Mathison Museum of Natural History

[BlueKrono]

I gotta get my dopamine fix from somewhere. Don't judge.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Dynastes hercules (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): Hercules beetle

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Subarudo
Series/Collection: Forest Insects EX
Year of Production: 2006
Size/Scale: Body length (incl. pronotal horn) approx. 17.0 cm for a scale of 1:1 for a large major male
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is our fifteenth time seeing D. hercules in the Museum. This was the chase/secret figure in a set of five. The four main figures in the set were Allotopus moellenkampi, Lucanus maculifemoratus, Prosopocoilus inclinatus, and Dynastes neptunus. Each of these four had a piece of the D. hercules, so one must collect all four of them in order to assemble the final product. It has been a while, but if I remember correctly the four components were: 1) head+prothorax, 2) bottom portion of main body, 3) upper portion of main body (elytra), 4) legs. I was luckily to buy mine as a complete set (but I still had to assemble the D. hercules).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central and South America, Caribbean
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Larvae feed in rotting wood; adults feed on fresh and overripe fruit
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: With a maximum length of approximately 18.8 cm (including the pronotal horn), D. hercules is the longest extant beetle!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Papilio blumei de Boisduval, 1836
Common name(s): green swallowtail; green peacock

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series/Collection: Authentics Butterflies
Year of Production: 1997
Size/Scale: Wingspan approx. 6.2 cm for a scale of 1:1.9-1:2.3
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen P. blumei in the Museum. For a time, Papilio blumei was a go-to for Safari Ltd., having also been made for their Butterflies of the World Collectors Case (2001), Hidden Kingdom (2005), and Butterflies TOOB (2011) collections. Today's figure was only marketed as a swallowtail, but given the history of this species with Safari Ltd., an identification of P. blumei makes sense. The sculpt was also used for a tailed jay (Graphium agememnon) in the set.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Sulawesi
Habitat: Forest margins, riparian areas, suburban gardens
Diet: Larvae feed on Tetradium celebicum; adults feed on nectar from flowers
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Like most swallowtails, adults of P. blumei take nectar from flowers. Preferred flowers of the green swallowtail include those in the genera Nauclea and Eugenia.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): migratory locust

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Furuta
Series: Chocoegg 10 Year Anniversary Collection
Year of Production: unknown (2000; see below)
Size/Scale: Body length (incl. wings) approx. 5.5 cm, within scale 1:1 for a large specimen or a full range of 1.5:1-1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the sixth time we've seen L. migratoria in the Museum. Today's figure was a special 10-year anniversary reissue. I am not sure if the 10 year anniversary refers to the first Chocoegg set in 1999, or the fourth set that contained the original L. migratoria in 2000, or even the fifth and last original Chocoegg set in 2001. Either way, this figure probably came out around 2009-2011.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Much of the Old World, including much of Africa (outside of the Sahara Desert), Europe, Asia (incl. Japan), northern Australia, New Zealand
Habitat: Highly variable, including lowland forests, river deltas, grasslands, deserts, disturbed areas, and agricultural fields; usually in open areas
Diet: Grasses
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Locusta migratoria is polyphenic and transitions between a solitary form, which is brown with varying extent of green, and a gregarious form, which is brown and yellow. Phase transition is believed to be linked to DNA methylation in the brain.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): migratory locust

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Funrise Toys
Series: World of Insect Nature Collection
Year of Production: 1989
Size/Scale: Body length (incl. wings) approx. 5.0 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the seventh time we've seen L. migratoria in the Museum, and the second in two days! The same species two days in a row? That's the beauty of randomness, it can happen! For all intents and purposes, this is a 'generic green grasshopper' (GGG), like any other seen in any bin, bag, dollar store, or dime store set (although I have never seen this exact sculpt duplicated). But, Funrise was often fairly specific on what their toys represented and this figure was marketed specifically as a migratory locust!

