This figure is the Northern Snakehead, Channa argus , model 24 and figure 9 from the second series. These large, strictly freshwater predators are naturally found in the Korean Peninsula, China and Russia. Given the northern range, it is not surprising that they are cold tolerant, and have since been introduced to several other places including the US, Japan and parts of Europe (so far Canada has kept them out, but they are heading to the Great Lakes, so we’ll see how that goes) edit–at least no established populations since this was written.
Author: sbell
Hey, my name is Sean, known as SBell on this and many other forums. I have a background in physical anthropology and vertebrate palaeontology but I don’t do any of that now. I have been a dedicated animal figure collector for over 25 years, with a focus on freshwater, prehistoric and unusual fishes (sometimes there’s overlap!); prehistoric mammals; other interesting prehistoric animals; and modern carnivores (especially hyenas), but I will also pick up almost anything that appeals to me. I have also been running an online figure store for the last 6 years, although I am slowly shrinking that into primarily self-produced models, and mostly just do a personal blog about my figures there as well. When I’m not taking endless photos of my figures for posts or managing my ridiculous collection database I spend time taking care of the fish tank (polypterids rule!), being with the family, and trying to get outside before the Canadian winter forces us inside.All reviews by this author
Japanese Eel (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, second release by Yujin)
5 (1 votes)
This figure is the Japanese eel (nihon unagi in Japan), Anguilla japonica, model sculpt 23 and number 8 from the second series. This is the only freshwater eel found in Japan, although it is found throughout Eastern Asia as far south as Vietnam. Like many other freshwater eels, the Japanese Eel is catadromous, spawning and hatching at sea but living much of their life in freshwater habitats and brackish estuaries.
Japanese Spined Loach (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, first and second release by Yujin)
5 (2 votes)
This figure is the Japanese Spined Loach (or Japanese striped loach), Cobitis biwae , model 22, and number 7 from the second series. This is a small, long-bodied loach endemic to Japan, there are numerous potential subspecies but no distinction was made with the model. There are actually a number of similarly-patterned loach species in many parts of Japan, but so far this is the only species specifically identified on figures.
Amur Catfish (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, second release by Yujin)
5 (2 votes)
This figure is the Amur Catfish, Silurus asotus, model 21 and number 6 from the second series. For whatever reason, there are two ‘Amur’ fish in the series, one after the other. Despite there being at least a few catfish species in Japan this is the only one in the series.
Kidako Moray Eel (World Fishing Monster Fish by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.)
5 (3 votes)
I recently discussed a pair of figures from a Takara Tomy set featuring some unique fish species that are visually or culturally striking. Species that are notable for being scary looking, notorious, and somehow engaging for fishing (I think). I tried to translate the papers and it appears to be called World Fishing Monster Fish, but I can’t be certain.
Amur Carp (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, first release by Yujin)
5 (2 votes)
This is the Common Carp, originally labeled Cyprinus carpio, model 20 and number 5 from the second series, in the first releases. However, from what I can tell…it might actually be Cyrpinus rubrofuscus, the Amur carp, which is now considered the wild form of the familiar domestic koi.
Japanese Perch (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, first release by Yujin)
5 (2 votes)
This figure is the Japanese Perch (also known as Aucha perch or Oyanirami in Japan), Coreoperca kawamebari), model 19 and number 4 from the second series, second release. This is a small-sized predatory perch that lives rivers and streams. Often in the middle parts of the water column hunting for invertebrates and anything else.
Willow Shiner (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, first AND second release by Yujin)
5 (2 votes)
This figure is the Willow Shiner (or in Japan, Honmoroko), Gnathopogon caerulescens, model 18 and number 3 in the second series. At the original time of writing, this was one of two species out of the whole series that I didn’t have. Then I was able to get both versions at once…
Note: with two versions, I am putting up photos as side-by-side ‘galleries; with release 1 (darker coloured) on the left, release 2 on the right.
Goldfish, secret version (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, second release by Yujin)
5 (3 votes)
This figure is the Common Goldfish, Carassius auratus, model number 17, from the second series. There are a couple of different ‘wild’ versions in Book 2, but for whatever reason I don’t have either one of them. Instead, this is the Secret domestic version, which is listed as number 17 in the series.
Japanese Silver Crucian Carp, secret version (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, second release by Yujin)
5 (3 votes)
This figure is a second figure of the Japanese silver crucian carp (or Langsdorf’s Goldfish, or Ginbuna in Japan), Carassius langsdorfii. As before, it is stamped number 16 but being a secret figure from the Book 2 second release series, it is number 17 in that list.
Japanese Silver Crucian Carp (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, second release by Yujin)
5 (2 votes)
Note – a lot more information has become available since I first wrote this one!
This figure is the Japanese silver crucian carp (or Langsdorf’s Goldfish, or Ginbuna in Japan), Carassius langsdorfii (according to Fishbase; earlier sources refer to it as the subspecies Carassius auratus langsdorfii ), stamped number 16 and listed as figure 1 from the Book 2 series, second.
Chum Salmon, Alevin & Egg (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, second release by Yujin)
5 (3 votes)
This figure is the Chum Salmon egg and alevin (hatchling), Oncorhynchus keta, number 19 in Book 2, but the number 15 is stamped into it—and it’s another Special Secret (I am reposting these based on the model numbers)! The difference with this one is that the numbering would appear to place it in the Series 2 set—but the papers for series 2 start at model 16 (although they restart at 1 within each Book), so it’s a little unusual for the Secret to be ‘first’ in the series.
Silver Arowana (Mini Ancient Fish Series 2 by Bandai)
4.3 (4 votes)
The silver arowana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum is a bonytongue fish found in black and whitewater habitats in many waterway basins of South America (except most of the Rio Negro). It is one of two species in the genus, both found in South America and occasionally overlapping in range. The species name comes from the two narrow barbels or cirrhi protruding from its lower jaw.
Asian Arowana, Gold Highback variety (Freshwater Fishes Book 1, second release by Yujin)
5 (3 votes)
This figure is the Se-Kin Dragon Arowana AKA Malyasian Golden Highback Arowana, Scleropages formosus, although some researchers have split up the species into four, and the Gold Malaysian variety may belong in S. aureus if the species are valid—and most researchers are not yet convinced (edit–and continue not to be). Like the Yujin chili red arowana before, the figure is number 15 from the second release, but is stamped with model number 15.
Asian Arowana, Chili Red variety (Freshwater Fishes Series 1, first release reissue by Yujin)
5 (4 votes)
This figure is the Asian Arowana (or Asian Bonytongue, or Dragonfish), Scleropages formosus, number 15 from the first series—but it’s (one of) the Special Secret(s) (edit – when I first did these walkarounds, I thought there was only one secret figure for each series…turned out there are at least three for every release).