Plastic Woolly Mammoth Skeleton Model

As educational as it is fun!

Our Woolly Mammoth Skeleton Model

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

About Woolly Mammoths

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

 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Ring-tailed Lemur

Whether you want a project centerpiece or a unique gift, TPF is here for you!

Our Ring-tailed Lemur

This engaging-looking plastic ring-tailed lemur replica is made of solid plastic with a flexible tail. It is 1 1/2 inches long and 3 inches from the tip of the tail to the feet. It has a tinge of brown on its back but the body is basically grey with a white belly and neck.The head comes with distinctive eyes. Our ring-tailed lemur miniature has a concerned expression but promises not to bite. This lemur replica makes an interesting pet or gift and fits nicely into a shoebox diorama for a school project. Check out our other lemur toys and gifts.

About Ring-tailed Lemurs

The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is a well-known species of lemur in Madagascar. The ring-tailed lemur is the most recognized lemur due to its incredibly long tail. It inhabits scrubby forests in Madagascar where it eats leaves fruits and seeds. Even though they have such a long tail, lemurs can not grip with it. Ring-tailed lemurs spend the daylight hours on the ground usually sitting in the sun in groups, led by a dominantr female. Although threatened in Madagascar, lemurs breed well in zoos.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Red-ruffed Lemur

Add this unique animal to your biology project!

Our Red-ruffed Lemur

This engaging-looking plastic red-ruffed lemur replica is made of solid plastic with a flexible tail. It is 2 1/2 inches long and 1 3/4 tall. The fur is detailed and the red-ruffed lemur is painted in dark red, black and white. Our red-ruffed lemur miniature has a concerned expression but promises not to bite. This lemur replica makes an interesting pet or gift and fits nicely into a shoebox diorama for a school project about Madagascar. Check out our other lemur toys and gifts.

About Red-ruffed Lemurs

Lemurs 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. Whereas the 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. The red ruffed lemur is known for its reddish coloring and thick neck ruff.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Extinct Belemnite

Just when you thought SHARKS were your biggest problem in the ocean!

Our Plastic Belemnite Replica

Our belemnite measures 6 1/2 inches in length from the tip of its tentacle-like arms to the top of its head; the lateral fins measure 2 1/4 inches. This sturdy, hand painted plastic belemnite is made in Germany and comes with an attached tag describing this and three other fossil sea animals. This tag is printed in English and German. Our belemnite is captured with its tentacle-like arms stretched outward in "speed mode." Notice the fleshy tube underneath the head between the piercing eyes. This tube or funnel is used to propel itself suddenly. The realistic tentacle-like arms show the series of hooks for holding prey. Our plastic belemnite will withstand school projects and playtime and show well as an educational toy or collectors item. See our collection of plastic fossil animals the way they looked in real life.

About Belemnites

Belemnites (or belemnoids) are an extinct group of marine cephalopod, very similar in many ways to the modern squid and closely related to the modern cuttlefish. Belemnites were around from the late Carboniferous to the end of the Cretaceous, a period spanning over 200,000,000 (200 million) years. Belemnites were similar in shape to squid. The body consisted of a torpedo-shaped head and ten arms. The head contained the shell and all internal organs. Paired lateral fins on the head were used for swimming and steering. Eight of the arms were adorned with curved hooks for grasping onto soft-bodied prey. The other two arms were equipped with suckers. As with squid, belemnites possessed a beaklike mouth for eating, and an ink sac. The inklike contents could be ejected into the water, creating a dense cloud that confused an attacker and allowed the belemnite to escape. As with squid, belemnites probably traveled in schools, dove to considerable depths, and occasionally suffered mass mortality that produced large numbers of fossils in a relatively small area.

Belemnites were aggressive, free-swimming, marine predators. They could swim slowly, propelled by a rhythmic beating of the lateral fins, or produce sudden bursts of speed through a jet-propulsion system. An area within the lower part of the head would fill with water and forcefully empty through a flexible fleshy tube called the funnel. This rapidly propelled the organism in the direction opposite to which the funnel was pointed. Generally they swam with head forward and arms trailing behind. Because belemnite eyes were located close to their arms they could not easily see where they were going. As with squid, rapidly swimming belemnites sometimes suffered damaging collisions, as evidenced by numerous fossils of broken shells that appear to have healed.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur

Looks a little like he's walking the high-wire, doesn't he?

Our Coquerel's Sifaka Lemur

This engaging-looking plastic coquerel's sifaka replica is made of solid plastic and stands supported by its tail. It is 2 1/2 inches tall. The brown colored and white fur is well described and the head comes with distinctive eyes. Our coquerel's sifaka lemur miniature has a concerned expression but promises not to bite. This lemur replica makes an interesting pet or gift and fits nicely into a shoebox diorama for a school project. Check out our other lemur toys and gifts.

