Capsule Q Museum "Encyclopedia of Paleozoic" by Kikimalou

For 2015, Kaiyodo produced a CapsuleQ museum ”Encyclopedia of the Paleozoic” set. Both models were very familiar to Collectors since they looked like repainted clones of Dinotales models. Nevertheless, despite they are close to their ”ancestors”, all the new CapsuleQ  have a different sculpt.

I had all the previous Dinotales models, so why I spent money for this ”recast” set?    To tell the truth, I fumbled… I thought I was buying the ”Great leap” set.    But ok it is a good mistake because it wasn’t expensive and I enjoy very much the new set.

Here they are  

Bothriolepis "pitted scale" is a widespread, abundant and diverse genus of placoderms (Armored fish), who lived during the Middle to Late Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era.  Bothriolepis resided in an array of paleo-environments spread across every continent including near shore marine and freshwater settings. Most species of Bothriolepis were characterized as relatively small, benthic, freshwater detritivores, averaging around 30 centimetres (12 in) in length. However, the largest species, B. maxima, had a carapace about 100 centimetres (39 in) in length.



The main difference between the older Dinotales and the CapsuleQ is the tail

Eusthenopteron is a genus of prehistoric sarcopterygian (often called lobe-finned fishes) which has attained an iconic status from its close relationships to tetrapods. Early depictions of this animal show it emerging onto land, however paleontologists now widely agree that it was a strictly aquatic animal. Largest individuals grew up to 1.8 m (~ 6 ft) in length.

Anatomically, Eusthenopteron shares many unique features in common with the earliest known tetrapods. It shares a similar pattern of skull roofing bones with forms such as Ichthyostega and Acanthostega. Eusthenopteron, like other tetrapodomorph fishes, had internal nostrils, which are one of the defining traits of tetrapodomorphs (including tetrapods). It also had labyrinthodont teeth, characterized by infolded enamel, which characterizes all of the earliest known tetrapods as well. Eusthenopteron possessed a two-part cranium, which hinged at mid-length along an intracranial joint. Eusthenopteron's notoriety comes from the pattern of its fin endoskeleton, which bears a distinct humerus, ulna, and radius (in the fore-fin) and femur, tibia, and fibula (in the pelvic fin).



The CQ and Dinotales models’ heads are very different

Opabinia was a 4 to 7cm long soft-bodied animal of modest size, and its segmented body had lobes along the sides and a fan-shaped tail. The head shows unusual features: five eyes, a mouth under the head and facing backwards, and a proboscis that probably passed food to the mouth. During the Middle Cambrian period, it probably lived on the seafloor, using the proboscis to seek out small, soft food.

Opabinia was found in the famous Burgess Shale of British Columbia, Canada.



Dinotales and CapsuleQ have a different sculpture from trunk to tail

Pterygotus (meaning wing-animal or finned one) is a genus of marine arthropod which lived from the Early Silurian to Devonian periods. Pterygotids had chelicerae (claws in front of the mouth) that were large and long, with strong, well developed teeth on the claws.
Pterygotus could reach a body length of 1.6 metres (5 ft 3 in), had a pair of large compound eyes, as well as another pair of smaller eyes in the center of its head. It had 4 pairs of walking legs, a fifth pair modified into swimming paddles, and a pair of large chelae (pincers) for subduing prey.
It was one of the top predators in the Paleozoic seas, living in shallow coastal areas and was an accomplished swimmer and could move with speed and agility through the water. It would swim by flapping its long, flat tail up and down.


Heads and chelae are different  

Triarthrus is an average size trilobite (up to about 5 centimetres or 2.0 inches) found in New York, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, eastern and northern Canada, China and Scandinavia. It was living during the upper Ordovician. The specimens of T. eatoni that are found in the Beecher's Trilobite Bed, Rome, New York area are exquisitely preserved showing soft body parts in iron pyrite. It has given scientists a rare opportunity to examine the gills, walking legs, antennae and digestive systems of trilobites, which are rarely preserved. Triarthrus is therefore commonly used in science texts to illustrate trilobite physiology.



Th head of the CapsuleQ model is very different from the previous Dinotales one.

They are absoluuuuutely...WOW !!!!!!

Very amazing stuff! And nice pics too :)

Thank you Susanne and Andreas

This mistake proportionated us to enjoy a topic that is one more of your pearls!
You not only make descriptions about these obscure extinct creatures as you present us the fabulous usual pictures and comparisons with the previous versions. Fantastic Christophe, you're a master!

Thank you Rogério

Thanks for the interesting and informative walkaround. I really like some of the old models' coloration, but the new set is clearly a worthy production with interesting and attractive design. The attention to detail in the painting of the new models is apparent, especially in the underside comparisons of the Opabinia, Pterygotus, and Triarthrus.

Now, I really should stop looking at presentations like this- seeing all these beautiful figures might tempt me to do something rash!

A.R.Garcia wrote:

Thanks for the interesting and informative walkaround. I really like some of the old models' coloration, but the new set is clearly a worthy production with interesting and attractive design. The attention to detail in the painting of the new models is apparent, especially in the underside comparisons of the Opabinia, Pterygotus, and Triarthrus.

Now, I really should stop looking at presentations like this- seeing all these beautiful figures might tempt me to do something rash!

The fastest way to avoid temptation is to succumb to the temptation