Author: Gwangi

My name is Arthur but I go by Gwangi on the blogs and forums, as homage to the old dinosaur and monster movies I love so much. In addition to writing about and collecting toy animals (extinct and extant) I also share my home with a variety of living animals, mostly reptiles but a little bit of everything. I have a lifelong interest in all things nature and natural history and most of my hobbies can be linked to those things in some way. I currently live in Maryland with my wife and daughters. In addition to writing on here I also write magazine articles, typically about local wildlife and aquarium fishes.

All reviews by this author

Review: Triceratops (Tomy)

2.3 (3 votes)

Several years ago, while trying to bulk out my collection, I came across this toy Triceratops in a big box of dinosaurs I bought off of eBay. Although it is clearly a Cheaposaur I found it unique enough to hang on to and investigate further.

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Review: Stegosaurus (AAA)

Genus: Stegosaurus Brand: AAA Classification: Stegosaur, Thyreophoran Age: Jurassic Type: Figurine

3.1 (7 votes)

Charging out of a 1950’s B-rate dinosaur movie comes the AAA Stegosaurus, a truly retro toy from a bygone era. You can all breathe a sigh of relief, this will be my last review of these little AAA toys. The punishment is almost over.

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Review: Triceratops (AAA)

Genus: Triceratops Brand: AAA Classification: Ceratopsian, Chasmosaur Age: Cretaceous Type: Figurine

3 (7 votes)

While most of the toys produced by AAA could be regarded as mid-way between quality museum models and cheaply produced “Chinasaurs” there are quite a few that tread into that cheap Chinasaur territory. AAA toys span several years and I don’t know when production first began but some of the toys certainly seem a good deal older than some of their later products.

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Review: Ankylosaurus (AAA)

Genus: Ankylosaurus Brand: AAA Classification: Ankylosaur, Ankylosaurid, Thyreophoran Age: Cretaceous Type: Figurine

2.5 (10 votes)

Every dinosaur obsessed child of the 80’s and 90’s no doubt had a few AAA toy dinosaurs in their collection. Although poorly represented on the DTB the toy company AAA produced a large assortment of dinosaur and other animal toys but the quality on them was always a little hit or miss.

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Review: Eurypterid (Eurypterus remipes) (Paleozoic Pals)

Genus: Eurypterus Brand: Paleozoic Pals Classification: Invertebrate Age: Silurian Type: Plush

5 (6 votes)

Eurypterids, popularly known as “sea scorpions” are among the more charismatic of extinct invertebrates, and rightly so. Although they weren’t true scorpions these aquatic arthropods were an extremely successful group of predators that dominated both fresh and saltwater environments between 470–252 million years ago.

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Review: Trilobite (Greenops boothi) (Paleo Pals)

Genus: Greenops Brand: Paleo Pals Classification: Invertebrate, Trilobite Age: Devonian Type: Plush

4.5 (4 votes)

As a dinosaur lover growing up in New York State I often dreamed of digging up a dinosaur in my own back yard, and what child didn’t? I had always hoped that I might uncover a Tyrannosaurus skull, a new species, or at least a tooth!

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Review: Torvosaurus (Deluxe Prehistoric Collection by CollectA)

Genus: Torvosaurus Brand: CollectA Classification: Megalosaur, Theropod Age: Jurassic Type: Figurine

4.5 (17 votes)

While Allosaurus has been a long time favorite among Jurassic theropods there has been a growing fan base for the large megalosaurid genus, Torvosaurus. The genus has now become popular enough that whenever wish list discussions about what toy makers should release next come up it’s always mentioned.

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Review: Metriacanthosaurus (Prehistoric World by CollectA)

Genus: Metriacanthosaurus Brand: CollectA Classification: Allosaur, Theropod Age: Jurassic Type: Figurine

4.9 (18 votes)

Before I get on with this review I would just like to mention that a couple days ago, July 16th 2016, was my five year anniversary on the Dinosaur Toy Blog. On that day five years ago my review for the AAA woolly rhinoceros was posted by blog owner Dr.

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Review: Barapasaurus (The First Giants by Schleich)

Genus: Barapasaurus Brand: Schleich Classification: Sauropod Age: Jurassic Type: Figurine

3.1 (15 votes)

Now here’s a dinosaur you don’t see every day. In fact, until this model was announced I had never even heard of the “big-legged lizard” and assuming you might not have either we’ll do a short introduction. Barapasaurus is a genus of sauropod that was discovered in India and lived in the early Jurassic.

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Review: Velociraptor (The Lost World: Jurassic Park Series 1 by Kenner)

Genus: Velociraptor Brand: Jurassic Park, Kenner Classification: Dromaeosaur, Theropod Age: Cretaceous Type: Action Figure

4.5 (13 votes)

In my desperation to review a dinosaur model I found something I can review that technically may have been reviewed here already, sort of. In 2010 Marc (Horridus) reviewed the Kenner Jurassic Park Velociraptor for the blog. And yes, this is indeed the same toy that he reviewed.

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Review: Stegosaurus (Terra Series by Battat)

Genus: Stegosaurus Brand: Battat Classification: Stegosaur Age: Jurassic Type: Figurine

3.8 (18 votes)

Before we get on with the review I need to give a special shout out to my fellow reviewer Laticauda for generously tracking down and donating this model for me. This Stegosaurus comes to me courtesy of his generosity and I extend my thanks to him, I owe you one Laticauda!

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Review: Woolly Mammoth (Inpro)

Genus: Mammuthus, Woolly mammoth Brand: Inpro Classification: Elephant, Mammal Age: Pleistocene Type: Figurine

2.1 (8 votes)

Looking back again at the toys of yesteryear we have another little Inpro figurine dug out of my attic, this time it’s a woolly mammoth. Inpro would produce only two mammals for their collection; this mammoth and the equally popular Smilodon.

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