About Coquerel's Sifaka Lemurs

The Coquerel's sifaka lemur (Propithecus coquereli) is a well-known species of lemur in Madagascar. The coquerel's sifaka is a large lemur about 20 inches from head to rump and carries a 16 to 20 inch tail. It is arboreal and lives in the dry coastal forests of Madagascar. It moves from tree to tree not by swing its short arms, but by leaping with its large powerful legs.Sifakas are plant-eaters. Leaves are their favorite food, and make up most of their diet in the dry season (along with tree bark). In the wet season these primates also eat fruits and flowers. They find much of their food in the treetops, but also occasionally search for food on the ground. When eating, sifakas rarely use their hands to handle their meal. Instead, they usually grab the food directly with their mouth.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plush Pteranodon Hand Puppet

A fantastic toy for your young dinosaur-lover!

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.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Fossa

He's the top predator of his world...except for Man!

Our Plastic Toy Fossa

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic fossa miniature is made of hard, somewhat flexible plastic. This fossa replica has detailed fur and is painted brown. The fossa body is 2 inches long and the tail is one inch long. This miniature fossa makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama for a school project or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other fossa and mongoose toys and gifts.

About Fossas

The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is a large carnivore found exclusively in Madagascar. Related to the mongoose, it behaves much more like a leopard. It spends much of the time in the trees and it leaps from tree to tree like a squirrel. It is almost 3 feet long and weighs as much as 15 pounds. Some think that the fossa is entirely nocturnal since they are rarely sighted. It hunts fish, birds and particularly enjoys eating lemurs. Fossas have no natural predators, but has suffered like most Madagascar animals from the incursions of man.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Galapagos Land Iguana

Another of TPF's unique and detailed replicas!

Our Plastic Iguana Replica

This exotic land iguana is one in our series of lively and lifelike plastic animals found in the Galapagos Islands. 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 plastic Galapagos land iguana measures 4 inches from nose to tail. Be sure to see our other iguana toys and gifts.

About Galapagos Land Iguanas

The land iguana is typically divided into two species, Conolophus subcristatus and Conolophus pallidus. It is brownish-red on its back and yellow-orange on its belly. It spends its day sunning itself and foraging for fruit and pieces of cactus. The Gallapagos land iguana can be quite agressive toward other iguanas and signals its displeasure by vigorous head-bobbing especially during mating time. There is some evidence that the marine iguana and the land iguana are able to cross-breed. The Galapagos land iguana is plentiful and not considered endangered like many species in the area.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Tasmanian Devil

MUCH more cuddly than the real thing!

Our Tasmanian Devil

Our Tasmanian devil toy stuffed animal is amazingly realistic, but without the bite! It is beautifully designed and made of quality materials from Hansa. It is extremely soft with lots of cuddly fur. It has a 12-1/2-inch body and a 6-inch tail. White patches are realistically placed on the chest and body. Its legs are posable. Our taz is loving and promises not to bite. Also check out our other Tasmanian devil toys and gifts.

About Tasmanian Devils

Although ours is rather sweet looking, real Tasmanian devils are the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupials. The body size varies greatly depending on the diet and habitat. Adult males may stand up to 30 centimeters (almost 9 inches) at the shoulder and are usually larger than the females. Tasmanian devils are widespread throughout their habitat and live from the seacoast to the mountains. They live in coastal heath, open dry forest, and mixed rainforest. They seek homes where they can hide and take shelter by day and find food at night. Mainly scavengers, they feed on whatever is available. Their powerful jaws and teeth allow them to completely eat their food, grinding up bones, fur, and all. The Tasmanian devil makes a variety of noises, from rough coughs and snarls to high-pitched screeches. A sharp sneeze is used as a challenge to other devils.

I was once fortunate enough to visit behind the scenes at the medical center of the San Diego Zoo. In the nursery they had a Tasmanian devil in an incubator, only a few days old. The tiny animal had pink skin and only a few very long black hairs. It was like nothing I'd ever seen. I guess you could say it was ugly, but then what baby animal isn't cute in its own weird way? I like them better with hair, but it was such a treat to get this unusual view of a baby Taz!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Australian Crocodile

I'll just swim out to that log. Hey, wait a minute...that log has eyes...

Our Plastic Toy Crocodile

This engaging, somewhat realistic-looking plastic crocodile miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic. This replica has a detailed face and body and is painted in one shade of green, although the freshwater and saltwater Australian crocodile is more gray in color. It has detailed scales. This plastic crocodile makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other crocodile toys and gifts.

About Crocodiles

There are two kinds of Australian crocodiles, the Freshwater Johnsons Crocodile and Saltwater Estuarine Crocodile. Crocodiles have long narrow snouts, and the 4th tooth of the lower jaw is outside when the mouth is closed. Their scales have modified to form thick tough skin. All crocodiles have eyes and nostrils are on the top part of the head so that they can lie in the water almost completely hidden from view. Crocodiles have very strong jaws. They do not chew their food. They swallow it in large chunks. In the stomach the food is broken down. They feed on a large variety of prey such as small mammals, birds and even cattle. Crocodiles grab their prey and move to deep water, where they roll over to drown the animal. They can leap high out of the water to reach their prey if necessary.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Raccoon

Who was that masked mammal?

