This is a review of the complete
Butterflies of the World set as part of Safari LTD's Collectors Case series. The undersides of the figures are not detailed, so an overall review of the set seemed more valuable then doing walk-arounds for individual figures.
This is one of three butterfly sets by Safari. They did an Authentics collection, made up of hard plastic, thick figures, and recently a TOOB featuring 8 species. This Collectors Case series presented here consists of 12 species and came out in 2001. I recently found it by accident on amazon.com when I was doing Google searches to try to find the makeup of the K&M set LOL. I was surprised I never had purchased this set! Perhaps I assumed they were re-releases of things I already had?!?
And now that I examine the figures, many are the SAME sculpt as some of the K&M Wild Republic Butterflies Tube (same with the K&M and Safari Insects tubes--they must use the same 'chinabug' manufacturer to produce these!).
I recently purchased a butterfly atlas which I hope will help me put names on Safari, K&M, and Toy Major butterflies!
On to the figures/species. They are not numbered so I will present them as they appear in the case. All species have English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian versions of the common names. Scientific names are not used, except where there is no English name (in which they anglicize the Latin name). All figures are roughly 50 mm across their wingspans.
1. purple emperor,
Apatura iris.
This is a relatively good representation of this species. I have one additional figure of this species (which I like better). I am not sure who makes the figure, but it is similar to the Toy Major figures (but lacks the traditional 'TM' on the underside).
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]2. green swallowtail,
Papilio blumei.
This figure has a rather peculiar color scheme. It should really be more black, with green maculae (not the other way around!). This species is no stranger to Safari LTD, having also been done for their Hidden Kingdom Insects line and Butterflies TOOB.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]3. scarlet leafwing,
Siderone galanthis.
This figure is listed in the set by its synonym,
S. nemesis. This figure has also been done two other times by Safari, as part of their Authentics collection and Insects TOOB (the latter may be the same sculpt - I never purchased the original Safari Insects TOOB).
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]4. great orangetip,
Hebomoia glaucippe formosana.
A Google search for information on this species revealed that this Safari figure represents the
formosana subspecies. I have two other figures of this subspecies, by Toy Major and an unknown chinabug figure.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]5. broad-bordered grass yellow,
Eurema brigitta.
This appears to be a unique figure, but I have not checked my TM and generic figures yet to see if I may have another.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]6. tailed jay,
Graphium agememnon.
The tails on this figure are much more pronounced than on an actual specimen. Safari did another figure of this species in their Authentics collection, although other members of the genus have been done by Yujin and Cadbury (Yowies).
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]7. orange-barred sulfur,
Phoebis philea.
Ah yes, a favorite of Safari, having been done three other times by them in their Authentics collection, Wild Kingdom Insects line, and Butterflies TOOB. I also have a 'chinabug' style figure by an unknown manufacturer.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]8. large oakblue,
Arhopala amantes.
Another apparently unique figure...maybe. When I see this figure morphologically, my first assumption is the great purple hairstreak (
Atlides halesus). Removal of the longer 'tail' would make this species more compatible with the actual species. I said 'apparently unique' as maybe Toy Major's
A. halesus is actually this species? I would like to think not, as TM's butterflies are pretty darn good dorsally!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]9. orange albatross,
Appias nero.
Another apparent unique figure (although one in the K&M set may turn out to be this). If so, this is the nicer representation.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]10. common morpho,
Morpho peleides.
I know, I know, you are saying, Blaine how can you call this a Morpho? Hey, that's what Safari labeled it as, despite the fact it has tails!!! Uggh. I am tempted to cut them off, but I do not like to alter figures. I prefer to show their mistakes, as a lesson and to compare line to line or manufacturer to manufacturer. Another 'tailed morpho' (maybe the same sculpt) appears in the Safari Insects TOOB. The common morpho has also been done by Furuta as part of their Choco Egg Funny Animal Series, although Safari's figures in other lines may represent this species too,as Safari has done additional morphos in their Authentics collection, Hidden Kingdom line, and as a Good Luck Mini. The figure in the Butterflies TOOB is specifically presented as a different species,
M. menelaus.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]11. paper kite,
Idea leuconoe.
Yes, really. Another figure with unnecessarily added tails! Yikes. Safari also did this species in their Authentics collection but neither compares to the adult (and pupa) done by Yujin in their Insects of Japan Series.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]12. eastern swallowtail,
Papilio glaucus.
Last but not least, one of the best figures in the set. I also have figures of this species by Safari from their Hidden Kingdom Insects line and Toy Major. I also have a tiny figure from K&M's Mini Butterfly Polybag which is probably attributable to this species.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Toy Animal Wiki 
Home Latest Topics 
