Plastic Frogs and Newts

Our Lovely Plastic Tomato Frog at Tapir and Friends

Bubble, bubble toil and trouble! If you're looking for eye of newt or slime of toad for a witchy stew, we can't help you. We like our newts and toads creeping and hopping. But if you'd like to add a few amphibians to your Halloween decor, we've definitely got your covered! Ribbit! 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Cane Toad

Cute little bugger...just don't EAT him!!

Our Plastic Cane Toad Replica

This beautifully-detailed and hand-painted plastic cane toad is a remarkable animal replica. Look at the real-life features. The eyes are shiny, just like you see in the photo, and the plastic skin is bumpy just like on the real toad. Wouldn't our cane toad be perfect in a diorama for a school project about Australian animals? The toad also makes a superb educational toy with its durability and its amazing likeness to a living animal. Our plastic toad is somewhat flexible to minimize scratches to humans. This figurine can be used to enhance reports at school, used by therapists for sand trays, or hey . . . just carry this little toad around in your pocket to entertain your friends. The fingers are flexible, and on a hard surface the toad props up on the ends of its front toes. Check out our other frog and toad toys and gifts.

About Cane Toads

According to Safari LTD, the cane toad (Bufo marinus) is "native to Central and South America, and can reach up to 15 inches long. It is deadly to both animals and humans that ingest it. Their skin glands secrete a toxin that can be used for various pharmaceutical applications."

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.

Tree Frog on Branch Jewelry

Just don't call him 'Kermit'!

Our Tree Frog on Branch Jewelry

Made in Washington and Idaho by a team of three U.S. artists, these high-quality pins or tie tacks are unique. Each exquisitely detailed piece is cast in pewter and painted by hand. The finish is extremely smooth and shiny, as you can see by the highlight from the scanner. Each pin is secured by two sturdy tacks on the back so it doesn't skew sideways or turn upside down, and the finished product is not only gorgeous, but satisfyingly substantial in weight. They can be used as lapel pins, hat pins, tie tacks, and more. These collectible animal pins are heirloom quality, and the details are so realistic, they are found in museum gift shops and bought by organizations in need of the perfect animal to represent their group. In fact, if you're interested in having the name of your organization put on an item, write to us for details. You will find more fish and animals by the same artists listed on our Items by Series page.

About Red-Eyed Treefrogs

The red-eyed treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas) is an amphibian native to the Central American rainforests. Its dominantly-green coloration allows the red-eyed treefrog to blend in with the leaves and other foliage of its arboreal home. They are fantastic jumpers and have sticky pads on their toes for gripping to trees and leaves.

Red-eyed treefrogs are carnivorous, feeding mostly on insects and occasionally smaller frogs. They are not poisonous, depending on their coloration to hide from predators. As with many species of the rainforests, the red-eyed treefrog’s primary threat is deforestation throughout its habitat range for agricultural purposes.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Leaf-tailed Gecko

Cute little dude, ain't he?

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.

Madagascar Day Gecko

He won't try to sell you car 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.

Beaded Frogs from Guatemala

A beautiful, brilliant ornament!

Our Beaded Frogs

It was another one of those very lucky days when Catherine Todd (same last name, no relation) contacted me about taking some of our plastic animals to Guatemala so the artisans could craft beaded animals with the plastic replicas as a realistically-shaped base. The subject at hand was camels for a special project, but it seems the artisans make a wide variety of unique animals covered with a woven beaded "skin." Imagine my delight when a package arrived including these delightful frogs! When you purchase one of these unique animals from our collection, you help in a number of ways. You help save tapirs, because that's what we do. You help the local artisans in Guatemala who need an outlet for their work (yes, jobs!), and you help my new friend Catherine with her sustainable business of working with the artisans of Guatemala to maintain jobs for themselves and make beautiful art for many people around the world to enjoy. The beading on these frogs is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads that completely covers the frog and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these frogs are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other frog items as well as our page of beaded animals from Guatemala.

