Mathison Museum of Natural History

[bmathison1972]

Species: Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777
Common name(s): blue angel; blue sea dragon; blue dragon

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Ikimon
Series: Nature Techni Colour - Seaside Creatures 1
Year of Production: 2018
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 5.5 cm for a scale of 1.8:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was unique for its species until earlier this year when Bullyland produced one.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Circumglobal in temperate and tropical waters of the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans
Habitat: Pelagic, usually at or near the surface of the water
Diet: Foraging predator on siphonophores (primarily Physalia, but also Velella and Porpita) and pelagic mollusks (Janthina).
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Glaucus atlanticus can deliver a painful sting! The sea slug is able to take up venomous nematocytes from siphonophores on which it feeds, including the Portuguese man o' war (Physalis physalis). The symptoms are similar to those of the man o' war, and can include nausea, pain, vomiting, acute dermatitis, vesicle formation and urticarial papules, erythema, and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Spizaetus ornatus (Daudin, 1800)
Common name(s): ornate hawk-eagle

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Colorata
Series: Endangered Species: Raptors
Year of Production: 2005
Size/Scale: Total figure height approximately 6.0 cm. Body length approximately 5.0 cm for a scale of 1:11.2-1:13.7
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: In 2022, China-based Naturalism made a nice version of this species without a base.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central and South America, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical deciduous and mixed forest, shade coffee plantations; usually in forest edges, riparian areas, and gallery strips
Diet: Primarily other birds; occasionally small to medium-sized mammals and reptiles
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Near Threatened
Miscellaneous Notes: Spizaetus ornatus is a powerful predator that hunts primarily medium to large-sized birds, including cock-of-the-rock, chachalacas, guans, curassows, tinamous, toucans, pigeons and doves, parrots, and New World quails, among many others. In some regions, mammals, particularly rodents, make up the hawk-eagle's diet.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Ranitomeya amazonica (Schulte, 1999)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bullyland
Series: Bullyland Amphibians
Year of Production: 2021
Size/Scale: Snout-to-vent length approximately 4.7 cm for a scale of 3:1-2.5:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: The only other figure of this species I am aware of was produced by Kitan Club for the Nature Techni Colour line.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Amazonian South America; disjunct populations in Peru (Loreto Region) and Colombia (Amazonas Department), possibly also in adjacent Brazil, Guyana, and French Guiana.
Habitat: Rainforest; breeding usually occurs in bromeliads
Diet: Tadpoles eat mosquito larvae and detritus; adults are predators on small insects and arachnids
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Data Deficient
Miscellaneous Notes: After mating, female R. amazonica deposits a clutch of 4-6 eggs, usually glued to the base of bromeliad leaves on the water. After tadpoles are born, the male is responsible for transporting them to individual plantlets to avoid possible cannibalism. Reproduction is asymmetric, whereby the male takes care of the young and protects its territory, while the females are free in the forest.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Carabus auratus Linnaeus, 1761
Common name(s): golden ground beetle

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Souvenirs Entomologiques
Year of Production: 2005
Size/Scale: Bottlecap base 3.3 cm in diameter. Total figure height approximately 3.5 cm. Body length approximately 2.5 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: It's been too long since I purchased this to remember if the beetle comes safely off of its snail prey and base. Bullyland had previously produced two versions of this species (one in blue and one in green) in 1994.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Western and Central Europe; naturalized in North America (New England area)
Habitat: Grasslands, fields, agricultural fields, parks and gardens; often in areas with loamy soil
Diet: Snails and slugs, earthworms, soft-bodied insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Carabus auratus was introduced to the Boston area in the United States in the 1940s for control of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar). It has continued to spread north, being documented as far north as Maine in the United States (1987) and New Brunswick in Canada (2015).

