Plastic Bactrian Camel

Our Plastic Bactrian Camel is so realistic looking.

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 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.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Giraffe 3-D Puzzle

Our Plastic Giraffe 3-D Puzzle is sure to be a favorite!

The details on this 3-D puzzle animal toy add another dimension, so you could say it is 4-D (3-D + details)! It is certainly one of the more detailed we have seen, making it an interesting replica as well as a fun toy for adults and children above the age of 3. This marvelous giraffe measures 5 1/4 inches high to the top of the horns and 3 1/2 inches long from nose to tail. It comes unassembled, packed inside a tan plastic egg. The pieces are cleverly fitted, flexible, and not too difficult to assemble. When completed, this regal giraffe stands nicely on its own for display with your favorite treasures. To see our entire inventory of puzzle animals, go to our 3-D Puzzle Animals page. Check out our terrific selection of giraffe toys and gifts.

Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) are the biggest ruminant and the tallest mammal. They have very long necks with a short, upstanding mane. Their high shoulders slope steeply to their hindquarters. The head tapers to a point and they have a long, prehensile tongue. Their horns are solid bone and skin covered. Tails are hocklength, with a long tassel. Their brown to rich chestnut colored coat (old males are darker, even black) is dissected into intricate tapestry by patches and blotches of lighter hair. Each giraffe's markings are unique.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic African Elephant

Our Plastic African Elephant rocks!

This realistic-looking plastic African elephant is made of strong plastic and is sturdy. It is 4 1/4 inches long with well defined tusks.This miniature African elephant 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 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.

Dunkleosteus

Isn't our Dunkleosteus amazing?

Our plastic dunkleosteus is a fearsome-looking creature of the prehistoric seas. Made as a museum-quality replica, the shape is true to life based on fossil remains. As with any re-created fossil animal, the coloring is left to the imagination. In this case, the plastic prehistoric fish is painted a strikingly attractive gold with black designs. The bony plates are clearly represented both on the top and bottom of the fish. The hard jaws and bony teeth match those in the fossil remains. Our plastic replica comes with a small informational tag in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. See more of our extinct animal toys and gifts.

About Dunkleosteus

Dunkleosteus had armor-like plates covering their bodies and grew to enormous size. Imagine one of these fierce creatures the size of a school bus! Dunkleosteus may have been cannibalistic, eating members of its own species. Dunkleosteus evolved in the Silurian Period and became extinct in the Late Devonian (the Devonian was the great age of fishes). It seems to have been a voracious predator, an eating machine that practically knew no bounds. The fossil record suggests that it often ate so much that it regurgitated partially-digested fish when it was over-filled or got indigestion. Although it had no teeth, dunkelosteus had razor-like, bony jaws that were self-sharpening. That, coupled with its strong jaws made it easy for dunkleosteus to slice into its prey - often creatures that were much larger than itself. Experts believe that only T-Rex and alligators have had the jaw-strength of this underwater predator. It was an interesting early "experiment," but it failed over time. Although dunkelosteus lived for about 60 million years, sharks have lived for about 400 million years. There are no living descendants of this prehistoric fish.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Ferret

Our Plastic Ferret would be a nice addition to any collection.

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic ferret miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic. This replica has detailed fur and is painted brown and wearing a red kerchief. If I were this ferret, I might chew it off! This ferret makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other ferret toys and gifts.

About Ferrets

The ferret is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal similar to weasels and are closely related to the polecat. They are energetic creatures that love to pack and hide items play hide and seek and chasing games. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur, have an average length of approximately 20 inches, including a 5 inch tail, weigh about 1.5–4 pounds, and have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years. They were originally used by the Romans for rabbit hunting and get their name meaning "little thief" from them. Ferrets are crepuscular and sleep often during the day and night in 6 hours intervals. When awake they have abundant energy and are noted for a type of sidewards hopping known as a ferret "war dance." This is often accompanied by a playful, clucking noise which is an invitation to play. Ferret kits are noted for nipping, but generally well-trained ferrets are safe pets, and are also somewhat easily housebroken.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Frilled Lizard

Our Plastic Frilled Lizard is amazing!  Check him out!

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic frilled lizard miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic. This replica has a detailed face and body and is painted olive green with a pink mouth. It is 2 1/2 inches to the end of its tail and stands 2 inches highplastic frilled lizard makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other lizard toys and gifts.

About Frilled Lizards

The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) has a large ruff of skin around its neck. The neck frill is supported by long spines of cartilage, and when the lizard is frightened, it opens its mouth showing a bright pink or yellow lining, and the frill flares out, displaying bright orange and red scales. It often walks on all four legs, but when frightened can run on its hind legs. Frilled lizards are found in Australia and New Guinea in savannah woodlands where they eat small insects, especially grasshoppers.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Hippo Hand Puppet

Our Stuffed Hippo Hand Puppet is so cute and huggable!