About Frogs

Frogs are among the most diverse animals on the planet. They come in an astounding range of colors, sizes and shapes, and more than 5,000 species have been described worldwide. They are amphibians in the order Anura (meaning "tail-less", from Greek an-, without + oura, tail). Frogs are among the most commonly-known animals to most people, and yet we probably think of them in generic terms. Once you begin to read about frogs, you realize how different each species is from the next. Typically, they are exceptional jumpers, and many of the anatomical characteristics of frogs, particularly their long, powerful legs, are adaptations to improve jumping performance. Many frogs have an extremely loud call which is most often used during their mating season. Although the greatest number of frogs are found in the tropical rainforests of the world, they can be found in a wide range of climactic zones. Frogs may live in trees or on the ground, but they always live near water. Their skin becomes dry easily and this will inevitably lead to death. Some populations of frogs are declining significantly, and there are important organizations dedicated to their study and conservation. Frogs have long been a favorite subject in art, literature and legend, and many people collect images and replicas of frogs.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beaded Frogs from Guatemala

Own one of these amazing works of art!

Our Beaded Frogs

It was another one of those very lucky days when Catherine Todd (same last name, no relation) contacted me about taking some of our plastic animals to Guatemala so the artisans could craft beaded animals with the plastic replicas as a realistically-shaped base. The subject at hand was camels for a special project, but it seems the artisans make a wide variety of unique animals covered with a woven beaded "skin." Imagine my delight when a package arrived including these delightful frogs! When you purchase one of these unique animals from our collection, you help in a number of ways. You help save tapirs, because that's what we do. You help the local artisans in Guatemala who need an outlet for their work (yes, jobs!), and you help my new friend Catherine with her sustainable business of working with the artisans of Guatemala to maintain jobs for themselves and make beautiful art for many people around the world to enjoy. The beading on these frogs is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads that completely covers the frog and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these frogs are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other frog items as well as our page of beaded animals from Guatemala.

About Frogs

Frogs are among the most diverse animals on the planet. They come in an astounding range of colors, sizes and shapes, and more than 5,000 species have been described worldwide. They are amphibians in the order Anura (meaning "tail-less", from Greek an-, without + oura, tail). Frogs are among the most commonly-known animals to most people, and yet we probably think of them in generic terms. Once you begin to read about frogs, you realize how different each species is from the next. Typically, they are exceptional jumpers, and many of the anatomical characteristics of frogs, particularly their long, powerful legs, are adaptations to improve jumping performance. Many frogs have an extremely loud call which is most often used during their mating season. Although the greatest number of frogs are found in the tropical rainforests of the world, they can be found in a wide range of climactic zones. Frogs may live in trees or on the ground, but they always live near water. Their skin becomes dry easily and this will inevitably lead to death. Some populations of frogs are declining significantly, and there are important organizations dedicated to their study and conservation. Frogs have long been a favorite subject in art, literature and legend, and many people collect images and replicas of frogs.

 This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Lehmann's Poison Frog

Who knew such a cute little frog could be so lethal?

Our Plastic Lehmann's Dart Frog

Our plastic Lehmann's 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 2 1/8 inches long and is somewhat flexible. The plastic is solid, but not hard. Its underside is orange, and the name "Lehmann's Poison Frog" is moulded into the plastic. Be sure to see our other cool frog toys and gifts.

About Lehmann's Dart Frogs

In Spanish, the Lehmann's Dart Frog (Dendrobates lehmanni) is called "Rana venenosa de Lehmann." It is only known definitely from two small locations in Colombia which comprise an area of only 10 km2. Its distribution is severely fragmented and the habitat is becoming more and more degraded. The frog is still common in its tiny range, but is threatened by agricultural development, illegal crops, logging, pollution, settlement, and capture for the pet trade. Locally, indigenous people use the poison to coat darts for killling monkeys.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog Carabiner Flashlight

Let him sit on your shoulder Halloween night!

Our Carabiner Animal Flashlights

Our carabiner animal flashlights are the coolest way to make sure you always have a light nearby! Look at the tail, they simply open up to snap onto a key ring, backpack, belt, book bag, or anyplace else a person can hook something. The light is surprisingly bright for such a small item! Keep one next to your bed, by the back door, inside your car or on your bike. The light is bright enough to find things in the dark - such as finding the lock on your house or car door. Helps keep both kids and adults safe when unexpected scenarios come up. Just press the button on the critter's back, and you have light! Is there a better way to find the outhouse on a camping trip than to let our flashlight animals find the trail for you? Or what about lighting your way on Halloween? Fun for birthday parties, as stocking stuffers, or Hanukkah gifts for any age. Check out our other frog toys and gifts and our multi-style animal flashlights. The animal flashlights page also shows you what the lights look like when the light is on! If you have a teeeeeny little screwdriver, you can pop in a replacement battery. However, we've noticed that the lights last for quite a long time on the original battery.

