Mathison Museum of Natural History

An old acquaintance!

Species: Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (multicolored Asian lady beetle; MALB)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kitan Club
Series: Nature Techni Colour - Ladybird Collection
Year of Production: 2011
Size/Scale: Body length 1.7 cm for a scale of 3.4:1-2.1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: There are 16 figures in this collection, eight of which are sold as magnets and eight as straps (I only got the magnets). A set of eight includes six species (with three color morphs of today's H. axyridis). All figures use the same sculpt and merely have different paint jobs.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Native to East Asia and Japan; introduced and established throughout much of North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Israel, and South Africa
Habitat: Open fields, meadows, agricultural fields, greenhouses, gardens; in introduced areas it is found primarily in urban and suburban areas around human habitations.
Diet: Soft-bodied insects, primarily aphids and scale insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The MALB was originally introduced to Europe and North America intentionally, to use as biological control of aphids. Being a highly adaptable species, it spread fast, and is now considered one of the world's most invasive insects. In many areas, it is out-competing native coccinellids. In North America, it appears to have adverse affects on Brachiacantha ursina, Cycloneda mundi, and Chilocoris stigma. Interestingly, in North America, it is also having an adverse affect on another introduced coccinellid, Coccinella septempunctata, which itself has adversely affected native coccinellids such as C. novemnotata, C. transversoguttata, and Adalia bipunctata.

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Oh yes I saw some like the yellow spotted one!

Caracal wrote:

Oh yes I saw some like the yellow spotted one!

In France? You also have a native species there, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, that is yellow with black spots :)

bmathison1972 wrote:

Caracal wrote:

Oh yes I saw some like the yellow spotted one!

In France? You also have a native species there, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, that is yellow with black spots :)

And more species, such as Thea vigintiduopunctata, or even the rarer Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata. But all of these are much smaller than Harmonia axyridis.Harmonia axyridis never have a yellow background, rather orange or as much orange-yellow (the figure depicted have not accurate colour), so probably the species Caracal saw is not this one.

OK thank you both! :)

Species: Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus, 1758 (dromedary; Arabian camel)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Wild Safari Wildlife
Year of Production: 2010
Size/Scale: Height at shoulder approximately 7.5 cm for a scale of 1:22-1:26 depending on the sex
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is probably one of the three best standard-sized dromedary figures available today, the other two being the 2013 release by Papo and the 2020 release by Schleich. I had already acquired this figure when the Schleich figure was released, and I didn't feel it needed to be replaced.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Northern Africa (north of the Sahel), Middle and Near East, Central Asia; introduced to and established in Australia
Habitat: Deserts
Diet: Desert vegetation, including forbs, thorny shrubs, dry grasses, saltbush
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Domesticated
Miscellaneous Notes: All living C. dromedarius are domesticated or feral animals descended from domesticated animals. Domestication is believed to have originated in Somalia or the Arabian Peninsula about 4,000 years ago. They have been introduced to other dry and arid parts of the world as beasts of burden or for transportation, including Mediterranean Europe, Canary Islands, Australia, southwestern United States, the Caribbean, and South America. However, only in the deserts of central Australia are feral populations thriving.

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You have easier access to Safari it is somewhat natural that you show a preference for these models. However, not wanting to influence you to replace your dromedary, in my opinion, the Papo current version is really a step forward, better legs, better tail, taller, much more organic flanks. Schleich's is also growing on me but I still think Papo's is the best. In any circustance, your collection is very well served with this figure.

Roger wrote:

You have easier access to Safari it is somewhat natural that you show a preference for these models. However, not wanting to influence you to replace your dromedary, in my opinion, the Papo current version is really a step forward, better legs, better tail, taller, much more organic flanks. Schleich's is also growing on me but I still think Papo's is the best. In any circustance, your collection is very well served with this figure.

I do often prefer Safari, but not because of ease of access, but rather because I really like their style (at least when the paint is done well) and I do like to support an American company when I can.

Wonderful Ladybirds. Very good to see, that there are also some other Coccinella species to collect.

Megaptera wrote:

Wonderful Ladybirds. Very good to see, that there are also some other Coccinella species to collect.

I currently have 16 species of Coccinellidae in 12 genera :-D

bmathison1972 wrote:

Roger wrote:

You have easier access to Safari it is somewhat natural that you show a preference for these models. However, not wanting to influence you to replace your dromedary, in my opinion, the Papo current version is really a step forward, better legs, better tail, taller, much more organic flanks. Schleich's is also growing on me but I still think Papo's is the best. In any circustance, your collection is very well served with this figure.

I do often prefer Safari, but not because of ease of access, but rather because I really like their style (at least when the paint is done well) and I do like to support an American company when I can.

I also like Safari a lot and at this moment they're needing the help of everyone. I wished they were easier for me.

