Wrinkly stuffed walrus

Check out our new wrinkly stuffed walrus! This walrus is super soft and cuddly, and wants to be your new best pal!

Our Stuffed Walrus

Our stuffed walrus is especially soft, squishy, and cuddly. He has lots of wrinkles, just like a real walrus. It's one of the "Natural Poses" series by Wild Republic, a brand you know and trust as always maintining the highest standards of toy safety in today's world. All parts of this toy walrus are non-toxic and surface washable. He's not only cuddly, he's also colletible. Check out our other walrus toys and gifts.

About Walruses

The two subspecies of walrus, the Pacific, which is the largest, and the Atlantic live in the Northern Hemisphere in the arctic and subarctic regions. The tusks, which give the walrus its distinctive appearance, are found on both the male (bull) and female (cow). Cows weigh up to 2,800 pounds and reach up to 10 feet long. Bulls are much larger at up to 4,000 pounds and up to 12 feet long. Like sea lions, walruses are able to rotate their rear flippers under pelvis and pivot their front flippers to the side, giving them the abililty to walk and climb. These semi-aquatic mammals have a thick layer of fat beneath their tough leathery skin, which is covered by a thin layer of light brown hair. In warm weather, tiny blood vessels in the skin dilate, increasing circulation, which sheds excess body heat. This causes the skin to turn pink.

The hang tag on our stuffed walrus says, "Hello! I am a walrus. I'm a BIG guy - I'm more than 10 feet long and can weigh up to 2 tons. Aren't my tusks awesome? They are actually giant teeth. Although I live in the Arctic, I have a thick layer of fat called blubber that keeps me warm in the coldest weather. I can walk on all four of my fins and can even run as fast as you! Wanna race?"

Stuffed Manta Ray (jumbo size)

One of the newest items in our animal store is this beautiful, soft, stuffed manta ray.

Our Stuffed Jumbo Manta Ray

This colorful, educational stuffed jumbo manta ray is made of soft plush fabric. This replica has a detailed black and white body with a tan mouth. It is just over 36 inches wide and 27 inches long from head to the tip of its soft flexible tail. It promises not to sting! It serves well for a school project, for a stuffed animal collection, gag gift or as a decoration. This manta ray stuffed toy would also make a great, cuddly pet. Check out our other manta ray toys and gifts.

About Manta Rays

The manta ray (Manta birostris) is the largest of all rays. One ray was discovered with a wingspan of 25 feet but most are considerably smaller. They are found in warm, tropical waters around coral reefs. Manta rays are filter feeders and eat primarily plankton and fish larva by filtering water through their gills. Manta rays have some small vestigal teeth from when they evolved from the bottom. Manta rays are a curious animal and often appear near boats and divers. They also go to cleaning stations where wrasses and other tropical fish clean their gills. Sharks and orcas are predators of the generally docile manta ray.

Suffed Seagull (California Seagull) from the Audubon Birds Series

Our stuffed seagull is very cute and quite realistic for a small stuffed bird. It should be, since it comes from the popular Audubon Birds Series manufactured by Wild Republic.

Our Stuffed Seagull

Our stuffed seagull has a removable "Press Here" tag so you can hear the recorded call of a real seagull. The gull was designed as part of the popular Audubon Birds Series by Wild Republic. Not surprisingly, it's in the "Weaters' Edge" series. Our stuffed seagull has bright eyes and a pretty red marking under its beak. As with all of Wild Republic's toys, this gull meets the most stringent current standards of safety for children's toys. All parts are non-toxic and surface washable. Check out our other seagull toys and gifts.

About Seagulls

The hang tag that comes with our stuffed seagull says: "CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus) Grateful Utah residents chose this as their state bird because they saved the Mormons' crops from locusts in 1848. Without the large flocks of gulls to feed on the swarming insects, the settlers would have suffered starvation. California gulls also feed on rodents, eggs, fish and garbage. They usually nest near freshwater lakes or marshes." The seagull is a coastal bird that rarely ventures far out into the ocean. Closely related to terns, it is a carnivorous scavenger, which picks at almost anything organic. It loves small fish and crustaceans which it snatches from the surface. It swims on the top of the water, but does not swim underwater. It is an intelligent bird with a myriad of calls and, like most birds, outstanding eyesight. The adult gull is gray and white in color, whereas younger gulls are a mottled light brown.

Rubber octopus (posable, and so realistic!)

Meet our very popular latex posable octopus!

Our Soft Play Latex Octopus

This realistic-looking plastic-coated soft play octopus is a terrific replica. It is 21 inches long, but will stretch out to 26 inches when you pull on the partially posable tentacles. It is also 6 inches tall. Our octopus replica has a hard latex coating and a soft inner body possibly made of foam. It is an excellent toy for children because it is light weight and durable. It serves as an educational toy for a science project or as a gag or unusual gift. Check out our other octopi toys and gifts.

About Octopi

Octopi are cephalopods that can be found in rocky areas especially among coral reefs in the oceans throughout the world. The octopus has 8 arms which trail behind it when it swims. It is considered to be the most intelligent animal of all invertabrates. It emits a cloud of inky substance as a defense against predators as well as possessing a venomous bite. Most octopuses have a short life span of no longer than six months.

