Mathison Museum of Natural History

[Isidro]

I'm a bit stranged by this post. Until now, you have reviewed just one figure per post, or in rare occasions, various figures but always belonging to the same set/group or at least same brand (for example an UK and Austalia versions of Yowies for same species). But I think that this is first time you posting two completely different figures from two completely different brands in a same post and photo. I find it curious because, then why other species are found in several posts of the Museum?

[bmathison1972]

I'm a bit stranged by this post. Until now, you have reviewed just one figure per post, or in rare occasions, various figures but always belonging to the same set/group or at least same brand (for example an UK and Austalia versions of Yowies for same species). But I think that this is first time you posting two completely different figures from two completely different brands in a same post and photo. I find it curious because, then why other species are found in several posts of the Museum?

I shared the CollectA and Safari zebra shark figures in the same post back in October 2021. If you read again, it says, ' I was debating on whether I should review these two separately or together, but since it's unlikely I'll buy another bowmouth guitarfish figure, I decided to do them together.' For other animals with multiple figures (eg arthropods) there is always the potential for more to be produced and therefore collected. Hence, the reviews are kept closer to other figures within the same set or at least company.

There are no rules for posting. I can mix and match and change things up as I choose; it's all for fun.

And this isn't the last time it's going to happen.

[Gwangi]

I have the Safari guitarfish but have considered getting CollectA's for the same reason as you. I'll probably get CollectA's zebra shark too. 

[bmathison1972]

Species: Heliconius charithonia (Linnaeus, 1767) (zebra longwing)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Innovative Kids
Series: Junior Groovies - Butterflies
Year of Production: 2016
Size/Scale: Wingspan 7.8 cm, within scale 1:1
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 is a larva produced by Club Earth for their Caterpillars to Go collection.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Extreme southern USA (s. Texas, Florida), Central and South America, West Indies
Habitat: Rainforest, tropical hammocks, riparian areas
Diet: Larvae feed on passionflowers in the genus Passiflora; adults feed on pollen and nectar
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated (NatureServe status is Secure)
Miscellaneous Notes: Heliconius charithonia is known for its communal roosting behavior. Large groups of butterflies will aggregate at night, usually on twigs and tendrils. It is believed this behavior provides protection to the butterflies by deterring predators (collective aposematism) and retaining warmth.

[bmathison1972]

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

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Sega
Series: Mushi King - Beetle Magnet
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including horns) 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:4 for a large major male
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is our sixth time seeing D. hercules in the Museum. These two figures represent different paint variants of the same sculpt. As the name of the set suggests, they have a non-obtrusive magnet on the ventral side.

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: Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 (splendid alfonsino)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.
Series: Primary Saltwater Fish
Year of Production: 2021
Size/Scale: Total figure height (including base) 6.3 cm. Body length 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:8.9-1:15.5
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (unique as a sculpt, see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure is a re-release from an earlier collection by Yujin; I don't know the year of the original release (probably early 2000s). The figure comes with a base with a placard that has the fish's Latin name, the average body length of the fish, and the depth at which it lives. The figure is removable from the base.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Circumglobal, usually along coasts
Habitat: Benthopelagic and among coral reefs at depths of 23-1300 meters (usually 400-600 meters)
Diet: Marine invertebrates, small fish
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Beryx splendens is popular in Japanese cuisine where it's known as kinmedai.

[JimoAi]

Species: Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 (splendid alfonsino)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.
Series: Primary Saltwater Fish
Year of Production: 2021
Size/Scale: Total figure height (including base) 6.3 cm. Body length 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:8.9-1:15.5
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (unique as a sculpt, see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure is a re-release from an earlier collection by Yujin; I don't know the year of the original release (probably early 2000s). The figure comes with a base with a placard that has the fish's Latin name, the average body length of the fish, and the depth at which it lives. The figure is removable from the base.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Circumglobal, usually along coasts
Habitat: Benthopelagic and among coral reefs at depths of 23-1300 meters (usually 400-600 meters)
Diet: Marine invertebrates, small fish
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Beryx splendens is popular in Japanese cuisine where it's known as kinmedai.

