Review of the complete set of
The Minimum Coexistence: Microbe by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (2013). While I mainly collect arthropods (and there are two in this set), as a professional microbiologist I cannot resist plankton and protozoa :).
This set contains 6 figures, 5 plus a SECRET. They are all typical gashapon-sized. Four are solid; two need minimal assembly. All six also come with a base (although only one figure has a secure means of attachment) that has the Latin and Japanese names and the size.
Not all the figures are unique, but also none are common (the most common one has only been made four other times).
On to the figures!
1.
Leptocinclis acus. [marketed as
Euglena acus]
Euglena acus is now in the genus
Leptocinclis (although I have to admit, the morphology here does look like the traditional
E. gracilis). The small Epoch Figure (Ecology of Plankton) is also
L acus. I also have
Euglena gracilis by Kaiyodo (Microcosmos), as well as a model by EISCO labs.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]2.
Paramecium caudatum.
This one has also been made a couple times, by Epoch (Ecology of Plankton) and a model by EISCO labs.
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Spirogyra.
This alga is, to my knowledge, unique (as would be most algal figures I guess...).
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Closterium moniliferum.
Another unique alga!
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Daphnia pulex.
This is the 'commonly-made' species in the set, with four other figures by Epoch (Ecology of Plankton) and Kayiodo (Aqua Night Museum; Microcosmos; Enoshima Aquarium).
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Hypsibius dujardini.
The pride of the set, a tardigrade! I have only four tardigrade figures, but each represent different species!
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