Mathison Museum of Natural History

I like this capsule kiwi, it is beautiful.

Excellent kiwi, this is my favorite with the CollectA one.

About the base, I tried to separate it on the elphant and aadrvark models. The models and the habitat-style base didn't break except the plots on the green base... I will survive.

Kikimalou wrote:

Excellent kiwi, this is my favorite with the CollectA one.

I agree, and they are two different species!

bmathison1972 wrote:

Kikimalou wrote:

Excellent kiwi, this is my favorite with the CollectA one.

I agree, and they are two different species!

Indeed

One of the best kiwi figures

I wish I had the space for such wonderful models

Species: Bathynomus giganteus Milne-Edwards, 1879 (giant deep-sea isopod)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Ikimon
Series: Nature Techni Colour
Year of Release: 2018 (2014)
Size/Scale: 28.7 cm, within scale of 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon (becoming more common)
Miscellaneous Notes: This life-sized model is a 2018 re-release the 2014 figure by Kitan Club, after Ikimon took over the Nature Techni Colour line from Kitan Club. Despite its size, it is fairly lightweight, as it made from hollow PVC.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: West Atlantic Ocean, from the southeastern USA to northern Brazil
Habitat: Bathydemersal, at depths of 310-2140 meters (usually 365-730 meters)
Diet: Primarily a scavenger on dead animals on the sea floor
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Bathynomus giganteus is the largest species of isopod known, having an average size range of 19 to 35 cm long, with some specimens reaching upwards of 50 cm long.

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Wonderful figure!

Megaptera wrote:

I wish I had the space for such wonderful models

Your shelves look a lot like mine ;-)

EDIT: Most of my insects are in repurposed Cornell drawers (for actual insect specimens) after I donated most of my real insects to museums.

Species: Hydrurga leptonyx (de Blainville, 1820) (leopard seal)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Wild Safari Sealife
Year of Release: 2018
Size/Scale: Figure length 14.0 cm. Body length 15.0 cm for a scale of 1:16-1:23.3
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: A familiar species, leopard seals were relatively rare in toy form until 2017 when we got hit with them three years in a row, with figures by CollectA, Safari Ltd., and Papo, respectively. There has been a lot of discussion on the forums as to which is better of the three, and each seems to have one feature that makes it stand out from the other two. I initially had gone with the Papo model but after studying pics of the three posted by forum members, I replaced it with this Safari model.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Coastal Antarctica and surrounding waters, with occasional vagrants reaching Australia, New Zealand, South America, and South Africa
Habitat: Pagophilic, usually on pack ice
Diet: Marine invertebrates, other seals, fish, penguins
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Leopard seals are one of the top predators around Antarctica, along with killer whales and southern elephant seals. Leopard seals also live in polygynous groups, whereby a male will mate with multiple females during the breeding season, which is usually in December and January. However, after mating males resume their solitary lives.

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A beauty

I got this figure to complete my group of leopard seal, and this was a species me and my grandfather had been wishing for. I sent my request to every major brand, and it seems CollectA may have listened.

Great review thank you

Impressive Bathynomus so beautifuly presented!

About, the sea leopard, I think I'll get the Papo one which is maybe a little too spectacular but that I can get without shipping cost.. :)

Thanks everyone; glad it has your 'seal' of approval

bmathison1972 wrote:

Thanks everyone; glad it has your 'seal' of approval

And it has my seal of approval!

Bonnie wrote:

bmathison1972 wrote:

Thanks everyone; glad it has your 'seal' of approval

And it has my seal of approval!

It's not a dog, but it is a caniform carnivore ;-)

bmathison1972 wrote:

Bonnie wrote:

bmathison1972 wrote:

Thanks everyone; glad it has your 'seal' of approval

And it has my seal of approval!

It's not a dog, but it is a caniform carnivore ;-)

Exactly!

Species: Eupatorus birmanicus Arrow, 1908 (rabbit beetle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: DeAgostini
Series: World Insect Data Book
Year of Release: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length 5.7 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The DeAgostini figures are cast from actual specimens and are therefore all in the 1:1 range. The figures were sold as premiums with books and come in a plastic display box with their Latin and Japanese names. I am not sure what year the figures were released, and it is possible they were released over multiple years. The original set from Japan consisted of 60 species (59 male Scarabaeoidea and one dragonfly), plus four 'secret' figures representing females of select scarab males. When the set was released in Italy, three of the standard set were replaced with other species, including a leaf insect. Between the two releases and secrets, I think there are 67 figures total representing 63 species. The figures are secured to the base of the box with a small screw, but can be safely removed if one choses to display them outside of the box. For today's post, I removed the lid to highlight the unusual morphology visible laterally (and to measure it).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Thailand
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Unknown. Presumably, larvae feed in rotting logs or on organic detritus in soil; adults, if they feed, are probably attracted to sap flows or overripe fruit.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: I had a hard time finding any information on the biology and total distribution of this species. Most of the beetles described by Arrow were from 'British India' (which included Burma, now Myanmar). Breeders and collectors often refer to this species as 'rabbit beetle' or 'rabbit ear beetle' because of the two upright pronotal horns that looks somewhat like rabbit ears.

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so real!

I personally love that leopard seal the best amongst what is available. My favorite seal species, this one captures their sort of odd, alien-esque predatory look of the head, while also seeming sort of peaceful. Excellent model. 

Really beautiful rabbit beatle too. :)

What an amazing beetle!

Beautiful... and instructive ! It’s the first time I heard about and watch a rabbit beetle.

Species: Megasoma anubis Chevrolat, 1836

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Sega
Series: Mushi King, standard series, small
Year of Release: Unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including horn) 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:1.8
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Another unique species by Sega in the expansive Mushi King line! The Sega 'small standard series' were 10 sets of 10 figures each, for a total of 100 figures. They represented roughly 75 species of Lucanidae and dynastine Scarabaeidae. The figures were produced in conjunction with Bandai and came with Pokemon-style playing cards. At the time of this writing, I think I have all but two of the species. For a review of the set, please see here.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southern Brazil
Habitat: Tropical forests
Diet: Larvae are undescribed. Adults are attracted to overripe fruit and feed on the inflorescence of Chinese fan palms (Livistona chinensis).
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Megasoma anubis is regarded as a pest of the Chinese fan palm in Brazil where the plant was introduced as an ornamental.

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