Stuffed Woolly Mammoth

Our Stuffed Woolly Mammoth is adorable, don't you think?

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.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Meerkats

Our Plastic Meerkat Trio!

Check out the details of these wonderful meerkats (Suricata suricatta) by Safari Ltd. Superior design and details make these museum-quality replicas or collector's items, and yet the price puts them in range for the average collector.They can also be used as a toys. These meerkats are very sturdy and made of solid plastic. Note the realistically textured bodies. An information card is included with your purchase. This plastic meerkat is great for school projects, toys, novelties, party favors and more. You can make an interesting African shoebox diorama using this and other plastic creatures from our gift shop. Best of all, there is no mess, no feeding, and no tank or cage cleaning :) Be sure to look over our other meerkat toys and gifts.

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

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

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Gray Reef Shark

Check out our Plastic Gray Reef Shark.

Gray Reef Sharks are found around the Indo-Pacific coral reefs. They are gray overall with a white underside and black tips or edges on their fins. They average less than 6.6 feet in length, can weigh up to 74.3 pounds and live up to 25 years. Our 3 1/4-inch plastic shark shows good detail with the gills and mouth actually molded in, then painted.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Giant Squid

Our Stuffed Giant Squid is awesome!

This realistic-looking stuffed giant squid is made of very soft plush burgundy and tan material, and is 30 inches long. This miniature giant squid replica has huge bi-colored shiny eyes and makes a nice item in a stuffed animal collection. Our plush giant squid promises not to bite. It makes an excellent 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 aquatic animals and sea life toys and gifts.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Snowy Owl Stuffed Toy Bird

Our Snowy Owl Stuffed Toy Bird is so realistic and adorable!

Our stuffed snowy owl is from the Cuddlekins series by Wild Republic. As with all of Wild Republic's toys, this plush toy owl meets the most stringent current standards of safety for children's toys. All parts are non-toxic and surface washable. The owl sits nicely on any surface and is 11 inches tall in a sitting position. It's very soft and has big, friendly yellow and black eyes. The wings can be spread out from the body and also have a very soft pettable surface. Stitching on the tops of the wings (not visible in the photo) make it appear as though they have flight feathers. Although this is not a Harry Potter official owl, it is the same type of owl as Hedwig and will charm anyone who loves the Harry Potter stories as well as anyone who simply likes owls, birds, or animals! Check out our other owl toys and gifts.

About Snowy Owls

The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) is found in the north in polar regions but migrates South in the Winter. It feeds primarily on lemmings and other small rodents and needs to eat 7-10 of them during the day to survive. Snowy Owls, like many other birds, swallow their small prey whole. Strong stomach juices digest the flesh and the indigestible bones, teeth, fur, and feathers are compacted into oval pellets that the bird regurgitates 18 to 24 hours after feeding. Regurgitation often takes place at regular perches, where dozens of pellets may be found. Biologists frequently examine these pellets to determine the quantity and types of prey the birds have eaten.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Soft Play Floating Pufferfish

We think this little pufferfish is absolutely adorable! 

Our Soft Play Floating Latex Pufferfish

This engaging, realistic-looking soft play latex FLOATING pufferfish replica is made of foam inside and a latex exterior. It is 9 inches from lips to tail, 7 inches wide and shaped like a bouncy ball, and to me it looks bigger than it sounds by the measurement. Maybe that's because it's so yellow and bright! This replica is soft and squishy and but returns to its original shape. You can even bounce it! It is neither sharp nor poking.This pufferfish toy is a little bit cartoonish like the pufferfish in the cartoon movie "Finding Nemo," but it still serves as a great example for a science project, a gag or toy, or serves as a collectible. Our soft play latex pufferfish is for decoration or play only. Even though it floats, it should NOT be put in your aquarium even if it would fit! Check out our other reef fish toys and gifts and our growing collection of soft play floating, bouncing, squeezable animals!

About Pufferfish

Pufferfish or puffer fish are a common reef fish and are found in warm tropical waters. Many are highly poisonous to the touch and should be avoided. They have large external spines and large, sharp front teeth, which are used to crush mollusks and crustaceans. They are slow swimmers and coordinate the movements of the caudal, anal and pectoral fins, which can give them short, speedy thrusts to elude predators. They have excellent vision, but if caught, can expand in the mouth or stomach of the predator and give it a nasty, possible lethal injection of poison. Some Japanese people consider pufferfish a delicacy, but it requires a special, delicate preparation. I personally would not try it.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Cobra

Our Plastic Cobra is amazing!

