Mathison Museum of Natural History

[bmathison1972]

Species: Cyclommatus alagari De Lisle, 1968

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bandai
Series/Collection: Diversity of Life on Earth - Stag Beetles Vol. 8
Year of Production: 2024
Size/Scale: Body length (incl. mandibles) approx. 10.0 cm for a scale of 1.8:1-1.5:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the fourth species of Cyclommatus we've seen in the Museum. Assembly is required but the final product is not articulated. I had difficulty finding metrics to calculate the scale. The scale above is calculated based on a range of 5.5-6.5 cm which is based on specimens available for sale online.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Philippines (Palawan Island)
Habitat: Lowland and montane tropical and subtropical rainforest
Diet: Larvae feed in decaying logs; adults feed on tree sap, flowers, and overripe fruit
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: I had difficulty finding information on the biology of this species and some of the information above is based on related species.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
Originally restricted to a region of the southern Rocky Mountains, it now occurs throughout North America and in much of Europe where it has become a devastating pest of potatoes.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say, 1824)
Common name(s): Colorado potato beetle; ten-lined potato beetle

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Wing Mau
Series/Collection: Insects
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (excl. appendages) approx. 4.0 cm for a scale of 7.3:1-3.6:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: The Wing Mau Insects collection consists of 24 figures representing 23 species of beetles (there are two color variants of Adalia bipunctata). The figures have the Latin name printed on the underside. The figures seem to have been influenced by an Italian poster, Beetles, from 1992, as all the species are represented in that poster (including both variants of Adalia bipunctata) and have the same Latin names assigned to them (this poster hangs in my home office; I've had it since 1995). Some figures in this set were also produced for Play Visions for their Habitat Earth line. Most of the species in this Wing Mau collection are unique, at least as sculpts. Wing Mau produced a smaller set of North American beetles that also included L. decimlineata (a set that continues to elude me).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Native to the southern Rocky Mountains of western North America; now occurs throughout North America, Eurasia, and parts of North Africa
Habitat: Open woodlands, grasslands, agricultural lands, gardens
Diet: Larvae and adults feed on plants in the genus Solanum and other members of the Solanaceae (nightshades). Original hosts included S. rostratum and S. augustifolium (buffalo bur), but the beetle rapidly adapted to S. tuberosum (domestic potato), S. melongena (eggplant), S. lycopersicum (tomato), Capsicum (peppers), and many wild solanaceous plants.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Leptinotarsa decemlineata was first discovered by American naturalist Thomas Say in the early 1800s from a region of the southern Rocky Mountains. In 1859 it was discovered in cultivated potato crops in Omaha, Nebraska. By 1874 it had reached the Atlantic Coast. In 1871, Europe was warned about its potential for infestation and by 1875 several European countries were banning imports of potatoes from the United States. In 1877, the beetle reached the United Kingdom but never became established. There have been over 160 introductions to the UK, but eradication efforts to-date have been successful. The beetle reached mainland Europe around 1921 and by the 1960s had reached nearly all of continental Europe exclusive of Scandinavia. Today is occurs across Russia to the Kamchatka Peninsula and parts of northern Africa. It still is not established in the UK and Ireland.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
Developed in Kentucky from stock originally from England, this is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, American breed of its kind!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Sus scrofa domesticus Erxleben, 1777
Common name(s): Hampshire pig; Thin Rind; Mark of the Meat Hog

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series/Collection: Safari Farm
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: Height at shoulder approx. 5.0 cm for a scale of 1:14.2-1:16.2
Frequency of breed in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is Safari Ltd.'s second iteration of this breed, following a boar, sow, and piglet that ran from 1992-1998.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Breed originated in Kentucky (USA) and is new bred nearly worldwide
Habitat: Farmland
Diet: Non-discriminant omnivore
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Domesticated
Miscellaneous Notes: The Hampshire originated in Kentucky, USA from stock originally from the Hampshire region of England via Massachusetts. They are popular for being of good nature, lean, durable, rapid growing, and profitable. Sows are known for their excellent mothering skills. Today the Hampshire is bred in nearly 60 countries on every continent except Antarctica.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
With a toe claw of nearly 24 cm, this was the largest known member of its group of prehistoric predators!

[Gwangi]

I can't like the post! I still need the Hampshire pig.

Next one will be Safari's Utahraptor.

[bmathison1972]

I can't like the post! I still need the Hampshire pig.

Next one will be Safari's Utahraptor.

@AnimalToyForum disabled 'likes' for a bit. Bots were using them and it was slowing down the forum.

Funny, you need the Hampshire and I need the Berkshire (which is harder to find).

[Shane]

Berkshire didn't last very long before being retired. I'm not sure exactly why but the usual reason is sales, obviously. I guess there was only room for one two-toned pig.

[Gwangi]

I can't like the post! I still need the Hampshire pig.

Next one will be Safari's Utahraptor.

@AnimalToyForum disabled 'likes' for a bit. Bots were using them and it was slowing down the forum.

Funny, you need the Hampshire and I need the Berkshire (which is harder to find).

I saw that on the other forum.