[bmathison1972]

Species: Acanthoscurria geniculata (Koch, 1841)
Common name(s): Brazilian whiteknee tarantula

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bullyland
Series: Large Insects and Spiders
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: Legspan 10.3 cm. Body length 4.3 cm for a scale of approximately 1:2 for a large specimen
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was part of an apparent resurgence by Bullyland in the late 2010s to produce high-quality invertebrate and amphibian figures. Other spiders included an updated Mexican red-kneed tarantula, Gooty sapphire ornamental tarantula, and a velvet spider.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: South America (Amazon Basin of northern Brazil)
Habitat: Tropical rainforest
Diet: Insects and arachnids
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Acanthoscurria geniculata is popular in the pet trade due to its large size, ease-of-care, and striking colors. Handlers should exercise caution, however, as the spider possesses Type I and Type III urticating hairs.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): common eggfly; great eggfly; blue moon butterfly

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Series: Yowies Adventure Series 2
Year of Production: 2002
Size/Scale: Wingspan 5.5 cm for a scale of 1:1.5-1:1.7
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Being one of the original Australian Yowies, some assembly is required. Hypolimnas bolina is sexually dimorphic and this figure was based on a male specimen. The underside of the wings is painted like the upperside (which is not correct) and like most nymphalid figures, it suffers from an extra pair of legs.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Madagascar, South and Southeast Asia, South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Japan
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical woodlands and shrubland, rainforests, tropical savanna, disturbed areas, parks and gardens
Diet: Larvae feed on a wide variety of plants, including Sida (sida), Elastostema, Portulaca (purslanes), Laportea, Triumfetta (burbark), Asystasia, Fleurya, Pseuderanthemum, Ipomoea (sweet potato), Alternanthera (joyweeds), Synedrella (nodeweed); adults take nectar from a variety of flowers.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Hypolimnas bolina is sexually dimorphic and females are mimetic with multiple color morphs. Males are jet black with two white spots on each forewing and a blue-rimmed white spot on the forewings. Females vary based on geographic distribution. In some areas, they mimic distasteful danaine butterflies in the genus Euploea; it is considered an example of Batesian mimicry.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Varanus komodoensis Ouwens, 1912
Common name(s): Komodo dragon

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Mojö Fun
Series: Wildlife
Year of Production: 2014
Size/Scale: Total figure length approximately 19.5 cm. Snout-to-vent length approximately 9.0 cm for a scale of 1:16.7
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Common
Miscellaneous Notes: I had a hard time choosing a Komodo dragon for my collection, taking into account size, sculpture, posture, and paint. For the size I wanted, I felt today's by Mojö Fun had the best sculpt and paint, but I would have preferred a less static pose. Mojö Fun reissued this model in 2020 with a new paint job, but I prefer the original shown here.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indonesia (Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Padar Islands)
Habitat: Lowland tropical savanna forest, beaches, ridge tops, dry riverbeds
Diet: Young lizards feed on invertebrates, small vertebrates, bird eggs; adults primarily feed on carrion but will hunt large prey, including deer, wild and domestic pigs, goats, water buffalo
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Endangered
Miscellaneous Notes: There has been a lot of research and discussion on how V. komodoensis brings down large prey. Historically, it was believed that bacteria in the mouth of the lizard cause sepsis in their prey. However, it is now believed that bacterial sepsis is from bacteria in the environment that enter the bite wound, especially when the wound is exposed to dirty fresh water. In 2009 it was found that V. komodoensis has glands in the lower jaw that contain toxic proteins. The role these toxins play in nature is not fully understood, but experimental data suggest the toxins can lead to blood clotting, lowering of blood pressure, muscle paralysis, induction of hypothermia, and eventually shock and loss of consciousness in would-be prey.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Scolopendra sp.
Common name(s): giant centipede

