Palaeoloxodon naumanni (Dinotales Series 4 by Kaiyodo)

A smaller relative of true Cenozoic giants, this diminutive figure bears itself in a convincingly lifelike manner with plenty of detail.

Earlier this year, Eofauna floored collectors with their release of Palaeoloxodon antiquus, one of the largest known land mammals ever. While the figure is exceptional, it’s not the first time one of the Palaeoloxodon species has been recreated in toy form. Kaiyodo’s eclectic Dinotales in Chocolasaurs miniature line featured the Japanese species, P. naumanni, as part of their 4th series.

Unlike the massive P. antiquus or P. namadicus, P. naumanni was actually slightly smaller than modern elephants, although this would still make it a sizable animal to face. Kaiyodo’s replica is far more diminutive, of course. The figurine comes packaged like other figures in the line, with an informational sticker and instructions. There are five pieces to the figure itself, which require careful assembly due to the lightweight nature of the plastic.

Standing only 1 1/4″ (3 1/2 cm) tall, this figure nonetheless bears itself in a convincingly lifelike manner, posed like a real animal carrying its massive weight while reacting to its environment. This realism belies the delicate nature of the toy, which would likely not hold up under play. Collectors beware: this one really isn’t for the kids.

Quite a few details are packed into the minuscule frame. The extended tusks are the most obvious feature, painted realistic hues of bony yellow. The species’ distinct bulge on top of the skull is prominent, giving the animal a bit of a butch cut look. Other, finer details include the creases of skin atop the trunk length, tiny, glossy black eyes on the face, individually painted toes, and a defined coat of fur over the body. This fur is painted in a subtle two-tone wash of black and dark brown, with gray highlights across the back.

As of this writing, I’m new to Dinotales, but I’ve quickly become delighted by them, and this Palaeoloxodon naumanni is no exception. Fans of prehistoric mammals should appreciate this little figure, and might get a kick out of putting it next to Eofauna’s much larger model. Since I think the figure is out of production, keep your eyes peeled on eBay or maybe Yahoo Japan to get it at a good price. Other Japanese-based sites like Clawmark Toys might be worth checking out too.