The Curious Compendium 2023-2025: The end!

[Shane]

It's surprising in some ways that there aren't more.

Surprised you don't have a marlin or two -- there's at least the Colorata one! Plus a number of other Japanese billfish figures (fun fact, they're completely different families Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae that share a suborder, along with the moonfish that look nothing like the billfish!)

The toy on the top right appears to be a marlin.

I think it's meant to be a swordfish, due to the lack of pelvic fins, though the overall body shape does seem more marlin-like.

The body shape and dorsal fin suggest marlin. I think the lack of pelvic fins just indicates that it's not a very good toy.

I agree it's not a very good toy.

The body shape is marlin, but the dorsal fin is actually somewhere between swordfish and marlin. It extends further than a swordfish, but not as far as a marlin's. The second dorsal and anal fins are also not notched like a marlin's, but more resemble a swordfish. And then there's the lack of pelvic fins as I mentioned before which is a clear swordfish trait.

I'd say it's probably not possible to identify as one or the other, but some kind of mixture of traits from both.

[Gwangi]

It's surprising in some ways that there aren't more.

Surprised you don't have a marlin or two -- there's at least the Colorata one! Plus a number of other Japanese billfish figures (fun fact, they're completely different families Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae that share a suborder, along with the moonfish that look nothing like the billfish!)

The toy on the top right appears to be a marlin.

I think it's meant to be a swordfish, due to the lack of pelvic fins, though the overall body shape does seem more marlin-like.

The body shape and dorsal fin suggest marlin. I think the lack of pelvic fins just indicates that it's not a very good toy.

I agree it's not a very good toy.

The body shape is marlin, but the dorsal fin is actually somewhere between swordfish and marlin. It extends further than a swordfish, but not as far as a marlin's. The second dorsal and anal fins are also not notched like a marlin's, but more resemble a swordfish. And then there's the lack of pelvic fins as I mentioned before which is a clear swordfish trait.

I'd say it's probably not possible to identify as one or the other, but some kind of mixture of traits from both.

Yes, it has a mixture of traits from both, but it's a marlin. 

[NSD Bashe]

I think that marlin that looks like a swordfish is Boley brand if I'm not mistaken; I don't know if it's officially identified by the makers (I don't think it's even on the Animal Toy Wiki currently) but I feel I usually see it listed as a marlin

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I can confirm that is a Boley model- definitely not known for their detail or accuracy but I (clearly) don't have many billed fish anyway.

And now to celebrate the New Year, one of my favorites! (Generic) Sea Lions!


Sea lion mothers give birth to one pup at a time but their milk is up to 35% fat to help the baby develop blubber quickly. These animals are incredibly social and will gather to more than 1,000 on land and sometimes at sea. There are several species (more to be shown later) and several of them are endangered; namely the Australian and New Zealand sea lion colonies are in steep decline.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Double post to make up for the one I missed- and the first part is a group very much outside my wheelhouse.

Gastropods, mollusks, anemone, sea cucumber, and anything else I missed!


Nudibranchs get their name from the greek words for "naked gills" (nudus-brankhia) given that they have nothing to protect their gills. These animals are quite small, species ranging from 1 inch to 12inches total, and can weigh from a few ounces up to 3.3 lbs. Make no mistake, they are predators that eat other nudibranches, sponges, corals, anemones, hydroids, barnacles, fish eggs, and just about anything else they can. 3 unique features are that they generally live less than a year, are hermaphroditic, and can regenerate some body parts.

Orcas!


These guys have the second largest brains of any marine mammal- second only to sperm whales. Because of their highly intelligent nature, they are one of the few animals that can recognize themselves in the mirror. We don't think that they can smell; they don't have smelling organs nor that lobe of the brain that processes that information.

[bmathison1972]

Wow, we need to get your marine gastropod collection going! lol

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I'm working on it! Promise!

Megamouth and Salmon sharks!


This is one of only five species of shark that are endothermic rather than ectothermic; they can raise their body temperature to as much as 20 degrees above the water temp! They are often pack hunting sharks- forming groups of 30-40 to hunt their namesake prey such as salmon, as well as herring and squid. They are also a rather unique shark that has a double keeled tail- only their close cousins the porbeagle present this trait also.

[sbell]

You are lacking a number of megamouths! Surprising given how rare they are, but there's several.

As for the salmon shark -- I'm aware of the Safari, but what's the other one?

[Gwangi]

You are lacking a number of megamouths! Surprising given how rare they are, but there's several.

As for the salmon shark -- I'm aware of the Safari, but what's the other one?

I think the other one is a repainted Schleich white shark. Let me know if I'm right @Saarlooswolfhound!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Close! It was a spare white shark from the Discovery sets that I repainted about a year (maybe 2?) before the Safari Ltd. was announced.

[Gwangi]

Close! It was a spare white shark from the Discovery sets that I repainted about a year (maybe 2?) before the Safari Ltd. was announced.