This super-lifelike coiling plastic cobra looks and feels like the real thing. In fact, our cobra is so realistic it has been purchased for use in a number of TV programs and movies. It makes a wonderful stage prop! We can't say enough about it - it's just beautiful, and its scaly plastic body is soft to the touch. The cobra is posable. As you see it here, it stands 7 inches tall, and it's 36 inches measured from nose to tail. It can be straightened out or moved into different positions. What a great gift or addition to your snake collection! Most details are "strikingly" realistic, although the two dark holes in the front are placed there so the plastic can bend without breaking. The cobra has the typical pattern on the back of its hood, not shown in our photo. Come look through our entire collection of snake toys and gifts.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Edmonds's Sea Star

Isn't our Plastic Edmond's Sea Star beautiful?

Starfish are not really fish. They are spiny invertebrates called echinoderms. Other echinoderms are sea urchins, sand dollars and sea cucumbers. To avoid confusion, biologist prefer to call them "sea stars".

Our Edmond's sea star will add a colorful splash to your sea-life diorama or school project. You'll find it useful for undersea dioramas, school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic sea star is for decoration or play only. It does not float, and should NOT be put in your aquarium. 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. There is no mess, no feeding, and no tank cleaning :)

The bottom of our 2 1/4-inch plastic sea star is tan colored and has grooves and canals like a real starfish. It's name is printed on the bottom. Come look through our entire collection of sea star toys and gifts.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Walrus

Our Plastic Walrus rocks!

Our walrus toy animal is made of hard plastic and measures 2 1/4 inches from nose to rear flippers. Its name is molded into the underside. This plastic animal toy is great for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic walrus is for decoration or play only. It does not float, and should NOT be put in your aquarium. However, you can make a stunning arctic 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. Come see our wonderful assortment of walrus toys and gifts.

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.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Krill

Check out our cool Stuffed Krill.

This unusual-looking stuffed krill is soft, cuddly, and easy to hold. The legs are short, flexible, and are made of soft light pink, plush fabric. The body is bright pink and the head is covered with ribbed, silver-colored cloth with pink fur gills on each side. Two large black eyes, lots of antennae and a green thorax round out this lovely sea creature. Our krill has a kindly expression and wants to be your friend. This krill makes a nice pet or gift. Check out our other shrimp, lobster and krill toys and gifts.

The krill are shrimp-like crustaceans that make up a vital part in the food chain. It is a small animal and varies in size from 1 to 4 inches. It is eaten by large mammals such as baleen whales and seals, by fish, and sea birds. Krill are the favored died of the blue whale, the largest aimals on earth. A blue whale can eat up to six million krill per day! Krill can be found in all the oceans and are near the surface at night and at greater depths by day. The name krill comes from Norwegian meaning small fry of fish.

There are many species of krill found throughout the world's oceans, but the most well-known krill is the Antarctic Krill or Euphausia superba. It can form large, dense swarms that attract whales, seals, penguins, squid, and predatory fish. By biomass, krill are perhaps the most successful multicellular animals in the world.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Pteranodon Skeleton Model

Kids will LOVE our Plastic Pteranodon Skeleton Model.

This realistic-looking pteranodon skeleton model is made of strong plastic and is sturdy when assembled. It is 9 1/4 inches long and 9 inches wide. There are about 11 separate pieces, some large, with easy to follow assembly instructions and a diagram. The bones look weathered and connect with one another through pegs or joint sockets. Although most pieces hold together well, it may help to use a little super glue. This miniature pteranodon skeleton replica makes a nice display, a gift, or toy for children or adults and could work well for school show-and-tell or as a school science project. Check out our other dinosaur model toys and gifts.

About the Pteranodon

"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 skeleton 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.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Aquatic Genet

Check out our Plastic Aquatic Genet.

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

Despite the name, the aquatic genet (Osbornictis piscivora) is a poor swimmer. It is so named because it's diet consists mainly of the fish and other aquatic creatures it captures by diving into the streams of it's native Zaire. Unlike other genets, this species does not have any bands or spots on its body nor rings on its tail.

