Mathison Museum of Natural History

Beautiful model and display!

Truly an impressive deep sea monster. 

Species: Ambystoma mexicanum (Shaw & Nodder, 1798)
Common name(s): axolotl

About the Figure:
Manufacturers: Kaiyodo; Yowie Group
Series: Choco Q Animatales Pet Series 4; Wild Water Series
Years of Production: 2004; 2019
Size/Scale: Body length of Kaiyodo figure approximately 7.2 cm for a scale of 1:4.2. The body length of the Yowie is approximately 6.0 cm, which would come to a scale of 1:5; however, it has a shorter tail than the Kaiyodo figure and other metrics put it at a similar scale as the Kaiyodo figure.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: The figure on the left is by Kaiyodo for the fourth release of the Choco Q Animatales Pet Series in 2004. Being one of the original Choco Q figures, some assembly is required. Although it represents the wild type morph, being in one of the pet collections the sculpt also came painted as two domestic variants, leucistic (pale pink with black eyes) and golden albino (gold with golden eyes). To my knowledge, this is the only figure of this species that comes painted as a wild type. The figure on the right is by Yowie Group for their Wild Water Series in 2019. The Kaiyodo figure was my initial purchase, as I originally only wanted the wild type. Later when I decided I also wanted the more familiar leucistic variant, I chose the Yowie Group figure as I wanted a different company and style (I didn't just want two different paint variants of the same sculpt). Ikimon also produced leucistic and golden albino variants, but Yowie Group figures are cheaper and easier to get in the US and I like the charm of the Yowies!

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Mexico. Originally endemic to Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in the Valley of Mexico; today only Lake Xochimilco remains
Habitat: freshwater high-altitude lakes
Diet: Freshwater invertebrates, fish, amphibians (even their own species)
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Critically Endangered
Miscellaneous Notes: Ambystoma mexicanum is a paedomorphic salamander and is unusual in that it doesn't undergo metamorphosis before reaching adulthood. Most other members of the genus Ambystoma undergo traditional metamorphosis, whereby the adults lose their larval gills and live as adults on land. However, the axolotl lacks the thyroid stimulating hormone that is necessary to undergo metamorphosis. As such, the adult axolotl retains its larval gills and continues to live in water for the remainder of its life.

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Species: Coccinella hasegawai Miyatake, 1963

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Capsule Q Museum - Japanese Alps
Year of Production: 2014
Size/Scale: Body length 3.0 cm for a scale of 5:1-4.2:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the third species of Coccinella we've seen in the Museum, and there is yet one more that hasn't been showcased! Having been a while since I obtained this figure (nearly a decade!), I cannot remember if assembly is required or not (it is for other figures in the set).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Japan (Central Honshu), Russia (South Kurils)
Habitat: Montane forest
Diet: Small, soft-bodied insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: I had trouble researching biological information on this species and some of the above information is inferred from other members of the genus. Coccinella hasegawai appears to be endemic to the Japanese Alps on the island of Honshu (Japan) and mountianous regions of the volcanic islands Iturup and Urup (Kuril Islands, Russia). Presumably, like other coccinellids, they feed on soft-bodied auchenorrhynchan insects such as aphids, psyllids, and scales.

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Species: Golofa eacus Burmeister, 1847

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: DeAgostini
Series: World Insect Data Book
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (excluding appendages) approximately 4.0 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The DeAgostini insects 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. I photographed today's beetle from a lateral point of view without the lid so the reader can appreciate the cephalic and thoracic armature of the male specimen.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: South America (Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina)
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical rainforest
Diet: Larvae breed in rotting wood, including that of Ceiba; adults have been recorded feeding on young stems of Chusquea (South American bamboo)
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Very little is known about the biology of scarab beetles in the genus Golofa; the information above is from random studies and data on host trees and adult diet are probably not complete.

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Very realistic unique model!