I think I got the Berkshire right around the time it was being retired and I have a fondness for the breed so I made a priority of getting it. It was the first pig in my collection. I'll get the Hampshire too, eventually.

[Zhuchengotyrant]

As a newer member on the ATF (at least in terms of actually commenting/posting), I just spent the last week or so going through this thread from the beginning and wow- simply amazing! I've learned of so many figures and animals just through these daily posts.

Just wanted to say, great work! I absolutely love it.

Also, I agree with Gwangi that this is definitely gonna be a Safari Utahraptor

[bmathison1972]

As a newer member on the ATF (at least in terms of actually commenting/posting), I just spent the last week or so going through this thread from the beginning and wow- simply amazing! I've learned of so many figures and animals just through these daily posts.

Just wanted to say, great work! I absolutely love it.

Also, I agree with Gwangi that this is definitely gonna be a Safari Utahraptor

Thank you for the kind words. Glad you have enjoyed it. I like to do it because it give me an opportunity to really appreciate a figure and also learn something about the animal itself!

[bmathison1972]

Correct, of course, @Gwangi and @Zhuchengotyrant for guessing today's critter correctly!


Species: †Utahraptor ostrommaysi Kirkland et al., 1993

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series/Collection: Wild Safari Prehistoric World
Year of Production: 2023
Size/Scale: Body length approx. 24.5 cm for a scale of 1:20-1:23
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is Safari Ltd.'s second standard-sized version of this species, following a featherless version that ran from 1997-2008 and a corresponding juvenile that ran from 1998-2009.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Early Cretaceous (Berriasian-Valanginian) of present-day western North America
Habitat: Open conifer and fern woodlands, riverine forests, seasonal floodplains
Diet: Apex predator of other animals, including iguanodonts and therizinosaurs
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [prehistoric]
Miscellaneous Notes: Because of its large size, it was believed Utahraptor may have been an ambush predator, and could have hunted larger prey than other dromaeosaurids. Utahraptor was heavily built, had thick tibiae, and a boxy head with a strong lower jaw. Being able to maintain balance easier than smaller and lighter dromaeosaurids like Velociraptor, which likely used their jaws and hands for holding prey rather than killing, Utahraptor may have used its mouth and hands more frequently for killing.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
The Shadow of Death, it likely hunted ornithopods and ankylosaurids in Maastrichtian Argentina.

[PrimevalRaptor]

Safaris dromaeosaurs still continue to be the best ones on the market imo

Also next one should be Maip, I guess the CollectA one unless there's been another one out that I don't know about

[bmathison1972]

Safaris dromaeosaurs still continue to be the best ones on the market imo

Also next one should be Maip, I guess the CollectA one unless there's been another one out that I don't know about

All of Safari's theropods are my favorite! I just like the aesthetics of them 

[sbell]

Safaris dromaeosaurs still continue to be the best ones on the market imo

Also next one should be Maip, I guess the CollectA one unless there's been another one out that I don't know about

There is, from Kaiyodo! It's smaller though, not aure which he'd have.

[Zhuchengotyrant]

Safaris dromaeosaurs still continue to be the best ones on the market imo

Also next one should be Maip, I guess the CollectA one unless there's been another one out that I don't know about

All of Safari's theropods are my favorite! I just like the aesthetics of them 

Agreed! I just love the aesthetics in general of Safari animals, dinosaurs or otherwise. They have a certain charm while maintaining accuracy, even if they aren't always the most "life-like."

[bmathison1972]

Correct @PrimevalRaptor and @sbell

Species: †Maip macrothorax Rolando et al., 2022

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: CollectA
Series/Collection: Prehistoric World - Deluxe
Year of Production: 2025
Size/Scale: Body length approx. 28.0 cm for a scale of 1:32-1:35 (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Only formally described in 2022, this is the second figure of this species I am aware of. The first was a miniature by Kaiyodo in 2023 for their annual Dino Expo series. The scale above is calculated based on a predicted body length of the actual animal of 9-10 meters. Unfortunately, the remains of Maip available are those that cannot be easily equated to in a fleshed out figure. The lower jaw is articulated.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of present-day South America
Habitat: Undescribed; possibly lowland riparian areas and open or mosaic woodlands
Diet: Apex predator of other animals, including ornithopods, ankylosaurids, and possibly sauropods
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [prehistoric]
Miscellaneous Notes: With an estimated body length of 9-10 meters, M. macrothorax may be the largest described megaraptorid in the world!



Clue for tomorrow's species:
In this Indonesian beetle, males of at least one subspecies have mandibles longer than the rest of its body!

[bmathison1972]

Mathison Museum of Natural History Week in Review (August 25-31, 2025):

1. Kaiyodo Dorcus hopei binodulosus (adult and larva)
2. Tarlin Adanson's house jumper, Hasarius adansoni (set of four)
3. Bandai Cyclommatus alagari
4. Wing Mau Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata
5. Safari Ltd. Hampshire pig, Sus scrofa domesticus
6. Safari Ltd. Utahraptor ostrommaysi
7. CollectA Maip macrothorax