Mathison Museum of Natural History

[bmathison1972]

Species: Mergellus albellus (Linnaeus, 1758) (smew)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Choco Q Animatales Series 6
Year of Production: 2002
Size/Scale: Figure 4.5 cm long. Scale difficult to calculate but body length approximately 6.8 cm for a scale of 1:5.5-1:6.5.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Being one of the original Choco Q Animatales figures, some assembly is required. Mergellus albellus is sexually dimorphic and this figure is painted as a male.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Northern Palearctic, wintering in Central and Northern Europe, Japan, the Middle East; rare vagrants in North America
Habitat: Lakes, reservoirs, sheltered coasts of seas, slow rivers; breeding grounds are on taiga, nesting in tree holes.
Diet: During the breeding season, diet consists mainly of aquatic insects, crustaceans, and amphibians; in the winter the diet focuses to primarily fish
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Like many northern birds, M. albellus migrates away from its breeding sites in the winter. The bird breeds throughout much of the northern Palearctic on the taiga. It requires trees to nest, often in abandoned woodpecker nests in tree holes. Breeding occurs in May and about 7-11 eggs are laid. The eggs are incubated by the female for about a month. Soon after hatching, ducklings leave the nest; they learn to fly in about 10 weeks. In September, M. albellus starts its winter migration. Common sites are Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Belgium, Japan, and some areas of the Middle East, with rare vagrants to North America.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (Strand, 1907) (greenbottle blue tarantula)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Tarlin
Series: Action Creature Series - Tarantulas Vol. 2
Year of Production: 2021
Size/Scale: Legspan 11.0 cm. Body length (excluding appendages) 4.5 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: There are three figures in this set, all using the same sculpt but painted as different species; the figures were not marketed at the species level but all are painted after familiar species. The same sculpt was used for Volume 1 of this series by Epoch (Tarlin is a subsidiary of Epoch), although the Epoch figures are painted more generically. There is substantial assembly required (17 pieces) and the final product is articulated.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Venezuela (Paraguaná Peninsula)
Habitat: Xeric scrub; burrows usually constructed under shrubs and tree roots
Diet: Invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is popular in terraria as it a very beautiful species that is relatively easy to care for, has a docile temperament, possesses a mild toxin, makes elaborate webs, and doesn't spend most of its time hidden away (i.e., it's a good 'display' spider).

[bmathison1972]

Species: Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758) (Indian cobra)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Venomous Creatures TOOB
Year of Production: 2010
Size/Scale: Figure length 11.5 cm. Body length 18 cm for a scale of 1:10-1:12
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: Sometime in recent years, figures in this TOOB were repainted; today's N. naja figure represents the repaint rather than the original.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh)
Habitat: Forests, plains, wetlands, agricultural land, disturbed areas, neighborhoods and villages
Diet: Rodents, frogs, other reptiles
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The venom of N. naja is primarily a post-synaptic neurotoxin and cardiotoxin. The venom acts on the synaptic gaps of the nerves resulting in muscle paralysis. Severe bites can lead to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. Toxin from young snakes has been used as a recreational drug in parts of India, with mild envenomation resulting in euphoria, sedation, and loss of consciousness.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Heliocidaris crassispina (Agassiz, 1863) (purple sea urchin; short-spined sea urchin)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Ikimon
Series: Nature Techni Colour - Sand Dollars and Sea Urchins
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: 5.0 cm in diameter, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was marketed as Anthocidaris crassipina, which is now regarded as a synonym of H. crassipina. Figures in this collection represent the dried test of sand dollars and sea urchins, rather than the intact living animal. They were also sold as keychains or (as in today's figure) magnets.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Northwest Pacific
Habitat: Benthic, in rocky areas at depths of 0-70 meters (usually 0-15 meters)
Diet: Marine algae
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Heliocidaris crassispina is commonly harvested for the seafood industry. It is considered one of the top 20 sea urchin species in demand worldwide and is the only species commercially harvested in Hong Kong.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Ara macao (Linnaeus, 1758) (scarlet macaw)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: National Entertainment Collectibles Association
Series: Ace Ventura 8" Pet Detective
Year of Production: 2019
Size/Scale: Body length 10.0 cm for a scale of 1:8-1:9
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was sold as an accessory to an Ace Ventura action figure. Interestingly, the 'character' in the movie the bird is based on is a green-winged macaw (A. chloropterus); however this figure is clearly painted after A. macao. The set also included a Panamanian white-faced capuchin monkey and domestic dove (I also retained the capuchin and will review it some day). The figure is designed to sit on the wrist of the Ace figure and the base shown in this image is my own; I made it out of Sculpey clay and painted with acrylics.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central and South America, from southern Mexico to northeastern Argentina
Habitat: Lowland rainforest, usually in the canopy
Diet: Primarily fruit and nuts, occasionally flowers and nectar. During the breeding season they may supplement their diet with arthropods and snails for additional protein. Birds will also ingest clay from the banks of rivers; this helps aid in the digestion of tannins and other toxic chemicals that may be present in under-ripe fruit
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Pairs of A. macao are monogamous and mate for life. Nests occur in tree cavities. The female lays 2-4 eggs. Typically, the female incubates the eggs while the male brings her food. The incubation period lasts for almost a month and chicks fledge in about three months. However, chicks will remain with their parents for about another year. The parents will not reproduce until their current chicks are independent.