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: 4D Master
Series: Bug & Creature World
Year of Production: 2004
Size/Scale: Body length (excluding appendages) approximately 19.0 cm, within scale 1:1 for some species
Frequency of genus in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: Being a 'puzzle figure' substantial assembly is required. This particular model comes in 17 pieces and according to the accompanying paperwork, one is considered a beginner if it can be assembled in 12 minutes, average if it can be assembled in 8 minutes, and advanced if it can be assembled in 4 minutes.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions
Habitat: Highly varied, including rainforests, subtropical forests, thornscrub, savanna, deserts
Diet: Insects and other invertebrates; occasionally small reptiles, amphibians, and mammals
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [species dependent, but most if not all probably Not Evaluated]
Miscellaneous Notes: Like other centipedes, members of the genus Scolopendra are venomous. The venom contains serotonin, hemolytic phospholipase, cardiotoxic proteins, and cytolysin. While human deaths from centipede bites are rare, they have occured with S. subspinipes and S. gigantea.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards in Catesby, 1771)
Common name(s): great barracuda

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Toy Fish Factory
Series: Gulf Coast Collection
Year of Production: 2019
Size/Scale: Body length 7.5 cm for a scale of 1:8-1:26.7
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: When I first acquired the Gulf Coast Collection, I didn't retain this figure, instead favoring the barracuda made by Kaiyodo for the Kurosio Komekko series. However, I ended up keeping this TFF model after all. For one reason, it is nice to have a complete Gulf Coast Collection and secondly, it really is a very nice rendition of the species! Also, the TFF figure is solid-piece and without a base, so there is little chance of breakage or pieces getting lost.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Nearly worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and temperate coastal waters
Habitat: Usually along the margins of coral reefs, at depths of 1-100 meters
Diet: Other fish
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Sphyraena barracuda is a popular game fish; however, there is a risk of Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) from eating its flesh. CFP is caused by the toxins ciguatoxin and maitotoxin. The barracuda acquires the toxin from eating herbivore fish, which have acquired the toxin from eating the phytoplankton Gambierdiscus toxicus. Symptoms of CFP include diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, numbness, itchiness, sensitivity to hot and cold, dizziness, weakness, and in some cases a slowed heart rate and low blood pressure. There is no specific treatment for CPF and some symptoms can persist for weeks or months to even years, sometimes resulting in long-term disability. Death is rare and most patients recover over time.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Pan paniscus Schwarz, 1929
Common name(s): bonobo; pygmy chimpanzee

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Primates TOOB
Year of Production: 2019
Size/Scale: Scale difficult to calculate but head-and-body length approximately 3.7 cm for a scale of 1:19-1:22
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: I was hesitant to retain this figure as I would prefer a standard-sized version. If a major company ever produced a bonobo, I am likely to replace this one with it (although it is in the popular 1:20 scale range).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo Basin south of the Congo River)
Habitat: Tropical rainforest, forested swamps, agricultural fields
Diet: Primarily fruit, but also nuts, stems, shoots, pith, leaves, roots, tubers, flowers, mushrooms; rarely invertebrates or meat
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Endangered
Miscellaneous Notes: Pan paniscus and the common chimpanzee (P. troglodytes) are the closest living relatives to modern humans. Different studies estimate the Pan-Homo divergence to be at different times. Molecular studies in 2006 suggest the divergence occurred approximately 6.3 million years ago (MYA) with continued interbreeding until about 4 MYA. Molecular studies in 2005 suggest the split between P. paniscus and P. bonobo occurred approximately 0.86-0.89 MYA, possibly due to the spread of savannas at the time; the two species are currently separated by the Congo River. In 2017, morphologic analysis focusing on the musculoskeletal structure suggest the Pan-Homo divergence was around 8 MYA and the split between P. paniscus and P. bonobo occurred about 2 MYA.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Geothelphusa dehaani (White, 1847)
Common name(s): Japanese freshwater crab

