Mathison Museum of Natural History

[sbell]

vlue is either the sperm whale or a beaked whale

That's where my head was at too. I don't know why I automatically assumed it was a cetacean.

Probably the squid hunting reference.

Tomorrow must be a tarantella. Or tarantula

[Gwangi]

vlue is either the sperm whale or a beaked whale

That's where my head was at too. I don't know why I automatically assumed it was a cetacean.

Probably the squid hunting reference.

Tomorrow must be a tarantella. Or tarantula

I'm pretty sure I know this one, and reviewed it.

[bmathison1972]

Tomorrow must be a tarantella. Or tarantula

I'm pretty sure I know this one, and reviewed it.

Hmmm...good thought. But as an arthropod specialist, I may have several examples to showcase 

[Gwangi]

Tomorrow must be a tarantella. Or tarantula

I'm pretty sure I know this one, and reviewed it.

Hmmm...good thought. But as an arthropod specialist, I may have several examples to showcase 

Well, that's the only figure I know of one, but of course you have others. Guess you'll have to start dropping hints for the brand in addition to the species.

[bmathison1972]

Tomorrow must be a tarantella. Or tarantula

I'm pretty sure I know this one, and reviewed it.

Hmmm...good thought. But as an arthropod specialist, I may have several examples to showcase 

Well, that's the only figure I know of one, but of course you have others. Guess you'll have to start dropping hints for the brand in addition to the species.

The hints are for the species specifically, I was just letting you know there are other options for the species you suggested LOL.

[bmathison1972]

Ok @Gwangi - you were correct on both accounts (you got the species, too @sbell ). I just had to keep you on your toes to remember that for arthropods I could have multiple examples of some 


Species: Lycosa tarantula (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): European wolf spider; tarantula

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Papo
Series/Collection: Wild Animals
Year of Production: 2016
Size/Scale: Body length (excl. appendages) approx. 5.0 cm for a scale of 2:1-1.6:1 for a female specimen
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the third time we've seen L. tarantula in the Museum. I am generally not one to put metrics like 'best' and 'worst' on a figure, but as an arthropod specialist I think this might be the best, certainly one of the best, spider figures ever produced in our hobby, certainly by a western company!

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Mediterranean Europe, North Africa, Middle East
Habitat: Scrubland, deserts, fields, suburban areas; usually in rocky places with sparse vegetation cover
Diet: Insects and other arthropods
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Lycosa tarantula is commonly called the 'tarantula' in Europe; however, in the United States that term is used for mygalomorph spiders in the family Theraphosidae. It gets that name from the Italian city of Taranto, in the Apulia region where the spider is familiar. Historical superstition tells that the bite of L. tarantula can cause a disease known as tarantism, which could only be cured from doing a frantic dance known as the tarantella.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
This critter's tongue is its sole method of catching prey, and can protrude up to 18 cm outside its snout. This is important for lapping up ants and termites in Australia!

[Gwangi]

You got me looking at Toy Animal Wiki for other European wolf spider toys, of which I found none, but not everything is on TAW. 

Next one is the short-beaked echidna, I suppose.

[Isidro]

Or the Science & Nature numbat...

[bmathison1972]

Right again, @Gwangi
@Isidro - I no longer have the S&N numbat. I swapped it out for Yowie Group (which was already showcased in this thread).

Next up:


Species: Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792)
Common name(s): short-beaked echidna

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Southlands Replicas
Series/Collection: Australian Animals
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: Body length approx. 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:8.9-1:10.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon to rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This appears to be the go-to species of echidna for companies to produce, with others by Science & Nature (in two sizes), Cadbury (for both the Australian and UK Yowies collections), and Yowie Group. The Yowie Group figure is a 'puggle' (see below).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Mainland Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea
Habitat: Highly variable, including arid and semi-arid regions, coastal habitats, open woodlands, savanna, snowy mountains, tropical rainforest, agricultural land
Diet: Primarily ants and termites; also other insects, earthworms
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Being a monotreme, T. aculeatus is one of the few mammals that lays eggs! A female echidna lays a single egg at a time, which is kept in a backwards-facing pouch on her stomach. The egg hatches after about 10 days. Hatchlings (puggles) reside in their mother's pouch and take milk from areolae, specialized patches on the skin that secrete milk, as monotremes lack nipples.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
This critter gets one of its common names from the serrations that line the inside of its mandibles.