[Isidro]

I didn't knew that you use modelling paste, even if at the moment is only for bases. The base is quite good. Would you dare some day to start youw own animal models?

[bmathison1972]

Species: Pavona venosa (Ehrenberg, 1834) (pavona coral)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Yujin
Series: Corals in Colour
Year of Production: 2005
Size/Scale: Height 2.5 cm. Scale difficult to calculate based on the way colonies grow, but this figure could fit into the 1:12-1:32 range (the lower range is probably more realistic however).
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The Yujin corals are small and made out of a limestone-calcium carbonate sandstone, rather than the usual PVC. They make great accessories for other marine wildlife.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indo-Pacific
Habitat: Coral reefs, a depths of 3-25 meters
Diet: Floating microorganisms that come within reach of their tentacles; also, nutrients derived from photosynthetic dinoflagellates living within the coral's tissues.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Vulnerable
Miscellaneous Notes: A colonial species, P. venosa can form large encrusting colonies in shallow reefs.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus (Daudin, 1803) (northern pine snake)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Wing Mau
Series: Snakes
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Figure length 12.0 cm. Body length 25.0 cm for a scale of 1:5-1:10
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (unique as a sculpt)
Miscellaneous Notes: This same sculpt was also used by Club Earth for their Snakes to Go collection. There is also at least one alternate paint job for this sculpt, with a darker orange base below the brown maculae.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southeastern United States
Habitat: Pine flatwoods, mixed woodlands, prairies, agricultural fields, disturbed areas
Diet: Small mammals, eggs
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus is oviparous and females lay clutches of up to 24 eggs in late summer. They are known to build communal nests, with several females laying eggs in one spot. Eggs hatch after about 64-79 days; hatchlings are some of the largest among North American snakes, hatching out at 30-45 cm!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Dynastes hercules (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hercules beetle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.
Series: B.I.G. Beetles
Year of Production: 2005
Size/Scale: Body length (including horns) 12.5 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is fourth time we've seen D. hercules in the Museum, not a surprise considering it's probably the second most represented species in my collection. Like other large Takara beetles, assembly is required and the final product is articulated. This species was released many times in the B.I.G. Beetles and B.I.G. Insects collections over the years, but there are numerous sculpts and they are not all merely repaints of one another. Today's figure however is a rehash of a 2003 sculpt.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Bolivia
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Larvae feed on rotting wood; adults are attracted to fresh and overripe fruit
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Like many other dynastine scarab beetles, D. hercules exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism. Only males (shown here today) have cephalic and pronotal horns. The males use their horns for fighting rival males and securing feeding and breeding sites.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Dynastes hercules (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hercules beetle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Sega
Series: Mushi King, large series, DX
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including horns) 13.0 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very common
Miscellaneous Notes: Wow, two large figures of the same species back-to-back? That's the thing about randomness; it can happen! This figure was sold as the subspecies D. h. lichyi (Andean Hercules beetle) but I don't designate subspecies for my D. hercules figures as the features distinguishing them are often too subtle to be reliably captured in a figure. The large 'DX' figures are larger figures of a better quality (paint, sculpt) than Sega's large 'standard' figures. There were 13 species in the series, with approximately 20 figures including variants and repaints with different colored eyes. Minimal assembly required and the head is articulated.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Bolivia
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Larvae feed on rotting wood; adults are attracted to fresh and overripe fruit
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The subspecies D. h. lichyi lives along the Andes in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Canthigaster valentini (Bleeker, 1853) (Valentin's sharpnose puffer; saddled puffer)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Shinagawa Aquarium
Year of Production: 2012
Size/Scale: Bottlecap base 3.5 cm in diameter. Body length 5.0 cm for a scale of approximately 1:2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The figure is removable from its base, to which it attached with a small acrylic rod.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indo-Pacific
Habitat: Coral reefs, at depths of 1-55 meters
Diet: Filamentous green and red algae, marine invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Like other pufferfish, C. valentini is extremely toxic if eaten, whether by humans or other predatory fish. The toxin is a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin and it naturally occurs in the skin and soft tissues of the fish. The non-toxic blacksaddle filefish (Paraluteres prionurus) mimics C. valentini; this is considered an example of Batesian mimicry and the two species will often school together.