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Epoch
Series: Earth Life Journey Crabs and Shrimp
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Base 5.5 cm across its widest points. Carapace width approximately 2.5 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: There have been multiple releases (at least three, possibly four) of Epoch's Earth Life Journey Crabs and Shrimp collections, each with a slightly different species composition and often consisting of re-releases with different paint jobs. A set typically has 6 or 7 figures in it. In all there are 10 species (9 crustaceans and 1 xiphosuran). I have collected mine individually over the years so I am not entirely sure which of mine came from which release. Today's G. dehanni comes in three pieces; the crab comes in two pieces plus a base. The crab sits loosely on its habitat-style base so there is no peg or other form of secure attachement. This crab also comes in at least one other color (blue).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Japan
Habitat: Montane forests, usually in riparian areas including clear streams and surrounding terrestrial habitats (under rocks and logs, in forest litter, etc.)
Diet: General omnivore; primarily terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and carrion, but occasionally plant material and detritus. Cannibalism not uncommon.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Geothelphusa dehaani is eaten in Japan and exported to other countries for human consumption. Eating raw or undercooked G. dehanni is an important risk factor for infection with lung flukes in the genus Paragonimus.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Libinia mexicana Rathbun, 1892
Common name(s): Mexican spider crab; cangrejo araña de Mexicana

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Play Visions
Series: Habitat Earth - Crabs
Year of Production: 1996
Size/Scale: Legspan 7.0 cm. Carapace length approximately 1.5 cm for a scale of 1:3.3-1:4.3
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure is stamped only 'spider crab' and the species identification is my own, based on that all of the figures in the set (except one) represent species endemic to southern California and northern Mexico (including the Sea of Cortés). The legs are a bit long for L. mexicana, but the shape of the carapace and color are good for this species.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Pacific Coast of Mexico, from the Sea of Cortés south to San Ignacio Bay, Sinaloa.
Habitat: Rocky intertidal and shallow subtidal environments, tidal pools
Diet: Algae, detritus, marine invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: I had difficulty easily accessing information on this species and some of the information above is inferred from other members of the genus Libinia.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Lusepiola birostrata (Sasaki, 1918)
Common name(s): butterfly bobtail squid

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Capsule Q Museum - Squid Strap Collection 1
Year of Production: 2013
Size/Scale: Total figure length approximately 5.5 cm. Mantle length approximately 2.5 cm for a scale of 1.1:1 (slightly larger than 1:1)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was marketed as Sepiola birostrata before the description of Lusepiola in 2020 (see below). Figures in this set were sold as 'straps' but the strap can be easily removed leaving an imperceivable hole.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: West Pacific
Habitat: Benthic, at depths of 100-200 meters
Diet: Primarily small crustaceans, occasionally other benthic invertebrates and small fish
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Data Deficient
Miscellaneous Notes: In 2020, Sepiola was split into four genera based on morphologic features of their sexual structures. Lusepiola, Eumandyap, and Boletzkyola all possess a closed bursa copularix, a clear indication of their affinity. Lusepiola differs from the other three genera in the structure of its hectocotylus copulatory apparatus. It differs from Sepiola proper primarily because of the different type of bursa copulatrix. These morphologic findings were later supported by independent molecular analyses.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Anarhichas orientalis Pallas, 1814
Common name(s): Bering wolffish

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Sendai Aquarium Collection
Year of Production: 2017 (see below)
Size/Scale: Base 4.1 cm wide. Body length impossible to measure but using head length as a metric (n=1.5 cm), scale comes to approximately 1:15 (see below).
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: I believe this figure came out in 2017 and then was re-released in 2019 with an updated base that includes the Latin and Japanese names. The 2019 re-release was part of a set that originally came out in 2015 (that didn't contain this wolffish, however). Previously in 2004, Kaiyodo produced this species for an Enoshima Aquarium collection; that figure also has partial fish coming out of the nest but includes both sexes (see below). The scale above is calculated based on the head of the fish being on average 20% of the total body length (n=112 cm).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: North Pacific, from Japan (Hokkaido) to the Bering Sea and Arctic Canada
Habitat: Demersal, on rocky, gravel, and sandy substrates at depths of 0-100 meters (usually 10-70 meters)
Diet: Crustaceans and shelled mollusks
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Anarhichas orientalis has an atypical life cycle for a fish. During the spawning season, the wolffish forms bonded pairs and sometimes even mates for life. Unlike many species of fish, in which the females release unfertilized eggs into the water, the wolffish fertilizes the eggs internally. Eggs are very large in relation to the fish themselves. Both sexes play a pivotal role in raising the young, but the male has the main task of protecting the larvae in the nest for the next few months before they become independent. Independent larvae remain in the pelagic zone until they mature further.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Cebus imitator (Thomas, 1903)
Common name(s): Panamanian white-faced capuchin; Central American white-faced capuchin