Our aquatic genet is striking and quite beautiful with its orange color and carefully moulded details. Our toy is made of hard plastic and measures 3 inches from nose to tail and stands approximately 3/4 inches high. This plastic genet cat is great for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic aquatic genet is for decoration or play only. You can make a spectacular shoebox diorama using this and other plastic creatures from our gift shop. Best of all, there is no mess, no feeding, and no tank or cage cleaning :) Check out our terrific selection of genet toys.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Fawn (Baby Deer)

Our Stuffed Fawn (Baby Deer) is so adorable!

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

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

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

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

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Swan

Check out our realistic Plastic Swan.

Our plastic swan is white in color with a bright orange beak. It is perched on a small stand with webbed feet and its feathers are distinctly moulded to emphasize each feather. This swan would be a great addition to any animal collection, or could be used in a diorama for a school project.
Check out our other swan toys and gifts.

About Swans

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Seven species of swans exist: whooper, trumpeter, tundra, mute, black-necked, black and coscoroba. Swans have a long neck and are web-footed. Most think of swans as ornamental birds that float serenely along ponds, in zoos, or at botanical gardens. Swans generally mate for life. They remain together throughout the year and keep their young with them until they nest again. If one of a pair dies, the survivor takes a new mate and is again devoted. The swan is known for its often-fierce temperament. Their very strong wings are able to cause severe injury to any animal that the swan feels is threatening them. Swans are typically found across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Northern swans tend to be white in color with an orange beak. Southern swans are often a mixture of white and black in color, with orange, red, or black beaks. Due to their size, swans have few natural predators in the wild. Humans, however, tend to hunt swans for their meat and feathers. Other predators are usually after the swans eggs and include wolves, foxes, and raccoons. Swans generally eat a vegetarian diet which includes seaweed, aquatic plants, and an occassional small fish when they are on the water; as well as seeds, berries, and insects while on land.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Warthog

Check out our Plastic Warthog.

Famous for the large warts on their face (very prominent on males), the warthog is one of the smallest species of pig, length 3 to 4.9 feet, height 30 inches at the shoulder, weight 110 to 330 pounds. Their heads, however, are proportionately much larger than other pigs, 1/6 of length of their body. Warthogs are gray to brown in color with stiff bristles sparsely scattered over their bodies. Down the center of their back is a long mane of hair. They have a tuft of bristles on the end of their long tail that is ideal for flicking away flies, but can be held straight up when alarmed. Their legs are longer than most pigs enabling them to run up to 30 miles per hour, yet they have to kneel to graze. Warthogs have 2 sets of tusks. A long, curved set grows from their upper jaw and a small razor-sharp set grows from their lower jaw. Acute hearing and a good sense of smell help to offset the warthog's poor eyesite. There are actually two species of warthog, the common warthog and the desert warthog. Like camels and desert gazelles, they can live in areas without water for serveral months, the only pigs able to do so.

Our toy warthog has been captured in a classic pose. It is has good detail (its two sets of warts and tusks are plainly visible) and would make a fine addition to any collection. This sturdy, durable creature is also excellent for use in school projects, dioramas, or even as a children's toy. (Not suitable for children under 3 years of age.) The word "WARTHOG" is embossed on it's stomach.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Turkey Vulture

Check out our amazing Turkey Vulture.

This turkey vulture is one of a series of lively and lifelike plastic birds. The base plastic is white, and the colors are applied with paint. The plastic birds are small and light-weight. We measure the size from wing-tip to wing-tip. This plastic animal toy is great for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic vulture is for decoration or play only. You can make an interesting raptor (bird of prey) shoebox diorama using this and other plastic raptors from our gift shop. Best of all, there is no mess, no feeding, and no tank or cage cleaning :) Come look through our entire collection of raptor toys and gifts.

About Vultures

Vultures are scavengers and feed mostly on the carcasses of dead animals. Vultures are found on every continent except Antarctica and Oceania and are divided into Old World vultures which locate prey by sight, and New World vultures, which locate food through smell and sight. Vultures are to easy to recognize by their bald head which is devoid of feathers. Baldness helps keep the bird cool, since most live in intensely hot climates. Vultures rarely attack living animals, but feast on the dead or dying. Vultures do not bring food in their talons to their young, rather they regurgitate food from their crop. A group of vultures is occasionally called a venue, and when circling in the air, a group of vultures is called a kettle.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Ring-tailed Lemur

Isn't our Stuffed Ring-Tail Lemur adorable?  Huggable, too!

