall (at the shoulder) and weight up to 2,000 pounds. Although there are over 2 million domesticated Bactrian camels, the wild Bactrian camel is one of the world's rarest mammals. It is considered critically endangered with less than 1,000 remaining in the wild.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Skunk

"I am the lifeguard of love, no?"
Pepe le Pew

Our Plush Striped Skunk

Our 10-inch stuffed skunk is completely odor free and totally adorable. It has a wonderfully fluffy tail, soft felt claws that can't scratch, a soft felt nose, and shiny plastic eyes. To find more stuffed animals in the Fiesta line, or see a list of our entire inventory of stuffed animals, beanies and puppets, check out our Stuffed Animal Page.

About Striped Skunks

Contrary to what a popular french-accented cartoon skunk may have us believe, striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are found only in North America from the northern parts of Mexico up into Canada. Then again, it is possible that cartoon skunk is from the french speaking parts of Canada. Deserts, woodlands, grassy plains and suburbs within a 2 mile radius of a water source are the prefered habitat of these small cat-sized creatures. Their black coats with the white stripes running down either side of the back give them a very distinctive look. When threatened skunks prefer to run rather than fight. However, when cornered they turn their backs, click their teeth, stomp their feet and raise their long bushy tails. If this does not deter the attacker, as an absolutely last resort they will spray a noxious, oily, yellowish musk.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Black Bear

Another magnificent replica from Safari!

Our Plastic Black Bear

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic black bear miniature is made of hard plastic. This bear replica has elaborately detailed fur and claws and is painted black and tawny brown.. Our museum quality black bear toy is 4 1/2 inches long from nose to the back foot and is 2 1/2 inches high.This black bear makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. Our plastic black bear is excellent for science projects as well. Check out our other bear toys and gifts.

About Black Bears

The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is North America's smallest bear. They are a commonly found in the forest but will come out into inhabited areas to forage for food. American black bears can be distinguished from brown bears by their smaller size, their more concave profiles, their shorter claws and the lack of a shoulder hump. Adult males typically weigh between 125 and 550 lb, while females weigh less at 90–275 lb. Although called black bears, this animal can come in a number of colors such as light brown, cinnamon, dark brown, chocolate and jet black. Black bears are very territorial and mark trees with their scent. They are able climbers and excellent swimmers. They are omnivores and feed on plants, berries, and bugs, which they dig with their paws and nose.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Hippo

He doesn't look it, but he's an amazingly graceful swimmer!

Our Plastic Hippopotamus Replica

Our adorable plastic hippo measures 5 inches long from nose to tail. Notice the detailing of our hippo’s flat, paddle-like tail, feet with its webbed toes and thick skin which is virtually hairless. The texture and skin coloring of our hippo give it a realistic quality. Our plastic hippo is perfect for your diorama or for play in your imaginary African river or Safari scene. Our plastic hippo plays well with others and is low maintenance with no feeding or clean up required! See our other plastic African Safari animals in the various categories on our home page. We also have African animals on our Stuffed Animal page. This toy or model hippo is hollow and light weight, and therefore less likely than a heavier toy to break or damage items if thrown by small children. It will also float.

About Hippos

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse", is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other is the pygmy hippopotamus). The hippopotamus is the third largest land animal (after the elephant and the white rhinoceros) and the heaviest, despite being considerably shorter than the giraffe. The hippopotamus is recognizable by its barrel-shaped torso, enormous mouth and teeth, nearly hairless body, stubby legs and tremendous size. Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can easily outrun a human. Hippos have been clocked at 19 mph over short distances. The hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and is often regarded as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. There are an estimated 125,000 to 150,000 hippos throughout Sub-Saharan Africa; Zambia (40,000) and Tanzania (20,000-30,000) possess the largest populations. Hippos are still threatened by habitat loss and poaching for their meat and ivory canine teeth. A hippo's lifespan is typically 40 to 50 years. Donna the Hippo, 57, is the oldest living hippo in captivity. She lives at the Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana. The oldest hippo ever recorded was called Tanga; she lived at Tierpark Hellabrunn in Munich, Germany, and died in 1995 at the age of 61.

