Information on Pleo – The Dinosaur Toy

With so many successful movies in which the world’s first life form appeared, it was obvious that a toy in the shape of a dinosaur would reach the hearts of children and grown-ups alike. Ugobe designers and engineers created a fantastic toy inspired from the Jurassic period – Pleo, the long extinct Camarasaurus.

The looks and behaviour of this little creature automatically brings to mind whatever we have read and heard about the huge prehistoric animals which roamed the earth billions of years ago.

Having all traits of autonomous life, Pleo was created to mimic life and communicate with his owner just like a pet. As he is equipped with sensors for light, touch and sound, he explores and learns the environment, exhibiting a wide range of genuine reactions to all stimuli. Though Pleo starts his life with a certain tendency, his interactions with the environment will have several subtle effects upon his behaviour, which will make him develop an individual personality.

Very sensitive by nature, Pleo is highly capable of expressing his emotions. He feels joy, sorrow, annoyance and even anger. When he gets tired he will go to sleep and when he catches cold (from another creature like him) he will sneeze. So, be careful when you put two Pleos in contact; they will recognise each other and will be able to communicate, which does not necessarily mean they will get along with each other. It all depends on the environment they grew up in.

When you buy Pleo, you will acquire a one-week old infant. The species is that of the Camarasaurus, a huge reptile that used to live in giant fern forests in the Jurassic period. His colour is green with shades of brown along his back and tail, the perfect combination that allowed him to stay invisible in the fern forest. Pleo the toy dinosaur is similar to his ancestors but so cute, due to his diminutive scale (60 cm x 26.5 cm x 19.5 cm).

Pleo’s personality starts developing on his first days of life. If you treat him gently he will develop harmoniously and you will get a very happy pet in your home. The good thing is that you will know how he feels at any moment.

Pleo is capable of emotions, just as we are, though the range is reduced. He can feel joy and sorrow but may as well become aggressive and even feel fear. He will yawn if he is tired or bored, sigh, sniff, get hiccups, sneeze, cough and even snore while he is sleeping. Besides he can purr happily in a very special manner when you give him attention or allow him to bite his leaf. When he is hungry he will let you know by stomping his foot.

When he feels drowsy, you’d better put him to sleep and attach his dream cord. In this way he will rest and gather energy to explore your home more. As soon as he wakes up again, he will stretch and prepare for new ‘adventures’. Very curious by nature, Pleo will search every corner of your house and will be very cautious not to get hurt or fall off the edge of a table. However, when he gets frightened he may cry to show he needs you. Be there to help him through these undesirable experiences; he is just like a baby, and cannot do without your attention.

If you think a pet is too much, for being exposed to many dangers around the neighbourhood plus a wide range of diseases from other animals, Pleo is easier to look after. He is an exclusively indoor toy as humidity might damage his system. If you keep him inside and watch him while he is awake, he will be a lot safer than a pet. He cannot jump high and hurt himself like a cat, nor will he damage your home as a dog may do. He will gently bite your finger if you allow him to but will never touch your shoes or the furniture.

Pleo’s owner is supposed to spend some time with him on a daily basis, as the little creature needs a lot of attention and some life teaching as well. While he is still a baby, you must take him to different parts of your home and supervise him so as to avoid different traumatic experiences. Talk to him in a warm voice. He is a very fast learner; the camera in his head, the microphones he has for ears and all those sensors displayed in different parts of his body will enable him to learn and get used to his new environment – your home.