Our Plush Raccoon

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

About Raccoons

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

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Tomato Frog

Ours is as cute as the real thing, but WON'T irritate your skin!

Our Plastic Tomato Frog

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic tomato frog miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic. This replica has detailed skin and is painted in two shades of orange with distinct eyes and a yellow belly. This tomato frog replica makes for a nice pet, gag, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other frog toys and gifts.

About Tomato Frogs

The tomato frog has three similar species found only in Madacascar. When threatened the tomato frog puffs up and secretes an oily toxic substance which effects the eyes of predators and can cause a rash to the skin of humans. The Madacascar tomato frog grows to about 4 inches in length and is now on the endangered species list.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Harbor Seal

This amazing, lovable stuffed animal gets our SEAL of approval!

Our Stuffed Harbor Seal

This beautiful stuffed harbor seal is soft, cuddly, and big enough to really hug! Well-constructed by Wild Republic, this plush seal features realistically-detailed tail and flippers. Its claws are constructed of stiff foam and are not sharp or harmful. He has such a sweet expression on his face! Truely a remarkable addition to any stuffed animal or aquatic animal collection, or just a great gift for the animal lover in your life! Check out our other seal toys and gifts.

About Harbor Seals

Harbor seals are aquatic mammals located in the temperate and arctic oceans of the Northern Hemisphere. Also known as the common seal, these creatures are the most widely distributed animals of their kind (walruses and other seals). Adult harbor seals can reach a length of over 6 feet, and can weigh as much as 370 pounds. Females give birth to a single pup per successful mating, which they care for alone. Harbor seal pups are able to swim within hours of birth. Harbor seals feed primarily on fish and occasionally on crustaceans, squid, and even seabirds.

There are an estimated 5-6 million harbor seals worldwide, which means that, as a species, they are stable and not threatened. In some cases, it is legal to kill harbor seals to protect commercial fisheries. Even so, harbor seals are protected from commercial hunting by many nations in their range, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Norway. Their population off the East Coast of the United States has grown significantly in recent years, and they've been sighted in New York Harbor, Boston Harbor , and as far south as Florida.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Leaf-tailed Gecko

This little guy is clean, eats light, and WASN'T poached from the rainforest!

Our Plastic Leaf-tailed Gecko

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic leaf-tailed gecko miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic. This replica has detailed skin and is painted in two shades of brown with distinct eyes. This leaf-tailed gecko replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other gecko toys and gifts.

About Leaf-tailed Geckos

The leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) is a species of gecko found only in Madacascar. It is sometimes called the satanic leaf-tailed gecko or eyelash leaf-tailed gecko. It lives entirely on the rainforest floor in the litter of leaves, where it is well camouflaged. It is suffering greatly due to loss of habitat and from illegal pet trade.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Tapir "Yanisa"

She's BACK!!

Our Stuffed Malayan Tapir

Our stuffed tapir from Hansa is hand-made in the Philippines and is based on the look of a real animal. This tapir is special! Not only are toy tapirs as rare and endangered as their real-life counterparts, but this one embodies Hansa's dependable quality construction and lifelike appearance. Hansa creates each animal with great care from the drawing board to the last stitch. The animals are hand made, the fabrics designed and purchased in small quantities to suit each design. The dark fur is a chocolate brown; the light fur is white. Yanisa's eyes have a plastic lid over them, giving them character and appeal. We have to tell you that the tail is white, not dark as in a real tapir but we hope her shining personality makes up for this.

About "Yanisa"

We've named our tapir "Yanisa," after the half-Thai daughter of a Russian tapir fan and corespondent. The name sounds beautiful, but it also means "Wisdom" in the Thai language. One of our favorite tapir quotes comes from Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, who, after describing in the book Travelers' Tales Thailand, said: "Many years earlier, a traveler in Burma had described the tapir as 'an enigma,' a survivor of a 'more gentle and legendary time . . . wandering in unique isolation in a world not yet mature enough for its wisdom.'" So, what better name could we choose for this beautiful tapir?

This tapir's feet are quite realistic with a lifelike soft hoof on each of the toes. In addition, it is one of the few tapir toys we've seen that has the correct number of digits per foot! Yanisa has four toes on each front foot, and three on each back foot. You have to look carefully to see that fourth toe, but it is there! Look at the pleasing face and "signature" long tapirlike nose. Our stuffed tapir stands 7 1/2 inches tall and measures 13 1/2 inches long. Check out our other tapir toys and gifts. Read more about real tapirs on our Tapir Gallery web site. You can also contribute to their conservation through Club Tapir. Your Club Tapir donation does not have to be processed separately, but can be added to your shopping cart! Your purchase helps save endangered animals!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Nile Crocodile

Let's give a hand for the Nile Croc...just not like Capt Hook!