About Red-Eyed Treefrogs

The red-eyed treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas) is an amphibian native to the Central American rainforests. Its dominantly-green coloration allows the red-eyed treefrog to blend in with the leaves and other foliage of its arboreal home. They are fantastic jumpers and have sticky pads on their toes for gripping to trees and leaves.

Red-eyed treefrogs are carnivorous, feeding mostly on insects and occasionally smaller frogs. They are not poisonous, depending on their coloration to hide from predators. As with many species of the rainforests, the red-eyed treefrog’s primary threat is deforestation throughout its habitat range for agricultural purposes.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Carabiner Frog Flashlight

A useful and cute friend to have around!

Our Carabiner Animal Flashlights

Our carabiner animal flashlights are the coolest way to make sure you always have a light nearby! Look at the tail, they simply open up to snap onto a key ring, backpack, belt, book bag, or anyplace else a person can hook something. The light is surprisingly bright for such a small item! Keep one next to your bed, by the back door, inside your car or on your bike. The light is bright enough to find things in the dark - such as finding the lock on your house or car door. Helps keep both kids and adults safe when unexpected scenarios come up. Just press the button on the critter's back, and you have light! Is there a better way to find the outhouse on a camping trip than to let our flashlight animals find the trail for you? Or what about lighting your way on Halloween? Fun for birthday parties, as stocking stuffers, or Hanukkah gifts for any age. Check out our other frog toys and gifts and our multi-style animal flashlights. The animal flashlights page also shows you what the lights look like when the light is on! If you have a teeeeeny little screwdriver, you can pop in a replacement battery. However, we've noticed that the lights last for quite a long time on the original battery.

About Blue Poison Dart Frogs

Poison dart frogs are amphibians of the family Dendrobatidae and are native to Central and South America. These frogs are brightly-colored and active during the day, protected by their universal toxicity. Poison dart frogs get their name from their famous contribution to native cultures, whose hunters used them to poison their blowdarts. Only three of the 175 species of poison dart frogs have been documented being used in this way, and while all poison dart frogs secrete toxins, the level of toxicity varies widely from one species to another.

Known to the native Tirio tribe as Okopipi, the blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates azureus) is native to souther Suriname and northern and central Brazil. All are a piercing blue color, with black spots so individually distinctive that individual frogs can be identified by their patterns.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Hottest selling animal toys in February

What were our best-sellers in February? We had a three-way tie between our crocodile children's drinking cup (which also comes in turquoise, light green, and purple), our plastic red-eyed tree frog, and one of our plastic African elephants. The croc and the elephant have been with us for a number of years and are old favorites. The tree frog is one of our newest items. It's always fun to see what people like and which items continue to attract attention!

Stunning hand-painted animal jewelry made in the USA

This climbing tree frog is just one of the hundreds of pieces of lifelike animal jewelry now in stock. A huge new shipment of gorgeously-detailed hand-painted pieces arrived in December, and we're still working to get them online. If you don't see the animal you want, PLEASE ASK! Check out the painted animal jewelry page of Tapir and Friends for a sample of what's available. We're working to get the photos online. If it's listed with no photo, drop us an e-mail and we'll take a picture for you. If you don't see the animal listed, please ask. There are so many new ones, we're still putting the list together. If you like the jewelry, but don't see the color you want, LET US KNOW. Custom painting (depending on the level of detail) may not cost more than the standard item ($29.00 each for painted pieces). Most animals are also available in gold plate, silver plate, bronze plate, copper plate, and the natural pewter in which they are cast. The metal finishes are $10.00 each. Although we have hundreds of pieces, many are limited edition. In some cases we have 10 or 20 on hand, in other cases, we have only one. Once they are gone, that's it! Additional styles are being developed by the artist every day, but if you fall in love with one, it's best not to wait!