Dinosaur skeleton (or fossil) plastic model

We still have dinosaur bone models in stock and ready for shipping! These cool toys will spark up the shelves of any dino fan's room or study area.

Our Stegosaurus Skeleton Model

This realistic-looking stegosaurus skeleton model is made of strong plastic and is sturdy when assembled. It is 9 1/4 inches long and 4 inches tall. There are about 10 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 stegosaurus skeleton replica makes a nice display, a gift, or toy for children or adults and could work well for school show-and-tell or as a school science project. Check out our other dinosaur model toys and gifts.

About the Stegosaurus

"Stegosaurus," meaning roof lizard, is an armour-plated dinosaur from the late Jurassic Period characterized by large spikes along its back. It was an herbivore that used its spikes for protection against predators. Stegosaurus had a distinctive and unusual posture, with a heavily arched back, short forelimbs, head held low to the ground and a stiffened tail held high in the air. It was thirty feet long and fourteen feet tall. Many skeletal remains have been found in Wyoming.

Stuffed great white shark

This is the larger of our two delightfully ferocious stuffed great white sharks. Come on over and take a look!

Goofy gorilla eyeglass holder Peeper Keepers

Do you know any gorilla fans? Give them our goofy gorilla eyeglass holders! Seriously, it may bethe last year we can get these wonderful animal eyeglass holders. Many of the animals we have in stock are selling out, and they are being discontinued by the manufacturer!

Some animals have disappeared from our inventory already. You can still get this nice gorilla. It makes a unique gift and is a great way to keep those items you tend to misplace . . . like your glasses!

Cool moose peeper keepers!

We still have a few moose peeper keepers in stock as I post this. Come on over and check them out at Tapir and Friends Animal Store, right here on the Internet! We ship around the world. The moose comes with detachable antlers, but you'll have to supply the glasses yourself. As you can see, our moose doesn't care if the eyeglasses are sedate and demure or color-crazy shades. He comes without glasses and is eager to try yours on for size. Check out our other animal types, too!

Animal finger puppets from Folkmanis

This season we think you're going to enjoy giving our Folkmanis animal finger puppets as gifts and for stocking stuffers. These adorable, friendly-looking puppets are like mini stuffed animals, but there's a place inside for your finger. You can make up plays and stories or just entertain little ones or let them entertain each other with these wonderful little animals. They're priced nicely for this economy, too! Above is our hedgehog puppet.

Here is one of our Folkmanis guinea pig finger puppets.

We even have a monarch butterfly that fits on your finger and flaps when you move it! The body is plush, and the wings are of a diaphanous fabric with thin plastic design elements. Come on over and check out our Folkmanis animal finger puppets!

Plastic/rubber goldfish used in Premier Medical Plaza children's waiting room

If you're a child, one of the most uncomfortable things can be waiting to see a doctor. At least it was for me, growing up. Barbour Spangle Design has just finished making the children's waiting room at Premier Medical Plaza in Highpoint, North Carolina, a lot more fun and interesting. Take a look at the design they made with the help of our plastic goldfish! Thanks for sending the link, Amber!

Dragon jewelry (hand-painted)

Do you know anyone who would like a beautiful piece of dragon jewelry for a Christmas or Hanukkah, a birthday or any other gift. Maybe you like dragons yourself? This could be a great gift for a fantasy fan or a D&D fan. Our hand-made and hand-painted dragon jewelry is made in the USA in very limited quantities. The finish is durable, the colors are bright, and the design is almost unique. In other words, you will not find this piece at your local big box store!

Skye Terrier dog pin (jewelry)

This hand-cast and hand-painted Skye Terrier Dog pin can be found on our web site along with numerous other dog species. This hand-cast, hand-painted jewelry is made in the USA, and is so unusual you can't find it at your corner jeweler's or your local big box store. It is special. Because of its uniqueness and its quality, it makes a wonderful holiday gift for just under $30.00. Although we haven't noted this on each page of our web site yet, check the drop-down box for mailing options. An all-jewelry order can be shipped for just $5.00, no matter how many pieces you're shipping to the same address.

Camel figurine, plastic

This toy camel is a favorite, especially around Christmas time. Are you making a Christmas manger scene? Need plastic animals for the season?

The Bactrian (two-humped) camel lives in the cold, mountain and hight desert climates of Central Asia. It was domesticated over 4,500 years ago in an area called Bactria, near present-day Iran. The Bactrian's humps are filled with fat, not water, which is used to nourish the camel when there is little food or water. The Bactrian camel can go without water for long periods, drinking and storing up to 18 gallons (68 liters) at a time. The Bactrian camel can grow up to 11 feet long and 7 feet tall (at the shoulder) and weight up to 2,000 pounds. Although there are over 2 million domesticated Bactrian camels, the wild Bactrian camel is one of the world's rarest mammals. It is considered critically endangered with less than 1,000 remaining in the wild.This plastic Bactrian camel looks even better than in the photo. Lines of the hair are moulded into the plastic, and details include moulded and painted foot pads! Made of solid plastic, it is sturdy and durable. The word "CAMEL" is embossed on the underside. The length of 4 1/2 inches is measured from the nose to the bend in the tail. It comes with an informational tag in French, Italian, Spanish, German, and English. Made by Safari, Ltd., it is striking in form and detail, and will make a great addition to your collection. It is priced right for animal collectors, school projects, dioramas, and even for use as a children's toy.

