Mathison Museum of Natural History

[BlueKrono]

Seeing it latched onto your arm there... 😱

I don't mind leeches, spiders, mites or centipedes... ticks are the only critter that give me the heebie-jeebies.

[bmathison1972]

Seeing it latched onto your arm there... 😱

I don't mind leeches, spiders, mites or centipedes... ticks are the only critter that give me the heebie-jeebies.

Especially where you live; you're in Ground Zero for lots of tickborne diseases!!!

[Gwangi]

Ticks are so bad where I live that I've thought about moving just because of them. I'm originally from NY but NY has nothing on MD when it comes to ticks. They're mostly lone star ticks.

[bmathison1972]

Ticks are so bad where I live that I've thought about moving just because of them. I'm originally from NY but NY has nothing on MD when it comes to ticks. They're mostly lone star ticks.

Lone star ticks are one of the most aggressive species. They jump from host to host with impunity. That's probably why they are efficient at transferring alpha-gal (meat allergy).

[Gwangi]

Ticks are so bad where I live that I've thought about moving just because of them. I'm originally from NY but NY has nothing on MD when it comes to ticks. They're mostly lone star ticks.

Lone star ticks are one of the most aggressive species. They jump from host to host with impunity. That's probably why they are efficient at transferring alpha-gal (meat allergy).

Aggressive is right, I've watched armies
of them marching up my legs. Luckily I can usually feel them too. I used to be rather outdoorsy but not so much anymore, I definitely don't want a meat allergy!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Platalea minor Temminck & Schlegel, 1850
Common name(s): black-faced spoonbill

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: CollectA
Series: Wildlife
Year of Production: 2010
Size/Scale: Total figure height approximately 9.5 cm. Using culmen length as a metric (n=2.4 cm) scale comes to approximately 1:7.6
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: CollectA produced two versions of this species in 2010; today's is 'standing' and the second, which was sculpted and painted in its breeding plumage, is 'walking'. I think the base used here for support is more natural than the latter's.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Korean Peninsula and coastal China (Liaoning); wintering and migration occurs throughout coastal East and Southeast Asia, from Japan to the Philippines
Habitat: Lakes, marshes, coastal mudflats
Diet: Aquatic invertebrates (shrimp), fish
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Endangered
Miscellaneous Notes: Breeding locations of P. minor are not fully understood. Known breeding sites are on uninhabited islands off the coasts of North and South Korea and Liaoning Province, China. It's believed the greatest breeding populations occur in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea where human access is restricted. During winter and migration, birds can be found from Japan (Kyushu and Ryukyu Islands) south to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and in recent years birds have been reported as far south as Macau, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Oxyuranus scutellatus (Peters, 1867)
Common name(s): coastal taipan; common taipan

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: K&M International
Series: Wild Republic - Australia's Deadliest Nature Tube
Year of Production: 2018
Size/Scale: Raw figure length 10.0 cm. Measured along midline, body length approximately 22.5 cm for a scale of 1:6.7-12.9
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique (see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: To my knowledge this is the only figure specifically marketed as a coastal taipan, although there are a few generic taipan/brown snake figures that could represent this species.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Coastal northeastern Australia and southern New Guinea
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical coastal areas, monsoon forest, dry sclerophyll forest, agricultural fields; often in animal burrows, hollow logs, and leaf litter
Diet: Small mammals and birds
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Oxyuranus scutellatus is one of the deadliest snakes in the world. According to the Australian Venom and Toxin Database, the subcutaneous LD50 value of this species is 0.106 mg/kg. The estimated lethal dose for a human is 3 mg. The venom of O. scutellatus contains primarily taicatoxin, a highly potent neurotoxin, along with taipoxin, which has an LD50 of 2 μg/kg; 124 μg of the latter can kill a healthy adult human. Early administration (within 2-6 hours) of antivenom and intubation for respiratory paralysis are necessary for patient management, although some people have hypersensitivity reactions to the antivenom. Envenomation can lead to neurotoxic symptoms, including descending flaccid paralysis, ptosis, diplopia, ophthalmoplegia, bulbar weakness, intercostal weakness, and limb weakness. Once these neurotoxic symptoms are established, they are usually irreversible.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Hyaena hyaena (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): striped hyena