Our stuffed ring-tailed lemur toy by Fiesta is extremely soft and cuddly. The exceptionally long tail adds another 15 inches to the 10-inch body for a total of 25 inches from nose to tail. Beans in the rump help the lemur to maintain a sitting position. The paws and inside of the ears are soft cloth. The plastic eyes and nose, as well as the ears, legs and tail, are securely attached making this charming stuffed animal 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 puppets, check out our Stuffed Animal Page and Stuffed Beanies and Plush Puppets Page. Come see our wonderful assortment of lemur toys and gifts.

Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemuridae catta) are "prosimians." They are primates, but are not as highly evolved as monkeys or great apes. One easily recognizable feature that differs between the lemurs and other primates is the long, almost dog-like nose of the lemurs. Where other primates rely more heavily on vision and hearing, lemurs rely more on their sense of smell. There are 11 species of true lemurs and 7 species of dwarf lemurs. Lemurs are found only in the woodlands on the island of Madagascar and the Comoro Islands near Madagascar. This lemur is known for its long, black-and-white ringed tail, which it holds up like a question mark when it walks or runs upon the ground.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Yellow Seahorse

Check out our Yellow Seahorse .

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic seahorse is made of solid, flexible plastic. The body has well-defined detail. It is 2 1/2 inches tall. It makes for a nice pet, gift, or is perfect for a school project or in a diorama. Check out our other seahorse toys and gifts.

The yellow seahorse (Hippocampus kuda ) is one of the most common seahorses and is also known as the Common Seahorse, Spotted Seahorse, or Oceanic Seahorse. . It is found mainly in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. It has a short crown, which is directed backwards. It is found in shallow water of not much more than 30 feet. They can be found in mangroves, coastal seagrass beds, estuaries, coastal bays and lagoons, harbors, sandy sediments in rocky littoral zones, and rivers with brackish waters. Seahorses pair for life. They are poor swimmers and generally remain anchored to rocks using their prehensile tails.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Opossum Mom and Baby

Our Stuffed Opossum Mom with Baby is so adorable.

Our stuffed opossum (sometimes called 'possum) mom and baby are so realistic, you may surprise your friends or loved ones when they see this charming duo! Our opossums are approximately life-sized, which helps to give that illusion. The mother opossum is 11 inches long from nose to rump, and her bare fabric tail adds another 12 inches when you pull it out straight. The tail is made to curl, and will pop right back into position. Also looking extremely real, the baby opossum is stitched right onto her back. Real opossum babies ride on their mothers' backs at this age. The body of the baby is 5 1/2 inches right down to its stitched pink nose (not seen in this photo); its tail adds another 3 1/2 inches, and has a crinkly curl built into the end. The baby's fur is soft and fuzzy, and is shorter than Mom's fur, as it's still a very young animal. Mom's toes are stuffed fabric, while baby's toes are cut out of flat fabric. The ears of both opossums have soft fabric inside and out. As with all of Fiesta's toys, this plush toy opossum pair meets the most stringent current standards of safety for children's toys. All parts are non-toxic and surface washable. Check out our other opossum toys and gifts. 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 Animals Page.

About Opossums

The hang-tag on our stuffed opossum pair says, "The opossum hideouts are located in a variety of areas including stumps, haystacks, vine tangles, attics, garages, road culverts, hollow trees, rock piles, crannies, under buildings, and in the abandoned burrows of other animals. Opossums are not territorial and do not maintain separate home ranges. They are exceptionally non-aggressive and non-destructive. They will not harm people or pets. They are more immune to many diseases than the other animals and are far less likely to carry rabies. Opossums are beneficial to the environment because they eat insect pests, snails and slugs. They have a remarkable resistance to poisonous snakebite such as the rattlesnakes, cottonmouth, Russsell's viper and Asiatic cobra. Opossum do not hibernate, and they are active at night."