Our Plastic Toy Nile Crocodile

This engaging, somewhat realistic-looking plastic Nile crocodile miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic. This replica has a detailed face and body and is painted dark green,and yellow ochre. It has detailed scales and is 4 inches long. This plastic crocodile makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama for school projects or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other crocodile toys and gifts.

About Nile Crocodiles

The Nile Crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus) live throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin, and Madagascar in rivers, freshwater marshes, and mangrove swamps. It can grow to 20 feet long and weigh as much as 1600 pounds. It is known as a man-eater, but attacks on humans are infrequent. It eats mainly fish, but will grab generally anything that comes across its path. It will also eat carrion. The Nile crocodile is a caring parent. It guards the eggs carefully and will stay near the nest until the babies hatch. The Nile crocodile carries the young gently in its jaws to the water. The Nile crocodile is threatened by poachers and is coveted for its meat and skin.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Honeybee

Spring is here, and these babies will be filling the air soon!

Our Plastic Honeybee

This engaging, idealized, plastic honeybee is made of hard durable plastic. It is 1 5/8 inches long and 1 3/4 inches across the wings. 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 honeybee toys and gifts.

About Bees

Bees are insects, having six legs, a head, thorax and abdomen. Honey bees can be found worldwide. They live in hollw trees as well as in hives kept by beekeepers. The social behavior of these bees is very complex. The colony is made up of the queen bee, drone bees, and worker bees. The lifespan of the queen bee is usually two to three years. Worker bees are sterile female bees who collect, produce, and distribute honey, and also maintain the hive. These bees have pollen buckets on their hind legs as well as pollen scrapers to make their job easier. Worker bees are able to sting, but they die shortly afterwards. Honey bees help to pollinate flowers and crops and produce honey. Of the approximately 20,000 species of bee, fewer than 20 are considered true honey bees. These are classified in the genus Apis. "The first Apis bees appear in the fossil record at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, in European deposits dating about 35 million years ago" according to Wikipedia. This does not mean that honey bees originated in Europe, but only that they were there at that time.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Madagascar Day Gecko

This gecko is ADORABLE, and won't try to sell you insurance!

Our Plastic Madagascar Day Gecko

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic Madagascar day gecko miniature is made of somewhat flexible hard plastic. This replica has detailed skin and is painted green with a white belly. This gecko replica has red-brown spots with distinct eyes. This Madagascar day gecko miniature makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama for a school project, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other gecko toys and gifts.

About Madagascar Day Geckos

The Madagascar day gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis) is a species of gecko found only in Madacascar. It is a large omnivorous gecko. It feeds on insects and spiders and on fruit. It can be found on tree trunks, branches and on the forest floor. Madgascar day geckos have been heavily collected in the pet trade and seem to do well in captivity. It is an attractive gecko due to the bright brick red spots its back and its distinctive splayed feet.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Radiated Tortoise

I'd be slow too if I were carrying my HOUSE on my back!

Our Plastic Radiated Tortoise

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic radiated tortoise miniature is made of hard plastic. This replica has a detailed shell and is painted dark brown and tan. It is 2 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches high. This radiated tortoise miniature makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama for a school project, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other tortoise toys and gifts.

About Radiated Tortoises

The radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) is a large, beautiful tortoise native to Madagascar. It is an herbivore feeding mainly on seeds,leaves and fruits in dry forests. It gets its name from the yellow streaks which radiate like sun rays on its carapace. Radiated Tortoises live 40 -50 years, but a radiated tortoise may hold the record of the oldest living reptile, with one allegedly living 150 years. Unfortunately radiated toroises have been hunted extensively for the pet trade or poached for meat and is now considered an endangered species.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Tapir Replica

Check out this BRILLIANT replica from Safari!

Plastic Asian (Malayan) Tapir

Our plastic museum-quality version of the Asian or Malayan tapir has the markings of a real tapir. The "saddle" which extends from its shoulder to its rump, the white rimmed ears, and the remaining black hair covering the legs, chest, and head mimic the pattern designed for camouflage. The plastic Asian tapir measures 4 1/4 inches in length, and 2 1/2 inches high. The realistic "floppy" snout, four-toed front and three-toed back feet (with a little hoof at the end of each toe) help make this the most realistic toy tapir we've ever seen. Other features include the white rims around each small hoof and the strongly chiseled indentation of the face muscles. Even the nostrils appear to flatten as they do in a real tapir. It even has short markings in the plastic indicating its fur coat. This delightful model will complete your diorama or please any tapir collector or collector of animal figurines. You may already be familiar with the quality produced by Safari, Ltd. This sturdy piece will also withstand handling and playtime. See our entire collection of tapirs.