Our very cute and lovable plush hippo stage puppet is 19 inches long and is crafted with fine workmanship from Folkmanis. It is 7 inches tall and has a 3 inch tail. It is with incredibly soft fabric and has realistic features. Your hand goes inside the hippo puppet's chest and works the mouth, so it can stand on your arm or on a puppet stage. It has shiny black eyes, soft plastic non scratchy tusks, and its whiskers are made of tufts of soft dark gray thread.

Our hippo hand puppet makes for an enjoyable toy or pet or educational toy or fits nicely into a hippo collection. This stuffed hippo hand puppet may work well for school projects. Be sure to see our other hippo toys and gifts.

About Hippos

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamidae) spends most of its life in the rivers and lakes of Africa. Hippopotamus babies are born and nursed in the water. Adult hippos are dangerous and often engage in vicious fights with each other. As hippo expert Hans Klingel once noted, "Few animals are as recognizable as the hippopotamus." Indeed, it is almost impossible to mistake a hippopotamus for anything else. The body is long, barrel-shaped, and very deep. (I always thought they were more potato-shaped.) The limbs are short and pillar-like, with four toes on each foot. The hippo's neck is short and quite thick in order to support the weight of the massive head. The ears are small and round, the eyes are bulbous and protruding, and the muzzle is broad and rounded. The hippo's mouth is especially large; in fact, the hippo can open its mouth wider than any other living animal except the whales. The upper and lower canine teeth - often referred to as tusks - are long, thick, and very sharp. The animal has no hair except for a few stiff bristles on its muzzle, ears, and stubby tail. The skin color ranges from slate gray to copper brown on the back to pinkish purple on the belly and around the ears and eyes.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Blue Spotted Stingray

Check out our Blue Spotted Stingray!

This stingray is made of soft, flexible, plastic. It measures 6 inches from nose to tail tip. Be sure to look over our other ray toys and gifts.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beluga Whale Toy

Our Beluga Whale Toy squeaks and is sure to be a bath tub favorite!

This large flexible, realistic-looking beluga whale replica is made of hollow plastic.The Beluga whale is white in color and measures 7.5 inches long from the lower jaw to tail. His mouth is open and he can float, which will make him a bath time favorite. He also comes equipped with a realistic squeaker, which will provide hours of entertainment! This beluga whale can be used as a gift, for a science project, for decorations, as a gag, party favor or as a collectible. Check out our other whale toys and gifts.

About Beluga Whales

The Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is an Arctic or sub-Arctic species of cetacean related to narwhals. It measures up to 16 ft in length and all-white in color with a distinctive protuberance on the head. From a conservation perspective, the beluga is considered "near threatened or critically endangered." The adult beluga is rarely mistaken for another species, because it is completely white or whitish-gray in color. Calves, however, are usually gray. Its head is unlike that of any other cetacean. Like most toothed whales it has a melon—an oily, fatty tissue lump found at the center of the forehead. The beluga's melon is extremely bulbous and even malleable. The beluga is able to change the shape of its head by blowing air around its sinuses. Unlike many dolphins and whales, the vertebrae in the neck are not fused together, allowing the beluga to turn its head laterally.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Plush Beaver

Isn't our Stuffed Plush Beaver adorable?

This is a great beaver to add to your collection! Made of synthetic materials, it almost looks alive. The 16 1/2-inch length includes his soft quilted tail. The teeth are made of felt, and will not scratch. Above all hes soft, furry, cuddly, and will never bite!

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.

Stuffed Wombat

Don't you want to give our Stuffed Wombat a big squeeze?

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed wombat is soft and sturdy. He has an adorable face with light whiskers and large detailed plastic eyes. His body is mottled light brown and black. Our stuffed wombat has a kindly expression and promises to be your friend. Check out our other wombat toys and gifts.

Wombats are an Australian animal about 40 inches long with a short, stout body and no tail. They are found in forested, mountains, and in the heath of Southeastern Australia and Tasmania. They like to dig and live in burrows and are generally crepuscular, but can be seen on cool, overcast days as well. They are a shy, slow, herbivore and are easy prey for dingos and tasmanian devils. Like other marsupials, wombats have a pouch to raise their young which they carry for about six months.

These are not your ordinary stuffed animals. Hansa animals have the charm and quality you'll want to keep for a lifetime. They are the kind of toys your child will remember for years to come. They're the kind of "pet" a young child will want to name and about which he or she will want to create their own stories. These exceptionally lifelike stuffed animals were originally available only in Europe where they have been popular for over 20 years. Each animal is hand cut and stitched. Different lengths, patterns and colors of fur along with painted faces, and sometimes feet, contribute to a high level of realistic detail. Soft filament is often used to make whiskers that seem real as well. They are so lifelike and compelling, you almost won't believe they are stuffed toys and not the real thing.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Reindeer

Our Plastic Reindeer is amazing!

