walking stick (Imperial Toys)

[bmathison1972]

Walk-around of an impressive walking stick insect, gen. sp. by Imperial Toys (1998). I have never seen this figure before!! I stumbled upon it on eBay, bid the minimum of $3.49, and won it (I had a max bid of $20 but luckily won it on the minimum).

The figure was produced by Imperial Toys in 1998, probably following the Smithsonian bandwagon in the late 1990s. I have never seen this figure before and was lucky to stumble upon it on eBay!

The figure is large; the body (without appendages) is 6.5 inches (16.5 cm). It has a simple body plan but some good detail, especially in the leg armature and copulatory organs (see last image for the latter). I am not a specialist on this group, so if it is attributable to known species, I am not immediately familiar with it (but will be snooping around more!).

EDIT: maybe represents Megaphasma denticrus (Stal, 1875)?

[sphyrna18]

  NICE FIND, BLAINE!!!!! I WANT!!! Holy Cow! I don't even know where to start, but if you stumble upon any more of them I'd love to know about it... Such a simple creature, yet no companies seem interested in making them - and kids seem to be genuinely fascinated by them, too!  Really great find!

[bmathison1972]

NICE FIND, BLAINE!!!!! I WANT!!! Holy Cow! I don't even know where to start, but if you stumble upon any more of them I'd love to know about it... Such a simple creature, yet no companies seem interested in making them - and kids seem to be genuinely fascinated by them, too!  Really great find!

my thoughts exactly when I saw it on ebay; I would have been really disappointed if I didn't win it!!! I'm still pulling it off the shelf and looking at it from time to time! haha

[brontodocus]

Oh wow, that's a great find, Blaine!

[Jetoar]

Really nice figure Blaine  .

[bmathison1972]

I have recaptured these images for Postimage.