About Asian (Malayan) Tapirs

Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus) grow to between 6 and 8 feet in length, stand 3 to 3.5 feet tall, and typically weigh between 550 and 700 pounds. Like the other types of tapir, they have small stubby tails and long, flexible proboscises. They have four toes on each front foot and three toes on each back foot. The Malayan Tapir has rather poor eyesight but excellent hearing and sense of smell. The easily identifiable markings (the saddle, white rimmed ears, black legs, chest, and head) make it more difficult to recognize it as a tapir, and other animals may mistake it for a large rock rather than a form of prey when it is lying down to sleep. Malayan Tapirs communicate with high-pitched squeaks and whistles. They usually prefer to live near water and often bathe and swim, and they are also able to climb steep slopes. Malayan Tapirs can live up to 30 years, both in the wild and in captivity. Malayan tapirs live in Southest Asia, where they have become extinct in some of their range; small populations still survive in Myanmar, Thailand, and Sumatra (Indonesia). In the past, scientists believed that tapirs live solitary lives, but in recent years, it has become clear that they can be found in small family groups. They do not live in herds, and are hard to located in the forest. Under ideal conditions, a tapir gives birth about every 18 months to two years, bearing only one calf at a time. The slow "recruitment rate" is one of the several reasons they are on their way to extinction. Read more about Malayan tapirs here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Smooth Earth Snake

The first of these harmless snakes were found in Maryland!

Our Plastic Smooth Earth Snake

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic smooth earth snake miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed skin and an attractive realistic pose. This smooth earth snake replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 4 1/2 inches long from nose to tail posed exactly as it appears in the photo. A unique replica of a home-grown species! Check out our other snake toys and gifts.

About Smooth Earth Snakes

Named in honor Valeria Blaney, who collected the first specimen in Maryland, the smooth earth snake (Virginia valeriae) is a nonvenomous snake found throughout the eastern United States. Smooth earth snakes are 7 - 10 inches long, and prefer to remain buried in loose soil or leaf litter.

Smooth earth snakes feed primarily on worms and slugs, and are not well-adapted defensively. This species of snake is therefore not aggressive towards humans...they typically flee the approach of any large creature. While they do have teeth, the small size of the teeth, and the snake itself, makes them harmless to humans. If handled, the snake will defensively defecate to confuse a predator and make the snake less tasty.

 This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Koala and Baby

A perfect centerpiece for your "Wildlife of the Outback" project!

Our Koala

Our koala toy animal is made of solid plastic and measures 1 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches tall. It has a baby on its back. This educational plastic animal toy is great for school projects, toys, novelties, animal collections, party favors and more. Our plastic marsupial is for decoration or play only. You can make a marvelous Australian animals shoebox diorama using this and other plastic creatures from our gift shop.

About Koalas

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is not a bear, but a marsupial, found only in Australia. It lives exclusively in trees and is a herbivore. It looks a little like a wombat, but is a tree dweller. It has long sharp claws adapted for climbing and weighs 11 to 30 lbs. A baby koala is referred to as a joey and is hairless, blind, and earless. At birth the joey, only a quarter of an inch long, crawls into the downward-facing pouch on the mother's bellywhich is closed by a drawstring-like muscle that the mother can tighten at will) and attaches itself to one of the two teats.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Northern Ringneck Snake

A brilliant replica of a common New England reptile!

Our Plastic Northern Ringneck Snake

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic northern ringneck snake miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed skin and an attractive realistic pose. This northern ringneck replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 4 inches long from nose to tail posed exactly as it appears in the photo. What a cute little guy! Check out our other snake toys and gifts.

About Northern Ringneck Snakes

The northern ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) is a potentially venomous snake found throughout southern Canada and Northeastern United States. I say 'potentially' because this snake has never been universally accepted by researchers as venomous. If the snake is indeed venomous, the potency of the venom is very slight. Some humans who have received bites from northern ringneck snakes report a burning sensation at the bite site. Northern ringnecks vary in size from under 10 inches to over 24 inches in length.

Northern ringnecks are nocturnal and social, meaning they tend to gather in groups, particularly during the day. This species prefers moist wooded areas. Northern ringnecks prey on small reptiles, small amphibians, slugs, worms, and insects. They are themselves prey for large amphibians, predatory birds, and mammals ranging in sive from black bears to shrews. When they are first born, young northern ringnecks are hunted by large centipedes and spiders as well.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Baron's Green Racer

An excellent replica of a popular exotic snake!

Our Plastic Baron's Green Racer

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic baron's green racer miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed skin and an attractive realistic pose. This baron's green racer replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 5 inches long from nose to tail posed exactly as it appears in the photo. A must for your South American Reptiles project! Check out our other snake toys and gifts.

About Baron's Green Racers

Also known as the Argentine long nose snake, the baron's green racer (Philodryas baroni) is a venomous snake found throughout Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. While green is the most common color, this species also can have blue or brown base color.