Had to remove that from my main collection earlier as it's too small. I'm putting it in a separate collection however

[Isidro]

What a casuality, just a while ago I removed it from my wishlist because it's too big!!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Halmus chalybeus (Boisduval, 1835) (steelblue lady beetle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Stasto 3D File
Series: Ladybug Collection
Year of Production: 2020
Size/Scale: Body length 5.5 cm for a scale of 18.3:1-13.75:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The Stasto 3D File ladybug figures have an ingenious design for distribution that minimizes packaging. There are eight figures in the collection. Two figures come connected to form their own gashapon capsule. The two figures are separated by gently twisting them. Once apart, the bottom of the figure extends, revealing the legs and antennae. The legs and antennae are extended and placed in the desired position and then the body is closed back up, revealing the final product. The set consists of 7 species, all using the same sculpt and design.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Australia; introduced to New Zealand and the United States (southern coastal California)
Habitat: Woodlands, shrublands, agricultural fields, parks, gardens
Diet: Aphids, scale insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The introduction of H. chalybeus to Australia and the US was intentional to help control scale insects that are detrimental to crops.



Today is also the 200th insect! How have the insects, which is the largest group of animals in my collection, fared so far? The following is a breakdown by order-level clades. The number in parenthesis is how many there were when the 100th insect was posted last June.

Coleoptera (beetles): 110 (57)
Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths): 48 (24)
Hymenoptera (bees, ants, wasps): 11 (5)
Hemiptera (bugs & kin): 8 (3)
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets): 7 (4)
Mantodea (mantids): 5 (2)
Blattodea (termites, cockroaches): 3 (2)
Diptera (flies): 2 (1)
Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies): 2 (0)
Meganisoptera (griffinflies): 1 (1)
Neuroptera (lacewings & kin): 1 (1)
Psocodea (lice): 1 (0)
Siphonaptera (fleas): 1 (0)

[JimoAi]

What a casuality, just a while ago I removed it from my wishlist because it's too big!!

It's too small. These fish can get up to 70cm

[Isidro]

I was unaware of them growing to such sizes! In that case, I think I could accept it, but one centimeter less would have been even better for my collection. If I went very strict with my scale preferences, the perfect alfonsino would had 2,5 cm lenght but I'm flexible with scales, however not so flexible as for get very striking disharmonies between similar figures in my collection,

[bmathison1972]

Species: Acherontia lachesis (Fabricius, 1798) (greater death's-head hawkmoth)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Ikimon
Series: Science Techni Colour - Private Specimen of a Lepidopterist Acrylic Mascot 2
Year of Production: 2019
Size/Scale: Wingspan 6.0 cm for a scale of 1:1.6-1:2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: The figures in this set are essentially photographs of butterflies and moths embedded in acrylic. Flip the figure over and the underside reveals an image of the ventral side of the animal, too. They are also sold as keychains (hence the hole in the acrylic above the head). Kaiyodo made the larva of this species for their Capsule Q Museum line.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, East Russia, Japan; introduced to Hawaii
Habitat: Forests, open woodlands, hilltops, agricultural fields
Diet: Larvae feed on a wide variety of plants in several families, including Solanaceae, Verbenaceae, Fabaceae, Oleaceae, and Bigoniaceae; adults feed on honey
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Adult A. lachesis can mimic the scent of honey bees so they can enter hives unharmed and feed on honey.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Phoca largha Pallas, 1811 (spotted seal)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Papo
Series: Marine Life
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: Body length 10.7 cm for a scale of 1:14-1:19.6
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: A year earlier (2016) Papo made a pup of this species. CollectA also made an adult and pup (both in 2014). Several small figures have been made by the Japanese companies as well, including Kaiyodo, Colorata, Eikoh, Qualia, and Access Toys.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: North Pacific, along the continental shelf of the Beaufort, Chukchi, East Siberian, Bering, Okhotsk, Yellow Seas, and the Sea of Japan
Habitat: In the winter (breeding season), on ice floes; in the summer, within the open ocean and nearby coasts
Diet: Fish, crustaceans, mollusks
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: The breeding season for P. largha is January to mid-April and pups are born and nursed from January to May depending on the location (generally, later farther north). It is believed that P. largha is annually monogamous and the male-female-pup family unit stays together during the breeding season. Pups are weaned after about 6 weeks.

[Gwangi]

I like that spotted seal! I'm gonna have to add it to my list. I actually saw my first wild seal on Saturday, but just its head poking out of the surf. I'm not entirely sure what species it was but exciting none-the-less.

[bmathison1972]

I like that spotted seal! I'm gonna have to add it to my list. I actually saw my first wild seal on Saturday, but just its head poking out of the surf. I'm not entirely sure what species it was but exciting none-the-less.