Hippos spend most of their days wallowing in the water or the mud, with the other members of their pod. The water serves to keep their body temperature down, and to keep their skin from drying out. With the exception of eating, most of hippopotamuses' lives - from childbirth, fighting with other hippos, and reproduction - occur in the water.

Hippos leave the water at dusk and travel inland, sometimes up to 5 miles, to graze on short grass, their main source of food. They spend four to five hours grazing and can consume 150 pounds of grass each night. Like almost any herbivore, they will consume many other plants if presented with them, but their diet in nature consists almost entirely of grass, with only minimal consumption of aquatic plants. Hippos have (rarely) been filmed eating carrion, usually close to the water. There are other reports of meat-eating, and even cannibalism and predation. The stomach anatomy of a hippo is not suited to carnivory, and meat-eating is likely caused by aberrant behavior or nutritional stress.

The diet of hippos consists mostly of terrestrial grasses, but they spend most of their time in the water. Most of their defecation occurs in the water, creating allochthonous deposits of organic matter along the river beds. These deposits have an unclear ecological function. Because of their size and their habit of taking the same paths to feed, hippos can have a significant impact on the land they walk across, both by keeping the land clear of vegetation and depressing the ground. Over prolonged periods hippos can divert the paths of swamps and channels.

Adult hippos typically resurface to breathe every 3 to 5 minutes. Adult hippos cannot swim and are not buoyant. When in deep water, they usually propel themselves by leaps, pushing off from the bottom. They move at speeds of up to 5 mph in water. However, young hippos are buoyant and more often move by swimming - propelling themselves with kicks of their hind legs. Adult hippos typically resurface to breathe every 3 to 5 minutes. The young have to breathe every two to three minutes. The process of surfacing and breathing is automatic, and even a hippo sleeping underwater will rise and breathe without waking. A hippo closes its nostrils when it submerges.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Raccoon

Who was that masked mammal?

Our Plush Raccoon

Our stuffed raccoon is lifelike and oh, so cuddly-soft! The nose and eyes are made of plastic, and there are no claws to scratch a young child. Our stuffed raccoon is soft and adorable, and has a curious look in its wise-looking eyes. Its whiskers are made of soft, floppy strings that can't scratch or poke. The size is big enough to be snuggled by an adult or child. It would make a good companion on trips as well as at home. See our other raccoon toys and gifts.

About Raccoons

Raccoons are related to the cacomistle or bassarisk, a small ring-tailed mammal found from Oregon to Mexico. Other relatives are the coati mundi, kinkajou, and red panda. Raccoons belong to the Family Procyonidae. The giant panda was once classified as a member of the raccoon family, but is now considered to be a true bear. According to Wikipedia, "Raccoons are unusual, for their thumbs (though not opposable) enable them to open many closed containers (such as garbage cans and doors). They are omnivores with a reputation for being clever and mischievous; their intelligence and dexterity equip them to survive in a wide range of environments and are one of the few medium-to-large-sized animals that have enlarged its range since human encroachment began (another is the coyote).

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Andrewsarchus

A magnificent replice of a facinating animal!

Our Plastic Andrewsarchus

Made of solid plastic by Safari, Ltd., one of the best names in plastic toy animals, this Andrewsarchus's superior design and details make it a museum-quality replica or collector's item, and yet the price puts it in range for the average collector of plastic animals. It measures 4 1/2 inches from the pointy teeth to the curve of the tail and stands 1 7/8 inches tall. It comes with an informational tag in French, Italian, Spanish, German, and English. This sturdy, durable prehistoric predator is also excellent for school projects, novelties, party favors or even as a children's toy. You can make a marvelous Ice Age shoebox diorama using this and other plastic creatures from our gift shop. Come see our other ice age predator toys and gifts.