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: CollectA
Series: Wildlife
Year of Production: 2012
Size/Scale: Height at shoulder approximately 6.0 cm for a scale of 1:10-1:13.3 (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: While there have been several striped hyena figures produced over the years, this is the only standard-sized version in the modern era and the first or second since the miniature by Play Visions in 1996. The scale above is calculated based on a shoulder height of 60-80 cm; however, the model is sculpted in a somewhat defensive posture that might be exaggerating its natural shoulder height.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Northern and eastern Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Middle East to the Indian subcontinent
Habitat: Arid and semi-arid mountainous scrub woodland, savanna, grassland; dens occur in rocky hills, ravines, crevices
Diet: Omnivore. Primarily a scavenger of carrion and human refuse; occasional predator of small mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects. Diet may also be supplemented with fruit.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Near Threatened
Miscellaneous Notes: Hyaena hyaena is primarily a solitary animal or lives in pairs, but will occasionally form small family groups. They do not have well-defined territories, but will mark objects like grass, rocks, and tree trunks their general area with a paste ('hyena butter') produced from their anal pouch. Territories often overlap. Fighting consists of ritualized wrestling-like matches, with each hyena attempting to grab the other around the cheek region while attempting to evade or break the other's cheek hold. The loser of the competition displays submission by anal presentation.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Odobenus rosmarus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): walrus

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Wild Safari Sealife
Year of Production: 2004
Size/Scale: Scale difficult to calculate. Body length roughly 13.0 cm for a scale of 1:16.9-1:27.7. Using tusk length as a metric (n=2.7 cm) scale comes to approximately 1:18-1:33 (probably on the lower to middle end of that scale). The figure can probably safely fit into 1:17-1:24 scale ranges.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Common
Miscellaneous Notes: Most major companies have made a walrus at least once. Other standard-sized versions by major Western companies in the modern era include Schleich (1996, 2018), Maia and Borges (1998, 2012; same sculpt as Schleich 1996), Bullyland (2000, including a calf), CollectA (2012), Papo (2017), Mojö Fun (2018), and Toymany (2024). Quantifying 'the best' is probably an exercise in futility and choosing a walrus figure probably comes down to personal aesthetic preference. Other than today's by Safari, I also like the 2018 version by Schleich.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Circumpolar
Habitat: Sandy and boulder beaches, ice sheets
Diet: Primarily marine invertebrates; also scavenger on dead seals and seabirds (see below)
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Vulnerable
Miscellaneous Notes: In recent years, there has been an increase of cases of trichinellosis in people eating undercooked walrus meat. Trichinella is an interesting parasite, in that no stages leave the host and the only way for the life cycle to continue is repeated cycles of carnivory. Walrus is unlikely to get Trichinella from consuming marine mollusks. Examination of the stomach content of some walruses shows evidence of the consumption of seal meat, probably from scavenging. Walrus probably acquires Trichinella from scavenging dead seals or possibly dead polar bears (bears are the most common source of Trichinella infection for humans in North America).

[bmathison1972]

Species: Pseudotriton ruber (Latreille, 1801)
Common name(s): red salamander

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Play Visions
Series: Salamanders
Year of Production: 1995
Size/Scale: Total body length approximately 10.3 cm for a scale of 1.1:1-1:1.7 (within scale 1:1 for a smaller specimen)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure is stamped 'northern red salamander', implying it is intended to represent the nominate subspecies, P. r. ruber. Also produced in 1995 is the Safari Ltd. Tennessee Aquarium red salamander, which is probably the most coveted figure of this species but hard to come by these days and very expensive if found. The only figure of this species that I am aware of that is still readily available is miniature version in Safari's River TOOB.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Eastern United States
Habitat: Deciduous or mixed forests, fields, and meadows alongside streams, creeks, seepages, bogs, and other damp settings
Diet: Larvae feed on aquatic invertebrates and small larvae of salamanders; adults feed on terrestrial insects, arachnids, earthworms, snails, slugs, and other small salamanders
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Larvae of P. ruber are aquatic. Adults are primarily terrestrial, but generally stay close to water sources, such as streams and creeks. Adults are nocturnal and spend the day under rocks and logs or in forest litter. Adults return to breeding sites in the fall and eggs are laid in water in the fall or early winter. The larval stage may last 1.5-3.5 years, generally with longer periods farther north where it's cooler. Metamorphosis occurs in the late spring and summer.

