Watch for Deer

An unlicensed landscaping service has been working the neighborhood trimming the bushes, flowers and fertilizing the lawn. This mom and four other white-tail mule deer were spotted on Aubrey Butte in Bend, Oregon, in the late afternoon yesterday and seemed quite proud oof the job they were doing.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large variety of hoofed animals including some attractrive deer eyeglass holders (peeper keepers) and white tail deer jewelry. Also the store sells wonderfully realistic plastic reindeer, plastic elk, and  plastic caribou.  Our items are excellent examples for school science projects or for keepsakes, however they are not suitable for yard work!

by Lee

                                                                 This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Look carefully where you step

This morning while hiking up Black Butte near Sisters, Oregon, I spied a horned toad on the trail.  Although its short blunt shape resembles a frog  it is neither a toad nor a frog, but a lizard belonging to the genus Phrnosomatidae, morphologically similar to the thorny devil of Australia.

Horned lizards use a wide variety of techniques to avoid predation which, as you can see above, includes camoflauge. It also remains very stiill to avoid detection or runs in short bursts to confuse the predator's vision. Also it puffs up its body to make itself look more horny. These lizards feast on ants and other small insects and uses the same defense mechanisms to its advantage in hunting.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large selection of plastic reptiles including many kinds of plastic lizards. Among its desert animals there is an excellent horned toad replica and even a plastic cactus to add character to a science project diorama.

by lee

                                                   This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

monkey business?

A gray langur or Hanuman monkey looks on indifferently at tourists somewhere in central India. These old world monkeys are herbivores and often inhabit wooded areas and urban areas. They seem docile, but often quarrel with other members and can be quite the pests.  Also do not, like I did, wave a banana in front of one. Suddenly, the lovely yellow temptation, was ripped out of my hand and monkeys appeared almost out of nowhere. One even jumped in my lap!

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large selection of realistic primates including many old world and new world monkeys. Also there is an interesting collection of prosimians, orangutans, and apes. We have  monkey drinking cups and gorilla eyeglass holders, but no barrel of monkeys!

by lee                                                                                                                                                        



This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Mooving in with relatives?

These young water buffalo, photographed  two years ago by our friend Dawn Emerson in a field outside of Agra, India, seem to enjoy the kinship and cool water. I remember a girl of ten or twelve minding the herd. What is amazing is how close a connection each animal has with one another. It is, I guess, a family affair.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large selection of plastic hoofed animals, but unfortunatly no water buffalo. Instead we have an American version, namely cattle. See our selection of Holstein cows, Texas longhorn bulls and calves.

by Lee

                                                   This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

loving fish!

Kissing Gouramis, also known as kissing fish (Helostoma temminckii), is a favorite species for freshwater aquarium enthusiasts.These fish actually kiss one another although someone told me at the pet shop that it is considered agressive behavior. They seem to hang out often at the top and suck at the water as it spins around the filter or they lie quietly at the bottom and appear to sleep for long periods. In any case it is a joy to spend time watching the habits of tropical fish.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a fascinating variety of plastic tropical fish for sale. Most are saltwater reef fish such as our copperband butterfly fish puzzle, but there are plastic piranhas and fresh water trout as well. Our plastic fish are not to be put in aquariums with living fish but you may want to kiss them if you so choose!

by Lee

                                                 This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

How are you little star?

It's not every day that a person enjoys seeing the underside of a starfish (sea star). This new resident in my salt water aquarium has decided to show off its lovely rays for anyone who may be interested. By the way, starfish are from the phylum echinoderm, which means "spiny skin."

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large selection of aquatic creatures including a large variety of plastic sea stars(starfish) of various colors and shape. Orange starfish are among my favorites. See our small plastic seastar and a larger one that looks almost identical to the one above.

by lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

For the birds!

After being virtually ignored most of the summer, my bird feeder has been inundated by finches and sparrows gorging on seed. This must have to do with the beginning of cold weather, although I thought only squirrels and bears prepared themselves for Winter. It is great to watch the birds jockeying for postion on the rungs. This little sparrow seems to be patiently awaiting his turn.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large selection of realistic plastic birds for sale, although no sparrows. The store also offers a beautiful selection of stuffed parrots and stuffed parakeets finely crafted from Hansa. All these realistic bird replicas make good pets since they don't require clean-up!  In addition these minature birds are useful for school science projects or as decorations for parties.

by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Hawaiian Turtles

I wish my underwater photography skill were this good, but actually I took a photo of this beautiful green turtle from a picture hanging in a Hawaiian restaurant. It is swimming at a reef near Kona, perhaps at the famous Captain Cook's Bay. What snorkler or diver does not love to watch turtles paddle around. This one seems annoyed and has turned its back on these nosy, curious humans. Maybe he doesn't have a thick enough shell! (groan)

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large selection of realistic plastic sea turtles including several green sea turtles as well as hawksbill turtles and loggerhead turtles.  Also see our large selection of freshwater turtles as well including box turtles.           

by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

fishing for art?