About Andrewsarchus

To date the only fossil remains found of this amazing ice age hoofed predator are a skull and a few bone pieces. They were found in Mongolia in 1924 during an expedition led by paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews, for whom the creature is named. After extensive study of the skull, it was concluded that this creature was a member of the only known group of carnivorus hoofed mammals called Mesonychids, which looked somewhat like wolves with hoofed toes. Mesonyx obtusidens, a small North American relative, was the model for current depictions of this predator. From the size of the skull (3 feet long), it was determined that Andrewsarchus was approximately 6 foot tall at the shoulder and 13-18 feet long (over twice the size of today's brown bear), making it the largest carnivous mammal in the world. There is a video link and some very interesting discussion on Andrewsarchus on the Laelaps blog. For additional information, check out the Andrewsarchus page and the "What are Mesonychids?" page at Bluelion.org.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Fawn

The perfect gift for the collector!

Our Stuffed Fawn

We think this stuffed fawn toy is exceptional. It is so lifelike and compelling, you almost won't believe it's a stuffed toy and not the real thing. Although it is made of synthetic materials, it looks real. This wonderfully detailed baby deer measures 23 3/4 inches long, 9 1/2 inches wide and 13 inches high to the tips of the ears. The designer of this unique line of stuffed animals takes pride in the European heritage of his realistic animal design. Each piece is hand-cut and stitched.

This is not your ordinary stuffed animal. Our plush deer baby has the charm and quality you'll want to keep for a lifetime. It is the kind of toy your child will remember for years to come. It is the kind of "pet" a young child will want to name and create his or her own stories about.

The literature says, "The magical kingdom of Hansa plush was originally created for the most exclusive European clientele. Europeans have treasured these lifelike heirloom creatures for over twenty years. . . . Each Hansa piece is a handcrafted masterpiece, lovingly designed from portraits of real animals. The 'skin' for each of these marvelous beasts is hand-cut and trimmed, never stamped out by machine. The fabric for spotted and striped animals is custom designed and specially manufactured in small lots to Hansa's exacting specifications."

As time permits, we will be adding more of this unique line to our gift shop. If you're looking for an animal and don't find it on our site, please write to us. To find our other Hansa stuffed toy animals, or see our entire inventory of stuffed animals, stuffed beanies and plush hand puppets, check out our Stuffed Animals Page and Stuffed Beanies and Plush Puppets Page. Check out our terrific selection of deer, elk and moose toys and gifts.

About Deer

Deer are herbivore mammals of the family Cervidae. Many species of deer exist on every continent except Australia and Antarctica, including the white-tailed, red, fallow, roe, chital, and Chinese water deer. Also included in the Family Cervidae are elk, moose, and reindeer. Deer typically weigh 70-600 pounds. They have slender frames and powerful legs, which make them exceptional runners, jumpers and swimmers. The earliest deer fossils date back to the Oligocene epoch, over 23 million years ago.

All male deer and female reindeer have antlers, bony forked appendages that grow from their heads. The only exception to this is the Chinese water deer, which has tusks. Antlers are shed and grow back annually. This makes them different from horns, which are permanent.

Deer have had a significant economic, cultural, and spiritual impact on humans throughout history. From the earliest European cave paintings to Walt Disney's movie "Bambi," Kate Seredy's book The White Stag, and Nintendo's Pokemon "Stantler," deer have captured our imagination. To this day, deer are pursued for sustenance, immortalized in heraldry and popular culture, and revered by belief systems old and new for their speed, strength, and nobility.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Silverback Gorilla

Wanna arm-wrestle?

Our Plastic Silverback Gorilla

Our silverback gorilla toy animal is made of solid plastic and measures 1 1/2 inches from nose to rump and stands 1 1/2 inches high to the top of the head. Its name is molded into the bottom. This plastic animal toy is great for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic ape is for decoration or play only. You can make an amazing "Great Apes" shoebox diorama using this and other plastic creatures from our gift shop. Best of all, there is no mess, no feeding, and no tank or cage cleaning :) Check out our terrific selection of gorilla toys and gifts.

