Mathison Museum of Natural History

Species: Anthocharis cardamines (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): orange-tip

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Birdtales Series 3
Year of Production: 2006
Size/Scale: Bottlecap base 3.3 cm in diameter. Wingspan 2.5 cm for a scale of approximately 1:1.5-1:2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The butterfly is removable from its base; the butterfly is one piece but the entire figure requires some assembly.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Eurasia
Habitat: Females are found in open meadows; males are found along the edges and clearings of forests and woodlands. The two sexes generally only encounter one another for mating when the female enters the male's habitat.
Diet: Larvae feed on the inflorescence of a variety of plants in the family Brassicaceae, including Alliaria (garlic mustard), Arabis (rockcress), Barbarea (winter cress), Brassica (cabbage, turnip, kale), Capsella, Cardamine (bittercress), Isatis, Rorippa (yellowcress), and Thlastpi (pennycress); adults take nectar from flowers
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Anthocharis cardamines is not only sexually dimorphic, it also behaves differently between the sexes. Only males have the orange tip to their forewings that gives the butterfly its common name. Males spend almost their entire lives along forest edges and clearings, usually only crossing meadows to get to another forest margin. Females spend most of their time in meadows and fields, entering forests and the edges of forests to mate and then returning to the nearby meadows and fields.

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bmathison1972 wrote:

Species: Anthocharis cardamines (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): orange-tip

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Birdtales Series 3
Year of Production: 2006
Size/Scale: Bottlecap base 3.3 cm in diameter. Wingspan 2.5 cm for a scale of approximately 1:1.5-1:8
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The butterfly is removable from its base; the butterfly is one piece but the entire figure requires some assembly.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Eurasia
Habitat: Females are found in open meadows; males are found along the edges and clearings of forests and woodlands. The two sexes generally only encounter one another for mating when the female enters the male's habitat.
Diet: Larvae feed on the inflorescence of a variety of plants in the family Brassicaceae, including Alliaria (garlic mustard), Arabis (rockcress), Barbarea (winter cress), Brassica (cabbage, turnip, kale), Capsella, Cardamine (bittercress), Isatis, Rorippa (yellowcress), and Thlastpi (pennycress); adults take nectar from flowers
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Anthocharis cardamines is not only sexually dimorphic, it also behaves differently between the sexes. Only males have the orange tip to their forewings that gives the butterfly its common name. Males spend almost their entire lives along forest edges and clearings, usually only crossing meadows to get to another forest margin. Females spend most of their time in meadows and fields, entering forests and the edges of forests to mate and then returning to the nearby meadows and fields.

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Could it be that it is a figure from a trade long time ago

ha! I honestly don't remember where I got it, if it was a trade or an eBay purchase.

bmathison1972 wrote:

ha! I honestly don't remember where I got it, if it was a trade or an eBay purchase.

It was the first figure that i give up from my own collection :)

widukind wrote:

bmathison1972 wrote:

ha! I honestly don't remember where I got it, if it was a trade or an eBay purchase.

It was the first figure that i give up from my own collection :)

if I got it from you did it have the base? For some reason, I vaguely remember trading for the butterfly and rock/flower, but not the bottlecap base. And then later I bought a complete figure with the bottlecap base, too. But, I could be thinking of a different figure :)

bmathison1972 wrote:

widukind wrote:

bmathison1972 wrote:

ha! I honestly don't remember where I got it, if it was a trade or an eBay purchase.

It was the first figure that i give up from my own collection :)

if I got it from you did it have the base? For some reason, I vaguely remember trading for the butterfly and rock/flower, but not the bottlecap base. And then later I bought a complete figure with the bottlecap base, too. But, I could be thinking of a different figure :)

I will look, but i think (if ) i trade the figures i believe always complete.