Stuffed cougar (mountain lion)

This cool, crouching stuffed cougar (mountain lion, puma) has been popular all year. As a larger stuffed animal, it also makes a memorable gift for Christmas or Hanukkah.

Our cuddly, stuffed mountain lion/stuffed cougar is 21 inches long and 7 inches tall. He has a gentle, kind expression, soft fur, tickly whiskers and a curled-up tail. Our mountain lion/cougar is lonely and looking for a friend to snuggle up against. Be sure to see our other mountain lion/cougar toys and gifts.

The mountain lion/cougar (Puma concolor) has the greatest range of any terrestrial animal in the Western hemisphere stretching from the Andes in South America to the Yukon of Canada. It is also known as a puma. It stalks its prey in the underbrush or in the open and can bring down a deer with little problem although it prefers the weak and young. It can be as much as 8 feet long from nose to tail, 2 1/2 feet high, and can weigh as much as 260 pounds. The mountain lion/cougar is incredibly agile and can run at short bursts up to 35 miles per hour. Like many animals, the mountain lion is coming more and more in contact with humans. Traditional ranges are impacted by farming and housing. It is not presently endangered but its fate remains uncertain as human contact increases. According to the Mountain Lion Foundation, " . . . the mountain lion is the foremost symbol of our vanishing wilderness."

Only one Hansa stuffed emperor penguin left!

Right now we have only one elegant Hansa stuffed emperor penguin left in our shop. Who will be the lucky person who gets to take him home for the holidays? See previous post to learn more about the scarcity and collectibility of the Hansa realistic collectible stuffed animals.

Hansa realistic stuffed animals in stock and ready to ship (Tasmanian devil is pictured)

Our world-reknowned and much-loved Hansa stuffed animal toys are back in stock and ready to ship! These adorable and collectible stuffed animals are so popular and are made in such small quantities that it's not always possible to keep them in inventory. We've just received a new shipment, so please check them out while they're still available! A recent typhoon with flooding occured in the Philippines where these unusual animals are made. This slowed production and shipping to an even greater degree, making it harder than ever to get some of the animals that U.S. vendors had anticipated for Christmas and Hanukkah. Once in stock, some of the most popular Hansa stuffed animals disappear almost overnight this time of year.

Click here to see the Hansa stuffed animals we have in stock as of the moment of this post.

Kids! Drink out of dinosaur cups!

Your kids, grandkids and young friends will love drinking out of these plastic dinosaur cups made just the right size for young hands. Our if the child is too young to manange the cup himself or herself (like my grandson, Teagan), they may enjoy just banging them together to hear the sound! Once they reach the age when they can drink from an open cup, they will already know the cup as a friend!

Our Plastic Dinosaur Cups

What fun! The tails of these dinosaurs forms the handles of these delightful, kids' drinking cups. They are great for birthday parties, for holding crayons, or for orange juice and milk in the morning. Although some of our drinking cups come in a choice of colors for each animal, the dinosaurs are in this playful purple only. You will find our entire inventory of children's cups on our page of Animal Drinking Cups. Mix and match animals and cup colors to create your own unique set! Check out our terrific selection of dinosaur toys and gifts.

About T-rex

The Tyrannosaurus or T-rex meaning tyrant lizard appeared on the scene during the Late Cretaceous about 65 million years ago. Although full skeletons have been found throughout North America in Alberta, Montana, South Dakota, Saskatchewan,and Wyoming, some have been found in Mongolia as well. Some skeletons have been measured to 45 feet in length. It walked on two legs and had a huge skull and an enormous tail to help with balance. It had two small powerful clawed forearms. There is debate whether this carnivore was just a scavenger or a killer itself. It is the largest animal known to have walked the earth.

About Triceratops

The triceratops, meaning three horned face, appeared on the scene during the Late Cretaceous about 65 million years ago. No full skeletons have been found, but many bones have been discovered throughout North America in Alberta, Montana, South Dakota, Saskatchewan,and Wyoming. Bearing a large bony frill and three horns on its large four-legged body, it looks similar to the modern day rhinoceros. It was a vegetarian and possessed a sturdy build, with strong limbs and short, five-hoofed hands and four-hoofed feet. It was almost 10 feet high and 25 feet in length.

Colorful plastic lobster

This wonderful multi-colored hollow hard plastic lobster is new in our online store. At 12 inches long and with movable feelers, it's quite a hoot, and a fun gift, table decoration, toy, or whatever your imagination comes up with!

Our Plastic Lobster

This colorful, educational plastic lobster is made of hard hollow plastic. This replica has a detailed face and body with flexible feelers. It is red, yellow, black and white in color and very realistic. It promises not to pinch! It serves well for a school project, for a window display, a restaurant or wall decoration or as a gag gift. This lobster would also make a great deoration for your party table! Check out our other lobster toys and gifts.

About Lobsters

Lobsters are crustaceans that are either clawed or unclawed. The clawed lobsters are eagerly caught and are a multi-million dollar part of the seafood industry. They are found exclusively in the ocean. They live on rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms from the shoreline to beyond the edge of the continental shelf. They generally live alone in crevices or in burrows under rocks. They have a strong exoskeleton and are light and nimble. Lobsters are omnivores, eating primarily small mollusks and occasional plant life. Although they see poorly, they have well-developed antenna to feel their way through murky water. They walk slowly, but when anxious, they propel themselves rapidly backwards, and have been measured to speeds up to 11 mph.