About Gorillas

Gorillas are primates, the animals most closely related to humans. Native to the equatorial regions of Africa, the gorilla is highly endangered, its decline the result of illegal poaching for the pet trade combined with advancing civilization and population growth. As of 2004, there were approximately 700 mountain gorillas and 97,000 lowland gorillas left in the world. Poachers hunt endangered animals, and hunt in parks where the animals are supposed to be protected. Many poachers use snares, which are very dangerous to all animals. Although adult male gorillas can reach 400 pounds, and females can reach about 200 pounds, gorillas are shy and like to spend their days quietly, either leisurely searching for food, or resting in the warm sun. They are vegetarians and will only attack when provoked or threatened. Gorillas are the largest and most powerful of the apes. More laws prohibiting, rather than just controlling, the capture and sale of gorillas need to be passed and enforced in all countries within the species' range. (Gorilla research by Joslyn Biggins.)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Soft Play Latex Giant Panda Replica

A fun and accurate replica of an amazing, rare animal!

Our Soft Play Plastic Giant Panda

This realistic-looking latex-coated soft play giant panda is a terrific replica. It is 8 1/2 inches long. It is also 4 1/2 inches tall. Our panda replica has a soft plastic "skin" and a squishy inner body possibly made of foam. It is an excellent toy for children because it is light weight and durable, and it's not likely to damage anything by its impact if a child throws it. It serves as an educational toy for a science project or as a gag or unusual gift. Check out our other panda toys and gifts.

About Pandas

The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is found in cental and southwestern China. It is a member of the bear family and in the order of carnivores,(which implies meat-eating) although, in its natural state, it eats exclusively bamboo shoots. The giant panda has been impacted heavily by encroaching civilization and is considered an endangered species with probably no more than 1500 individuals living in the wild with about 250 animals living in captivity. It is a docile animal and is not known to attack humans. It is slowly replacing the dragon as China's national symbol.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Beaver Replica

A perfect centerpiece for a biology diorama!

Our Plastic Beaver Replica

This busy beaver is one of our series of lively and lifelike plastic animals. Its realistic shape and details will be enjoyed as part of a school project, diorama, plastic animal collection, as a party favor, or gift.

About Beavers

Beavers are wonderful swimmers and also great at building dams. The dams they build are mostly used to get easy access to food in the winter time, and are also used for protection againt predators. The dams may be as large as 1,000 ft long, 15 ft high, and 25 ft thick. Not to mention the beaver is also large, a male can weigh up to 55 lbs, and a female beaver can weigh even more! The beaver is so large, that they are the 2nd largest rodent in the world next to the capybara (see stuffed and plastic capybaras in our gift shop).

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic African Elephant

A fun and useful replica of a magnificent creature!

Our Plastic African Elephant

This small elephant toy is made of solid white plastic. Colors are painted on. The detail is nice for such a small item. Come see our wonderful assortment of African elephant toys and gifts.

About African Elephants

Until recently, it was believed that there were only two species of elephant - African and Asian (Elephas maximus). However, in 2004, DNA evidence proved that there are actually two true species of African elephant - African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) and African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis). African savannah elephants are the largest elephant, African forest elephants are slightly smaller and Asian elephants are the smallest elephant. African elephants have larger ears than the Asian elephant. In the African species, both the male and female elephants have large visible tusks. In the Asian species only the males have large visible tusks. The females have small tusks called tushes that are not usually visible. African elephants only have one dome on the top of their head, and the flat forehead is slightly sloped. The Asian elephant has two distinct domes at the top of its head. There is a projection on the end of the elephant's trunk that is referred to as a "finger." African elephants have two "fingers" on the end of their trunk, and will use a grasping motion when picking things up. (This is much like the way we use our thumb and forefinger.) The Asian elephant has only one "finger," so it has to curl the end of its trunk around anything it wants to pick up. All three elephant species are endangered because of poachers who hunt them for their tusks.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Bighorn Sheep

This guy was rock-climbing long before it was a sport!

Our Plastic Bighorn Sheep Replica

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic bighorn sheep miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed fur and an attractive realistic pose. This bighorn sheep replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 3 1/4 inches long, with a white pelt. A necessity for any high-mountain school project! Check out our other sheep toys and gifts.