Lines of the hair are moulded into the plastic and details include moulded and painted foot pads! The length of 3 1/4 inches is measured from the nose to the right hind foot and the height of 3 1/2 inches is measured to the top of the antlers. It comes with an informational tag in French, Italian, Spanish, German, and English. Made of solid plastic by Safari, Ltd., one of the best names in plastic animals, its 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. This sturdy, durable reindeer is also excellent for use in school projects, dioramas, or even as a children's toy. The word "REINDEER" is embossed on the underside. Check out our terrific selection of deer, elk and moose toys and gifts.

Reindeer and Caribou are the same species (Rangifer tarandus) and are members of the deer family. They are found on Greenland and large northern islands as well as in North America and Eurasia in tundra and northern forest regions. In Europe they are called "Reindeer" and have been domesticated for 2000 years or more. In North America the wild animals are called "Caribou" and the domesticated are "Reindeer". Domesticated animals are slightly smaller than the wild animals and their coloring is different, but in all wild and domestic stock both males and females have distinctive antlers which they shed and regrow every year. Their large, concave hooves spread wide to support the animal in snow and soft tundra and work as paddles when swimming. Reindeer are protected from extremely cold temperatures by unique hairs that trap air. This also helps keep them afloat when swimming. Reindeer are very social herding animals and the domesticated ones are very friendly, likeable and curious and are easy to fence, feed and train to pull.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Maggot

Who wouldn't want to own a Stuffed Maggot?

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed maggot is soft and cuddly. Its body is made of soft plush fabric and shows well-defined segments. The body is light golden yellow. Our maggot has a kindly expression and promises not to gross you out too much. This maggot makes a nice pet, gift, novelty, presentation piece for a school project, or gag gift. Have you noticed how some guys call each other "Maggot"? What could be a more perfect gift! Sometimes veterinarians like to keep maggot replicas on the desk as visual aids for discussions! See our other maggot toys and gifts.

About Stuffed Maggots

The word "maggot" is a general term referring to the larval stage of flies, but can be applied to the larval stage of many other insects.Certain kinds of maggots have been used for centuries in wound treatment, since maggots eat only eat deads tissue and leave healthy live tissue alone. There is some question as to whether maggot secretions create, in themselves, harmful bacteria. Maggots can come in large quantities and are usually found in rotting meat around garbage cans or dead animals. Maggots develop into flies, so there is the potential for flies to become numerous if maggots are left to develop to the adult stage.

The Tag on Our Stuffed Maggot Says:

FACTS: Although maggots' reputation is primarily derived from their tendency to feed on refuse and fecal matter, it is their taste for decomposing flesh that has earned them genuine approbation.

Since ancient times, maggots have helped save lives by efficiently and effectively cleaning wounds, including ones that might otherwise have been fatal. By devouring dead tissue, these fly larvae not only promote the growth of new tissue (which they studiously avoid), they also
greatly reduce the chance of infection. Though maggot therapy was particularly useful before the discovery of modern antibiotics, there has been a resurgence of interest in the practice when conventional medicine falls short.

In addition, maggots have found a role to play where wounds or other misfortunes have in fact proven terminal: they have joined the fight against crime. Maggots are often the first-responders to a homicide; and they grow at a predictable rate. (Although flies are inactive when the temperature is cold, when it's warm they can lay eggs within ten minutes of finding a corpse, and then the forensic clock starts ticking.) By examining the developmental stages of the maggots on a crime-scene corpse, forensic scientists can determine the time of death -and that information can be critical to determining who done it.

Of course, maggots like to relax too. They particularly enjoy fishing, and are often found waiting patiently in the best seat in the house.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Hissing Cockroach

Check out our realistic Hissing Cockroach.

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic hissing cockroach is made of hard, flexible plastic. It is 3 inches long and 1 3/4 inches across from leg tip to leg tip. Our cockroach comes from Madagascar and is large with orange and black stripes. Our hissing cockroach replica is a little disgusting, but promises not to bite. It works well for a shoe box diorama or other school projects. It also makes for an interesting party favor or for a gag. Check out our other cockroach toys and gifts. Just to clarify, our toy cockroach does not make any noise - that's the species name of the real cockroach.

About Cockroaches

Hissing cockroaches are of the genus (Gromphadorhina portentosa) are found in Madagascar and are among the largrest cockroaches in the world.They are wingless and are often 2-3 inches long. They live in rotting logs and feed on rotting material and last for about five years. It gets its name by forcing air through its breathing pores in its abdomen, whereas other insects make sound by rubbing legs together.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Dragonfly

Look at the detail on our Plastic Dragonfly!