Species: Dendrobates tinctorius (Cuvier, 1797)
Common name(s): dyeing dart frog; blue poison dart frog

About the Figures:
Manufacturers: Yujin; Colorata
Series: Frogs in Colour Pictorial Book; Tropical Rainforest Frogs
Years of Production: 2009; 2019 (2005)
Size/Scale: Snout-to-vent (SVL) length of Yujin figure approximately 3.0 cm for a scale of 1:1.2-1:1.6; SVL of Colorata figure approximately 3.5 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: The figure on the right represents the form 'azureus' (blue poison dart frog) and was made by Colorata for the Tropical Rainforest Frogs collection; mine is the 2019 release of a figure that originally came out in 2005. The figure on the left was produced by Yujin for the Frogs in Colour Pictorial Book in 2009.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Guiana Shield of South America (Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil); the form azureus is endemic to forested areas of the Sipaliwini Savanna in Suriname
Habitat: Rainforest, often in canopy gaps or in riparian areas; usually on or near the ground on rocks with moss, fallen branches, dead logs, etc.
Diet: Insects (particularly ants) and other terrestrial arthropods
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: The primary toxins carried by D. tinctorius are alkaloids referred to as pumiliotoxin (PTX); the frog acquires the toxins from the ingestion of fire ants and mites. PTX interferes with muscle contractions by affecting calcium channels, resulting in motor difficulties, clonic convulsions, paralysis, and even death. PTX can also affect sodium and potassium channels, impairing contractions of cardiac and respiratory muscles resulting in cardio-respiratory distress.

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Species: Dasyuroides byrnei Spencer, 1896
Common name(s): kowari; kariri; brushy-tailed marsupial rat

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Series: Yowies Series 2
Year of Production: 1998
Size/Scale: Head-to-body length approximately 5.0 cm for a scale of 1:2.7-1:3.6
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Being one of the original Australian Yowies, some assembly is required.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Australia. Endemic to desert areas of the Lake Eyre Basin, including the Sturt Stony Desert and Simpson Desert
Habitat: Gibber plains, usually those situated alongside grasslands, braided river channels, and sand dunes
Diet: Primarily terrestrial invertebrates; also rodents, small birds and bird eggs, reptiles, carrion
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Vulnerable
Miscellaneous Notes: Despite their small size, kowaris are voracious predators and use smell to detect prey. They primarily feed on terrestrial invertebrates but will hunt any small animal they encounter. They get their water from the food they consume. Kowaris are themselves prey for quolls, dingoes, and owls, as well as introduced predators such as red foxes and feral cats and dogs.

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A so much interesting specie

Species: Nipponia nippon (Temminck, 1835)
Common name(s): Japanese crested ibis; crested ibis; toki

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Natural Monuments of Japan
Year of Production: 2002
Size/Scale: Height (exclusive of base) 5.5 cm tall for a scale of approximately 1:12.7-1:14.5
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: Some assembly is required. All figures of this species I am aware of are 'gashapon'-style figures out of Japan. Kaiyodo produced this species as least two other times and others have been produced by Bandai, Eikoh, Colorata, Kitan Club, and Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Historically throughout much of East Asia and Japan. Current natural populations occur only in Shaanxi Province, China. Successful reintroductions have occured in other parts of China and Japan (Sado Island)
Habitat: Forested freshwater wetlands, agricultural fields, rice paddies; nesting usually occurs in treetops overlooking their habitat
Diet: Fish, amphibians, freshwater invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Endangered
Miscellaneous Notes: Nipponia nippon once occurred over much of East Asia and Japan. By 1980, their already naturally small populations were nearly decimated by overhunting, pesticide use, habitat destruction, and winter starvation. In 1981 they were considered extinct in the wild until natural populations were found in Shaanxi Province, China. Between 2008 and 2022, nearly 500 ibises were reintroduced to Sado Island in Japan. In April 2012, at least three chicks were discovered to have hatched in the wild on Sado Island, marking the first time N. nippon has been born in the wild in Japan in nearly 36 years. Since 2013, over 350 birds also live in Changnyeong-gun, a wetlands conservation center in South Korea, and there are tentative plans to try to reintroduce birds into the wild on the Korean Peninsula.

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One of the best figures of that ibis

Species: Calappa philargius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): spectacled box crab

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bandai
Series: Diversity of Life on Earth - Crabs
Year of Production: 2021
Size/Scale: Carapace width 7.0 cm for a scale of 1:1.4-1:2 for a male (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Some assembly may be required and the final product is articulated. Elements from this figure were shared with a Calappa lophos figure in the same set, but they are not exactly the same (at least the dorsal part of the carapace is different). The scale above is based on the carapace width of a male (10-15 cm), which the figure appears to be based on the morphology of the abdomen. Notice the left eye appears backwards; I am not sure if that was an assembly error in the factory, or if it was intentional to demonstrate how crabs can move their eyes. Either way, I cannot seem to easily correct it (assuming it's incorrect).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indo-Pacific
Habitat: Benthic, at depths of 0-100 meters
Diet: Hard-shelled invertebrates such as bivalves, gastropods, and other crabs
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Members of the genus Calappa, including C. philargius, have their right pincer specially adapted for breaking open the hard shells of their mollusk and crustacean prey.