Stuffed Toy Lion, very soft

Another new toy in our online store is this cute and very, very soft cuddly stuffed lion.

Our Plastic Stuffed Lion

This stuffed lion sits 11 inches tall and has super-soft and long body fur. The luscious butterscotch color is very rich and very attractive. The lion's face has large, friendly eyes and it has a sweet look about it. This stuffed lion is in Wild Republic's "Rascals" line. All parts are non-toxic and surface washable. Check out our other lion toys and gifts.

About Lions

The hang tag that comes with our stuffed lion says: "Hi! I am a lion. I come from Asia, but you will find my cousins in Africa too. I can run very fast and climb trees swiftly. We lions like living in a group called a pride, and we hunt and do everything together. Our favorite pastime is hunting antelope, baby elephants or rhinos, but you are more likely to see me napping in a tree, or lying on my back, relaxing!"

Lions (Panthera leo) are members of the cat family whose size, power, and bearing have captured human imagination since earliest times, are also called the king of beasts. They once lived throughout Africa and from Europe to Iran and India. Today Eurasian wild lions are limited to the Gir Sanctuary in India. Lions also roam the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Kruger National Park in South Africa. This drastic reduction in range came about as humans and domestic livestock spread into savanna lands. Because lions live in open areas, they are easily shot by hunters and herders.

Stuffed bushbaby back in stock

Our inventory is changing so fast right now - for various reasons, items are selling out that we can't get again, and sometimes the items that we thought were gone forever are coming back!

This popular stuffed bushbaby is back in stock :) Come on over and check it out! Who could resist this cute plastic nose?

Plastic cow and calf replicas - new design, very realistic and lifelike

Our newly-designed Holstein cow and calf replicas are even more lifelike and realistic-looking than before. Do you need a cow and calf for your Christmas manger scene or for a school project? They also make great collectable animal replicas for any collector, and they're durable enough to use as toys for children.

Many parents and grandparents enjoy teaching kids about animals. These bovine models are perfect for introducting children to the animals that live on a farm or dairy.

Stuffed sea turtle

Our Stuffed Sea Turtle

Our new stuffed sea turtle is extremely soft and cuddly, and wants to come and play with you! It has delightfully engaging eyes, and is made of plush; and even his carapace is huggable. Come see our other turtle toys and gifts!

Sea Turtles

All six species of sea turtles in the U.S. are listed as threatened or endangered on the U.S. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife List (green sea turtle, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and olive ridley). Sea turtles are aquatic reptiles and live most of their lives in the ocean. Sea turtles are excellent divers, the Leatherback species routinely dive more than 1,000 ft., and may reach depths of more than 3,900 ft. seeking jellyfish. Although they must swim to the ocean surface to breathe periodically, some turtles can remain underwater for as long as 5 hours without breathing! Currently sea turtles are endangered because not only are they hunted by people as a food source, but they are losing their beach habitat to recreational development, drowning in fishing and shrimp nets, and ingesting plastic trash. (Sea turtle research by Joslyn Biggins.)

She's glad she found this plastic iguana (and the rest of our Galapagos animals)!

From a customer in England who was glad to find us:

There is nothing like your stuff this side of the Atlantic - find an importer!

Wowee - TWO new GREAT WHITE SHARK stuffed animals

We looked and looked until we found a great white shark stuffed animal toy that we really liked. And then as luck would have it, when it rained, it poured. We found not one, but TWO stuffed great white sharks to add to our online store.

The stuffed shark in the top photo is 13 1/2 inches long, while the shark in the second photo is a huggable 21 inches long. Both sharks are made of the softest plush fabric you can imagine!

Our 21-inch Stuffed Great White Shark

This playful stuffed great white shark is made of extremely soft plush material. This replica has a detailed face and body with a shark-like smile. It is 21 inches long. It makes for a nice pet, fits into a stuffed animal collection or serves as a great cuddly friend and is fun for all kinds of games. It promises not to bite! Check out our other shark toys and gifts.

About Great White Sharks

The great white shark Carcharodon carcharias can be found is usually about 9 feet in length, but adults may be as much as 16 feet. They weigh around 2,000 pounds. It lives near the surface in warmer waters of the Pacific, the Caribbean, and along the coast of Africa. Some sharks follow the migration of sea lions, which they find a most tasty prey. The great white has a large conical-shaped snout, agray dorsal fin and a mottled white underside. Great white sharks, like many other sharks, have rows of teeth behind the main ones, allowing any that break off to be rapidly replaced. A great white shark's teeth are serrated and when the shark bites it will shake its head side to side and the teeth will act as a saw and tear off large chunks of flesh. Great whites often swallow their own broken off teeth along with chunks of their prey's flesh.

Plastic Great White Shark new in our online store

Does our new plastic great white shark look menacing with that yellow eye and all those teeth? What about the red gills? This shark can enhance playtime in the bathtub as well many other activities.

