Also known as the duck-billed platypus, the platypus is one of the most specialized and unique mammal species on planet Earth. Not only is it one of only five species of mammals that lays eggs, but the males are also venomous, which is also an incredibly rare trait in mammals! History: Although there is some…
Qianzhousaurus has been nicknamed Pinocchio Rex due to its long and slender snout. It could reach a length of nearly 30 feet long and was a smaller relative of Tyrannosaurus rex. History: Qianzhousaurus was discovered in China in 2014. While many dinosaur fans know Tyrannosaurus rex, there were many other dinosaurs in the Tyrannosauridae family….
Created to run a quarter-mile race at high speeds, the American Quarter Horse Gelding is the most popular horse in the United States. Strong enough to pull a plow, sure-footed for trail riding, and attractive in front of a carriage, the Quarter Horse Gelding contributed significantly to the lives of pioneers as they spread out…
Raccoons are commonly found all throughout North America, as well as some parts of Europe, and tend to inhabit deciduous forests. History: Because of their close proximity to urban areas and their overall population size, raccoons interact with humans fairly often. Originally, Native Americans included raccoons in their folk tales in which they were portrayed…
Despite its colorful appearance, the red-eye tree frog isn’t poisonous. Instead, it relies on camouflage to hide itself from predators. During the day, this tree frog will cover its sides with its back legs, tuck its bright feet under its belly, and shut its red eyes. As a result, it appears completely green and looks…
The Red Fox is one of the most widespread members of the order Carnivora, which includes bears, cats, canines, seals, hyenas, raccoons and other meat-eating mammals. Found throughout Europe, Asia and North America, the Red Fox is one of the most recognizable members of the Canidae family. History: Foxes feature heavily in the folklore of…
Scorpions are easily identified by their segmented tail tipped with a venomous stinger and their prominent claws. Like spiders, they are arachnids and have eight legs. Despite their fearsome reputation, only 25 of the roughly 1700 species of scorpion are considered dangerous to humans. Scientific Name:Â Order Scorpiones Characteristics:Â This hand-painted scorpion figure features true-to-life details, plus…
Together with the fur seal, sea lions comprise the eared seals family known as Otariidae. Sea lions extend from subarctic to tropical waters across the globe, and actually have small variations from one another, such as skull size, depending on what waters they live in. Scientific Name: Family Otariidae Characteristics: Sea lions are generally docile…
Part of the Testudines order, sea turtles are an important member of oceans around the world. They can be found in warm and temperate waters, primarily in shallow, coastal regions, as well as in bays, lagoons, and estuaries. History: While there are a large number of sea turtle species, many of them are in danger….
One of the oldest known creatures on planet Earth, sea turtles have been around for nearly 110 million years! Despite being around so long, early infancy is still very difficult for sea turtles and it s estimated that only 1 out of 1,000 make it to adulthood. Scientific Name: Superfamily Chelonioidea Characteristics: This figurine was…
The sheep is one of the earliest domesticated animals. There are over one billion sheep in the world, and their wool is one of the earliest and most frequently utilized animal fibers. There are over 200 breeds of domestic sheep in the world today. Scientific Name:Â Ovis aries Characteristics: This woolly sheep figure is ready to…
One of the most instantly recognizable mythical creatures, the stately unicorn symbolizes virtue and strength. Although the beautiful creature has no myths of its own, it has appeared in artwork dating back centuries, to times when it was assumed to be real. Scientific Name: Rinocerotis Characteristics: Head held high, this unicorn figure looks ready to…
Unicorns are exceedingly rare, of course, which makes a unicorn baby an even more elusive sight. Babies are born without horns, but their horns begin growing after a year and continue growing for as long as the gentle unicorn lives. Scientific Name: Rinocerotis infans Characteristics: This baby unicorn s horn is just longer than its…