Mathison Museum of Natural History

Species: Papilio zelicaon Lucas, 1852
Common name(s): anise swallowtail

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Toy Major
Series: Butterflies
Year of Production: 1996
Size/Scale: Wingspan approximately 6.5 cm for a scale of 1:1.1-1:1.4
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen P. zelicaon in the Museum. The Toy Major butterflies are somewhat of an enigma. There are 12 sculpts, labeled A-L on the underside as well as the copyright year of 1996. Each sculpt has been painted multiple times, resulting in anywhere from 24-36 figures (maybe more?). Also, the different repaints may have been released over multiple years while retaining the 1996 mark. They were sold in sets of various numbers. They are not marketed at the species level, but most are painted to look like recognizable species (the identifications are mine or by other forum members). Today's identification is mine, and admittedly tenuous and tentative, but I couldn't come up with anything better at the time. When one studies and collected butterfly figures, patterns emerge in painting styles and one can often come up with a plausible identification.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Western North America
Habitat: Open hills and mountains, fields, gardens, disturbed areas, roadsides
Diet: Larvae feed on several plants in the families Apiaceae (carrot family) and Rutaceae (rues, citrus); adults take nectar from flowers
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern [NatureServe status Secure]
Miscellaneous Notes: Male P. zelicaon are territorial and will perch on hilltops and other high ground to patrol for receptive females. If multiple males attempt to use the same spot, they will engage in aggressive dances to claim the territory!

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Species: Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758
Common name(s): red squirrel; Eurasian red squirrel

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: CollectA
Series: Wildlife
Year of Production: 2011
Size/Scale: Body length difficult to calculate due to the posture of the body, but using hind foot length as a metric (n=1.3 cm) scale comes to approximately 1:3.9-1:4.8
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is CollectA’s second representation of the species; the original ran from 2006-2011. Other nice recent examples of this species are those by Schleich (2013) and Papo (2020).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Palearctic
Habitat: Boreal coniferous forests, deciduous and mixed forests, copses, suburban parks and gardens
Diet: Primarily tree seeds and nuts, berries and other fruits, fungi; when these are not available, diet may be supplemented with buds, bark, flowers, shoots, leaves, lichens, bird eggs and nestlings, invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Populations of S. vulgaris in the United Kingdom and Ireland have dropped rapidly, upwards of 80% in some areas, following the introduction of the American grey squirrel (S. carolinensis). The grey squirrels carry a virus, the squirrelpox virus (SQPV), which while not typically deadly to the grey squirrels, can be fatal to the red squirrels.

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Species: Columba livia Gmelin, 1789
Common name(s): rock dove; rock pigeon; domestic pigeon

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Capsule Q Museum - Invasive Species & New Friends
Year of Production: 2015
Size/Scale: Scale difficult to calculate but body length approximately 7.0 cm for a scale of 1:4-1:5.3
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Some assembly is required. Kaiyodo produced this figure in two color forms. While both figures represent feral domestic pigeons, today's is painted more like a wild type while the other exhibits the ash-red phenotype. The Papo pigeon from 2023, which doesn't require assembly, is of a comparable size. I actually considered replacing this Kaiyodo figure with the one by Papo, to have one that doesn't require assembly, but the Kaiyodo figure is just too good!

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Cosmopolitan. Native to North Africa, Mediterranean Europe, Middle East, and Central and Southwest Asia; introduced to much of the rest of the world after domestication.
Habitat: Wild populations nest in crevices along rocky cliffs along shores and open shrub vegetation; feral populations live among farmland and agricultural fields and in urban and suburban areas.
Diet: Seeds; in urban and suburban areas, pigeons will eat organic human refuse such as popcorn and other corn products, bread products, peanuts
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Columba livia is one of the oldest domesticated birds, although little is known about the specifics of its domestication, such as when, how many times, and where they were domesticated. The earliest written records of domestic pigeons come from Mesopotamia around 5,000 years ago. They were known to be kept by both the Ancient Egyptians and Mughal Empire. Feral domestic pigeons have interbred with wild rock doves quite extensively, to the point that pure wild-type birds may be extinct or nearly so; it also makes it extremely difficult to use genetic markers to elucidate the origins of domestication.

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A great figure The reason why I still didnt buy the Papo

Great

Species: Mesotopus tarandus (Swederus, 1787)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: DeAgostini
Series: World Insect Data Book
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including mandibles) approximately 8.0 cm, within scale 1:1 for a large major male
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is our seventh look at M. tarandus in the Museum. 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.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Equatorial West Africa (Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana)
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Larvae breed in rotting logs colonized by very specific fungi; adult feeding habits not well-documented but probably attracted to sap flows.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Sometimes called the 'African Demon', M. tarandus is one of the largest stag beetles in Africa. That is probably why it is the only African species routinely made by Japanese companies. It is also cultivated in terraria, but can be difficult to rear because it requires a substrate supplemented with specific fungi.