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The crested ibis and the crab are both stunning. Beautiful background and photo of the ibis too.

Nice crab

widukind wrote:

One of the best figures of that ibis

I agre, it is beautiful.

rogerpgvg wrote:

Beautiful background and photo of the ibis too.

it's my newest Diormanansion background; I was happy to finally be able to use it!

Yes, I thought I didn't recognise it. It goes perfectly with the ibis.

Species: Todarodes pacificus (Steenstrup, 1880)
Common name(s): Japanese flying squid; Japanese common squid; Pacific flying squid

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Chocoegg Animatales Series 4
Year of Production: 2000
Size/Scale: Total figure length 7.0 cm. Mantle length 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:11 for a maximum-sized female specimen
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Being one of the original Chocoegg figures, some assembly is required and the squid is removable from its base.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Western and Northern Pacific, from Vietnam and Japan in the West to southern Alaska and Canada in the East.
Habitat: Pelagic, at depths of 0-500 meters (usually 0-100 meters)
Diet: Larvae feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton; adults feed on fish and marine invertebrates, including their own species
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Todarodes pacificus gets its common name 'flying squid' from its ability to propel itself above the surface of the water, sometimes upwards of 30 meters, to avoid predators or possibly to conserve energy while migrating over long distances.

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I like that squid

Species: Megaphasma denticrus (Stål, 1875)
Common name(s): giant walkingstick

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Imperial Toys
Series: unknown
Year of Production: 1998
Size/Scale: Body length (excluding appendages) 15.5 cm for a scale of 1.7:1-1.2:1 for a male specimen (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: I don't know much about this toy; I stumbled upon it on eBay back in early 2016 or so. It is not marketed at the genus or species level, but based on shape, presence of spurs on middle and hind femora, and the structure of the genitalia (it's sculpted after a male), M. denticrus seems like the best option. Also, many of Imperial Toys' insect figures are based on North American taxa. This is a figure I would have much rather photographed outside, but a Utah winter isn't appropriate for this species. For today's pic, I used a living Ficus that I keep in my living room, with a Bakku Background diorama display in the background.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Central and South-central United States
Habitat: Woodlands, forests, grasslands, grape farms
Diet: Foliage of grasses, hardwood trees, grape vines; common natural host plants include Tilia (basswood), Betula (birch), Cornus (dogwood), Celtis (hackberry), Quercus (oak), Carya (hickory, pecan), and Prunus (wild cherry)
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Megaphasma denticrus is a master of disguise, spending the day hidden among twigs they resemble and becoming active at night to feed. Females of M. denticrus do not have ovipositors capable of depositing eggs in plant tissue. Instead, females will lay their eggs in the branches of trees and then flick them to the ground. Hatching occurs in the spring, and young nymphs must find their way back to and up a host tree. Even as adults, M. dentricus is not capable of flight, so migration and expansion to new host trees usually only advances a few hundred meters per season. As such, infestations on ornamental trees and grape plants usually do not cause widespread damage.

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fine dispaly!

Species: Chauliodus sloani (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Common name(s): Sloan's viperfish

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Colorata
Series: Deep Sea Fish
Year of Production: 2015 (2009)
Size/Scale: Total figure height 9.0 cm (see below). Body length approximately 8.0 cm for a scale of 1:4.4
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Some assembly is required and the fish is removable from its base; the acrylic rod can be cut to the desired length of the collector and the total height above is specifically for mine as shown in this image. Today's figure is the 2015 release of a figure that originally came out in 2009, although there is no significant difference between the two releases.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide in temperate and tropical oceans and seas
Habitat: Bathypelagic, at depths of 200-4,700 meters (usually 494-1,000 meters)
Diet: Other fish, crustaceans; larger specimens tend to be more strictly piscivorous while smaller specimens consume a larger amount of crustaceans
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Chauliodus sloani can unhinge its lower jaw, allowing it to consume prey up to around 60% its own body size. Common prey of C. sloani are lanternfishes, and it uses a photophore at the end of its specialized dorsal fin to lure them. Chauliodus sloani has a long straight intestine and a distendable stomach; it might eat on average only once every 12 days or so, and as such it has a relatively slow metabolism.

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