I'm sure you'll like it; it's one of my favorite seal figures.

I have seen harbor seals and California sea lions in California, and when birding in WA earlier this year I got to see a Steller's sea lion!

I would suspect you saw a grey seal or a harbor seal, but I am not well-versed on the group.

[Gwangi]

I like that spotted seal! I'm gonna have to add it to my list. I actually saw my first wild seal on Saturday, but just its head poking out of the surf. I'm not entirely sure what species it was but exciting none-the-less.

I'm sure you'll like it; it's one of my favorite seal figures.

I have seen harbor seals and California sea lions in California, and when birding in WA earlier this year I got to see a Steller's sea lion!

I would suspect you saw a grey seal or a harbor seal, but I am not well-versed on the group.

It definitely looks like one of the better seal figures out there. And I'm pretty picky about my seals.

Yes, it would be either a grey or harbor seal, although harp and hooded seals occasionally come around. Seals are only here during the winter and I've been hoping to see one since I moved here 4 years ago, it was a major event for me! I would LOVE to see a Steller's sea lion, but that's not happening here!

[Gwangi]

I hate to double post but it just occurred to me that you posted a death's-head moth on Valentine's Day. The Silence of the Lambs was released on Valentine's Day, 1991. Although the species in that movie was Acherontia styx, if I recall correctly. Quite the coincidence! Or was it intentional?

[bmathison1972]

I hate to double post but it just occurred to me that you posted a death's-head moth on Valentine's Day. The Silence of the Lambs was released on Valentine's Day, 1991. Although the species in that movie was Acherontia styx, if I recall correctly. Quite the coincidence! Or was it intentional?

Totally a coincidence. For starters, I have still always used the random method. Secondly, I was totally unaware of the interesting bit of trivia! I have two figures specimens of A. styx, and they'll be reviewed when their time comes up .

Here in Utah, July 24th is a holiday (Pioneer Day, celebrates the day the Mormons settled in SLC). Anyway, July 24, 2021, my post was the Great Mormon, a species of butterfly. Another fun and total coincidence!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Vespula austriaca (Panzer, 1799) (cuckoo yellowjacket)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bandai
Series: Diversity of Life on Earth - Hornets Vol. 2
Year of Production: 2020
Size/Scale: As displayed in this image, model stands 12.5 cm tall with a 15 cm wingspan. Body length approximately 10.0 cm for a scale of 6:1-5:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Like other figures in the Diversity of Life line, this figure is large, requires assembly, is heavily articulated, and may be expensive. It is a model for serious collectors and not a toy to be played with. They may be displayed on or off of the base and with the wings open or folded along the body.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Palearctic (North American populations historically referred to as V. austriaca are now treated as a separate species, V. infernalis)
Habitat: Open woodlands, moorland, hedge banks, parks
Diet: Larvae are feed invertebrate prey provided by the host; adults feed on pollen
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Vespula austriaca is an obligate labor parasite of other vespid wasps, especially the red wasp, Vespula rufa. Vespula austriaca lacks a worker caste and is incapable of building their own nests. Instead, females invade the colony of a host wasp and kill its queens. They then force the worker caste of the host to tend to their offspring.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Osphranter rufus (Desmarest, 1822) (red kangaroo)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Southlands Replicas
Series: Australian Animals
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: Figure stands 14.5 cm tall. Head-and-body length (excluding tail) about 9.0 cm for a scale of 1:14.4-1:17.8
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very common
Miscellaneous Notes: There have been several very good O. rufus figures in recent years, including those by CollectA (2021, both male and female), Mojö Fun (2021), Schleich (2017), and Safari Ltd. (2018). I have contemplated getting a female with a joey to compliment this male, but haven't spent much time researching which of the females from the aforementioned companies would scale best with today's Southlands figure.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Australia
Habitat: Scrubland, grassland, deserts
Diet: Grasses, forbs
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: In 2019, the subgenera Osphranter and Notamacropus were elevated to genus level from Macropus based on morphometric analysis of the skulls and analysis of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. The data suggest that these three groups are paraphyletic without inclusion of Wallabia (swamp wallaby) and that they diverged about 5-6 mya around the Miocine-Pliocene boundry, coinciding with the Pliocene expansion of grasslands in Australia. In addition to the red kangaroo, other extant species of Osphranter include the antilopine kangaroo (O. antilopinus), black wallaroo (O. bernardus), and the common wallaroo (O. robustus).