Lovely dromedar

Species: Chaetodon wiebeli Kaup, 1863 (Hong Kong butterflyfish)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Aquameridian Ltd.
Series: Series 1
Year of Production: 2013
Size/Scale: Total figure height (including base and water stream) 7.0 cm. Base 3.7 cm square. Body length 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:4.2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The fish is removable from the water stream, and the water stream is removable from the base. There is a switch on the bottom of the base for an LED light that lights up the water stream.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: West Pacific, from Japan to the Gulf of Thailand
Habitat: Coral reefs, at depths of 4-25 meters
Diet: Coral polyps, benthic invertebrates, algae
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Despite being an attractive fish that is common in its native habitat, C. wiebeli is not popular in aquaria because it is difficult to keep and can be destructive to living corals in an aquarium.

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I am a happy owner of that figure

beautiful model and display!

bmathison1972 wrote:

C. wiebeli is not popular in aquaria because it is difficult to keep

Butterflyfishes can be divided into generalist feeders and specialist feeders. The latter feeds mainly or exclusively in coral polyps and only very big tanks full of living corals can be used for keep them successfully. In general, in public aquariums small colorful fishes like this one tend to be kept in smaller tanks for be seen better and these tanks are not enough big for fit in enough living corals as for allow the fishes to feed in a lesser rate than the coral growth. For this reason specialist feeders such as Chaetodon meyeri, Chaetodon ornatissimus or the present species are not kept in public aquaria at all or only very exceptionally. General public also don't miss these species as there are many other species that are generalist feeders on small crustaceans, algae, etc and that can be kept and even bred successfully in normal tanks such as the popular Chaetodon auriga, semilarvatus, vagabundus, lunula, etc.

Species: Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758) (turtle barnacle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kitan Club
Series: Nature Techni Colour - Barnacles
Year of Production: 2012
Size/Scale: Body length 6.0 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique (as a sculpt)
Miscellaneous Notes: The declaration of these figures being unique does not take into account barnacles sculpted on sea turtle figures :-). These two figures represent the same sculpt; one is a magnet and the other is a pin that can be worn on clothing. These two figures also demonstrate a large hermaphroditic individual with a smaller complemental male attached! I photographed these two barnacles on a 1:1 scale AAA crab; this is not the right host for this morphotype of barnacle (see below), but my options for a turtle symbiont are limited...

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide in tropical and subtropical oceans
Habitat: Symbionts on sea turtles and other animals (see below)
Diet: Suspension feeders of plankton and detritus
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: There are two main populations of C. testudinaria that differ by plate morphology and host preferance. Historically, these two populations were considered different species, with C. testudinaria living as a commensal on sea turtles (primarily the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta) and C. patula living as a commensal on crustaceans, gastropods, and sea snakes. However, comparison of arthropodal structures (setae, cirri, mouthparts) and analysis of mitochondrial DNA suggests the two populations are the same species, and the differences in plate morphology is an adaptation to the environment and lifestyles of the particular host.

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Magnifique 

Species: Chalcosoma moellenkampi Kolbe, 1900

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: DeAgostini
Series: World Insect Data Book
Year of Release: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including horns) 9.5 cm, within scale 1:1 for a major male
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen C. moellenkampi in the Museum. 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.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Borneo
Habitat: Rainforests, palm plantations
Diet: Larvae develop in rotting logs; adults feed on tree sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Major males of C. moellenkampi are more aggressive than minor males that lack large horns, and are more likely to be successful securing mates and feeding sites. Interestingly, there is not a direct link between horn length and aedeagal length, and minor males are physically capabable of successfully mating with females. Some suggest that rhinoceros beetles with shorter horns are actually more maneuverable and can disperse easier than major males that may be impeded by the extra weight of the large horns.

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Wonderful model!

Species: Coccinella transversalis Fabricius, 1781 (transverse lady beetle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Series: Yowies Series 2; Yowies UK Series 2
Year of Production: 1998
Size/Scale: Australian figure 4.0 cm long for a scale of 10:1-6.7:1. Base of UK figure 4.0 cm; body length 3.5 cm for a scale of 8.75:1-5.8:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique (as a pair)
Miscellaneous Notes: The figure on the upper right is the original Australian release; assembly is required and it is slightly articulated. The figure on the lower left is the UK release; it is a solid piece of plastic and sits permanently affixed to a base that appears to be a flower (albeit painted solid green). Despite C. transversalis being a highly variable species, neither figure is painted with a very realistic color pattern.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Malesia, Australia
Habitat: Highly variable, including rainforest, temperate forest and woodlands, heath, agricultural fields, parks, gardens
Diet: Soft-bodied insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Coccinella transversalis is highly valued in Australia as an agent of the biological control of insect crop pests. Among their prey include several species of aphids, scale insects, psyllids, leafhoppers, and the larvae of moths.

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