Mathison Museum of Natural History

Species: Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel, 1826) (chiru; Tibetan antelope)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: CollectA
Series: Wildlife
Year of Release: 2015
Size/Scale: Total height 9.5 cm. Height at shoulder 5.5 cm for a scale of 1:15
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (unique as a sculpt)
Miscellaneous Notes: As a sculpt, this figure is a unique species in the toy realm. However, it was also marketed by CBIOV (in conjunction with CollectA) for their Protected Animals of China collection.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Tibetan Plateau of China and northern India
Habitat: Alpine and cold steppes, usually is open terrain with sparse vegetation cover
Diet: Forbs, grasses, and sedges
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Near Threatened
Miscellaneous Notes: It has been suggested that the Tibetan Plateau was the cradle of evolution for cold-adapted mammals. Pantholops hodgsonii has several adaptations for living at high elevation and in the cold. One is the position and size of the nostrils and structure of the nasal cavity, which are larger than its relatives that live at lower elevations. It also has a double coat, consisting of long, thick guard hairs and a silky undercoat of shorter fibers. Unfortunately, the undercoat, called a shahtoosh, is why the chiru was hunted to near extinction in 1980s and 1990s.

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A beautiful model of a unique species, I love the horns!

A great model, I hope CollectA will continue to provide us with never seen species, I hope you will continue to show us your so nice pics

Wonderful model and picture!

Kikimalou wrote:

A great model, I hope CollectA will continue to provide us with never seen species, I hope you will continue to show us your so nice pics

thank you

Caracal wrote:

Wonderful model and picture!

thank you

A must have

One of the most exciting releases of ever for my personal taste. It was an excitment when it was announced and having the final model in hands is pure joy. Your picture is a fair tribute to it.

Species: Hypna clytemnestra (Cramer, 1777) (jazzy leafwing)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Butterflies TOOB
Year of Release: 2011
Size/Scale: Wingspan 5.0 cm, for a scale of 1.5:1-2.2:1 (on average, about half natural size)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was marketed as Anaea clytemnestra. The figures in Safari's Butterflies TOOB consist of four sculpts, with two paint styles each, for a total of eight species. The figures are also stamped with the Latin name on the underside of the wings. The underside of the wings of this figure are painted exactly like the upper side, which is not accurate for this species (see below). Also, like most nymphalid figures, this figure has an incorrect number (six) of walking legs.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central and South America, from Mexico the Amazon Basin; one subspecies endemic to Cuba
Habitat: Rainforest lowlands and foothills, usually in the canopy
Diet: Larvae feed on Croton floribundus (croton); adults take juices from overripe fruit and sap flows
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: While the upper side of the wings of Hypna clytemnestra are brightly colored, the undersides are colored like dead leaves so the butterfly becomes inconspicuous when resting on foliage.

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Lovely butterfly!

We really got spoiled with antelope species from CollectA, a lovely model. I know little about invertebrates in general but enjoy seeing and reading your posts on them as well!

Beautiful display for a butterfly I didn't know!

Species: Amphiprion ocellaris Cuvier, 1830 (clown anemonefish; common clownfish)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Colorata
Series: Coral Reef Fish
Year of Release: 2015
Size/Scale: Figure 5.7 cm long across its widest points. Body length of fish 4.0 cm for a scale of 1:2.25-1:2.75.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: My Colorata Coral Reef Fish box set was released in 2015, but it is a re-release of an earlier set (I just haven't figured out the original year). The fish attach to the host anemone with a clear acrylic rod and are safely removable.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indo-West Pacific, from northern Australia to the Sea of Japan
Habitat: Coral reefs, usually at a depth of 1-15 meters
Diet: Plankton, algae
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Amphiprion ocellaris forms a symbiotic relationship with its host anemone. The fish and their nests benefit by receiving protection by the stinging tentacles of the anemone, and the anemone benefits by receiving protection from fish that might feed on its tentacles and removal of parasites or other debris. It has also been proposed that the bright color of the fish attracts potential prey for the anemone.

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So realistic and beautiful picture!

I like coral fishes

With such a small head, it is evident this figure didn't suffer from the Nemonization witnesssed in several other models. Looks very realistic in your picture.

My favorite common clownfishes with the Yujin one

Species: Macrocheira kaempferi (Temminck, 1836) (giant Japanese spider crab)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Yujin
Series: Primary Colour Crustaceans Book
Year of Release: unknown
Size/Scale: Legspan 9.3 cm. Carapace 2.0 cm wide, for a scale of 1:20 for a large specimen.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen M. kaempferi in the Museum. Assembly is required. This figure was (as were several of the figures in the collection) re-released by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. after Takara took over Yujin in 2008.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Northwest Pacific in the seas around Japan and Taiwan
Habitat: Benthic, usually at depths of 50-400 meters
Diet: Marine invertebrates and algae, also a scavenger
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Because of the depth at which it lives and difficulty catching it, M. kaempferi is not a common commercial crab species; however, it is considered a rare delicacy in Japan.

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Very realistic and beautiful picture

Amazing crab!

Nice crab

I remember seeing one of these in an aquarium for the first time. At the time it was bigger than I was! Wonderful model and information.

Species: †Macrauchenia patachonica Owen, 1838

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Wild Safari Prehistoric World
Year of Release: 2018
Size/Scale: Figure length 12.0 cm. Height at shoulder 6.5 cm for a scale of 1:21.5
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Like all figures of M. patachonica, this 2018 rendition is depicted with a prehensile trunk-like snout. However, it is now believed that Macrauchenia may have had a snout more similar to that of a moose (see below).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Late Miocene to Late Pleistocene of present-day southern South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Venezuela)
Habitat: Grasslands, savanna, open forests
Diet: Plants, probably grasses, shrubs, and trees
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [prehistoric]
Miscellaneous Notes: Molecular analyses suggest M. patachonica and other members of Litopterna are the sister group to Perissodactyla, with an estimated divergence date of about 66 million years ago. While some authorities today believe M. patachonica had a moose-like snout, pictographs from Colombia dated from 12,600 to 11,800 years ago depict a trunked animal which may have represented Macrauchenia or a relative, lending support for the earlier depictions with a trunk-like snout.

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