Who does not falll in love with imaginative native art. In the above picture the famous artist, Luis Mendes from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has created wonderful batiks which are for sale in a small shop in Altar do Chao, Brazil.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store sells unique animal-themed gifts including amazing plastic fish replicas, fish eyeglass holders (peeper keepers) and stuffed plush fish.  These items have many purposes including home decor, educational objects for school science projects or keepsakes for your desk or mantle. Come visit our site and enjoy the beauty of the animal kingdom.

by Lee

                                Tapir and Friends Animal Store

the Andean condor

Perched on the top of a column in the main plaza in Cochabamba, Bolivia, is a replica of an Andean condor. The condor represents the origin of  life and is a most sacred symbol in traditional Bolivian thought. It is unclear why, in such a strongly Catholic region, the condor is still so venerated, but, just the same, the gaze of this proud bird instills a sense of authority and a feeeling of protection to those of us below.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a wide selection of realistic plastic birds and several detailed examples of plastic raptors including a lovely stuffed California condor from the Audubon colllection.  These bird replicas are educational and useful in school science projects or to teach children about the diversity of the animal kingdom.

by lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Octopus heaven?

It is probably best that this photo is somewhat out of focus. It shows a heap of octopi in a market in Zanzibar ready for sale.  Although shopping for seafood is often a smelly chaotic experience in such places, it also evokes sympathy for all the copious amounts of beautiful dead sealife that have fallen to the snares of wily fisherman.

At Tapir and Friends Animal Store we embrace the sanctity of life and deplore overfishing. That isn't to say that we wouldn't consider  eating an occasional  plate of calimari. These are difficult times and to encourage eating only that which can be sustained through farming and regulated harvesting, is wonderful if you are not from a third world country where people must do anything to sustain themselves.

On a brighter note, Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large selection of inedible plastic aquatic creatures for sale. Our museum-quality plastic octopi and soft play latex octopi will absolutely tantalize your senses and serve a useful purpose in school science projects to instruct those around you about the unique qualities of these amazing animals.

Posted by Lee

                                                           This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

reef fish solace

I'm not sure what to call this blue, purple and yellow beauty. It may be related to a wrasse. The aquarium guy calls him a Graumman, but I can't seem to find such a critter in any guide. He lives happily in my tank but has a mysterious past. He had been missing for almost 4 months and I had thought he was a goner, but yesterday I found that he'd been trapped and living in the inner confines of the (reasonably large) housing for the filter. Perhaps he enjoyed the solace and certainly had no enemies or competion for food. Maybe I should call him a hermit fish!

Tapir and friends Animal Store has a wide variety of realistic plastic tropical fish including angel fish, plastic parrotfish and  plastic triggerfish. These realistic plastic fish should not be put with live fish in an aquarium but some of our plastic fish float, but you won't need to feed them.

post by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Going to bat for bats!

Yesterday I had hoped to see some big-eared bats when I hiked into Pictograph Cave near Bend, Oregon, but unfortunately the best or the worst I found was a prodigious amount of old bat guano. Big-eared bats are classified as vesper bats, common bats, or evening bats. They are insectivores and rely on echolocation by shouting through their open mouth to create an ultrasound beam. Large ears help pick up the returning vibration.
Bats are in the small order Chiroptera, which include flying mammals. What is remarkable is that it is the only mammal which, by its webbed wings, is actually capable of flight.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a wide selection of miscellaneous animals for sale including bats. As Halloween approaches, perhaps you or a friend may want to wear a pair of bat earrings, a pin or necklace to the party. I can't promise they'll help you fly, but you will look superb.

by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Really Old Deer

I'm sorry this faded image of a deer isn't clearer, but what can you expect from an ancient pictograph drawn by local natives hundreds of years ago. You might ask why the drawing is so simple or childlike and without any perspective. The answer is most likely that the artist was mainly interested in conveying an idea with the resemblance of the animal rather than sketching a realistic representation. I found several other likewise fascinating pictures painted into the wall at the mouth of Pictograph Cave near Bend, Oregon, on an afternoon hike.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store believes of course in fostering a love for living animals, but encourages its "friends" to enjoy other scientific pursuits as well, such as paleontology, archeology, geology, and anthropology. We have a large selection of realistic plastic extinct animals and plastic and stuffed hoofed animals. including deer jewelry and deer eyeglass holders (peeper keepers), plastic elk and plastic caribou. These plastic animals are educational and fun and fit nicely into a diorama or are useful for any school science project.

by lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Better duck?