Baron's green racers are "rear-fanged", meaning that a toxic saliva is introduced into the victim with the assistance of enlarged teeth located in the back of the snake's mouth. These larger teeth are not in fact "fangs", meaning venom is not injected through them like a rattlesnake or cobra. While bites from baron's green racers are painful and result in unpleasant symptoms (burning pain and swelling), no fatalities to humans have been reported, and the snake is not considered to be dangerous to humans. The snake is commonly sold as a pet, and rarely expresses aggressiveness towards humans.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Komodo Dragon

Be glad THESE don't crawl around your backyard!

Our Plastic Komodo Dragon

This realistic-looking komodo dragon is made to please, with its light brown body and realistic shading! It is a very well detailed plastic replica of a komodo dragon. This fabulous creature is posed realistically, its body braced for action, its tongue flicking to catch any scent! She makes for a wonderfully well-behaved pet, an amazing figurine for a presentation, or just a fun display in any room. She is 8 inches long, with every lovable lump and bump in extraordinarily clear detail! Check out our other komodo dragon toys and gifts.

About Komodo Dragons

Komodo dragons are found sunbathing on the rocks of the Indonesian islands of Rinca, Gili Motang, Gili Dasami, Flores, and of course, Komodo. Komodo dragons as a species have existed almost unchanged for 900,000 years, from a time when megafauna practically ran the world, and as such grows to an adult size of up to 10 feet long and over 150 pounds! The komodo dragon lives for about 30 years.

The komodo dragon is a very interesting and unique creature - it is one of the few lizards that hunts in a pack, and thanks to the komodo dragon we realized that it, along with several other monitor lizards, contains glands of venom which it can pump into its enemies. For a while it was believed that it was bacteria living in the dragon's mouth that caused such a severe reaction at the puncture site of a komodo dragon bite, but most scientists agree that it is actually due to the mild toxin released from these venom glands. Komodo dragons are also parthenogenic, which means that a femaale komodo dragon does not need a male to reproduce. In humans, the female sex chromosome is XX, while the male sex chromosome is XY; female dragons are ZW, while male dragons are ZZ. Some of the eggs a female komodo dragon produces contain a W chromosome, while some of the eggs contain a Z chromosome. When a female komodo dragon goes for an extended period of time without a male companion, whatever chromosome currently is in the eggs she has ready to produce will double. Eggs with a Z chromosome double to be ZZ, producing a fertile egg which will hatch to become a male komodo dragon - those with a W chromosome become WW, and are not fertile eggs, so nothing will become of them. The idea behind this parthenogenesis is that a female komodo dragon can be dropped off on the middle of an island uninhabited by her species and will be able to completely populate the island with more komodo dragons by hatching male dragons which she can then breed with to create both females and males.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Albino Texas Rat Snake

THIS is a unique addition to your science project!

Our Plastic Albino Texas Rat Snake

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic albino Texas rat snake miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed skin and an attractive realistic pose. This albino Texas rat snake replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 6 inches long from nose to tail posed exactly as it appears in the photo. The perfect addition to your biology project! Check out our other snake toys and gifts.

About Texas Rat Snakes

Found throughout Texas and into Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, the Texas rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri) are a large species of non-venomous constrictor. Texas rat snakes are capable of reaching six feet in length. Although there are all kinds of naturally-occurring variations in color, including albinos, Texas rat snakes are usually yellow or tan with dark blotches along the length of their bodies, with a distinctive solid grey head.

Texas rat snakes are determined predators, feeding on virtually anything they can catch and hold, including rodents, birds, eggs, lizards, and frogs. They thrive in a wide range of habitats, living in swamps, forests, grasslands, and urban areas with equal success. Texas rat snakes are well-known for their negative attitude, and will certainly bite if caught , cornered, or handled.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Green Iguana

Look at our new line of LARGE plastic reptiles!

Our Plastic Green Iguana

This realistic-looking green iguana is made to please, with its dark green stripes and realistic ridged back! It is a very well detailed plastic replica of a green iguana. This fabulous creature is posed realistically, holding his head up and looking straight forward majestically! He makes for a wonderfully well-behaved pet, an amazing figurine for a presentation, or just a fun display in any room! He is 7 inches long, with every lovable lump and bump in extraordinarily clear detail! Check out our other iguana toys and gifts.

About Green Iguanas

Green iguanas can be found in the untamed wilds of northern Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and southern Brazil. The iguana is one of the largest reptiles in the Americas, with the adults reaching lengths of up to 6 feet long! This lizard weighs about 11 pounds, and can reach up to 20 years of age in the wild.

Green iguanas are also known as common iguanas. The green iguana is an herbivore, but don't make it angry - it's equipped with a full set of razor-sharp teeth, and a tail that is half the length of it's body which it uses as a whip to defend itself. Despite all that, it is still one of the most popular reptilian pets in the United States. Sadly, most people do not do proper research when considering an iguana as a pet, and because of that the majority of iguana owners are not prepared for the difficulty of taking care of such an animal. Most captive iguanas die within their first year of life or are given up to reptile rescue groups.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Alligators

Why get a single replica when you can get a SET?!?