About Bighorn Sheep

The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is one of the most magnificent native animals found in North America. The bighorn sheep is named for the large dark brown curved horn borne by males. Females have horns also, but much smaller, less curved ones. Both sexes have dark brown bodies with a white rump. The bighorn sheep ranges in the Rocky Mountains, the West, Northern Mexico and parts of Canada. It once roamed freely, played an integral part in native lore, and was a staple in native diet. Today, due to overhunting and loss of habitat, the bighorn sheep is rarely seen.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Billy Goat

He doesn't look Gruff, does he?

Our Plastic Billy Goat Replica

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic billy goat miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed fur and an attractive realistic pose. This billy goat replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 2 3/4 inches long with awhite pelt. A perfect addition to any barnyard scene! Check out our other goat toys and gifts.

About Goats

The domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), is the earliest animal to be domesticated by humans. A goat is very useful to humans both alive or dead. Alive, goats can be used as a renewable provider of milk and fiber. Dead they can be used for meat and hide. Intestines of a goat can be used for making strings for musical intruments. Young goats are referred to as kids. Meat from a young goat is either called kid or cabrito. Goats are known for being willing to eat almost anything. While they may not actually consume everything, they are very curious and will taste anything resembling plant matter in order to decide whether or not it is good to eat.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Woolly Mammoth Skeleton Model

The Japanese are working to bring these back!

Our Woolly Mammoth Skeleton Model

This realistic-looking woolly mammoth skeleton model is made of strong plastic and is sturdy when assembled. It is 10 inches long and 6 1/2 inches tall. There are about 16 separate pieces, some large, with easy to follow assembly instructions and a diagram. The bones look weathered and connect with one another through pegs or joint sockets. Although most pieces hold together well, it may help to use a little super glue. This miniature woolly mammoth skeleton replica makes a nice display, a gift, or toy for children or adults and could work well for school show-and-tell or as a school science project. Check out our other dinosaur model toys and gifts.

About Woolly Mammoths

The woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) first roamed the earth 150,000 years ago. The mammoth migrated from Africa northward into Europe, east through the Steppes of Asia, and then into the Arctic. During the Pleistocene Era (Ice Age), when temperatures were so much colder, the woolly mammoth developed thick shaggy hair, special glands to secrete fat to insulate the skin from the cold, and smaller ears and special teeth to grind tundra. The woolly mammoth developed huge curved tusks up to 15 feet long to shovel snow in order to reach tundra and grass below. The woolly mammoth is the most common mammal fossil. Some have been found in Siberia almost completely intact including tissue remnants. It is breathtaking to see the mammoth's skeleton on display in the museum.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Meerkat

A unique addition to your stuffed animal collection!

Our Plush Meerkat

These plush meerkat stuffed animals are exceptional. They're as realistic as they are cute. Although they're made of synthetic materials, they look real. This one sits up surveying his territory.

Read more about Hansa stuffed animals and see our selection.

About Meerkats

The civet family (Viverridae) includes binturongs, civet cats, falanoucs, fossas, genet cats, linsangs, mongooses and meerkats (which are actually a type of mongoose). They are related to the cat family but are not actually cats. They do have a cat-like body, but with shorter legs and a longer tail. Their face resembles that of a weasel. These mostly nocturnal (active at night) mammals are native to Asia (including Indonesia and the Philippines), Africa (including Madagascar) and southern Europe. Some species are terrestrial (ground dwellers), but most are arboreal (tree dwellers); some are carnivores (eat only meat) and others are omnivores (eat fruits and vegetables as well as meat). Civet cats have scent-producing glands that secrete a musky-smelling substance which is used as a perfume fixative.

Meerkats are diurnal, which means they are active during the day. They have an average life span of 12-14 years. Meerkat populations move whenever their food supply becomes depleted. Being omnivores, meerkats eat both plants and animals. Meerkats can even eat scorpions because they are immune to their venom. However, the most significant characteristic of meerkats is their altruistic behavior. They are one of the few mammal species that significantly cooperates and coordinates acivities with each other. Meerkat mothers are given an opportunity to go out to feed themselves while their young are watched by other meerkats. In fact, some meerkats spend all or part of their lives helping others raise their young rather than breeding themselves.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.