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic dragonfly is made of hard, flexible plastic. It is 2 1/2 inches long and 2 1/4 inches across from wing-tip to wing-tip. Our plastic dragonfly has clear plastic, detailed wings and a red and yellow segmented body. We don't know what kind of dragonfly our plastic dragonfly replicates, but if you do, please e-mail us. It works well for a shoe box diorama or other school projects. It also makes for an interesting party favor or for a gag. Check out our other dragonfly toys and gifts.

A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata. It is has large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, and an elongated body.  Dragonflies eat mosquitoes, midges, and other small insects like flies, bees, and butterflies. They are valuable predators, since they help control populations of harmful insects. Dragonflies are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Dragonflies do not normally bite or sting humans, though they will bite in order to escape, if grasped by the abdomen. Dragonflies hover above the water, but then can rapidly accelerate. They capture their prey by clasping them in legs studded by spikes. We are most familiar with the adult stage of the dragonfly, but most of their life is spent as a nymph below the water.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Skunk

Don't you want to give our Stuffed Skunk a big hug?  He doesn't stink, we promise!

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.

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.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Bed Bug

Yikes!  Our Stuffed Bed Bug would make a unique gift!

This lovely, realistic-looking stuffed bed bug is kind and endearing. The legs and antennae are made of soft plush fabric. This allows for a myriad of postions. The body is a rose-pink with large, bulging, dark eyes. This bed bug wants to be your friend and promises not to bite. Check out our other bed bug toys and gifts.

The common bed bug or bedbug (Cimex lectularius), like the flea, feeds on the blood of its host. It lives in crevices, carpeting and especially along the seams of matresses. The bed bug is a solitary insect, but can also live in clusters. It is a nocturnal creature, but creeps around and becomes especially active for a short period before dawn. It can be seen with the naked eye since it is usually 1/8 to 1/3 inches long. Unlike the roach, it is not necessarily associated with a filthy environment. The adult bed bug is oval-shaped and red-bown in color, often compared to a lentil. It scurries rather quickly and therefore may be hard to spot when disturbed at night. The bed bug was, for the most part, eradicated in the 1940s through the use of DDT. It is making a comeback in warmer climates, such as in Florida. Bed bugs bite when disturbed, leaving small red markings. Unlike the tick, it does not crawl under the host's skin. To avoid bedbugs, bedding should be put in the dryer and heated to 120 degrees. This will kill any eggs. Also, spraying with an alcohol-based product is allegedly helpful to kill bed bugs.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Platypus

Our Stuffed Platypus is so soft and cuddly.

We love this plush stuffed platypus! Look at its amazing toes. They're well-defined, yet soft. All four feet are wide and webbed. The feet are made of plush fabric and the claws won't scratch. The 18-inch length includes the tail. Our platypus is solid, substantial, and fun to hold. As you would imagine, his brown fur is soft and cuddly. To find more animals in this line, or see a list of our entire inventory of stuffed animals, beanies and puppets, check out our Stuffed Animal Page.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Fur Seal

Our Galapagos Fur Seal is a cutie!

Our plastic Galapagos fur seal is realistic enough for your animal collection, school projects including Galapagos Island dioramas, or to be used as a toy, addition to your miniature zoo, and much more. Add them to an aquatic themed birthday cake! This little plastic seal measures almost 2 1/4 inches diagonally from his tail to its nose. The words "FUR SEAL" are moulded into the bottom. Please check out our other seal toys and gifts.

The Galapagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) is named for the shape of its head, which is said to resemble that of a bear ("arctos" means "bear," and "cephalus" means "head"). They live only in the Galapagos Islands and feed on fish, squid, and octopus. Sea lions also live in the Galapagos, but the seals and sea lions don't apparently share territories or compete for food. The seals live on and around rocks with caves in them along the islands' rugged coasts. The pups nurse longer than other fur seal species, and stay with their mothers for up to three years. The species is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN. Hunting in the 19th Century depleted the numbers of these fur seals, and more recently, depletions of their food fish have affected their numbers.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Tarantula

Our Stuffed Tarantula is perfect for a Halloween gift!  We promise he won't bite!

Our exceptionally soft, stuffed tarantula toy spider by Fiesta measures 8 1/2 inches long. The eyes an legs are securely attached making this charming stuffed arachnid a suitable toy for all ages. To find our other stuffed toy animals from Fiesta, or see our entire inventory of stuffed animals, stuffed beanies and plush hand puppets, check out our Stuffed Spiders Page and Stuffed Beanies and Plush Puppets Page. Check out our terrific selection of spider toys and gifts.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.