[JimoAi]

Species: Canthigaster valentini (Bleeker, 1853) (Valentin's sharpnose puffer; saddled puffer)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Shinagawa Aquarium
Year of Production: 2012
Size/Scale: Bottlecap base 3.5 cm in diameter. Body length 5.0 cm for a scale of approximately 1:2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The figure is removable from its base, to which it attached with a small acrylic rod.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indo-Pacific
Habitat: Coral reefs, at depths of 1-55 meters
Diet: Filamentous green and red algae, marine invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Like other pufferfish, C. valentini is extremely toxic if eaten, whether by humans or other predatory fish. The toxin is a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin and it naturally occurs in the skin and soft tissues of the fish. The non-toxic blacksaddle filefish (Paraluteres prionurus) mimics C. valentini; this is considered an example of Batesian mimicry and the two species will often school together.

I rmb keeping a specimen. There's a cheap toy of it by breyer but IDK if it really counts

[bmathison1972]

Species: Ripiphoridae, gen. sp. (wedge-shaped beetle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Imperial Toys
Series: Bugs n' Jugs
Year of Production: 1990
Size/Scale: Body length 4.5 cm. Scale species dependent, but roughly 11:1-3.75:1 (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: For the most part, I no longer collect generic insects that are not identifiable to at least the genus level. I make some exceptions for rare and unusual taxa, such as today's ripiphorid (which is probably the only figure of a ripiphorid ever made, not taking into account variations and knock-offs of this one). I am not familiar with the family on a world basis, but based solely on North American taxa, today's figure would probably have been modeled after a member of the genus Macrosiagon. The scale above is based on that genus.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide, every continent except Antarctica
Habitat: Highly variable, based on the host
Diet: Larvae are parasitoids of other insects; adult diet unknown but based on mouthpart morphology is presumed to be nectar or pollen.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [taxa specific, but most if not all probably Not Evaluated]
Miscellaneous Notes: Ripiphorids are known for their hypermetamorphic parasitic life histories. I'll focus on Macrosiagon due to the figure's similarity to that genus. Members of the genus Macrosiagon are parasites of aculeate Hymenoptera (bees, wasps). Adult females lay eggs on vegetation (leaves, flowers) and on soil. First instar larvae (triungulin), which are active, motile organisms, seek out a host wasp or bee and hitch a ride back to the nest. Once in the nest, the triungulin larvae parasitizes the larva of the host hymenopteran and undergoes multiple sessile instars. By the time the beetle pupates, it has consumed most of its host. Adult ripiphorids are very short-lived, and leave the host's nest to mate in the environment.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) (monarch)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Papo
Series: Wild Animals
Year of Production: 2020
Size/Scale: Wingspan 7.5 cm for a scale of 1:1.2-1:1.4 (slightly under 1:1 for a small specimen)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the fifth time we have seen D. plexippus in the Museum. Not surprising, considering it is probably the most commonly-made butterfly at the species level. Like many figures of nymphalid butterflies, today's monarch has two many legs (6; should only be 4). While this is a very common mistake, it is somewhat of a surprise from a major company in 2020!