Our Plastic Great White Shark

This playful plastic great white shark is made hollow plastic and is 9 inches long. This replica has a detailed face and body with a shark-like smile. It has yellow eyes and a squeaker in its throat and may float and it squirks water. It makes for a nice pet, bath toy, and fits into a shark collection or serves as a great gag and is fun for all kinds of games. It promises not to bite! Check out our other shark toys and gifts.

About Great White Sharks

The great white shark Carcharodon carcharias can be found is usually about 9 feet in length, but adults may be as much as 16 feet. They weigh around 2,000 pounds. It lives near the surface in warmer waters of the Pacific, the Caribbean, and along the coast of Africa. Some sharks follow the migration of sea lions, which they find a most tasty prey. The great white has a large conical-shaped snout, agray dorsal fin and a mottled white underside. Great white sharks, like many other sharks, have rows of teeth behind the main ones, allowing any that break off to be rapidly replaced. A great white shark's teeth are serrated and when the shark bites it will shake its head side to side and the teeth will act as a saw and tear off large chunks of flesh. Great whites often swallow their own broken off teeth along with chunks of their prey's flesh.

Stuffed Moray Eel - a wonderfully cuddly toy sea animal!

Our toy stuffed moray eel is new and oh, so cuddly! At 52 inches long, it's a handful to delight any adult or child.

Our Stuffed Moray Eel

This playful stuffed moray eel is made extremely soft plush material. This replica has a detailed face and body with an eel-like smile. It is yellow-green in color and very cuddly. It promises not to bite! Check out our other eel toys and gifts.

About Moray Eels

Like our rubbery plastic moray eel, real "green moray eels" (Genus Gymnothorax) appear to be yellow-green in color. They are actually brown, but the mucus covering gives them a green or yellow-green tone to the human eye. These eels grow to about 5 or 6 feet long, and occur in the western Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to Bermuda and the northern Gulf of Mexico, south to Brazil, including Ascensión Island. They are commonly found in the ocean, and are popular for salt-water aquariums, although there are problems keeping them with other fish and keeping them from escaping from the tank. The green moray eel is found throughout the warm waters of the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, and Florida Keys. Apparently a similar-looking eel is also found in the waters along the southern coast of Australia and Tasmania. This family of moray eels contains many species.

Charming puffin pin with character!

Our brand new hand-made puffin pin is not only unusual, it really looks like a puffin! This bird jewelry certainly has character as well as quality workmanship!

Our Hand-painted Puffin Jewelry

Does this puffin portrait jewelry have character, or what? These items are unique in the world of animal jewelry! Made in Washington and Idaho by a team of three U.S. artists, these high-quality pins or larger tie tacks are exceptional. Each exquisitely detailed piece is cast in pewter and painted by hand. The finish is extremely smooth and shiny, as you can see by the highlight from the scanner. Each pin is secured by two sturdy tacks on the back so it doesn't skew sideways or turn upside down, and the finished product is not only gorgeous, but satisfyingly substantial in weight. They can be used as lapel pins, hat pins, tie tacks, and more. These collectible animal pins are 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. In fact, if you're interested in having the name of your organization put on an item, write to us for details. We can also get this design for you in pewter finish, bronze plate, silver plate, or 24-karat gold plate (ask about prices). You can find more fish and animals by the same artists listed on our Hand-painted Jewelry page.

About Puffins

Puffins are any of three auk species (or alcids) in the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak in the breeding season. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil.

All puffin species have large beaks. They will shed the colourful outer parts of their bills after the breeding season, leaving a smaller and duller beak. Their short wings are adapted for swimming with a flying technique under water. In the air, they beat their wings rapidly (up to 400 times per minute) in swift flight, often flying low over the ocean's surface. Similarities in body shape and colour between puffins and penguins are due to convergent evolution.

References source: Wikipedia

Stuffed plush hermit crab

Our Stuffed Hermit Crab

This playful stuffed hermit crab is made of extremely soft plush material. This replica has a detailed face and body with a loving expression. It is 12 inches long. It makes for a nice pet, fits into a stuffed animal collection or serves as a great cuddly friend and is fun for all kinds of games. Check out our other crab toys and gifts.

About Hermit Crabs

There are approximately 500 different species of hermit crabs living in saltwater intertidal zones. It isn't a true crab, but has a soft belly which it protects by crawling into an abandoned mollusk shell. This behavior of living in an abandoned cave evokes the image of a hermit, thereby getting its name. As the hermit crab grows, it must find an ever larger shell to inhabit. The hermit crab is fussy about which shell it takes. It likes those that have anemones or sea plants growing on it and even decorates his shell with these living things. This provides a symbiotic relationship, food for them and they provide better security from predators through camouflage.There are land varieties of hermit crabs and, surprisingly enough, there is an organization of hermit crab pet lovers, who keep them at home in aquariums.

Even their Labra-puppy likes this zebra

A note arrived with a recent order for a carved wood zebra eyeglass holder (Peeper Keeper). Here's the comment:

This is the second one we ordered. Our puppy Lab did a number on the first zebra's nose! It is now my wife's backup!

Naked mole rat stuffed animal

Just in and so ugly it's very cute! Our stuffed naked mole rat has wrinkles in its soft plushy "skin" and bright black beady eyes.