Our Plastic Alligators

This realistic-looking set of plastic model of juvenile alligators is made of somewhat flexible hard plastic. These replicas have detailed faces and bodies and consists of four alligators. One has its mouth open, the second is crouched in the grass, the third has a lifted head and the fourth is in a resting position.The alligator set is curved and is 2 1/2 inches long. These alligators make for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. Check out our other alligator toys and gifts.

About Alligators

An Alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator. The name alligator comes from Spanish el lagarto (the lizard), the name by which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. There are two living alligator species: the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator. It is an ancient animal and has survived for 200 million years. An average adult American alligator's weight and length is 800 pounds and 13 feet long. According to the Everglades National Park website, the largest alligator ever recorded in Florida was 17 feet 5 inches. The Chinese alligator is smaller, rarely exceeding 7 feet in length. Alligators have an average of 75 teeth.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Banded Krait

A truely exotic addition to TPF's great line of plastic snake replicas!

Our Plastic Banded Krait

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic banded krait miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed skin and an attractive realistic pose. This banded krait replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 5 inches long from nose to tail posed exactly as it appears in the photo. A unique replica of a exotic species! Check out our other snake toys and gifts.

About Banded Kraits

The banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus) is a venomous snake found throughout India and North and Southeast Asia. Easily identified by its distinctive black and yellow stripes, banded kraits are amongst the largest of kraits. The largest banded krait on record had a length of almost seven feet.

Banded kraits are primarily nocturnal, and are shy and fearful of humans. During the day, banded kraits tend to "hole-up", and are lethargic even when antagonized. The bite of a banded krait injects a neurotoxin that is typically not fatal to humans unless a large quantity is injected and the bite is ignored. There are few documented cases of humans being bitten, much less killed, by banded kraits. This low mortality rate is due in large part to the rare conact with humans, but also due to the banded krait's tendency to inject very little venom when biting defensively.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Andrewsarchus

A magnificent replice of a facinating animal!

Our Plastic Andrewsarchus

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

About Andrewsarchus

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

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Eastern Brown Snake

Ours isn't as deadly as the real thing!

Our Plastic Eastern Brown Snake

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic eastern brown snake miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed skin and an attractive realistic pose. This eastern brown snake replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 5 1/4 inches long from nose to tail posed exactly as it appears in the photo. Another beautiful replica from TPF! Check out our other snake toys and gifts.

About Eastern Brown Snakes

The eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is also known as the common brown snake. They are considered the second most-venomous land snake based on studies involving mice, second only to the inland tiapan snake of Australia.

Eastern brown snakes are active during the day and are notorious for their speed and aggression against humans or any other potential predator. This species of snake will feed on virtually any vertebrate animal, including frogs, lizards and other reptiles, rodents, and birds. They are found in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Rainbow Trout

Look who's back at TPF!!!

Our Stuffed Rainbow Trout

This soft and colorful plush rainbow trout toy is well-made and realistic in both color and appearance. Wonderfully detailed and 17 inches long, this isn't your typical stuffed animal! This rainbow trout is stuffed with both soft fiber-filler and beans, allowing it to sit upright on it's belly. A fantastic gift for the fisherman, conservationist, or collector, this plush trout would also make a wonderful addition to a school project, a theatre prop, a wildlife decoration, or simply to snuggle up to! Check out our other trout and fish toys and gifts.

About Rainbow Trout

Also known as steelhead, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are native to tributaries of the northern Pacific Ocean in both Asia and North America. Steelhead are sea run, meaning they live in the ocean but return to fresh water to spawn. A very popular game fish, rainbow trout have been introduced to waters in at least 45 countries on every continent but Antarctica. In some cases, particularly in Australia, South America, and Southern Europe, this has had a negative impact on native fish species, who are decimated by rainbow trout through predation, competition, disease, and inter-breeding.

Rainbow trout are not choosy about their diet, eating virtually anything they can grab. Young rainbow trout, called "smolts", feed mostly on insects, fish eggs, crayfish and other crustaceans, and smaller fish. As they mature, fish become more and more their standard diet. In some land-locked cases, rainbow trout have been known to become planktonic feeders, feeding on drifting algae and microorganisms.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Diamondback Rattlesnake

Watch for this guy in the American Southwest!

Our Plastic Diamondback Rattlesnake

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic diamondback rattlesnake miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed skin and an attractive realistic pose. This diamondback rattlesnake replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 5 1/4 inches long from nose to tail posed exactly as it appears in the photo. A fantastic replica of the 2nd largest pit viper of North America! Check out our other snake toys and gifts.

About Diamondback Rattlesnakes

Found in Mexico and Southern North America, the western diamondback rattlesnake is responsible for the second-largest number of snakebite fatalities in the United States. Adults commonly grow to almost four feet in length, and are found from central Arkansas to California.