Here's some additional info: Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. They are commonly also called possums, though that term is also applied to some Australian animals. The Virginia Opossum is the original animal named opossum. The word comes from the Algonquian language. Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American marsupials in the late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet and reproductive characteristics make them successful colonizers and survivors in diverse locations and conditions. Originally native to the eastern United States, the Virginia Opossum was intentionally introduced into the West during the Great Depression, probably as a source of food. Its range has been expanding steadily northwards, thanks in part to more plentiful, man-made sources of fresh water, increased shelter due to urban encroachment, and milder winters. Its range has extended into Ontario, Canada, and it has been found farther north than Toronto.

As with other small marsupials, the gestation period of an opossum is only about 12 to 14 days. The young are born at a very immature stage and must find their way into the mother's pouch. They live and feed inside her pouch until they are weaned at about 70 to 125 days. They cling to Mom's back until they are old enough to take care of themselves. Opossums are omnivorous, eating small animals such as insects, frogs, birds, snakes, small mammals, and earthworms. They eat carrion as well as garbage, but some of their favorite food is fruit. The most famous behavior of the opossum is "playing 'possum" when threatened or hurt. This is a completely involuntary response. The lips curl, the body stiffens, and a foul-smelling liquid is released, so a human or other animal might really believe the opossum is dead and leave it alone. It can even be picked up at this time and will resemble a dead animal. After a few minutes or hours, the opossum will again become animated and run away, hopefully having eluded the danger. Baby opossums will open their mouths, show their pointed teeth, and make a hissing noise if they feel threatened. Adult opossums do not hang from trees by their tails, but babies will sometimes hang from the mother's tail for a short time. An adult opossum will use its tail as a brace or an extra limb when climbing trees. They are usually solitary, will temporarily take over abandoned burrows, and prefer protection from the dark or dark areas, becoming active between dusk and dawn, and rarely coming into view during the day. Although many people consider opossums disgusting or a nuisance, they are essentially harmless, and many people find them very cute. They are extremely interesting small mammals.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

River Otter

Our Plastic River Otter is realistic and quite cute.

Our realistic-looking river otter is made of hollow plastic and measures 6 1/2 inches from nose to tail and stands 2 1/4 inches high. The body is moulded with a fur-like pattern and details that almost make it seem real. Its name is moulded into the underside. This sturdy, light-weight plastic otter is great for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic river otter is for decoration or play only. It does float, but it should NOT be put in your aquarium. However, you can make an outstanding river-life or forest shoebox diorama using this and other plastic items from our gift shop. Be sure to look over our other otter toys and gifts.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Alligator with Babies

Check out our Plastic Alligator carrying her babies on her back!

This realistic-looking plastic alligator with babies miniature is made of somewhat flexible hard plastic. This replica has a detailed face and body and has three babies riding on its back. The alligator is curved and is 2 1/2 inches long.This alligator with babies makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other alligator toys and gifts.

About Alligator Babies

Baby alligators come from a clutch of eggs. The young are born with a sharp front tooth which helps them peck out of the shell. If they are fortunate enough to avoid prey such as hawks, vultures and large lizards on their way to the water, they have a chance of surviving. Most are carried tenderly by their mother in her mouth down to the water. A baby alligator is called a hatchling.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Vulture

Our Stuffed Vulture is a customer favorite.

We think this plush stuffed vulture toy is exceptional. It is so lifelike and compelling, you almost won't believe it's a stuffed toy and not the real thing. Although it is made of synthetic materials, it looks real. With its white head, neck and ruff, light colored body and yellow beak, this imposing raptor most closely resembles the Griffon vulture. This hansomely detailed vulture stands 12 1/2 inches tall to the top of the head. The designer of this unique line of stuffed animals takes pride in the European heritage of his realistic animal design. Each piece is hand-cut and stitched.

About Vultures

Vultures are scavengers and feed mostly on the carcasses of dead animals. Vultures are found on every continent except Antarctica and Oceania and are divided into Old World vultures which locate prey by sight, and New World vultures, which locate food through smell and sight. Vultures are to easy to recognize by their bald head which is devoid of feathers. Baldness helps keep the bird cool, since most live in intensely hot climates. Vultures rarely attack living animals, but feast on the dead or dying. Vultures do not bring food in their talons to their young, rather they regurgitate food from their crop. A group of vultures is occasionally called a venue, and when circling in the air, a group of vultures is called a kettle.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Snapping Turtle

Don't let our Plastic Snapping Turtle get ya!

