SO-TA, a Japanese toy company, released this set of dung beetles in July 2022. There are actually two sets. These sets were released as a gashapon set (plastic eggs in vending machines) and as a boxed set. The sets both contained the same two species but in different colour schemes. The box set has a metallic brown coloured Kepher sp. (my quess is Scarabaeus (Kepher) nigroaeneus the box says in Japanese: アカガネタマオシコガネ). The gashapon set has a metallic green Kepher festivus paganus (named in booklet) next to a black dung beetle (my quess is Scarabaeus ambiguus or S. sacer). The leaflet/box says in Japanese: クロガネタマオシコガネ ). The C. ensifer beetles are the same in the two sets. One has blue metallic details the other has dark green metallic details. Buyers from the BOX set could apply for a secret Kepher sp. in Egyptian colours (mint coloured beetle and a red dung ball) which is of little value when collection realistic figurines.
The species are Coprophannaeus ensifer can reach a length of about 35–56 millimetres. This large-sized necrophagous beetle has a horn on the pronotum that is of similar size in males and females. That is a bit rare in scarabeoid beetle species, with often a distinctive morphology between males and females. The body colour of this beetle is usually dark green. This species is found in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay preferring tropical dry forests and savannas.
Then there are three Kheper sp. of the subgenus of Scarabaeus, a typical genus of scarab beetles in the tribe Scarabaeini. The genus name refers to the ancient Egyptian god Khepri which has a scarab for a head. Kheper species can be found on the border between Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa in arid sand dunes. The genus shares a family with Scarabaeus sacer.
The former beetles SO-TA released (Dynastes hercules and a Prosopocoilus giraffa set) were nice, but do not even come near the quality of this superbly sculpted dung beetle sets. Even the legs are incredibly detailed. The paint job is gorgeous. The scale is 1:1. They are amongst the best beetle figurines that are on the market (and in my collection). Right up there with the DeAgostini, Ikimon/Kitan Club, Yujin, F-toys and some Kaiyodo ones. I think one of the nicest made beetles so far and a break from the usual scarabs made by Japanese companies. If you are a serious insect/beetle figurine collector, you must not miss out on these ones!
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