Desert Pupfish (Safari Ltd - Limited Release for Arizona State Government)

[sbell]

For all of your consideration--an unknown Safari Ltd figure date stamped 2009, a Desert Pupfish Cyprinodon macularis. Item number 251429 according to a recently found test report. This figure has not been seen in any catalogs so was likely produced as a special, custom or limited edition figure (which are not seen often from Safari). According to the report, an endangered Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus was also tested, but nobody has seen that one (yet!). It is also marked Tempe AZ, which is unusual for Safari, which are often marked Miami FL.

It's clearly a male, given it's colour. The larger males are about 7.6 cm long, but the figure is probably about 6 inches (as seen in the photo with the ruler). So it would be roughly 3:1 scale. The real fish is a pretty neat little one (for a cyprinid  ), being able to survive extreme environments. Sadly, they are less able to survive human-affected environments, taxonomic changes (the species was divided up over time, so that means they are found in fewer places) and introduced predators and are extirpated from much of their former range. Hopefully the figure continues to represent a living animal into the foreseeable future.

Pictures!











And with some people, who are incredibly undersized, even the New Ray fishermen)



And yes, I am trying to find out whatever else I can from the seller. If only to find out where he got it!

[Jetoar]

Cool and obscure uknown figure of this specie  . Its really nice to know figure for you friends  .

[brontodocus]

Wow, brilliant! So it's apparently even bigger than most of the Incredible Creatures fishies, then.

[sbell]

Wow, brilliant! So it's apparently even bigger than most of the Incredible Creatures fishies, then.

It is, much bigger. I tried to find the IC goldfish for comparison, but the kids have it 'somewhere'. Makes me think that, if the Razorback Sucker were also made, it would be enormous (of the two, I'm glad I got the pupfish. Much nicer fish).

[sbell]

So I contacted Safari Ltd about this figure, and it turns out that it is, indeed, a commissioned figure. In this case, it was for the Arizona State Government as part of a promotion of their endangered animals (so I do expect that the sucker is out there somewhere too).

They couldn't tell me how many were made, or for how long, but they did confirm that they are not available anywhere else, and that any other details would be with the state government. So likely not many, and they were probably part of education packs or something.

Glad I went for it!

[animaltoyforum]

Wow, sounds like a real rarity! Good catch

[bmathison1972]

So I contacted Safari Ltd about this figure, and it turns out that it is, indeed, a commissioned figure. In this case, it was for the Arizona State Government as part of a promotion of their endangered animals (so I do expect that the sucker is out there somewhere too).

I used to work for the AZ State Government (as a microbiologist); looks like a moved on a couple years too early! Darn! Hahahahahaha.

[widukind]

I newer saw this figurine before 

[sbell]

I newer saw this figurine before 

Apparently you never will--I stumbled upon it by accident. It was produced for the Arizona Government as a special figure, and not released for sale anywhere else.

[widukind]

I newer saw this figurine before 

Apparently you never will--I stumbled upon it by accident. It was produced for the Arizona Government as a special figure, and not released for sale anywhere else.

Than special congratulations for this raritie

[animaltoyforum]

I updated the topic title. 

[sbell]

I updated the topic title. 

Thanks--but I should have updated here anyway, since I eventually figured out exactly where it came from!

http://www.marsheducation.org/?page_id=75

I personally have the full set of 6, but they're not easy to get now otherwise. They are properly the Marsh Education line, produced as an exclusive series for them by Safari Ltd.

[bmathison1972]

I updated the topic title. 

Thanks--but I should have updated here anyway, since I eventually figured out exactly where it came from!

http://www.marsheducation.org/?page_id=75

I personally have the full set of 6, but they're not easy to get now otherwise. They are properly the Marsh Education line, produced as an exclusive series for them by Safari Ltd.

you still owe us a comprehensive review or more walkarounds