A proud mallard drake (Anas platyrhnchos) stands stalwartly before me and pays no attention to the corn chip placed conveniently on the rock below. He clearly enjoys the cool Autumn breeze rippling across the water and posing for a flock of females that are bobbing out in the water. Mallards are considered "dabbling" ducks since they feed mainly on vegetable matter on the surface by upending rather than diving. Traditionally most ducks classified by morphological similarites into groups such as diving ducks, perching ducks, dabbling ducks and shelducks, which include geese and swans.

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a wide selection of plastic birds and some Audubon stuffed birds for sale. Our plastic mallard duck is a drake with bright colors and compliments our fine selection of realistic plastic geese and swan jewelry. We also sell a wooden replica mallard duck eyeglass holder (peeper keeper) for those of you who love ducks as much as we do.

by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Day for A Swim

A pufferfish swims by and says Hi to all you fish lovers and friends, and then goes on its merry way in search of little things. Having a salt water aquarium provides many moments of observation of animals that live along the reef. This pufferfish sleeps tightly at nighttime lying vertically and perfectly still against the rocks or the glass. Fortunately the aquarium is not a dangerous place, but in the natural environment, during its deep sleeping state, there are pinching crabs, cephlapods such as squid or octopii or cuttlefish, and of course, larger fish ready to swallow our lovely friend. One false move, he's discovered and then he's gulped. How sad! I don't want to think about it any more .

Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a wide selection of realistic plastic tropical reef fish for sale including a plastic pufferfish and an especially fascinating plastic boxfish, a close relative to our finned fellow. Some of our plastic fish float but don't belong in an aquarium with live fish. Some things just don't mix at anytime night or day.

by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

New Plastic Cuttlefish Toy

We're very excited to have a new cuttlefish in the store! We once had a cuttlefish that we liked very much, and so did our customers. Unfortunately, as often happens, just when everyone was showing their appreciation by buying them, the old cuttlefish was discontinued by its manufacturer. This often happens because our specialty online store (realistic animals) attracts customers like you who love animals and who appreciate this level of realism in a toy or replica. Not everyone does, and some of the best items are discontinued after only a short "life span." However, we keep on looking and finding the plush and plastic animals that please us and our customers, too!

Our Plastic Squirting Cuttlefish

This realistic-looking plastic cuttlefish squirts water from a tiny hole just below its eyes. It is light weight, squeezable, and looks a lot like the real thing. Although the tentacles are flexible, they are not posable. This plastic cephalopod is great for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic cuttlefish is for decoration or play only. Although it floats, it should NOT be put in your aquarium with living fish. However, you can make an awesome sea-life or aquarium shoebox diorama using this and other plastic aquatic creatures and mammals, sharks, fish, sea turtles, birds, and decor from our gift shop.

About Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish, of which there are about 120 different species, are cephalopods. They are related to octopi, squid, and nautiluses. They are not fish, but are molluscs (or mollusks) and derive the name "cuttle" from an old German word meaning "pouch." Their bodies are composed of two long sucker-laden tentacles which are used to grab and secure prey - generally worms, small molluscs, crabs, shrimp and, unfortunately, other cuttlefish. Like other invertebrates and cephalopods, cuttlefish have a large internal shell (the cuttlebone) and two extraordinary w-shaped eyes, which, according to many scientists, are among the most developed in the animal kingdom. Although they can't see color, they distinguish contrast in great detail. Their eyes can work independently and one can look backwards as the other looks forward. As the eyes are fully developed at birth, it is thought that before hatching, cuttlefish eggs learn to recognize their future prey. Cuttlefish are found in warmer tropical waters, but not in the Americas. They use camouflage, rapid color change, and ink to communicate and to protect themselves from their many predators such as fish, sharks, dolphins, seals, and other cuttlefish.