Our Stuffed Naked Mole Rat

This imaginative-looking stuffed naked mole rat is made of extremely soft plush material. This replica has a detailed face and body with realistic-looking ridges and cute buck teeth. The naked mole rat is 9 inches long. This plush naked mole rat makes for a nice pet, fits into a stuffed animal collection or serves as a great cudddly friend. Check out our other rat toys and gifts.

About Naked Mole Rats

The naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is also known as the desert mole rat. It is found in East Africa, living underground in a harsh environment. It seems to lack sensations of pain and has a very low metabolism. It spends its time digging its way through tunnels using its large front teeth. Its lips are sealed behind behind the front teeth to keep dirt from getting into its throat. It sees poorly and has no hair to cover its pink-yellowish skin. It lives in colonies with tasks divided up similar to bee colonies.

Stuffed camel finger puppet

Our new stuffed camel is not only a cute finger puppet, but he stands up on his own, too. He's also one of the softest stuffed animals you could possibly want! What a face! This camel has character!

Our Stuffed Camel Finger Puppet

This playful stuffed camel finger puppet is made of extremely soft plush material. This replica has a detailed face and body with a loving expression. It is 7 inches long and 7 inches tall. Your finger goes inside but doesn't move any parts. You basically march it along. This plush camel finger puppet stands up on its own and could work as a Christmas decoration or be placed around a manger. It makes for a nice pet, fits into a stuffed animal collection or serves as a great cuddly friend and is fun for all kinds of games. Check out our other camel toys and gifts.

About 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 fewer than 1,000 remaining in the wild.

Eagle owl stuffed animal (stuffed bird) - very soft and lifelike

Our stuffed toy eagle owl is both cuddly-soft and lifelike. We hope you'll like it as much as we do!

Our Stufffed Eagle Owl

This imaginative-looking stuffed eagle owl is made of extremely soft plush material. This replica has a detailed face and body. The eagle owl is 8 inches tall. This plush eagle owl makes for a nice pet, fits into a stuffed animal collection or serves as a great cudddly friend. Check out our other owl toys and gifts.

About Eagle Owls

The eagle owl (Bubo bubo) is a species of horned owl and is considered the largest owl. It is found in Europe and Asia and has a deep resonant call like ooh-hoo. It has an enormous wingspan sometimes stretching up to five feet. Like most owls it feeds on small rodents but is capable of snatching small mammals in its sharp talons. It is easily recognizable by its size, and brilliant orange eyes.

Pteranodon hand puppet for children (extinct flying reptile) - colorful and fun!

We hope you like our new flying reptile puppet! While the pteranodon is not technically a dinosaur, many people think of it that way. Our puppet is sized for smaller hands, so it's perfect for kids! It's also priced well for today's economy :) And it's extremely colorful. What fun you can have making this guy say anything you want it to!

Our Stuffed Pteranodon Hand Puppet

This playful stuffed pteranodon hand puppet is made of extremely soft plush material. This replica has a detailed face and body with an imaginative-looking expression. The head is small, about the size of a child's hand. It is a tight fit to get your hand in to manipulate the head and beak, but doable. The hand puppet is 14 1/2 inches from beak to horn.. This plush pteranodon hand puppet makes for a nice pet, fits into a stuffed animal collection or serves as a great cuddly friend and is fun for all kinds of games. Check out our other dinosaur toys and gifts.

About Pteranodons

The pteranodon is not really a dinosaur but a winged reptile. "Pteranodon" means "winged and toothless." These flying reptiles were closely related to dinosaurs, but were technically not included in the same group. They lived during the late Cretaceous Period - one of the great ages of dinosaurs. Pteranodon stood about 6 feet tall (and some scientists believe they did stand upright), and had a wingspan of 25 to 33 feet - longer than any known bird. They had short tails, as you can see on our plastic pteranodon replica. Most pteranodon fossils have been found in Kansas and in England. Pteranodons fed primarily on fish, and may have scooped them out of the water the way a modern-day pelican feeds.

Adorable stuffed leopard cub by Hansa - a very special gift

This stuffed plush leopard cub by Hansa is in stock and ready to ship as of this posting on November 21. We have only one left, so if this cat would make the perfect companion for someone you love, please order it today! We ship around the world. Once this cub is gone, we may not be able to get more. Hansa animals are made in limited quantities, and the supply is often spoken for before the ship lands in the US. These remarkably lifelike animals are hand made in the Philippines with finishing touches unique to each style, such as fabrics made in small quantities just for this design. Our leopard cub is quite soft and is very anxious to become someone's best friend! Check it out on our web site. . . .

Our leopard cub by Hansa is soft and adorable. It's eyes have a bright, gold shine to them, and its fur is cuddly and cozy. The nose is made of pink plastic. The leopard cub has large feet for its size, just like a real baby leopard. It measures 16 inches long from its front paws to the base of its tail. The tail, which usually curls around the cub, adds another 10 inches if you pull it out straight.

This stuffed animal has all the quality and individuality you expect with one of Hansa's creations. Hansa is known for its "close to nature" replicas of the world's favorite animals. Check out our other leopard toys and gifts.

Leopards are in the family Felidae. They have been found throughout Africa and Asia. They are large cats, feeding on both large and small mammals as well as birds and reptiles. Leopards give birth to two to three cubs after a gestation period of 90 to 112 days. The range of a leopard's hearing is twice that of a human's, and in dim light its sight is six times better than ours.