Species: Gallus gallus domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): German Leghorn; Italiener

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Schleich
Series: Farm World
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: Height (excluding base) approximately 5.5 cm for a scale of roughly 1:7.4
Frequency of breed in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Indeterminant (see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: When I first bought this rooster I was looking for a 'traditional' barnyard rooster, for when I started the synoptic non-arthropod part of my collection. When I later decided to expand my collection to include other breeds of poultry, I set out trying to identify this breed. For a while, I had it databased as 'German Bantam' but since have come to learn that bantam isn't a breed, but rather a small variety that can occur among several breeds. In researching what breed this rooster might represent, and under the assumption it was a German breed given that Schleich is based out of Germany, possible options included German Langshan (Deutsches Langschan), Bergische Kräher, German Leghorn (Italiener), Vorwerk (Vorwekhuhn), and possibly several others. I chose to have mine represent the Leghorn, given the length of the comb and wattle and the white feathers at the base of the tail. I am not sure if this is what Schleich intended (their website doesn't indicate), but it is what I finally settled on. Several toy roosters have this general appearance and might represent the same breed.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Breed originated in northern Italy and is now bred throughout much of the world (see below)
Habitat: Farmlands, pastures, urban backyards
Diet: Grains, seeds, insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Domesticated
Miscellaneous Notes: Leghorn chickens were first bred in the Tuscan region of northern Italy, although the origin of the breed and when it originated is not fully understood. Leghorns were exported to the United States in the early-mid 1800s and included in the American Standard of Perfection in 1874. Leghorns were introduced to Britain from the U.S. in 1870. It is now bred in many countries throughout the World as a major producer of white eggs. The German Leghorn was also bred to increase its weight in order to become a dual purpose chicken (meat and eggs).

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Species: Idea leuconoe Erichson, 1834
Common name(s): paper kite; large tree nymph

About the Figure:
Manufacturers: Safari Ltd.
Series: Butterflies of the World Collectors Case
Years of Production: 2001
Size/Scale: Wingspan 5.0 cm for a scale of 1:2.4-1:2.8
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is our fourth look at I. leuconoe in the Museum. This figure came with an obvious anatomical error, the presence of tails on the hind wings (see inset). I normally don't like to alter figures, but since this was such a simple fix to make it a slightly more accurate figure, I cut the tails off. Despite the presence of tails, we know it was intended to be I. leucone as the figures in the set were marketed at the species level. This same sculpt (including the presence of tails) with a very similar paint job was used by K&M International for their Butterflies Nature Tube. K&M didn't market their butterflies at the species level, but I am assuming it was influenced by the Safari figure and also represents I. leuconoe; I possess this toy as well, and it will be reviewed in the Museum at a later date. Safari Ltd. also produced I. leuconoe (sans tails) in 1997 for the Authentics Butterflies collection; that figure was showcased in the Museum back on November 6, 2021.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Taiwan, southern Japan, northern Australia
Habitat: Lowland forests, mangrove swamps
Diet: Larvae feed on plants in the genera Parsonsia, Tylophora, and Cynanchum; adults take nectar from flowers.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The contrasting black and white color of the wings is an example of aposematism, whereby an animal will exhibit bright and often flashy contrasting colors to let a would-be predator know they are venomous, poisonous, or at least distasteful to eat.

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Species: Cyclommatus elaphus Gestro, 1881

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kabaya
Series: Insect Directory
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Wood base 5.0 cm long. Body length (including mandibles) 5.5 cm for a scale of appoximately 1:2 for a large male specimen
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is our third look at C. elaphus in the Museum. The insect is safely removable from its base.

About the Animal
Geographic distribution: Indonesia
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Larvae feed in decaying logs with white rot; adults feed on tree sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Cyclommatus elaphus is the largest species in its genus; major males can reach a length of 10.9 (including mandibles).

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big species!

