Aquatic Museum by Wing Mau (Hong-Kong)

I recently got a set of six crabs by a company called Wing Mau (never neard of them). The line is called 'Aquatic Museum' and has six species of crabs. There are three species of fiddler crab: Uca crassipes, U. arcuata and U. lacteal. There is also the mud-flat crab (Chasmagnathus convexus), the red-claw crab (Chiromantes haematocheir), and the light-blue soldier crab, Myctyris longicarpus.

The U. crassipes looks a lot like U. tetragonon (previously done in both male and female by Takara in the second release of the Shrimps and Crabs collection initially released under Yujin) but they are apparently in different sub-genera. The U. lacteal was previously done by Epoch. The C. haematocheir was previsouly done by both Yujin (in the first release, only, of the Shrimps and Crabs collection) and Kayiodo (Chocoegg Animals Series 3). The M. longicarpus was mis-labeled on the paper inserts as 'Uca arcuata'. This is most-certainly a misprint on behalf of the company, as the figure is clearly modeled after a Myctyris and not a female Uca. M. longicarpus was previously done by Cadbury (Yowies Series 3). These are the first examples I have seen of Uca arcuata and Chasmagnathus convexus!

Each figure sits loosely on a hexagonal base with a habitat scene on it (land or land and water). The figures are not premanently attached to the base nor is there any mechanism for securely affixing them. The six bases can be connected together to form one large 'habitat platform' for lack of a better term. The figures themselves are single pieces, hard-bodied but with softish legs.

An interesting collection and worth acquiring for anyone into arthropods or aquatic animals.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Congratulation again. I don't know what to think about the basis, they are not the most artistic I have ever seen

Kikimalou wrote:

Congratulation again. I don't know what to think about the basis, they are not the most artistic I have ever seen

They just sit loosely on the bases; they are not attached and can be displayed without them. I like it when figures have bases though (esp. with insects and such).

Ok but I still prefer Colorata style basis.

Whiwh size are these crabs ?

They're really cute, congratulations Blaine.

HKHollinstone wrote:

They're really cute, congratulations Blaine.

Very, very and really cute!!! It was missing me this word!
Congratulations for your figures Blaine, do you collect real animals inside glasses???

Most unusual and very, very impressive !
What an extraordinary idea to make them sit on a part of a landscape !
I would not wonder if these will be yoummy for collectors in the future

If you have time, Blaine, could you perhaps show us a picture where the "puzzle" is assembled ?

Congrats Blaine, These are very nice!

The cute crabs! I have only small sets models "made in China" (maybe Nayab?)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Sergey wrote:

The cute crabs! I have only small sets models "made in China" (maybe Nayab?)

Some of your crabs were by Play Vision for Habitat Earth. I am not sure if yours are PV, or copies. Most likely copies. Of course, I am not sure PV originated them :)

bmathison1972 wrote:

Sergey wrote:

The cute crabs! I have only small sets models "made in China" (maybe Nayab?)

Some of your crabs were by Play Vision for Habitat Earth. I am not sure if yours are PV, or copies. Most likely copies. Of course, I am not sure PV originated them :)

... Oh no,no it,s not PV. As usually on PV models are logotype "PV" and the name of species.

Here´s the original PV set:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

most of it :) Your set doesn't have the blue crab or the hermit crab (possibly others). They have been copied a few times before.

Admin wrote:

Here´s the original PV set:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

...Oh yeah! I have a some crab copies "made in China" by PV!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]