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic snapping turtle miniature is made of somewhat flexible hard plastic. This replica has a detailed carapace and body and is painted in olive green and brown. This snapping turtle replica has a a rough texture and detailed feet but a smooth plastron. This plastic snapping turtle promises not to bite. This toy turtle makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other turtle toys and gifts.

About Snapping Turtles

The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and the larger alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) are freshwater turtles found in the Northern Hemisphere. Strangely enough, the smaller common snapping turtle is more agressive than its larger relative. The alligator snapper keeps to primarily southern U.S. waters, while the smaller, more aggressive common snapper inhabits lakes and streams from South America to Canada. These turtles can remain submerged for three hours. The turtle protrudes its tongue, wiggles it to imitate a worm, thereby luring fish into its mouth. Then it slams its jaws shut at lightning speed and devours its prey. Despite its reputation, snapping turtles are not prone to biting, but when provoked are certainly capable.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beaver

Check out our realistic Plastic Beaver.

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

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Red Ant

Our Stuffed Red Ant will not bite!

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.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Lop Eared Rabbit

Check out our Plastic Lop Eared Rabbit.

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

About Lop-Eared Rabbits or Long-Eared Rabbits

The lop-eared rabbit or long-eared rabbit is the oldest breed of domesticated rabbit. These rabbits originated in England, were then raised in Europe - especially in Holland, and later became popular in America in the 1970's.There are eight different breeds. They were at first bred for meat but later became exclusively a show rabbit. These long-earred rabbits can be kept at home and be trained to use a litter box, but they like chewing on things, so care must be taken not to give them access to electrical cords. Unfortunately, lop-eared rabbits have lost their ability to move their ears independently. They are unable to use hearing as a way to detect potential threats, unlike their erect-eared cousins. This does not mean that lop-eared rabbits do not hear as well. It just means that lop-eared rabbits cannot rotate their ears to capture as many sounds. In a domestic situation, this rarely causes any problems for the lop-eared bunny. The ears are also used to release body heat to keep the bunny cool.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Jaguar

Our Plastic Jaguar would be a perfect party favor for those jungle themed summer birthdays!

This small jaguar toy is multi-colored and has nice detail. Come look through our entire collection of jaguar toys and gifts.

Jaguars (Panthera onca) are the third largest cat in the world, ranking behind the tiger and African lion. In spite of their large size and powerful build, jaguars are shy and seldom attack man unless they feel threatened. Jaguars inhabit the Amazon basin rainforest, where deforestation rates are high. This isolation leads to fragmentation of jaguar populations, making them more vulnerable to the predations of man. People compete with jaguars for prey, and jaguars are frequently shot on sight despite protective legislation. Although commercial hunting and trapping of jaguars for their pelts has declined drastically since the mid-1970s when anti-fur campaigns gathered steam, the most urgent conservation issue is the current intolerance of ranchers for jaguars. The black jaguar is a melanistic (black) color variation of the spotted jaguar. (Jaguar research by Joslyn Biggins.)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Praying Mantis

Our Praying Mantis is so realistic looking and perfect for dioramas.

This engaging, realistic, plastic praying mantis is made of hard durable plastic. It is 3 1/2 inches long to the ends of its feelers and legs.. It makes a good replica in a shoe box diorama or for any school project. It is also an excellent party favor. Check out our other praying mantis toys and gifts.

The praying mantis is a general term describing any of 2300 species of mantises in the order Mantodea. The word mantis comes from the Greek meaning "prophet." The insect derives its name because it looks like it is kneeling in prayer. The word "praying" is often confused for the word "preying". In this regard, the praying mantis is a voracious and skillful predator. It seizes, with amazing swiftness, other small insects. Prey are held firmly in spiked forelegs. The praying mantis can elongate its thorax and leave the rest of its body almost stationary to provide amazing flexibility of movement. It has excellent vision as well, and can turn its head almost 300 degrees. Best of all, the praying mantis is a master of camouflage. It looks like the plant in which it is hiding. This aids in its ability to ambush and also protects itself from its own predators. It is generally a diurnal insect, since it relies heavily on vision, but it sometimes move to a new territory at night.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Wolf Cub

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

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed wolf is soft and affectionate-looking. Its legs are made of plush hair and are sewn together to replicate a lying position. The body and head are light gray and light tan with black around the muzzle and ears of the wolf's head. Our wolf is probably a cub. He has a kindly expression and promises not to bite. He makes a nice pet, a gift, or fits perfectly into a stuffed animal collection. Check out our other wolf toys and gifts.