Species: Eumenes micado Cameron, 1904
Common name(s): potter wasp

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bandai
Series: Diversity of Life on Earth - Potter Wasps
Year of Production: 2022
Size/Scale: Total figure height (as shown in my pic) 16.0 cm. Length of front wing 7.5 cm for a scale of 7.1:1-6.3:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This model is large, requires assembly, is articulated, and may be expensive. Like others in the Diversity of Life on Earth line, it is a model for serious collectors and not a toy to be played with. In an example of design ingenuity, the nest also functions as the gashapon capsule! Also interesting, and somewhat bizarre, is that the set-up does not come with the neutral base and supportive arm that holds the nest up and supports the wasp; the collector is expected to use a base from another Diversity figure. Luckily, I don't display most of my Diversity figures on their bases, so I had extras on-hand (in this case, it was probably from one of the mantids or caterpillars). This set also included a figure of the potter wasp Phimenes flavopictus, and uses the same nest style; however, that species constructs a different kind of mud nest. Bandai probably figured it was more cost productive to use the same nest style for the two species, even though it is only accurate for the E. micado.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Japan
Habitat: Woodland edges, shrubby meadows, suburban areas; nests are usually constructed om slender twigs of shrubs and trees, plant roots under overhanging cliffs, and wooded surfaces of human infrastructure
Diet: Larvae are fed lepidopteran larvae from various families that are provisioned by the parent; adults feed on nectar from flowers
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Potter wasps are named for their method of nest building. Eumenes micado is a solitary species. After the female constructs the mud-based nest, it provisions it with prey for the developing larva (there is only one egg laid in a nest). Prey for E. micado are the larvae of moths in several families; other potter wasps are more selective on what they provision their nests with.

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Stunning model!

very big model!

Species: Tachypleus tridentatus (Leach, 1819)
Common name(s): Japanese horseshoe crab; tri-spine horseshoe crab

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Natural Monuments of Japan
Year of Production: 2002
Size/Scale: Body length 8.4 for a scale of 1:6.4 for a male specimen (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon to rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen T. tridentatus in the Museum. Minimal assembly is required. The scale above is calculated based on a male specimen, as this figure appears to be based on the length of the lateral spines.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Western Pacific, from Japan to Indonesia
Habitat: Benthic; in coastal marine and brackish waters at depths of 0-20 meters
Diet: Benthic invertebrates, algae
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Endangered
Miscellaneous Notes: Tachypleus tridentatus has been classified as Endangered by the IUCN since 2019. Major threats to the species include over-fishing, pollution, and habitat destruction of their breeding grounds.

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Species: Bubo virginianus (Gmelin, 1788)
Common name(s): great horned owl; hoot owl

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Wings of the World
Year of Production: 2006
Size/Scale: Wingspan 12.5 cm for a scale of approximately 1:7.3-1:12.2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: A common and familiar species, B. virginianus is not well-represented in the toy/figure realm. The only other 'standard' figure that comes to mind is by Mojö Fun in 2018, and like many of Mojö's figures, the paint job is rather simple. A few other versions occur as tube-sized figures and 4D Master made a large puzzle model.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: North America to southern South America (Uruguay)
Habitat: Highly variable, including deciduous, coniferous, and mixed woodlands, pampas, grasslands and prairie, deserts, agricultural lands, and suburban areas, such as parks, cemeteries, college campuses, and yards; generally absent from the hearts of deserts and rainforests
Diet: Generalist predator on small terrestrial animals, including small mammals, bird and their chicks, reptiles, insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Bubo virginianus is monogamous, and breeding pairs are highly territorial. Great horned owls do not build their own nests and typically use abandoned nests of other large birds, such as hawks and eagles, squirrels, and other arboreal animals. Nests may also occur in cavernous hollows of dead trees. Nesting sites usually occur from 4.5-22.0 meters above the ground and in areas with fertile hunting grounds. Egg clutches can range in size from 1-6 eggs, with 2 eggs being the most common. The female incubates the eggs, and the male brings her food. The incubation period averages about a month and chicks fledge in 6-9 weeks and achieve independence in 5-10 weeks.

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Beautieful owl

.. indeed!