Super-soft stuffed alligator now online - very, very cuddly for kids!

This is the same stuffed alligator plush toy I posted about yesterday, but today it's online where it can be ordered with the click of a button! Come take a look and maybe take one home for child who likes snuggly toys. The alligator is EXTREMELY soft, and the teeth are made by stitching into the fur, so there is no way they can scratch. This toy alligator from Wild Republic meets all US safety standards, and is surface-washable.

Four new friends: Stuffed alligator, stuffed eagle owl, stuffed naked mole rat, stuffed pteranodon hand puppet

These four toy animals are so new in our store, you'll have to call to order them until we complete putting them online. You can reach us toll free at:

1-888-325-3179 - Call for price

Stuffed Alligator

All four of our new stuffed plush animals are non-toxic and surface-washable, made of new materials and conforming to the new standards of toy safety in the US. The stuffed alligator at the top of the page is super-soft and cuddly. It measures 14 1/2 inches from nose to tail.

Stuffed Eagle Owl

The stuffed eagle owl above is also very cute and cuddly, standing 8 inches tall. Among other things, the eagle owl preys on meerkats - but ours promises to be friendly!

Stuffed Naked Mole Rat

We've had requests for stuffed naked mole rat toys for quite some time, and we finally got them in this week! Some say our toy mole rat is cuter than the real thing, but we know that everyone has his or her own idea of what's cute and what isn't. We present you with our new naked mole rat, and let you decide!

Here you can see the critter's soft nose, its felt teeth, and its bright, shiny eye. So what could be cuter than this?

Stuffed Pteranodon Hand Puppet

Above you see our Pteranodon hand puppet, made just for child-size hands. With extra-soft plush fur around the neck (where your hand goes inside the puppet), this colorful flying reptile is prepared to say anything you want it to!

. . . and there's more . . .

This is just the tip of the iceberg of our new shipment of wonderfully approachable and usually lifelike stuffed animals. We'll be posting them for you to see as the next few days go by. If you want to hear the whole list, give us a call at (503) 325-3179, or toll-free at (888) 325-3179. Or just stay tuned. We'll be putting them on display on our blog as we get them photographed!

Unusual pals: Stuffed manatee and stuffed extinct squid Tusoteuthis - NOW, WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

You just never know. Our very popular 30-inch stuffed manatee has befriended one of the newcomers under its sheltering paddle, so to speak. Tusoteuthis (an extinct giant squid) seems very happy in the company of its new buddy. Tusoteuthis may well look a little concerned. We had already announced that he was AGAIN becoming extinct (out of manufacture), when we discovered that there had only been a complication causing a confusion between the manufacturer and the importer, and indeed Tusoteuthis has a brand new lease on life.

In the background, you can see the green felt "spines" on our Folkmanis iguana stuffed hand puppet, and to the right at the bottom, another popular creature is trying to get into the picture - our purple latex Soft Play octopus with the posable tentacles. Not quick enough, Octopus. Better luck next time!

DO YOU OR YOUR KIDS LIKE TO TELL STORIES?

If you'll send us your stories based on the animals in our online Animal Store, we'll post the stories along with pictures of the animals. We'll be happy to give you credit for your story or you can choose to be anonymous or use only your first name. If you'd like to name the animal, we'd like that, too! You can name ANY of our collection of animals and write something about them. If they end up with two or three names because several people wrote about them, that's OK, too. Every once in awhile we name an animal ourselves, and the name sticks with it and ends up on the order page for that animal. Maybe you'll be the one with the name that fits the animal perfectly! The stories can be written by kids of any age or with an adult's help. They don't need to be long or complicated. Maybe you just want to tell us what one of the animals is thinking, or whether they are friends with some other animal. Or maybe they took a trip together, or. . . . It's up to you! If it seems like we need to take a new picture of the animal to fit the story as I've done on this post, we may be able to do that!

So, what are you thinking?

Wonderful bald eagles - from our collection to yours!

This plastic American bald eagle replic is only the latest in a wonderful series of bald eagles we sell at Tapir and Friends Animal Store. Check them out! We have plastic eagle replicas, bald eagle jewelry, and even a stuffed bald eagle. Consider them collectibles, toys, or gifts. . . .

You can feel confident purchasing via our secure shopping cart and secure online checkout system. We ship within one or two days of receiving your order, and it should only take two to four days for you to receive it after you place the order!

Sabertooth Cat Puzzle and Saber-toothed Cat Plastic Replica

Saber tooth cats are among the most recognized and popular of all the Ice Age animals. Fearsome predators, these cats roamed the earth thousands of years ago, using their enormous canine teeth to defend themselves in that competitive environment and to bring down their Ice Age prey. We have sabertooth cats in our store in two different styles: a challenging 3-D plastic puzzle seen above, and a lifelike model or replica (no assembly needed) shown below.

The more scientifically-accurate name for the sabertooth is the smilodon. The smilodon, or saber tooth cat (sometimes also called saber-tooth tiger), roamed parts of North and South America around the time of the last Ice Age. The most familiar is Smilodon fatalis, of which many remains have been found in the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits. It became extinct about 11,000 years ago.