[Gwangi]

I think the next one will be a common merganser. Or some other species of merganser, maybe.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Prosopocoilus inclinatus (Motschulsky, 1857)
Common name(s): Japanese stag beetle; kuwagatamushi; saw-toothed stag beetle

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Furuta
Series/Collection: Insect Science
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length of male (incl. mandibles) approx. 7.0 cm. Body length of female approx. 3.1 cm. Both sexes within scale 1:1.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the eleventh time we've seen P. inclinatus in the Museum. Figures in this set came in pairs to demonstrate different biological activities/features. In this case, it was a male and female lucanid to demonstrate their marked sexual dimorphism (see below).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: East Asia (Japan, Taiwan, Korean Peninsula, eastern China)
Habitat: Oak forests
Diet: Larvae breed in rotting logs of Quercus (oak); adults are attracted to sap flows.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Like most lucanid beetles, P. inclinatus exhibits marked sexual dimorphism. The males have greatly enlarged mandibles for fighting rivals and securing mates and breeding and feeding sites.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
This critter is known to sometimes lay it eggs in alligator nests. Often the nests have been abandoned by the gators, but sometimes not!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Apalone ferox  (Schneider, 1793)
Common name(s): Florida softshell turtle

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series/Collection: Everglades TOOB
Year of Production: 2023
Size/Scale: Carapace length approx. 4.0 cm for a scale of 1:3.8-1:19
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: Safari Ltd. had previously produced a softshell turtle for their Alligators Alive TOOB (2008). The sculpt is different than today's but it is probably safe to say they represent the same species.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southeastern United States
Habitat: Southern Coastal Plain; lakes, swamps, marshes, wet prairies, small creeks and rivers, canals and ditches, sinkholes
Diet: Fish, frogs, aquatic insects, crustaceans; occasionally carrion
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Apalone ferox, as well as a couple other turtle species, will utilize the nests of the American alligator to lay their eggs. This behavior seems to be most common areas with limited available nesting sites or during years when heavier rainfall results in flooding, thus reducing the number of suitable nesting sites, as opposed to using the nests for protection by the gators. Usually the alligator nests have been abandoned, but not always! It's a risk for sure, as alligators regularly prey on Florida softshells.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
It has been suggested that one of the reasons for this cone-headed critter's ability to change colors might be for energy expenditure, as flashing warning colors is more cost effective than physical combat.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Chamaeleo calyptratus Duméril & Bibron, 1851
Common name(s): veiled chameleon; cone-headed chameleon; Yemen chameleon

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series/Collection: Choco Q Animatales Pet Series 5
Year of Production: 2005
Size/Scale: Snout-to-vent length difficult to measure, but using the casque as a metric (n=1.3 cm) the scale comes to approx. 1:3.8 for a mature specimen
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: Being one of the original Choco Q figures, assembly is required.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southern Arabian Peninsula; western Yemen and adjacent southwestern Saudi Arabia
Habitat: Semi-arid montane plateaus, forests, and valleys; arboreal
Diet: Insects and spiders; diet may be supplemented with plant matter during the dry season
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Chamaeleo calyptratus can capture prey with a sticky tongue that is nearly twice the length of its body!



Clue for tomorrow's species:
This critter is used as a Biological Indicator Species for climate change in Korea.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Hierodula patellifera Audinet-Serville, 1839
Common name(s): giant Asian mantis; Indochina mantis; Harabiro mantis

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bandai
Series/Collection: Diversity of Life on Earth - Mantids Vol. 3
Year of Production: 2022
Size/Scale: Body length of adult approx. 11.0 cm for a scale of 2.1:1-1.8:1 for a female. Body length of nymph approx. 10.5 cm for a scale of 2.5:1 for a seventh (final) instar nymph.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (possibly unique for the set, see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: If I remember correctly, Bandai only marketed this at the genus level. With over 100 described species in the genus, H. patellifera makes the most sense due to its size and popularity in terraria. This set included four figures of H. patellifera, two adults and two nymphs, one of each stage in brown and green. I opted for the green adult and brown nymph. Like other Diversity figures, these mantids are large, require assembly, and the final product is heavily articulated. The adults in the set also came with hind wings to display as if in flight or alighting. I chose to display mine in a neutral pose. I don't know of any other figures of this species of genus off-hand, but promotional pics suggest that upcoming (already released?) insects by TNG include a Hierodula.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: East and Southeast Asia, from India and Nepal to Indonesia, New Guinea, Japan; introduced to and established in Hawaii, Italy, France
Habitat: Woodland margins, fields, meadows, sugarcane fields, suburban areas
Diet: Insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Hierodula patellifera is sensitive to temperature changes and in Korea is used as a Biological Indicator Species for climate change. Data collected since 1988 shows the mantis is foraging earlier and expanding its range into historically cooler regions. This adjustment has resulted in the mantis shortening its dormancy and delaying its senescence.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
Although mostly arboreal, when this critter hits the ground it can become bipedal, reaching speeds of 48 kph. This can be help when avoiding predators, such as raptors, owls, and dingos!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Chlamydosaurus kingii Gray, 1825
Common name(s): frilled lizard; frill-necked lizard; frilled dragon