Come see our new plastic squirting cuttlefish! In fact, take a few home for yourself or the kids. We ship anywhere!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Foxy Mosaic

Today I recall the old children's song that says, "Oh, a hunting we will go .. a hunting we will go, we'll catch a fox and put him in a box... and then we'll let him go! " I certainly prefer that the fox receives its freedom, rather than an unfortunate outcome. Also there was an exciting news story this week about the reappearance of the Sierra red fox which was believed to have been extirpated in Northern California. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/09/supposedly-extinct-red-fox-discovered-in-yosemite-national-park.html. Tapir and Friends Animal Store has an interesting selection of plastic and stuffed canids (animals of the dog family) for sale. We don't have a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) at this time, but we have a realistic plastic Arctic fox. Please check our store often. Our inventory changes with always new educational, fun, realistic animals.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beautiul New Plastic Salmon in the Store!

We've just made a great new addition to our collection of toy and model fish replicas.

Our Plastic Salmon Model

This high-quality plastic salmon model is one of the most realistic plastic fish we have ever seen. It is suitable for museum and public aquarium displays as well as for school projects, science classes and biology education kits, educational toys, table decorations, restaurant decor and much more. The length is 5 inches, and the fins and tail are flexible but not posable. It will sit upright on a table with the head at a slighly downward angle.

About Sockeye Salmon

The sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is an oceangoing salmon that also lives in fresh water rivers. Therefore it is anadromus. It is found mainly in the North Pacific and its associated rivers, especially in British Columbia and Alaska, although in 2010 sockeye salmon have been returning in large numbers to the Columbia River which makes the border between Washington and Oregon. The name "Sockeye" is allegedly a folk adaptation of an Indian word from a tribe along the lower Fraser River. In the ocean, where the sockeye lives for 4-6 years, the fish is all silver in color with a blue tinge, but when it returns to the river to spawn, the male becomes bright red with a black face. Spawning season is usually in July or August and, of course, it is totally amazing that the sockeye salmon finds its way back to the source where it was born. It is theorized that each river has a characteristic odor that the sockeye has memorized and therefore navigates by smell.

Come check out our new, realistic and very detailed plastic salmon replica!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Dinosaur Tracks

Seeing a dinosaur skeleton in a museum may be thought-provoking, but seeing actually tracks in nature is downright exhilarating. Just South of Tuba City, Arizona, on a large tract of Navajo Nation land are the footprints of countless dinosaurs that roamed a marsh during the Jurassic Period about 200 million years ago. These are known as "trace fossils" since it is hard to say whether the prints are from one or many different, in this case plant-eating, Dilophosaurus wetherilli. What became of them, who knows? Tyrannosaurus Rex didn't arrive on the scene until 65 million BC, 135 million years later and the above herbivore had long been extinct. Tapir and Friends Animal Store encourages people to study the facts about dinosaurs and extinct animals and to become comfortable with the incredibly long history of life on the planet. See the wide selection of plastic dinosaurs and dinosaur skeleton puzzles for sale. They are so useful for science projects and as teaching devices.

Please e-mail your photos and text if you would like to see them on this blog.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

nose to the ground

It is always fun to see animals depicted on postage stamps. In this case, a lowland (Brazilian) tapir appears to be nibbling its way across the former British Hondurus, modern day Belize. Unfortunately the stamp designer has chosen the wrong species and placed this South American "mountain cow" in the domain of the Baird's tapir. We are consoled that at least someone has bothered to memoralize a tapir at all. Tapir and Friends Animal Store has an outstanding selection of tapir items. Plastic tapirs and stuffed tapirs are usually Malayan or Asian tapir replicas, but we have knitted tapirs representing each species and unique t-shirt designs as well.

by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Something fishy?

Sorry, none of the products sold by Tapir and Friends Animal Store are edible! The small tasty exotic fish in the foreground is part of a luncheon meal enjoyed by one of our Tapir and Friends Animal Store Blog loyal followers, Francisca, a wonderful friend of hers, and me this past April in the outskirts of Hong Kong near the Chinese border. You might enjoy visiting our fish "menu" page and see all our realistic plastic fish, stuffed sturgeon replica, fish jewelry and tropical fish eyeglass holders (peeper keepers). Please sample our products with your eyes and not with your mouth!

supplied by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

jungle jim and sandbox for cats

A pair of young clouded leopards entertain themselves and visitors at Tacoma, Washington's, Point Defiance Zoo. These lithe, graceful cats are a special part of the Southeast Asian Animal collection which tapirgal and I visited two weeks ago. Granted they aren't tapirs, but we found them pleasing to watch anyway! Tapir and Freiends Animal Store has a large selection of plastic and stuffed cats for sale including a wonderful stuffed leopard cub. These realistic cat replicas make particularly nice gifts and are also useful for animal science projects or dioramas.

posted by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Eagle eye?