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Much of the Old World, including much of Africa (outside of the Sahara Desert), Europe, Asia (incl. Japan), northern Australia, New Zealand
Habitat: Highly variable, including lowland forests, river deltas, grasslands, deserts, disturbed areas, and agricultural fields; usually in open areas
Diet: Grasses
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Locusta migratoria is known for its periodic plague-like swarms. The most recent documented was in Madagascar in 2013. In late 2012, the island was seeing an upsurge in the population of its native locust population (L. m. capito) and the government issued an alert. In February 2013, Cyclone Haruna struck the island, creating optimal conditions for the locust. By late March, approximately 50% of the island was infested with locust swarms, with each swarm estimated as having more than one billion insects.

[bmathison1972]

There has been something I have been thinking of doing for sometime and I might just decide to give it a try. At the end of each daily post (after the image), I will post a clue as to what the next species will be. Could be fun for those that want to guess. I probably won't do this everyday, as for some things (esp. esoteric insects) might be hard to come up with something LOL.

Anyway, here is a clue for tomorrow:

This critter lacks a stomach, but it fills the stomach of many diners, especially in Asia!

[stargatedalek]

A hagfish or lamprey?

[sbell]

A hagfish or lamprey?

Welp, there's only one of either of those remotely possible.

Unless you're me...

[bmathison1972]

Excited to try out one of my new diorama backdrops today!


Species: Cololabis saira (Brevoort, 1856)
Common name(s): Pacific saury; mackerel pike

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Colorata
Series/Collection: Salt Water Fish
Year of Production: 2015 (2008)
Size/Scale: Body length approx. 5.8 cm for a scale of 1:4.3-1:6.9
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare   
Miscellaneous Notes: My figure is a 2015 reissue of one that originally came out in 2008. It may have been reissued at least once more. The only real difference between the 2008 and 2015 versions is the base, from which the fish is removable.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: North Pacific
Habitat: Pelagic; at depths of 0-230 meters
Diet: Zooplankton (microcrustaceans, fish eggs)
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Cololabis saira lacks a stomach! It's alimentary canal is essentially a single, straight, short intestine.



Clue for tomorrow's figure:

When damaged, instead of regrowing damaged or lost parts, this critter restructures itself by rearranging existing parts in order to maintain symmetry and regain function.

[sbell]

It's worth noting that in the previous releases the bases were rectangular in shape, as opposed to the teardrop shape of yours.

That's an interesting background, where did you get it?

[bmathison1972]

It's worth noting that in the previous releases the bases were rectangular in shape, as opposed to the teardrop shape of yours.

That's an interesting background, where did you get it?

Sean; it's a vinyl aquarium backdrop by AWERT. Bought it on Amazon. They have backdrops for aquaria and terraria. Each style can be bought in different sizes for different sized aquariums (or figures LOL). I also got a couple jungle backgrounds and a large desert one for my large sauropods.

[sbell]

It's worth noting that in the previous releases the bases were rectangular in shape, as opposed to the teardrop shape of yours.

That's an interesting background, where did you get it?

Sean; it's a vinyl aquarium backdrop by AWERT. Bought it on Amazon. They have backdrops for aquaria and terraria. Each style can be bought in different sizes for different sized aquariums (or figures LOL). I also got a couple jungle backgrounds and a large desert one for my large sauropods.

Okay, I've seen ones like that, wasn't sure how well they'd work

[bmathison1972]

It's worth noting that in the previous releases the bases were rectangular in shape, as opposed to the teardrop shape of yours.

That's an interesting background, where did you get it?

Sean; it's a vinyl aquarium backdrop by AWERT. Bought it on Amazon. They have backdrops for aquaria and terraria. Each style can be bought in different sizes for different sized aquariums (or figures LOL). I also got a couple jungle backgrounds and a large desert one for my large sauropods.

Okay, I've seen ones like that, wasn't sure how well they'd work

It's nice, because they are vinyl, they can easily and smoothly bend so the figure can sit on the bottom part (like I did here). This is the first one I have used so far.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Firstly, I love the clue idea! I enjoy brain teasers (even if I'd never get it right like for today's figure). And secondly, great background! I have been looking into these too for my own photos.