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, the Azores, Canary Islands, North Africa, Australia, the Philippines, and South Pacific islands; rare stray to the United Kingdom
Habitat: Fields, forests, gardens, disturbed areas
Diet: Larvae feed on milkweeds in the family Apocynaceae, most commonly members of the genus Asclepias; adults take nectar from a variety of flowers
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated (NatureServe status is Apparently Secure)
Miscellaneous Notes: Danaus plexippus takes nectar from a wide variety of flowers. Some of the more popular flowers for this species, and those that could be planted if one wanted to attract monarchs to their garden, include Gaillardia (Indian blanket), Erysimum (Siberian wallflower), Lobularia (sweet alyssum), Asclepias (milkweeds, butterfly weed), Echinacea (purple coneflower), Tithonia (Mexican sunflower), Cosmos (sulfur cosmos), Agastache (lavender hyssop), Heliopsis (false sunflower), Aster (asters), Lantana (lantana), Zinnia (zinnia), Syringa (lilac), and Verbana (verbenas), among several others. Certain flowers are more appropriate than others in different climates and habitats.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Allotopus rosenbergi (Snellen van Vollenvoven in Parry, 1872)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Sega
Series: Mushi King - Beetle Magnet
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including mandibles) 3.5 cm for a scale of 1:2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the third time we've seen A. rosenbergi in the Museum; the species has become somewhat of a 'standard' among the Japanese companies. As the name suggests, figures in the Beetle Magnet collection have a small magnet on the ventral side.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indonesia (Java)
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Larvae breed in decaying wood; adults presumably feed on tree sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: I had trouble researching information on this species. Allotopus rosenbergi is popular with collectors (and Japanese toy insect manufacturers) but not as common in terraria as larvae require wood infected with particular fungi.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Pediculus humanus Linnaeus, 1758 (human head-and-body louse)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Play Visions
Series: Fleas, Lice, and Ticks
Year of Production: 1996
Size/Scale: Body length 4.7 cm for a scale of 18.5:1-15.5:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Play Visions specifically marketed this figure as the head louse, P. h. capitis.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Cosmopolitan
Habitat: Head lice (P. h. capitis) spend their entire lives living among human hair, especially on the scalp; body lice (P. h. humanus) primarily live off of the host on fomites (bedding, clothing, etc.) and only migrate to the human body to feed.
Diet: Nymphs and adults feed on human blood
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Head lice do not transmit disease-causing agents; however, body lice do, including Rickettsia prowazekii (epidemic typhus), Bartonella quintana (trench fever), and Borrelia recurrentis (louse-borne relapsing fever).