Every summer I'm reminded that I am clearly not the only fish lover along my favorite river. This bald eagle flies overhead chirping merrily and swoops down and retrieves fish regularly. Hiding among the brambles of the nest is a furry fledgling that periodically pops it head up and surveys the countryside from its aerie. Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a wide selection of both exotic and common plastic birds, including some eagle jewelry and some fine plastic bald eagle replicas. Heavens no, this is not an American bald eagle. The picture was shot in British Columbia!

submitted by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Looking at You

To some of you, this picture may not be that appealing, however, we find market day an exciting time and an integral component to visiting a foreign country. The noise, color, interesting people, and, of course, the odors are memorable.. Here in the fish market in Santarem, Brazil, along the Amazon River in a butcher is showing off his selection of peacock bass. See the distinctive circle on the fishes' tail from which the fish gets its name. Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a huge variety of unusual plastic fish for sale. One special item is our bass eyeglass holders. This bass isn't a peacock bass though and, don't worry, it doesn't smell nor attract other fish! It is among a number of special animal eyeglass holders or peeper keepers worth seeing.

by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

size extra large?

Talk about big feet! Look at this polar bear. This wet, furry fellow shows off his paws to visitors at the San Diego Zoo. Maybe he'd like a starring role in a Nike commercial... A bear in tennis shoes? I don't think so. Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a fine variety of realistic plastic bears and including plastic polar bear replicas and stuffed polar bears too. Our toy bears are probably more huggable than those at the zoo and promise to obey your every command.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Swimming with the Fishes

Some people estimate that there are over 5000 different species of Amazon River fish. The bin from a market in Santarem, Brazil, contains a kind of catfish, which I was told was quite the delicacy. The tastiest food fish though is called the tambaqui and can be found at most every restaurant. Yet, for sheer fame, nothing rivals the reputation of the piranha. Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a wide variety of exotic plastic fish for sale, which serve well as examples for science projects. We do not have a catfish replica at this time, but come see our miniature plastic piranha. Don't worry, ours doesn't bite.

contributed by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

inky but not dinky

Some people like spiders and others don't. I'm not sure how endearing this arachnid is. I found this spider sitting on its rope-like web (see its heavy strands) on a luscious green leaf in the Amazon Jungle in Para Province in Brazil. Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large selection of realistic plastic spiders for sale. There is an interesting selection of stuffed tarantulas and interlocking tarantula puzzles. They are all harmless, for those of you who are faint at heart.

written by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Swoon for Swans

There appear to be lots of feathers on the ground at this location along the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon. Obviously the bank serves as a beauty parlor for these magnificent birds. Here swans preen, clean and then paddle up and down the river for the enjoyment of all that see them. Tapir and Friends Animal Store has many lovely bird gifts and plastic birds for sale including swan jewelry for those of you that love these magnificent birds and want to take one home with you.

submitted by Lee
This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Watch your manners!

Last Sunday, Tapir and Friends Animal Store took a field trip to the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington, to observe the resident pair of Malayan or Asian tapirs. It was so much fun to listen to the many visitors incorrectly identify our burly friends as large pigs. Then again in this picture the female, with her tongue hanging out, is "hamming it up" or just acting like a ... you know what!. Tapir and Friends Animal Store has a large variety of Asian tapir items, especially plastic tapirs, knitted tapirs, and stuffed tapirs. Of course tapirs are not remotely related to pigs, but are more closely associated with rhinos and horses.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Counting Noses!

Near, where the Tapajos River pours into the Amazon in Central Brazil, there is the tourist town of Alter do Chao that has reputely the most beautiful beach in all of Brazil. In a special shop which sells exclusively native craft, I found this wooden lowland tapir replica which I felt would be treasured by Sheryl, the owner of Tapir and Friends Animal Store. There were no small wooden tapir replicas to send back for Tapir and Friends Animal Store, but Sheryl has just received a shipment of beautifully-detailed plastic tapir replicas and sells a variety of other tapir products. It is difficult to find tapir items to sell other than the Asian tapir replicas , but the store has some lovely t-shirts and knitted tapirs which depict the South American and Central American species.

written by Lee

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.