Mathison Museum of Natural History

Beautiful species, model and display!

Nice hummingbirds

Species: Metagoniochernes tomiyamai Sato, 1991

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Capsule Q Museum - Tokyo
Year of Production: 2013
Size/Scale: Body length of both sexes approximately 3.8 cm for a scale of 7.9:1-6.8:1. Legspan of male approximately 8.5 cm.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique (as a pair)
Miscellaneous Notes: The figure with the longer pedipalps is the male; the figure with the shorter pedipalps is the female. Some assembly is required for both sexes. Other than vintage rubbery 'jiggler' toys (and similar that were probably influenced by the Creepy Crawly Thing Maker kit), these are the only figures of pseudoscorpions I am aware of, certainly the only by modern, well-known companies.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Japan; endemic to the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands
Habitat: Distylium-Schima dry forests; usually on the trunks and leaf sheaths of the endemic screwpine, Pandanus boninensis.
Diet: Unknown; presumably small insects and mites
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Metagoniochernes tomiyamai was originally known to inhabit the Ogasawara Islands of Ototojima, Hahajima, Chichijima, and Anijima, but now is found mostly on Anijima. Pseudoscorpions are overall rather small arachnids. There are over 3,300 described species and at 4.8-5.6 mm in length, M. tomiyamai is one of the largest known pseudoscorpions in the world!

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Very real

Species: Rhaetulus didieri De Lisle, 1970

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Sega
Series: Mushi King - standard series, small
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including mandibles) approximately 5.5 cm for a scale of 1:1.5 for a major male
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen R. didieri in the Museum. The Sega 'small standard series' were 10 sets of 10 figures each, for a total of 100 figures representing 65-75 species of Lucanidae and dynastine Scarabaeidae. The dates of release are currently unknown to me (c. 2008). 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 sets, please see the overview by forum member Beetle guy here.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Malaysia
Habitat: Tropical broadleaf forests
Diet: Larvae feed in rotting wood; adults presumably feed on tree sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: I had difficulty researching biological information about this species. Adults apparently are found among recently felled or uprooted trees (presumably where oviposition takes place) in dense montane forests above 750 meters.

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Beautiful model and display!

Species: Atrax robustus Cambridge, 1877
Common name(s): Sydney funnelweb spider

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: K&M International
Series: Australia's Deadliest Nature Tube
Year of Production: 2018
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 3.2 cm, within scale 1:1 for a female
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the third time we've seen A. robustus in the Museum. This is probably one of the weaker versions of this species. It has the inherent features of a mygalomorph spider but has only two eyes. Better versions in and around the 1:1 scale range include those by Science and Nature (2005) and Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (2010).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Australia (Sydney Region in New South Wales)
Habitat: Gullies, forests, gardens, compost heaps; usually in moist microhabitats, such as in soil and under rocks and logs
Diet: Invertebrates; occasionally small vertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Atrax robustus is considered the most venomous spider in the world. The toxin present in its venom is delta atrocotoxin, also known as δ-ACTX-Ar1, robustoxin, or robustotoxin. It is a neurotoxin and acts by slowing the inactivation of sodium ion channels in autonomic and motor neurons.

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Species: Aglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): small tortoiseshell

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: CollectA
Series: Little Wonders
Year of Production: 2010
Size/Scale: Wingspan approximately 7.0 cm for a scale of 1.5:1-1.1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen A. urticae in the Museum. The smaller figure in the image is the miniature counterpart of the larger figure; it was released in 2020 as part of the Mini Insects and Spiders collection. All of the figures in the mini collection are simply smaller versions of the standard-sized CollectA figures. The small figure has a wingspan of approximately 4.1 cm for a scale of 1:1.1-1:1.5. Interesting that the large figure is slightly over 1:1 for a large specimen and the smaller figure is slightly under 1:1 for a small specimen, so either might work for collectors of 1:1 models. And if anyone is curious, both figures have six functional ('walking') legs, inaccurate for members of the family Nymphalidae.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Widespread in Eurasia; rare vagrants to northeastern North America
Habitat: Fields, meadows, roadsides, parks and gardens
Diet: Larvae feed on plants in the genera Urtica (nettles) and Humulus (hops); adults feed on nectar from flowers
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern (Europe and Mediterranean, only)
Miscellaneous Notes: Aglais urticae hibernates as an adult butterfly. The butterfly can tolerate temperatures down to −29 °C in natural shelters above the snow cover; however, they can tolerate temperatures below −30 °C when wintering in shelters under the snow and away from the cold air.

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fine display!

Species: Leiurus quinquestriatus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1829)
Common name(s): deathstalker; Palestine yellow scorpion; Omdurman scorpion; Naqab desert scorpion

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.
Series: Scorpions
Year of Production: 2012
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 6.0 cm for a scale of 1:1.3-1:1.8
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Figures in this collection come with an amber acrylic base (see inset) with the Latin and Japanese names and the degree of toxicity on a 1-5 scale using skulls-and-crossbones.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: North Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Middle East, and Asia Minor to Central Asia (Kazakhstan and western India)
Habitat: Deserts, scrubland
Diet: Small insects, arachnids, and other terrestrial invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Leiurus quinquestriatus is one of the most venomous scorpions to humans, especially for the very young, elderly, immunocompromised, and those with heart conditions. Interestingly, however, one of the components of L. quinquestriatus venom, the peptide chlorotoxin, has shown some potential as an agent to help treat brain tumors.

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Very realistic!