Our beautiful stuffed wolf appears to depict a young gray wolf (Canis lupus), which is also known as a timber wolf. The adult is the largest wolf, about 3 feet in length and weighing about 100 pounds. It once roamed freely throughout North America and Eurasia, but hunting and habitat destruction has taken a significant toll on the wolf population. Great efforts have been undertaken to reintroduce the wolf to areas of the Northwest and Idaho with cooperation of ranchers, who see the wolf as a threat to livestock, especially sheep. The wolf is incredibly adaptable to climate and terrain and can travel long distances. It can withstand frigid temperatures and can be found in snowy mountains, high deserts and plains. Its claws and padded feet are designed with special webbing for hanging on to slippery surfaces. Wolves have bulky coats consisting of two layers. The first layer is made up of tough guard hairs designed to repel water and dirt. The second is a dense, water-resistant undercoat that insulates. The wolf is a special animal to be appreciated by all. It has been valued by native people in their art and religion.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

White Gorilla

Our Plastic White Gorilla would make a unique addition to your collection.

Our plastic gorilla is 2 1/2 inches tall. He's light weight, hollow, and there's no doubt where he comes from - he's clearly "Made in China"! Looking a bit like a snow-covered version of King Kong, this gorilla has got to have a story behind it. We think it could have been inspired by "Snowflake," the white gorilla that lived for many years at the zoo in Barcelona, Spain, or perhaps the idea came from the 1945 film, "The White Gorilla," directed by H.L. Fraser. The real "Snowflake" (or "Copito de Nieve" in Spanish) came from ecuatorial Africa in 1966 and lived at the Barcelona Zoo until his death at age 40 in 2003. He had pink skin and blue eyes, whereas our gorilla does not. Whatever the legend behind our white plastic gorilla, it will make an unusual addition for your collection!

Gorillas are the largest and most powerful of the great apes. They live in equatorial Africa and are extremely endangered. There may be as few as 650 mountain gorillas and 40,000 lowland gorillas left in the world.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Dyeing Poison Frog

This Plastic Dyeing Poison Frog is so colorful and realistic!

Our plastic dyeing poison frog is one of several brightly-colored realistic plastic frogs to be found at Tapir and Friends. This plastic frog makes a wonderful educational toy or demonstration, is useful for shoebox dioramas and other school projects, can be a collector's item, a gift for your favorite frog fan, and more. Made of solid, rubbery plastic, it measures 1 3/4 inches long and is somewhat flexible. The plastic is solid, but not hard. Its underside is the same bright yellow as the markings on top, and the name "Dyeing Poison Frog" is moulded into the plastic. Be sure to see our other cool frog toys and gifts.

There are many species of brightly-colored poison frogs. We could not find the color variation shown here, but if you can find a picture of the real one for us, we'll send you one of the plastic variety. This interesting description of poison frogs comes from Wikipedia: "The poison dart frog (also poison arrow frog, dart frog or poison frog) is the common name given to the group of frogs belonging to the family Dendrobatidae. Poison dart frogs are native to Central and South America. The frogs are widely called poison arrow frogs or poison dart frogs, reflecting the widespread notion that the frogs are used by South American tribes in the manufacture of poison that is spread on arrows or blow-gun darts. Dart frogs are not poisonous in captivity. Scientists believe that this is due to the fact that they do not receive alkaloids as food because they are fed with cultured insects. These frogs are some of the world's most poisonous living organisms; one drop of poison could be powerful enough to kill 80 people." These frogs live in Central America and northern South America.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Whelk

Check out our Plastic Whelk.

Our whelk is made of hard plastic and measures 2 1/4 inches tall. This plastic mollusk is great for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic whelk is for decoration or play only. It does not float, and should NOT be put in your aquarium. However, you can make a delightful 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. Best of all, there is no mess, no feeding, and no tank cleaning :) Be sure to look over our other miscellaneous aquatic toys and gifts.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Guatemalan Palm Viper

Our Plastic Guatemalan Palm Viper is the perfect addition to your school projects!