Today the smilodon is extinct, and we can only imaging how one really looked, the color and markings of its coat, the way it moved, or what it would be like to look into its eyes the way we can with big cats in zoos today.

Your purchase helps preserve living animals (specifically tapirs and other animals in their habitat areas). Conservation efforts attempt to give them a chance to avoid the onrush of extinction that we are seeing all around us today. It's frightening to think that so many of the animals we know and love may not last another generation or a human lifetime. Many that the adults of today grew up with, or that our parents grew up with, are already gone or are perilously close to extinction.

On the other hand, conservation can work! In some cases, extreme conservation efforts have been able to increase the numbers. One success story is the American bison. A success story in the making is that of the California condor. Many familiar animals that we know and love are facing challenges that could wipe them from the earth - for instance, polar bears, walruses, and even tigers. The more we learn about the animals, the more we care, the more we can do to help preserve the amazing animals that still roam the Earth.

Happy Customer Report: Soon this plastic piranha will have a new home!

Our turnaround is so fast you barely have a chance to blink. We usually ship your order the day we get it, and we ship by US Priority Mail in the US, which means that it takes no longer to reach the East Coast than it does to reach nearby cities and towns (we're located at the far northwest of Oregon).

If the box leaves our store for the 5 p.m. mail, it reaches Portland, Oregon, sometime that night. In many cases, it's on the plane that night. Of course, we don't see the package to follow its route, but typically it will be delivered as quickly to Boston as to Los Angeles, even though one is a continent away. If you live in a peripheral, or small zip code area, it may add a day to the delivery time on your end. That's why we say that your order is "usually delivered in two to four days" from the time you place it with us. And all this is for a minimum shipping and handling fee of $6.50 on an order of $20.00 or less. A larger order will cost a little more. We use the Post Office rather than UPS, because ground shipping may take a week to travel across the country. We like quick service, and so you do you!

Kevin needed this plastic piranha and some other items for his child's school project. After some discussion with Sue (our Customer Expert) about possible deliver dates, he wrote:

November 19, 2009

Just finished up the order, Sue.

Thanks again for your quick replies and speedy service. Now it's up to our friends at the USPS.

Kevin

You can read comments from other happy customers here.

Beautiful hand-painted tiger jewelry (pin)

This beautiful hand-made, hand-painted tiger jewelry was crafted in Washington state, USA. At $29.00, it makes a completely unique gift or keepsake priced that could fit your pocketbook in this difficult economy.

Stuffed Ice Age Woolly Mammoth - yours to cuddle!

STUFFED WOOLLY MAMMOTH

Our popular Fiesta Ice Age Woolly Mammoth stuffed animal makes a great gift any time. It's VERY affordably priced for today's economy, and it's attractive and compelling for any kid to snuggle with - young or old.

Our adorable and affectionate stuffed woolly mammoth is 16 inches long from trunk to tail and stands 10 1/2 inches tall. It has a soft brown furry body, red-brown mane on the top his head, long gentle white tusks and red-brown trunk. It is sewn of soft fabric. This woolly mammoth has a kind and gentle expression. It makes for a thoughtful child's toy or fits nicely in a stuffed animal collection or collection of extinct animals. See our other cool mammoth toys and gifts.

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.

Capybara jewelry

Did you know that you can get capybara earrings, pins, and pendants in NINE different colors? And that's only the color of the capy's body. The bead color can be mixed or matched to an almost unlimited degree. Artist and animal-lover Corinna Bechko makes this capybara and a distinctly unique array of other animals out of light-weight aluminum, and she has a bead collection you won't believe. Just choose the colors and the result will be a stunning piece of original art you will not find anywhere else.

Even though our aluminum jewelry is quite affordable, jewelry prices can drive up the shipping cost if you buy in small "herds." Value-based shipping works great for most things, but in order to accommodate the light weight of jewelry and to make it easier on your pocketbook, you'll find a new option in our secure shopping cart: if your order contains only jewelry, click on the "Jewelry Only" shipping rate, and we'll ship as many pieces as you want anywhere in the world for $5.00 per address. Is that a deal?

Come check out our delightful aluminum animal jewelry art by Corinna!

Red Ant Stuffed Animal Toy

Isn't this stuffed red ant attractive? It also comes in black. These affordably-priced unusual stuffed animals can be found at Tapir and Friends Animal Store. Come on over and check them out!

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed red ant is soft and cuddly. Its body is made of soft plush fabric and shows well-defined segments. The body is red and has large plastic eyes and fine antenna. Our red ant replica has a kindly expression and promises not to bite. This stuffed red ant makes a nice pet, gift, novelty, presentation piece for a school project,or gag gift. See our other ant toys and gifts.

There are over 200 species of red ants, some small and some large. The most common red ant is known as the fire ant. It is a biting ant which grabs on and then stings with a poison called Solenposin. Fire ants live in mounds in moist open area and spend time eating plant material and occasionally a cricket. The colony consists usually of one or more queens, surrounded by drones and workers. The queen can produce up to 1500 eggs in one day.

Your purchase from Tapir and Friends helps us fund wildlife conservation in the field!

Animal 3-D Plastic Puzzles Discontinued - Get Them While They Last!

