Katipo (Science and Nature - New Zealand Wildlife Collection)

[bmathison1972]

Walk-around of the katipo, Latrodectus katipo Powell, 1871 by Science and Nature's New Zealand Wildlife Collection. This figure was released in 2016 but was not available outside of New Zealand until mid-late 2017 or so. I bought mine from MiniZoo in Australia. The katipo is a venomous spider, like other widows in the genus Latrodectus, and is endemic to coastal areas of New Zealand where it is believed to be in serious decline. There are five species in the genus Latrodectus available in toy/figure form, but this figure is only the second version of the katipo; the first is a Cadbury Yowie which I can imagine must be difficult to find easily these days.

There are two forms of the katipo, red and black. The former is what was produced by S&N; the black form has an entirely black dorsum on the abdomen. The figure has an abdomen with a diameter of 20 mm, making it 2.5:1 for a mature female. It is important to point out, this figure is an exact copy of their redback spider (L. hasseltii) from a few years prior, even to the extent that they left 'redback spider' printed on the bottom of the katipo figure (see last image!!!!). I do not mind when a company re-purposes a figure for a new species, but at least print the correct/current species on the underside! The katipo figure however is made of a more sturdier plastic, as the legs are firmer (the redback had somewhat soft legs).

On to the pics:











Comparisons with their redback spider:

[sbell]

Cool figure...though it is funny that they couldn't be bothered to at least remove the name from the original figure, if not remould that part.

As for the Yowies Katipo, it is the al-black version:



No red there...and it isn't much to put together either. Given how they often made very colourful figures, this one is almost disappointing in it's monochromatic form!

[bmathison1972]

Cool figure...though it is funny that they couldn't be bothered to at least remove the name from the original figure, if not remould that part.

As for the Yowies Katipo, it is the al-black version:



No red there...and it isn't much to put together either. Given how they often made very colourful figures, this one is almost disappointing in it's monochromatic form!

I was going to mention the Yowie one is probably the all-black version, BUT my Yowie figure actually has a small patch of red on the very rear dorsal side (just above where the spinnerets would be).