Species: Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): tufted duck; tufted pochard

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Maia & Borges
Series: Water and Lake Birds
Year of Production: 2012
Size/Scale: Scale difficult to calculate, but measured along midline, body length approximately 9.3 cm for a scale of 1:4.4-1:4.9 for a male (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Kaiyodo also produced this species for their Choco Q Animatales line. Aythya fuligula is sexually dimorphic and this figure was modeled after a male specimen.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Widespread in Eurasia, wintering in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia; rare vagrant to North America
Habitat: During the breeding season, mostly in shallow lakes with thick vegetation; during the winter, mostly in larger open bodies of water such as marshes, lakes, estuaries, man-made ponds
Diet: Primarily freshwater mollusks; also other freshwater invertebrates and plant material
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern [Global]; Near Threatened [Europe]
Miscellaneous Notes: The tufted duck often flocks with other Aythya species, including the lesser scaup (A. affinis), greater scaup (A. marila), ferruginous duck (A. nyroca), and common pochard (A. ferina).

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It was a interesting serie by Maia and Borges

fine display!

Species: Argonauta hians Lightfoot, 1786
Common name(s): winged argonaut; brown paper nautilus

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Agatsuma Entertainment
Series: Amazing Creatures
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Shell length approximately 4.3 cm for a scale of 1:1.9-1:2.8 for a large female specimen (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Figures in this set came with a base (see inset). Unfortunately, the plastic rod snapped flush in the body of my figure, so I can't display it on its base anymore. Argonauta hians is sexually dimorphic and this figure was modeled after a female. Kaiyodo also made this species for their Kurosio Komekko Series.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and boreal seas and oceans
Habitat: Pelagic, at depths of 0-1,280 meters
Diet: Primarily pelagic mollusks, but also other pelagic invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Argonauta hians has been known to attach itself to pelagic jellyfish. The reasons for this behavior are not entirely understood, but its been suggested the nautilus uses the jellyfish for cover and defense against would-be predators or possibly as a hunting platform for getting closer to its own prey.

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Wow those pseudoscorpions are so cool and would be quite convincing if left on a countertop somewhere.

Jill wrote:

Wow those pseudoscorpions are so cool and would be quite convincing if left on a countertop somewhere.

True, but they are delicate figures and if someone tried to swat them, they might break them

bmathison1972 wrote:

Species: Argonauta hians Lightfoot, 1786
Common name(s): winged argonaut; brown paper nautilus

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Agatsuma Entertainment
Series: Amazing Creatures
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Shell length approximately 4.3 cm for a scale of 1:1.9-1:2.8 for a large female specimen (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Figures in this set came with a base (see inset). Unfortunately, the plastic rod snapped flush in the body of my figure, so I can't display it on its base anymore. Argonauta hians is sexually dimorphic and this figure was modeled after a female. Kaiyodo also made this species for their Kurosio Komekko Series.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and boreal seas and oceans
Habitat: Pelagic, at depths of 0-1,280 meters
Diet: Primarily pelagic mollusks, but also other pelagic invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Argonauta hians has been known to attach itself to pelagic jellyfish. The reasons for this behavior are not entirely understood, but its been suggested the nautilus uses the jellyfish for cover and defense against would-be predators or possibly as a hunting platform for getting closer to its own prey.

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Wow, is it a other specie than the Kaiyodo Argonaut?

widukind wrote:

bmathison1972 wrote:

Species: Argonauta hians Lightfoot, 1786
Common name(s): winged argonaut; brown paper nautilus

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Agatsuma Entertainment
Series: Amazing Creatures
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Shell length approximately 4.3 cm for a scale of 1:1.9-1:2.8 for a large female specimen (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Figures in this set came with a base (see inset). Unfortunately, the plastic rod snapped flush in the body of my figure, so I can't display it on its base anymore. Argonauta hians is sexually dimorphic and this figure was modeled after a female. Kaiyodo also made this species for their Kurosio Komekko Series.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and boreal seas and oceans
Habitat: Pelagic, at depths of 0-1,280 meters
Diet: Primarily pelagic mollusks, but also other pelagic invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Argonauta hians has been known to attach itself to pelagic jellyfish. The reasons for this behavior are not entirely understood, but its been suggested the nautilus uses the jellyfish for cover and defense against would-be predators or possibly as a hunting platform for getting closer to its own prey.

Wow, is it a other specie than the Kaiyodo Argonaut?

No, it is the same species.

Species: Pulchriphyllium giganteum (Hausleithner, 1984)
Common name(s): giant Malaysian leaf insect

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Smithsonian Insects
Year of Production: 1997
Size/Scale: Body length (excluding appendages) approximately 14.0 cm for a scale of 1.4:1-1.3:1 for a large female specimen (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This was probably the first figure of this species by a major established company; it is one of four in my collection (the others are by DeAgostini, Takara Tomy A.R.T.S., and Furuta). Pulchriphyllium giganteum is sexually dimorphic and this figure was modeled after a female specimen.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southeast Asia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java)
Habitat: Tropical rainforest
Diet: Folivorous. I had trouble researching natural host plants. Several online resources mention Rubus (bramble), Quercus (oak), Rosa (rose), Pyrus (Indian wild pear), and Psidium (guava), but I think these are recommendations for feeding live specimens in captivity and not the animal's natural diet in the wild.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: In 2021, Pulchriphyllium was elevated from subgenus to genus-level rank based on the presence of lobes on both the inner and outer margins of the foretibiae. Phylogenetic analyses show Pulchriphyllium as a distinct clade that, along with Cryptophyllium and Microphyllium, split from Phyllium approximately 48-35 mya.

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