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Toymany
Series/Collection: Reptile Figurine Set
Year of Production: 2023
Size/Scale: Figure 10.0 cm across its widest points. Snout-to-vent length challenging to measure due to the animal's posture, but comes to approx. 6.0 cm for a scale of 1:3.7-1:4.7.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen C. kingii in the Museum. The first time was a gashapon figure by Kaiyodo that this model by Toymany has since replaced. When I purchased Toymany's reptile set in 2023, this lizard wasn't a target of mine. But once I got it in-hand and was able to appreciate its size, sculpt, paint, not to mention not requiring assembly, it quickly replaced the version by Kaiyodo!

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Northern Australia, southern New Guinea
Habitat: Sub-humid and semi-arid grassy woodlands, dry sclerophyll forests; usually arboreal, coming to the ground mainly to feed
Diet: Insects and arachnids, small mammals and reptiles
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: When confronted by a would-be predator, C. kingii will go into 'freeze mode' and become perfectly still. If that doesn't work, it will deploy the feature that it is best known for, its frill, which is displayed when it opens it's brightly-colored mouth. This makes the lizard appear larger than it is. Chlamydosaurus kingii will often add to the performance by standing on its hind legs and hiss at its aggressor, sometimes even leaping or charging at the other animal. If none of that works, then it usually just runs up the nearest tree! The frilled lizard can reach running speeds of up to 48 kph!



Clue for tomorrow's species:
This furry little friend and popular house pet that hails from dry regions of Central Asia conserves water by producing highly-concentrated urine and dry feces.

[Isidro]

Russian/Roborowski hamster I guess

[sbell]

Maybe a gerbil from Kaiyodo?

[bmathison1972]

You got it @sbell - animal and brand (although not a lot of options for gerbils)

Species: Meriones unguiculatus (Milne-Edwards, 1867)
Common name(s): Mongolian gerbil; Mongolian jird

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series/Collection: Choco Q Animatales Pet Series 5
Year of Production: 2005
Size/Scale: Total figure length approx. 6.5 cm. Using hind foot as a metric (n=1.3 cm), scale comes to 1:2-1:2.3
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was originally produced in two colors, tan (as seen here today) and gray. I picked the tan version as it's closeset to the wild type. Being original Choco Q Animatales figures, assembly is required.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central Asia (Mongolia, s. Siberia, n. China)
Habitat: Arid and semi-arid deserts, grasslands, scrubland, steppes, mountain valleys
Diet: Plants, especially Artemisia (mugworts), Setaria (brittle grass), Salsola (saltwort), Leymus (lyme grass).
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Meriones unguiculatus has become very popular in both the pet trade and scientific research. It was first brought to Paris from China in the 1800s. It was brought to the United States in the mid-1950s for scientific research purposes but by the end of the 1950s was already a popular house pet also. In the 1960s they became popular as pets in the United Kingdom. Today they remain popular as pets in Europe and the US (although illegal in California). They are also illegal in Australia and New Zealand.



Clue for tomorrow's species:
The Largo di Torre Argentina archaeological site in Rome, Italy is a sanctuary for these feral friends.

[sbell]

Coliseum cats! Not sure if there are specific figures...

[bmathison1972]

You got the animal correct @sbell . The focus here wasn't specifically Colosseum cats, but since these particular figures don't represent a specific breed, I decided to focus on feral/farm cats for the discussion.


Species: Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758
Common name(s): domestic cat; feral cat; farm cat

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kitan Club
Series/Collection: Art in the Pocket - Cats of Osamu Moriguchi Figure Mascot Vol. 1
Year of Production: 2020
Size/Scale: Shoulder height of 'scratching' cat approx. 4.0 cm for a scale of 1:5.8-1:6.3.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very common
Miscellaneous Notes: This set was followed up in 2021 with Volume 2, which featured four black-and-white cats in different positions. In 2022 and 2023, the sculpts from the first two sets were reissued in different colors (solid black, solid white, calico, etc.). The cats were not identified as a specific breed.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Cosmopolitan
Habitat: Farmland, fields, granaries, alleys, abandoned structures
Diet: Small mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Domesticated
Miscellaneous Notes: Farm and other feral cats are descended from domestic cats. They tend to revert to a wild status quickly and tend to avoid human contact and rarely let themselves be handled or touched. While they serve a beneficial role in keeping rodent pests under control, they can also be devastating to wildlife. It is believed 20 native mammals in Australia have become extinct because of feral cats, and at least 33 animal species on various islands have become extinct because of feral cats, most notably Stephens Island wren (Traversia lyalli).



Clue for tomorrow's species:
This hawking hunter is the second largest of its kind in Europe