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: National Entertainment Collectibles Association
Series: Ace Ventura 8" Pet Detective
Year of Production: 2019
Size/Scale: Body length (excluding tail) approximately 5.5 cm for a scale of 1:6-1:8.2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare (see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was sold as an accessory to an Ace Ventura action figure. It could represent either C. imitator or the Colombian white-faced capuchin (C. capucinus) (see below); I chose mine to represent the former since it's the more familiar and better studied of the two species. The base of the tail is articulated. The frequency of this species as a toy/figure depends on which species one assigns to white-faced capuchin figures.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central America, from Honduras to central Panama
Habitat: Primary or advanced secondary tropical evergreen and dry deciduous forest, montane forest, mangroves
Diet: General omnivore, including fruits, nuts, invertebrates, rodents, reptiles, small birds
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Vulnerable
Miscellaneous Notes: For a long time, C. imitator was considered to be a subspecies of C. capucinus. A 2012 phylogenetic analysis looking at mitochondrial DNA suggested that diversification of Cebus occured approximately 2 MYA across the Andes and Amazon. The various species from various regions include: Amazon (C. yuracus, C. unicolor, C. kaapori), Guiana Shield (C. albifrons, C. olivaceus, C. castaneus), Northern Andes (C. versicolor, C. cesarae), coastal Venezuela (C. brunneus), Lake Maracaibo (C. adustus), southern Panama to Ecuador and Colombia (C. capucinus), and Central America (C. imitator). Some taxa from the southwestern Amazon (C. yuracus, C. cuscinus, C. unicolor) remain poorly defined and their status is currently unresolved.

[bmathison1972]

Species: †Siderops kehli Warren & Hutchinson, 1983

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Series: Yowies Lost Kingdoms Series A
Year of Production: 2000
Size/Scale: Figure length 7.3 cm. Using width of head as a metric (n=2 cm), scale comes to approximately 1:32.5
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Being one of the original Australian Yowies, some assembly is required.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Early Jurassic (Toarcian) of present-day Australia
Habitat: Freshwater lakes
Diet: Presumably predaceous on other animals, such as fish and other amphibians
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [prehistoric]
Miscellaneous Notes: Siderops kehli is believed to have had a similar lifestyle to crocodiles today, being an ambush predator of vertebrate animals in and along the margins of freshwater lakes and ponds.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Mictyris brevidactylus Stimpson, 1858
Common name(s): long-armed soldier crab

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Epoch
Series: Earth Life Journey Crabs and Shrimp
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Base 6.8 cm wide. Carapace length approximately 2.0 cm for a scale of 1.5:1-1.1:1 (slightly over 1:1 for a maximum-sized specimen)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: There have been multiple releases (at least three, possibly four) of Epoch's Earth Life Journey Crabs and Shrimp collections, each with a slightly different species composition and often consisting of re-releases with different paint jobs. A set typically has 6 or 7 figures in it. In all there are 10 species (9 crustaceans and 1 xiphosuran). I have collected mine individually over the years so I am not entirely sure which of mine came from which release. Today's crab doesn't require assembly, but its base comes in two pieces. This species has also been produced by Wing Mau and Kaiyodo.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: West Pacific (Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia)
Habitat: Estuaries and tidal mud flats, usually in areas devoid of vegetation
Diet: Detritus, diatoms, mollusk eggs, small invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Mictyris brevidactylus typically live at or below the point of low tide. When the tide is high and submerged, the crabs dig into the sand in a corkscrew-like fashion, forming an air pocket. The depth of the pocket is based on how far into the substrate the water goes. When the tide is low enough the surface of the sand is exposed, the crabs come to the surface, or just below the surface, to feed. Those that feed below the surface do so in specialized 'tunnels', which are essentially chambers with a vaulted roof just below the surface of the sand. Crabs only form this kind of feeding structure when the water table is well below the surface of the sand at low tide. Those crabs that come to the surface to feed usually do so in large droves.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Vespa mandarinia Smith, 1852
Common name(s): Asian giant hornet

