The Curious Compendium 2023 Tour Finale: Griffons!

Caiman!

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There are 6 species of caiman! The largest (black) can get to be 18+ feet long while the smallest (Cuvier's dwarf) averages about 4 feet long.

Very nice caimans and thank you

You soon will be able to add a 9th with the Papo next one!

And a 10th with Toymany's.

The Safari 113389 Alligator is very tempting, how long is it ? I already host the Mojo on my 1/15 American shelf and if the Safari is bigger enough I could decide it is 1/12 and have a good excuse to collect it Could you make some comparisons pics ?

I'm tempted by Bernie too, this Alligator has a special place in the collectors world

Saarlooswolfhound wrote:

American alligators!
These guys have proven smarter than they may look. Wild gators have been observed balancing bracken and sticks on their heads to entice nesting birds to approach. They then make a strike attempt! Pretty ingenious to outsmart the birds preoccupied with nest building.

It's not only alligators that are like that, I know a Portuguese crocodile that regularly tries to catch me by waving pieces of plastic in front of my nose.

Saarlooswolfhound wrote:

Caiman!
And a 10th with Toymany's.

Yes of course "The ten Caïmans" ! Wasn't it a Cecil B. DeMille movie ?

Thank you Kiki, and yes of course I can make comparison photos this weekend.

Gharial!
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Their name is derived from the Indian word "ghara" which means "mud pot"; European explorers misread it and named these animals "gavials". Hence, both titles are used today. They also have the largest eggs of any crocodilian species weighing in at 6 oz (160 grams) per egg!

Why Indians call them mud pots is a mystery for me

Great batch

Wow so many gharials! Love those weirdos! I didn't know why they had two different common names, that's interesting, misunderstanding seems to be the root of many common names.

I like many of these, I think brands improved a lot on doing crocodilian figures.They were often silly or poorly represented in the first stages of the major brands. Fortunately, now almost every brand has at least a good crocodilian figure.

Kikimalou wrote:

Saarlooswolfhound wrote:

American alligators!
These guys have proven smarter than they may look. Wild gators have been observed balancing bracken and sticks on their heads to entice nesting birds to approach. They then make a strike attempt! Pretty ingenious to outsmart the birds preoccupied with nest building.

It's not only alligators that are like that, I know a Portuguese crocodile that regularly tries to catch me by waving pieces of plastic in front of my nose.

What? Who?

Thank you everyone. :)

Cuban and American crocs!
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Cuban crocodiles are the most endangered of their family group. One unique feature is that their hind feet are less webbed and hind legs a little longer than other crocs. This enables them to do a "high walk" on land much easier than any other croc species!

I have none of them, what is surprising is that even if their hind legs are a little longer than other crocs, it is not obvious on the models. I hope one day someone will make a walking one.

Especially for the large K&M

More crocs!
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My factoid will be for my dwarf cave crocodile. These guys are technically the species of African dwarf crocodiles, but there are individuals that have moved into caves and take advantage if this niche. Their diets have shifted; outside crocs eat freshwater critters while the cave dwellers eat almost exclusively crickets and bats (their scutes actually bleach orange from the acidic bat guano). Some scientists theorize that they could be evolving into a new species, making it a great research opportunity. The only forseeable challenge currently to their alternative lifestyle is their reproductive cycle.

The Chap Mei is a gator I think.. :)

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