Serval cat stuffed animal

Wouldn't this regal-looking stuffed serval cat make a great gift for a cat-loving friend or relative?

Our Serval

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed, plush serval is soft and cuddly and made by Fiesta. It is 13 inches tall and 13 inches long. It is made of soft synthetic fur has a white chest light yellow-brown body with black spots and a black, ringed tail. It has a delicate plastic pink nose and loving plastic eyes and sits patiently on its haunches for a hug. It is an adorable plush animal replica and works wonders as a stuffed animal for a child or servil or cat collector. See our other serval and cheetah toys and gifts.

About Servals

The serval (Leptailurus servalare) is a medium-sized African cat. It shares common traits with the cheetah and is related to the golden cat and the caracal. It is about 40 inches long with an approximate 16 inch-long tail. It lives in the savannah where it hunts mainly small rodents. It has a life expectancy of about 15 years and isn't endangered but with habitat destruction is threatened.

Camel for your Christmas decorating

Are you decorating for Christmas? This small plastic camel could be just the thing for a manger scene, for table decor, or even for decorating the top of a December birthday cake!

The Bactrian (two-humped) camel lives in the cold, mountain and hight desert climates of Central Asia. It was domesticated over 4,500 years ago in an area called Bactria, near present-day Iran. The Bactrian's humps are filled with fat, not water, which is used to nourish the camel when there is little food or water. The Bactrian camel can go without water for long periods, drinking and storing up to 18 gallons (68 liters) at a time. The Bactrian camel can grow up to 11 feet long and 7 feet tall (at the shoulder) and weight up to 2,000 pounds. Although there are over 2 million domesticated Bactrian camels, the wild Bactrian camel is one of the world's rarest mammals. It is considered critically endangered with less that 1,000 remaining in the wild.

NOTE: This camel sold out today. We do have a larger camel for Christmas, also wonderful :)

Hippo plastic replica

Hippos are among the world's favorite animals, and we have a terrific realistic plastic hippo for you. He'd make a great gift for friends and relatives, too. What a about the toy animal collector in your life?

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamidae) spends most of its life in the rivers and lakes of Africa. Hippopotamus babies are born and nursed in the water. Mature hippos are dangerous and often engage in vicious fights with each other. As hippo expert Hans Klingel once noted, "Few animals are as recognizable as the hippopotamus." Indeed, it is almost impossible to mistake a hippopotamus for anything else. The body is long, barrel-shaped, and very deep. [I always thought they were more potato-shaped.] The limbs are short and pillar-like, with four toes on each foot. The hippo's neck is short and quite thick in order to support the weight of the massive head. The ears are small and round, the eyes are bulbous and protruding, and the muzzle is broad and rounded. The hippo's mouth is especially large; in fact, the hippo can open its mouth wider than any other living animal except the whales. The upper and lower canine teeth--often referred to as tusks - are long, thick, and very sharp. The animal has no hair except for a few stiff bristles on its muzzle, ears, and stubby tail. The skin color ranges from slate gray to copper brown on the back to pinkish purple on the belly and around the ears and eyes.

Our plastic hippopotamus looks even better than in the photo. Made of solid plastic by Safari, Ltd., one of the best names in plastic animals, its 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. This sturdy, durable hippo is also excellent for use in school projects, dioramas, or even as a children's toy. The word "HIPPOPOTAMUS" is embossed on the underside. It comes with an informational tag in French, Italian, Spanish, German, and English.

Wrinkly stuffed walrus

Check out our new wrinkly stuffed walrus! This walrus is super soft and cuddly, and wants to be your new best pal!

Our Stuffed Walrus

Our stuffed walrus is especially soft, squishy, and cuddly. He has lots of wrinkles, just like a real walrus. It's one of the "Natural Poses" series by Wild Republic, a brand you know and trust as always maintining the highest standards of toy safety in today's world. All parts of this toy walrus are non-toxic and surface washable. He's not only cuddly, he's also colletible. Check out our other walrus toys and gifts.

About Walruses

The two subspecies of walrus, the Pacific, which is the largest, and the Atlantic live in the Northern Hemisphere in the arctic and subarctic regions. The tusks, which give the walrus its distinctive appearance, are found on both the male (bull) and female (cow). Cows weigh up to 2,800 pounds and reach up to 10 feet long. Bulls are much larger at up to 4,000 pounds and up to 12 feet long. Like sea lions, walruses are able to rotate their rear flippers under pelvis and pivot their front flippers to the side, giving them the abililty to walk and climb. These semi-aquatic mammals have a thick layer of fat beneath their tough leathery skin, which is covered by a thin layer of light brown hair. In warm weather, tiny blood vessels in the skin dilate, increasing circulation, which sheds excess body heat. This causes the skin to turn pink.

The hang tag on our stuffed walrus says, "Hello! I am a walrus. I'm a BIG guy - I'm more than 10 feet long and can weigh up to 2 tons. Aren't my tusks awesome? They are actually giant teeth. Although I live in the Arctic, I have a thick layer of fat called blubber that keeps me warm in the coldest weather. I can walk on all four of my fins and can even run as fast as you! Wanna race?"

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.