We hate to see these wonderful animal puzzles disappearing, but that is a fact. They are no longer available to us, having been discontinued by the importer. We've been looking for a new source, but have not found one. These puzzles have been among our top sellers, and they are also wonderful replicas of the real animal. Just the other day we sold out of our zebra puzzle and had to take it offline.

We still have a great selection of puzzles, but almost every day we sell out of one more animal. For instance, today we have only six left of the octopus you see above. If you're looking to find small, affordable, interesting and unique gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other holiday event, do check out our puzzles before the selection is gone. As of this post, we still have some puzzles left in the general categories of:

Dinosarus
Whale
Coral Reef Animals
Wild (Jungle) Animals
Polar Animals
Endangered Animals
Extinct Animals
Desert Animals
Reptiles

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 colorful octopus measures 4 1/2 inches across its tentacles and is 3 1/2 inches tall. It comes unassembled in a beautiful plastic ice cube. The pieces are cleverly fitted, flexible, and not too difficult to assemble. When completed, this striking octopus sits nicely straight up for display with your favorite treasures. To see our entire inventory of puzzle animals, go to our 3-D Puzzle Animals page. Be sure to look over our other plastic octopus toys and gifts.

Soft Play Hedgehog Toy

Do you know anyone who loves hedgehogs? Come take a look at our adorable ("he's got personality") squishable, non-breakable foam-filled realistic latex hedgehog toy. Not only is he durable when you play with him, but he's not likely to break or damage anything (or any person) when he's tossed across the room.

Our Soft Play Latex Hedgehog

This realistic-looking latex-coated soft play hedgehog is a terrific replica. It is 9 1/2 inches long a nd 4 inches tall.tail. Our hedgehog replica has a hard plastic coating and a soft inner body possibly made of foam. It is an excellent toy for children because it is light weight and durable. It serves as an educational toy for a science project or as a gag or unusual gift. Check out our other hedgehog toys and gifts.

About Hedgehogs

The hedgehog is a small spiny nocturnal mammal which feeds primarily on insects. It gets its name because it is found frequently among hedgerows and has a small pig-like snout. The hedgehog has quills like a porcupine, except that they neither sting nor come free from the hedgehog's body. The hedgehog has actually few predators. Occasionally the hedghog is annoyed by larger mammals such as foxes but, in response, roll up into a little ball to protect its soft belly. The hedgehog controls insect populations, but is vulnerable to agricultural and household pesticides. It lives for about seven years and produces litters of 3-4 at least twice a year. Like many nocturnal creatures, the hedgehog is often run over by cars during the night.

Our very popular plastic MARYLAND BLUE CRAB and RED LOBSTER are back!

Come on over and celebrate! Take a couple home to Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, your best friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, hubby or wife, your teacher, or even your dog. Need decor for your crab cook or lobster bake? Squishy and adorable, these plastic sea animals are favorites with our customers. Click on the photos to visit each critter, or check them both out on this page of our online store.

Our blue crab and red lobster were so popular they sold right out of inventory. But the good news is . . . guess what? THEY ARE BACK!

Give someone a cute pig nose "Swine Flu" H1N1 - don't give the actual virus!

Did you imagine anyone would make a swine flu virus plush toy? Well, the ever-creative and ever-weird Giantmicrobes did just that.

Our Swine Flu (Influenza A virus H1N1) Plush Stuffed Toy

This imaginative-looking stuffed, plush swine flu (Influenza A virus H1N1) toy is soft and cuddly and is 5 1/2 inches long. It is adorned with red plastic eyes and embroidered nostrils. The surface is washable: Simply sponge with a mixture of warm water and mild soap. Allow to air dry, then brush to restore fabric to its original fullness. (SAFETY PRECAUTION: Remove plastic hangtags and ribbons before giving to a child under 3 years of age.) This stuffed plush swine flu virus replica is a great collectible or makes for a gag gift. Check out our other worm, leech, and virus toys and gifts.

About the Swine Flu (Influenza A virus H1N1)

Swine flu is an influenza virus that usually affects pigs. However, just as the common, seasonal flu that affects humans is constantly mutating (as our immune systems and vaccines compromise weaker strains), swine flu is always trying to improve itself so that it can become more virulent, spread faster - and even associate with better company. Occasionally, a pig-headed virus such as Influenza A (H1 N1) actually succeeds and begins infecting other species - like humans. Naturally, this raises philosophical questions as to whether it is still a swine flu: since it's new, it isn't widespread in the porcine population - and anyway, once it's affecting other species, well. . . . Nevertheless, once a virus such as swine flu makes the jump to another species, the health risks in the new population are substantial. In the original host-population, some immunities generally exist against the original strain, and these immunities are often at least partially effective against new mutations. In a new host, however, there may be no natural immunity to the original strain and no partial immunity to the new strain - so the virus can spread rapidly. In addition, a virus that produces mild effects in one species may be life-threatening in another - so catastrophic health consequences can result. Fortunately, swine flu viruses are generally fragile, and in most cases basic health precautions (such as hand-washing and avoiding close contact with those who are ill) significantly reduce the chance of infection. Nevertheless, the dangers of future mutations and infections will continue to abound until, well, pigs fly.