[bmathison1972]

Species: Sceloporus cyanogenys Cope, 1885 (blue spiny lizard)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Wing Mau
Series: Lizards
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Figure length 12.0 cm. Snout-to-vent length 6.0 cm for a scale of 1:2.4
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique [as a sculpt]
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was also used by Club Earth for their Lizards to Go collection. There is an alternate paint job for this figure, where the midbody is more blue with white maculae and the tail has fewer bands. Both paint options appear viable for S. cyanogenys, as currently delineated (see below).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southern USA (so. Texas) and northeastern Mexico
Habitat: Rocky outcroppings, boulders, cliffs, dry creek beds, bridges and abandoned buildings
Diet: Insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: This species was historically considered a subspecies of S. serrifer, the latter of which, as currently delineated, is restricted to southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize

[bmathison1972]

Species: Eutamias sibericus (Laxmann, 1769) (Siberian chipmunk)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Choco Q Animatales Series 10
Year of Production: 2005
Size/Scale: Figure length 5.5 cm; body length (including tail) 6.8 cm for a scale of 1:2.5-1:3.7
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: I am aware of three figures of this species (including today's), all of which were made by Kaiyodo. Being one of the original Choco Q Animatales figures, some assembly is required.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Northern Asia; introduced populations in Europe (see below)
Habitat: Coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests, usually with underbrush and rocky outcroppings; also agricultural fields, foundations of buildings and houses
Diet: Pine nuts, grains, roots, fungi, invertebrates, small birds and reptiles
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: The popularity of E. sibericus in the pet trade has resulted in its introduction to several European countries where it is considered by the European Union to be an Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern. Breeding populations occur in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, and western Russia. It has been eradicated in Austria and Sweden, and attempted introductions in Spain and the British Isles were not successful. In 2016 it became illegal to import, breed, transport, commercialize, or intentionally release E. sibericus into the environment within the EU.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Larvivora akahige (Temminck, 1835) (Japanese robin)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Birdtales Series 3
Year of Production: 2006
Size/Scale: Bottlecap base 3.5 cm in diameter. Body length difficult to calculate, but approximately 3.5 cm for a scale of 1:4.25
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (possibly unique)
Miscellaneous Notes: Some assembly required. The stone base is removable from the bottlecap base (see inset), but the bird's feet are part of stone base.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Japan; winter migrations to mainland Southeast Asia
Habitat: Broadleaf forests and riparian areas with dense undergrowth; occasionally parks and gardens
Diet: Insects, fruit
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: The Japanese robin was originally placed in the genus Erithacus along with the European robin (E. rubecula) until it was moved to the genus Luscinia due to its perceived relatedness to the Siberian blue robin (L. cyane) based on molecular data. In 2010, it was determined Luscinia was paraphyletic and the Japanese and Siberian blue robins, among others, were moved to Larvivora which was originally described to accommodate the Okinawa robin (L. namiyei). Larvivora is now a well-defined clade containing a group of birds collectively known as the East Asian robins.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Dicotyles tajacu (Linnaeus, 1758) (collared peccary; javelina)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Wild Safari North American Wildlife
Year of Production: 2014
Size/Scale: Height at shoulder 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:6.6-1:11 for a typical specimen. If one takes the 'giant peccary' of Brazil into consideration, it could scale up to 1:17.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the only figure of this species made by a prominent manufacturer in the modern era; there is an older Starlux model which may or may not be attributable to this species.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southwestern United States south to northern Argentina
Habitat: Deserts, mesquite bosque, tropical rainforests, occasionally neighborhoods
Diet: Cacti, seed pods, tubers, palm nuts, fruit, eggs, carrion
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Despite their morphologic similarities, peccaries (Tayassuidae) are not true pigs (Suidae). Peccary fossils date back to the Eocene and Oligocene of Europe. They became extinct in the Old World after the Miocene, probably due to competition with evolving pigs, which split from the peccaries roughly 30 million years ago. Peccaries had colonized the Americas where they continued to thrive while true pigs evolved exclusively in the Old World. The two families wouldn't meet again until Europeans introduced pigs to the Americas in the 1500s.