[sbell]

Firstly, I love the clue idea! I enjoy brain teasers (even if I'd never get it right like for today's figure). And secondly, great background! I have been looking into these too for my own photos.

I have a few leftover pieces from aquarium and terrarium backgrounds, but they're usually a stiffer plastic that don't bend nicely. Good enough for suspension in front, but harder to use for groundwork

[bmathison1972]

Species: Chrysaora pacifica (Goette, 1886)
Common name(s): Japanese sea nettle

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Ikimon
Series/Collection: Nature Techni Colour - Jellyfish Collection
Year of Production: 2015 (2010)
Size/Scale: Bell 3.2 cm across for a scale of 1:4.7-1:6.6
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare (see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: Figures in this set have been released three times. The first time was in 2010 by Kitan Club. In this first set, the strap could be easily unscrewed from the animal, leaving a tiny, non-obtrusive hole. In 2013, the set was re-released as 'soft strap luminous' as glow-in-the-dark figures. In 2015, after Ikimon bought the rights to the NTC line, the set was released for a third time, but this time the straps were metal keychains that attached through a rubbery loop on the bell of the animal, as shown here today. According to the Nature Techni Colour website, the original 2010 Kitan Club version of this figure and the 2013 glow-in-the-dark version were marketed as the northern sea nettle, C. melanaster. Interestingly, on the website today's 2015 version is marketed as the 'Pacific' sea nettle, C. quinquecirrha (even though that is the Latin name for the Atlantic sea nettle). The paper that accompanied my figure identifies it as C. pacifica, and in my opinion the accompanying paper trumps the website, which might represent an editorial mistake (besides, it's unlikely that a set of Pacific animals, all of which occur in the waters around Japan, would include a species endemic to the Atlantic Ocean).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Northwest Pacific
Habitat: Pelagic; at depths of 0-200 meters
Diet: Small fish, marine invertebrates (including other jellyfish)
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Members of the genus Chrysaora are a source of Type II collagen, which can be used to relieve osteoarthritis.




Clue for tomorrow's species:
The most northerly species in this family of constricting critters.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Charina bottae (de Blainville, 1835)
Common name(s): rubber boa; coastal rubber boa; northern rubber boa

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Wing Mau
Series/Collection: Snakes
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length approx. 24.7 cm for a scale of 1:1.5-1:3.4
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (possibly unique as a sculpt, see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: This sculpt was also produced for Club Earth for their Snakes to Go collection. Wing Mau and Club Earth figures are often painted in different colors, and I have also seen an orange version of this snake. This figure was produced before the recognition of the southern rubber boa (C. umbratica) as a distinct species. However, I see no reason to question the original designation.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Western North America
Habitat: Conifer and mixed woodlands, chaparral, grassland, alpine meadows; usually under rocks and logs or in leaf litter and animal burrows
Diet: Small mammals, small birds, small lizards and snakes and their eggs, amphibians
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Charina bottae is considered one of the most docile species of snakes. So much so, that it is often used to help people alleviate their fear of snakes (ophidiophobia). The rubber boa rarely bites, and when it does feel threatened, its main form of defense is to release a potent musk from its vent.



There won't be a post tomorrow (May 8th) but here's a clue for Friday's (May 9th) species:

This Hell Creek horned hero is often depicted as the arch nemesis to T. rex.

[Gwangi]

I thought rubber boa for the last one but didn't comment, for some reason. I definitely know what the next one is though, and I bet it is by Safari Ltd. 

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Rubbee boas are native to where I grew up! They hold a special spot in my heart as such odd little fellows.

[NSD Bashe]

There won't be a post tomorrow (May 8th) but here's a clue for Friday's (May 9th) species:

This Hell Creek horned hero is often depicted as the arch nemesis to T. rex.

Triceratops I'm guessing