Our guatemalan palm viper is made of hard plastic and measures 3 inches. Its name is moulded into the underside. This plastic guatemalan palm viper is great for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. You can make a wonderful Guatemalan forest shoebox diorama using this and other plastic creatures from our gift shop. Best of all, there is no mess, no feeding, and no tank or cage cleaning :)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Finless Porpoise

Check out our Plastic Finless Porpoise.

Our finless porpoise toy animal is made of solid plastic and measures 3 inches from nose to tail flukes flukes. There are slight imperfections in the paint, but this just adds a touch of realism as most porpoises' hides are marred by scars and scrapes. Nevertheless, the design quality - color and realistic shape - make this plastic animal toy ideal for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic porpoise is for decoration or play only. It does not float, and should NOT be put in your aquarium. However, you can make an outstanding marine mammal shoebox diorama using this and other plastic aquatic mammals from our gift shop.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Green Anole Lizard

Our Stuffed Green Anole Lizard is awesome!

Our cuddly stuffed green anole lizard toy by Fiesta measures 19 1/2 inches from nose to tail. This sleek, soft reptile has beans in its belly. The eyes, dewlap, legs and tail are securely attached making this charming stuffed animal 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 Animal Page and Stuffed Beanies and Plush Puppets Page. Check out our terrific selection of lizard toys and gifts.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Helmet Crab

Our Plastic Helmet Crab is so colorful and would be a great addition to any collection.

Our helmet crab is made of hard plastic and measures 2 3/8 inches from side to side and 1 5/8 inches from front to back. Its name is moulded into the underside. This plastic crustacean is one of our series of lively and lifelike plastic animals. Its realistic shape and details will be enjoyed as part of a school project, diorama, plastic animal collection, as a party favor, or gift. Our helmet crab toy is for decoration or play only. It does not float, and should NOT be put in your aquarium. However, you can make an interesting 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. There is no mess, no feeding, and no tank cleaning :) Come see our wonderful assortment of crab toys and gifts.

Although there are over 50 crab families and 1000s of species, all crabs have basically the same body plan: four pairs of walking legs and one pair of claws (also called nippers or pincers). Their shell is actually their skeleton, called an exoskeleton, and protects their thorax, gills and the internal organs of the head. Like the octopus and sea star, if a crab loses a limb it will regenerate (grow back).

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Hand-Knitted Tapirs

Our Hand-Knitted Tapirs are so beautiful.

In January, 2001, we got a surprise package in the mail. It contained four incredible, beautiful, and biologically accurate hand-knitted tapirs from Canada! They were made by ungulate specialist Brent Huffman. Because Brent has studied and (very importantly) OBSERVED tapirs, each species of the knitted variety has the identifying characteristics found in the living tapirs. For instance, the Asian tapir has the appropriate markings and an eye that is barely visible in its dark face (it's going to look darker than in the picture); The Baird's tapir has the telltale light coloration on its throat AND a dark spot on each cheek (just like real Baird's tapirs if you look carefully!); the lowland tapir has the typical tall sagittal crest, stitched to make it stand up; and the mountain tapir has strongly white lips like the real ones. Each tapir is made in its own distinct colors, the overall shape, including the legs, is very realistic, and the rump is taller than the shoulders. Each tapir has white ear tips and the proper number of toes (four on each front foot and three on each rear foot - see the photo at the bottom of the page). These unique items have been offered to us as a Tapir Gallery exclusive!

The tapirs are finished with polyester stuffing, and although they're soft, they will stand up. Each tapir measures about 7 inches from nose to tail, and stands about 3 1/2 inches tall. Because they are hand-made, they will vary a small amount - like real tapirs. And because each knitted tapir is unique, they all come with an individualized identification card, complete with a studbook number. Of course, it's up to you to give your new tapir a name! Brent also reminded us that because they're knitted, they're partially pliable. They can be somewhat molded into shape (i.e., the snout can be "drooped" or extended, the positions of the legs can be varied, etc.).

Please note that the colors are more accurate in the group photo at the top of the page.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.