The famous Pleistocene pachyderm, Woolly Mammoth Mammuthus primigenius, is the one mammal that has been a pillar of toy lines, produced many times by many different companies, and in many poses. In 2009 Papo replaced their dramatic running mammoth, with a peaceful placid version.
Review: Utahraptor (CollectA)
As one of the largest of the dromaeosaurids, Utahraptor ostrommaysorum perhaps first garnered significant public attention after starring in the 1999 animated documentary, Walking with Dinosaurs. Since this time, the scientifically accepted appearance of this 7m theropod has changed considerably, as more evidence has been unearthed supporting the idea that this creature was fully feathered – much like its far smaller kin.
Review: Tyrannosaurus rex “Bull”(The Lost World: Jurassic Park by Kenner)
Review: Archaeopteryx (Wild Safari by Safari Ltd.)
Archaeopteryx lithographica, the famous “ancient wing”, was named for a single wing feather found in the Solnhofen Lagerstätten in 1861. That feather would soon be joined by more fossils, adding up to a remarkably detailed body of evidence for the creature’s shape, anatomy, and integument.
Review: Parasaurolophus (The Lost World: Jurassic Park by Kenner)
Review: Tapejara (Jurassic Park III, by Hasbro)
How the Tapejara ever became a toy in the Jurassic Park toy line is puzzling when you look back at the turbulent time before Jurassic Park III was released. Hasbro downsized after the failure of the JP Chaos Effect toys, and the lower than expected sales from Star Wars Phantom Menace toys.
Review: Woolly Mammoth baby (Prehistoric Life by Wild Safari)
Review: Triceratops (Jurassic Park: Dinosaurs by Kenner)
First released under the Lost World label in 1997, this Triceratops is rather small compared to the massive 1993 version. Its short horns and length of only 20 cm indicate that it is meant to represent a juvenile.
Review: Mosasaur by Sideshow Dinosauria
Regular visitors to the DinoToyBlog know that I enjoy reviewing every new piece in this series, but I really wanted our resident paleontologist Dr. Adam Stuart Smith to have a go at this one; truly, I doubt there would be anyone better suited to this task.
Review: Velociraptor “Alpha” (Jurassic Park: Dinosaurs by Hasbro)
Review: Spinosaurus (1992) (Carnegie Collection by Safari Ltd.)
Review: Megaloceros giganteus (Irish elk) (Prehistoric Times by Bullyland)
I am sure most collectors are aware that Bullyland has produced an interesting collection of prehistoric mega fauna, mammals, and terror birds. One overlooked mammal by most toy lines has been the Irish elk. It was nice to see a company take a chance on an animal that rarely sees any toy love.