If it's the one I think it is then I am close, pretty sure that Discovery white shark is a bootleg of the Schleich one. Or heavily inspired by it at least.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Close! It was a spare white shark from the Discovery sets that I repainted about a year (maybe 2?) before the Safari Ltd. was announced.

If it's the one I think it is then I am close, pretty sure that Discovery white shark is a bootleg of the Schleich one. Or heavily inspired by it at least.

Agreed! They included a large and smaller white shark with one of the sets I think and so I kept the smaller one for repainting. It seems to be a bootleg of the 14553 or 14700 Schleich models (just from looking at TAW, I'm not well enough versed in these very similar figures to pick out the nuances without them in front of me).

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Mixed fish!

The starry handfish is so named for its spiny tubercles on its dorsal side that represent stars.These fish live between 50 and 400 meters below the ocean's surface. This species in unique because it births fully formed juvenile fish rather than mid stage larvae (is this really the correct term for this species? Not fish fry or eggs? If anyone knows please do share!).

[Isidro]

Yep, larvae is correct, for fishes, is the stage after egg but before fry, when they still are unable to feed or swim and depends entirely on the vitelline sac.

[sbell]

Yep, larvae is correct, for fishes, is the stage after egg but before fry, when they still are unable to feed or swim and depends entirely on the vitelline sac.

Larva refers specifically to oviparous fish (hatching from eggs). With viviparous or ovoviviparous fish the terms can change (pups for baby sharks, for example).

And then it's different if you're dealing with salmonids (alevin) which hatch with egg sacs but have the different name. Or leptocephalus (elopomorphs).

Some people call everything between hatchling and juvenile 'fry', sometimes 'fingerling' is used depending on size.

I don't think the terms are truly formalized. This article tried to explain and just kind of tangled it further https://www.amazonasmagazine.com/2008/10/16/when-is-a-larva-a-larva-and-a-fry-a-fry/

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Thank you both! I am a bit of a fish enthusiast but 100% admit to being a a novice. I am familiar the most with salmon life stages which will be discussed a bit later- but have heard of pups and fingerlings and fry and smolts- but never larvae for fish! Good to know that its not been standardized and I will probably use the terms I am more familiar with anyway. Thanks @Isidro and @sbell

[Isidro]

Well, "alevin" is just the Spanish term for "fry", and leptocephalus larvae are still larvae, but it's right, there is not standarization and terms can vary. I was not taking in account sharks and rays, just ray-finned fishes, but there is still many viviparous (ovoviviparous) species among them (toothed carps, etc), and I don't know if "larvae" is appliable to newborns of these.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Very interesting- thanks again!

More Sea Lions! (the models of identified species)

California sea lions are considered the fastes seal in the world clocking in at 30 mph in the water and can dive up to 900 feet and stay underwater for 10 minutes! Their whiskers are highly sensitive sensory organs called "vibrissae".

Sea lions are special to me as when I lived in Oregon as a 9-11 year old child, I had many experiences with them up close on coastal Oregon vacations. They are such smart animals- all you have to do is meet their eye and you can definitely see an intelligent animal there.

Corals!


This one will be very general information. Coral are closely related to jellyfish and anemones- to a group called Cnidaria. Corals can be important oceanic infrastructure as they can help protect coastlines against 90% of damaging waves and dangerous flooding. These teenie animals spawn just once a year, usually after a full moon.

We have all heard the negative news about coral bleaching, reefs dying, and climate change. To present some of the good news though; coral restoration helps improve resilience of ecosystems to clinate change and fishing pressure. Damaged reefs can recover if conditions can be maintained as stable. The reefs themselves increase diversity, productivity, and stability of those localized ecosystems. And lastly, dozens of organisms found on reefs have been known to produce chemical compounds usefuk for science and have been used to treat conditions like leukemia, ulcers, cardiovascular disease, skin cancer, and lymphoma.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

My favorite whales- Sperm whales!


These whales are large predators- this means they gotta have brains. In fact, they have the largest of any living animal on earth! They dive deep for their food, up to 3,000 miles down and can stay underwater for 2 hours! To hunt their prey they use echolocation, their calls can range into 200 decibels which is louder than what would burst a human eardrum. They belong to a separate (their own) group than other toother whales (like dolphins and porpoises). They spend less than 10% of their day sleeping in vertical suspension with their head near the water's surface.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

The hammerhead family is next! (Great, Scalloped, Smooth, and Bonnethead):

Bonnetheads have the shortest gestation of any sharks at 5-6 months. They also are the only known shark to present sexual dimorphism in head shapes. They are also unique as they are the only actively omnivorous species of shark.

And some more fish- Coelacanth, lionfish, grouper!

Lionfish have stomachs that can expand up to 30 times their regular size and mouths that open as wide as half of their body length! They also reproduce quickly- one lionfish can produce 2 million eggs a year that hatch within 36 hours of laying. Their unique features like the above have made them incredibly impressive invasive species!