Diamondback Rattlesnakes have a life expectancy of more than 20 years, and are known to be aggressive against humans, rarely backing down from a confrontation. Their distinctive rattle is usually the only warning the snake gives to its presense, using the rattle to warn off potential predators before striking.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Armadillo

Another amazing replica from Safari!

Our Plastic Armadillo

Our realistic-looking armadillo is a winner. It looks like the real thing and is a wonderful educational toy, useful for shoebox dioramas and other school projects, a collector's item, a gift for your favorite amadillo fan, and more. Made of solid, rubbery plastic, it measures 6 1/2 inches from its nose to the end of its tail. The body (nose to rear) is just over 4 1/2 inches, and it stands about 2 1/4 inches tall. The body is moulded with a scaly pattern and details that almost make it seem real. Its underside is painted light tan/gray and the claws are black. Even the bottoms of the feet are painted and detailed. Its name is NOT moulded into the underside as it is on some lines of plastic animals. Be sure to see our other armadillo toys and gifts.

About Armadillos

Nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) such as the one you see here have been moving north from South America for the past three million years. Armadillos originated in South America about 50 million years ago, and the nine-banded moved north, crossing the Panamanian land bridge. It is the only armadillo species found in the US, where its range continues to expand. As the armadillo actually has teeth, it is no longer classed as Edentata ("without teeth") but is now usually grouped with the Xenarthra. We have left our armadillo on the Edentates page, because these are still its closest relatives. There are 20 species of armadillo living in Central and South America. Armadillos dig for grubs and create burrows near water with their powerful feet and claws. In addition to grubs, they also eat other insects and invertibrates. These interesting, inoffensive creatures can be seen along roadsides, trails, and streams (where you can see into the brush), usually around dawn and dusk.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Coral Snake

NOT something you meet SCUBA diving!

Our Plastic Coral Snake

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic coral snake miniature is made of somewhat flexible plastic with good quality. This replica has detailed skin and an attractive realistic pose. This coral snake replica makes for a nice pet, fits into a shoebox diorama, or serves as a great collectible. It is 5 1/4 inches long from nose to tail posed exactly as it appears in the photo. Add this to your science class diorama! Check out our other snake toys and gifts.

About Coral Snakes

Existing in 11 "old-world" and over 65 "new-world" species, coral snakes are a large family of venomous snakes found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. All coral snakes have a similar striped pattern, including stripes of red, yellow/white, and black. In North America, folk rhymes have have developed regarding the pattern of the colored stripes to tell the highly-venomous coral snakes from non-venomous mimics, including "red on yellow, kill a fellow...red on black, friend of Jack".

Coral snakes feed on smaller snakes, birds, rodents, lizards, and frogs. Some coral snakes are entirely aquatic, while others exist in the ground clutter of rainforests. "New-world" coral snake produce some of the most potent venom of any Western Hemisphere snake, and are considered potentially dangerous to humans.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Louse

Tough to say kind words about the louse...but ain't he cute?

Our Stuffed Louse Toy

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed louse is soft and floppy. It is made of durable soft plush. The legs and antennae are made of plush fabric. Our louse is gentle and loving and promises not to bite. Check out our other lice toys and gifts.

About Lice

The word louse, singular for lice, is a common term for a large number of different kind of lice. Different kinds of lice are found on a myriad of host animals, including humans. Lice are so differentiated that various body parts have their own kind of lice. Humans are afflicted primarily by head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis), body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus), which live in clothing, and others, which live in body hair. The louse looks like a small flat ant. It feeds on skin debris and sucks blood. It produces eggs called nits which attach to the host's hair. The louse is an irritant for many animals, especially birds and monkeys. Much itching and scratching are the result of bothersome lice. Many animals get help from other animals to pick them off. Humans can treat head lice by cutting hair shorter, combing with a stiff comb and by shampooing with various special conditioners.

The Tag on Our Stuffed Louse Says:

FACTS: Lice infestations are one of the most common communicable conditions suffered by children. Nevertheless, as unsanitary conditions are sometimes believed to promote lice, their appearance can quickly put sufferers (not to mention parents and school administrators) in a very hairy situation!

In fact, head lice are generally indifferent to environmental conditions beyond their natural territory, namely the scalp. (Most lice can't even survive for more than a day or so away from the heat of the body.) In addition, lice can't fly orjump, so transmission most commonly occurs through direct bodily contact or through sharing of personal items such as combs, hats, sweaters, and towels.

Still, close quarters can certainly contribute to the spread of lice. In the World War I trenches, lice was rampant and soldiers cropped their hair short to try to avoid the "cooties" (a term thought to derive from the Malay word kutu, or biting parasite - though how the word traveled to the trenches is unknown.)

If you do discover a lice infestation, there are special shampoos, and even chemical treatments, that can be used to address it. Specialty fine-tooth combs can also help pick lice and nits (or lice eggs) from hair. Finally, bedding and clothes should be well cleaned - and perhaps even discarded. Worth remembering if you're feeling lousy!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.