Stuffed Manta Ray (jumbo size)

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

Our Stuffed Jumbo Manta Ray

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

About Manta Rays

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

Suffed Seagull (California Seagull) from the Audubon Birds Series

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

Our Stuffed Seagull

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

About Seagulls

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

Rubber octopus (posable, and so realistic!)

Meet our very popular latex posable octopus!

Our Soft Play Latex Octopus

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

About Octopi

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

Stuffed cougar (mountain lion)

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

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

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

Only one Hansa stuffed emperor penguin left!

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

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

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

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

Kids! Drink out of dinosaur cups!

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

Our Plastic Dinosaur Cups

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

About T-rex

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

About Triceratops

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

Colorful plastic lobster

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

Our Plastic Lobster

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

About Lobsters

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

Stuffed Toy Lion, very soft

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

Our Plastic Stuffed Lion

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

About Lions

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

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

Stuffed bushbaby back in stock

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

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

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

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

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

Stuffed sea turtle

Our Stuffed Sea Turtle

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

Sea Turtles

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

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

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

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

Wowee - TWO new GREAT WHITE SHARK stuffed animals

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

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

Our 21-inch Stuffed Great White Shark

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

About Great White Sharks

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

Plastic Great White Shark new in our online store

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

Our Plastic Great White Shark

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

About Great White Sharks

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

Stuffed Moray Eel - a wonderfully cuddly toy sea animal!

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

Our Stuffed Moray Eel

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

About Moray Eels

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

Charming puffin pin with character!

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

Our Hand-painted Puffin Jewelry

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

About Puffins

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

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

References source: Wikipedia

Stuffed plush hermit crab

Our Stuffed Hermit Crab

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

About Hermit Crabs

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

Even their Labra-puppy likes this zebra

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

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

Naked mole rat stuffed animal

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

Our Stuffed Naked Mole Rat

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

About Naked Mole Rats

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