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Subarudo
Series: Insect Forest Hornet Attack
Year of Production: 2007
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 7.7 cm for an average scale of 2:1 for a worker wasp
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the fourth time we have seen V. mandarinia in the Museum. Assembly is required (as indicated by the fact one of the legs is missing on mine). This sculpt may have also been used by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. as it was produced in era when they were collaborating.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: East and Southeast Asia, Japan; recently introduced to the Pacific Northwest of North America, but it is unknown if populations are established (see below)
Habitat: Forests, woodlands
Diet: Larvae are feed insects provided by adults; adults are predaceous on insects, but will also eat tree sap, overripe fruit, and Vespa amino acid mixture produced by the larvae.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The first confirmed reports of V. mandarinia in North America were in August 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and neighboring Blaine, Washington, USA (yes, really, I share a namesake with that town). Wasps and nests continued to be found in the general area through September 2021. Mitochondrial DNA studies showed that the populations in Canada and Washington were from different maternal populations, with the Canadian populations probably having originated from Japan and the Washington populations from the Korean Peninsula. This suggested two separate introductions with establishment within 100 km of one another in a span of a few months! In June 2021, a wasp discovered in Marysville, Washington was shown to have morphologic and genetic differences from the previous two populations suggesting a third potential introduction (although it is possible this single wasp was a hitchhiker and may not have come from an established population). As of December 2022, there have been no confirmed sightings in the Pacific Northwest and it is believed eradication efforts were successful.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Hexarthrius mandibularis Deyrolle, 1881

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bandai
Series: Diversity of Life on Earth - Stag Beetles Vol. 2
Year of Production: 2021
Size/Scale: Body length (including mandibles) approximately 13.5 cm for a scale of 1.2:1 (slightly larger than 1:1 for a maximum-sized specimen). Wingspan, as displayed here, approximately 18.0 cm
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen H. mandibularis in the Museum. This figure is large, requires assembly, is articulated, and may be expensive. It is a model for serious collectors and not a toy to be played with. The beetle can be displayed on a base (not shown here) as if in mid-flight. It can also be displayed in a neutral position by removing the hind wings.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indonesia
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Larvae feed on rotting hardwoods; adults are attracted to tree sap.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A
Miscellaneous Notes: The natural life cycle of H. mandibularis is unknown. In captivity, development takes 9-12 months, with most of that time spent as a larva.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Opheodrys vernalis (Harlan, 1827)
Common name(s): smooth green snake

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Wing Mau
Series: Snakes
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 26.0 cm for a scale of 1:1.4-1:2.5
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (possibly unique as a sculpt)
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was also used by Club Earth for their Snakes to Go collection. The bottom is stamped 'western smooth green snake' implying it is meant to represent the subspecies O. v. blanchardi.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Somewhat patchy distribution in southern Canada and northeastern and north-central United States
Habitat: Marshes, meadows, pastures, open woodlands; often in open areas and near bodies of water including lakes and streams
Diet: Primarily insects and spiders, but occasionally also worms, slugs, and small amphibians
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Despite being classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, O. vernalis is suffering from population decline. Several factors are responsible for this, including poaching for the pet trade, pesticide use, hunting by feral and outdoor cats, and habitat destruction. Populations of the snake are usually isolated and small in range, so habitat destruction, such as logging, road building, cattle grazing, off-road vehicle activity, and the draining of wetlands, can be particularly harmful.