[bmathison1972]

Species: †Procynosuchus delaharpeae Broom, 1937

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bullyland
Series: Wolfgang Bonhage-Museum Korbach
Year of Production: 2006
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 10.0 cm for a maximum scale of 1:6
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was made exclusively for, and based on a model at, the Wolfgang Bonhage-Museum in Korbach, Germany. It is a somewhat outdated construction; the animal is now believed to be more mammal-like, possibly with fur, and semi-aquatic.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian) of present-day southern Africa and Germany
Habitat: Swamp forests and other riparian areas
Diet: Fish, aquatic invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [prehistoric]
Miscellaneous Notes: More recent reconstructions of Procynosuchus show it as being more mammal-like, akin to an otter with fur, a flexible tail, and possibly webbing between the toes. It may have had a lifestyle similar to otters as well, hunting fish and aquatic invertebrates in swamps and other freshwater habitats.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788)
Common name(s): opah; cravo; moonfish; kingfish; Jerusalem haddock

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Ikimon
Series: Nature Techni Colour - Deep Sea Creatures 2
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 5.0 cm for a scale of 1:24-1:40
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was sold as a strap figure, whereby the strap can be easily unscrewed leaving a tiny, unobtrusive hole. This figure nicely fits into three popular scales for collectors: 1:24, 1:32, and 1:40!

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide in most major seas and oceans
Habitat: Mesopelagic; at depths of 50-500 meters
Diet: Cephalopods, krill, small fish
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Lampris guttatus is the first species of fish for which whole-body endothermy has been documented. The fish can maintain an entire core body temperature above the surrounding ambient temperature by continuous movements of its pectoral fins in combination with the vasculature of its gill tissue (rete mirabile) which conserves heat through a process of countercurrent heat exchange.

[JimoAi]

Species: Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788)
Common name(s): opah; cravo; moonfish; kingfish; Jerusalem haddock

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Ikimon
Series: Nature Techni Colour - Deep Sea Creatures 2
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 5.0 cm for a scale of 1:24-1:40
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was sold as a strap figure, whereby the strap can be easily unscrewed leaving a tiny, unobtrusive hole. This figure nicely fits into three popular scales for collectors: 1:24, 1:32, and 1:40!

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide in most major seas and oceans
Habitat: Mesopelagic; at depths of 50-500 meters
Diet: Cephalopods, krill, small fish
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Lampris guttatus is the first species of fish for which whole-body endothermy has been documented. The fish can maintain an entire core body temperature above the surrounding ambient temperature by continuous movements of its pectoral fins in combination with the vasculature of its gill tissue (rete mirabile) which conserves heat through a process of countercurrent heat exchange.

I would've gotten it if it wasn't so tiny

[bmathison1972]

Species: Pandinoides cavimanus (Pocock, 1888)
Common name(s): Tanzanian red-clawed scorpion

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bandai
Series: Diversity of Life on Earth - Scorpions
Year of Production: 2022
Size/Scale: Body length (including metastoma) approximately 10.0 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the third time we've seen P. cavimanus in the Museum. This sculpt was also used for an emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator) and a large-clawed scorpion (Scorpio maurus) in the same set. The set also included two larger figures (17.0 cm) representing P. cavimanus and P. imperator. Assembly may be required (mine came assembled) and the final product is articulated.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Tanzania
Habitat: Arid Acacia-Commiphora savanna, humid rainforest; usually among leaf litter
Diet: Arthropods
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Pandinoides cavimanus is common in terraria, much like its cousin P. imperator. Unlike the emperor scorpion, which is generally a docile species, the Tanzanian red-clawed scorpion is more aggressive and more likely to sting. Luckily, like the emperor scorpion, its sting is relatively mild, and is described as being similar to a bee sting.