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Species: Mustela itatsi Temminck, 1844
Common name(s): Japanese weasel

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Natural Monuments - Claws of the Isolated Island
Year of Production: 2002
Size/Scale: Body length (including tail) approximately 6.5 cm for a scale of 1:6.9-1:8 (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure is a reissue of a model that was originally produced for the fourth set of Chocoegg Animatales. A translucent red version was also produced for the Natural Monuments special release. By the way, the Natural Monuments used here should not be confused with the Natural Monuments of Japan collection. Being one of the original Chocoegg Animatales figures, assembly is required. The scale above was calculated based on a male, and females are smaller (approximately 1/3 the size of a male by weight).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Native to Japan (Honshū, Kyūshū, and Shikoku); introduced to much of the rest of Japan (e.g., Hokkaidō and the Ryukyu Islands) and Russia (Sakhalin) for rodent control
Habitat: Mountainous riparian forests, grasslands, suburban areas
Diet: Rodents, small reptiles, amphibians, crayfish
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Near Threatened
Miscellaneous Notes: Mustela itatsi is most closely related to the Siberian weasel, M. sibirica and is often considered a subspecies of it. The two differ morphologically in the ration of body to tail length. Molecular studies suggest the two species diverged about 1.6-1.7 million years ago in the Early Pleistocene. Native to the Asian mainland, the Siberian weasel has been introduced to Honshū, Kyūshū, and Shikoku in Japan where the two species now overlap.

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very fine model!

A lovely figure

Species: Chrysocyon brachyurus (Illiger, 1815)
Common name(s): maned wolf

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: CollectA
Series: Wildlife
Year of Production: 2013
Size/Scale: Height at shoulders approximately 5.0 cm for a scale of 1:18-1:22
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This was the only modern standard-sized example of this species available until Safari Ltd. produced a slightly larger version in 2021. Many collectors seem to favor CollectA's however, due to the larger size and awkward posture of Safari's.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: East-central South America (northern Argentina, South and Central Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, northern Peru)
Habitat: Grassland, savanna, cerrado, dry shrub forest and forest edges, swamps, riparian areas
Diet: General omnivore, including small mammals, birds and bird eggs, reptiles, fish, mollusks, insects, sugarcane, tubers and roots, bulbs, fruit
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Near Threatened
Miscellaneous Notes: Chrysocyon brachyurus is the largest South American canid and the tallest extant canid. It is probably best known for its very long legs, which are probably an adaptation for hunting among the tall grasses of its natural habitat.

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Beautiful

Species: Chelodina reimanni Philippen & Grossman, 1990
Common name(s): Reimann's snake-necked turtle

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Furuta
Series: Choco Egg Animatales Funny Series 2
Year of Production: 2003
Size/Scale: Total figure length approximately 6.3 cm. Carapace length approximately 3.5 cm for a scale of 1:5.9 for a female or 1:4.4 for a male.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Assembly is required.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: New Guinea
Habitat: Freshwater rivers, marshes, swamps
Diet: Mollusks, crayfish, insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Near Threatened
Miscellaneous Notes: Chelodina reimanni prefers to live in shallow, marshy ponds where the water is consistently greater than 30°C. During the dry season (August-October), the turtle will usually aestivate in the mud.

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Species: Eupromus ruber (Dalman, 1817)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bandai
Series: Diversity of Life on Earth - Premium Longhorn Beetles
Year of Production: 2024
Size/Scale: Body length (exclusive of appendages) approximately 6.0 cm for a scale of 3:1 (see below)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This model is large, requires assembly, and the final product is articulated. I had trouble researching metrics for this species to calculate scale, and the above scale is based on mounted specimens online.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: East Asia (China, Taiwan, Korean Peninsula, Japan)
Habitat: Evergreen, broadleaf, and mixed forests
Diet: Larvae develop in the wood of living trees, including Camphora (camphor tree), Cunninghamia (China-fur), and Persea; adults presumably feed on bark and sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The average life cycle of E. ruber is three years. Females lay eggs at oviposition sites in the summer. Eggs hatch after 7-10 days. Larvae spend almost two years in the host tree and pupate the summer after that. Eclosed adults remain in the host tree until the following spring.

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About Maned wolf toys, I have the CollectA and Safari Ltd and I think the weirdest is the CollectA

About Eupromus ruber I love it, I only buy one model form this set because of lack of place but my heart is bleeding. Your outside picture is really realistic.

Species: Burramys parvus Broom, 1896
Common name(s): mountain pygmy possum

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Series: Yowies UK Series 2
Year of Production: 1998
Size/Scale: Body length (exclusive of tail) approximately 4 cm for a scale of 1:2.8
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Cadbury also made this species for the Australian Yowies line, although that figure requires assembly and is more stylized than today's.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Alpine southeastern Australia (Victoria and New South Wales)
Habitat: Alpine rock screes and boulder fields
Diet: Insects, fruits, seeds, nuts, nectar
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Critically Endangered
Miscellaneous Notes: Burramys parvus is a specialist predator on the Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa), and the moth is the possum's primary food source during the spring and summer when the moths migrate to the high alpine mountains. This also correlates with the possum's breeding season. Outside of these seasons, the possum supplements its diet with plant material, primarily fruits and seeds. Favorite plants include Podocarpus lawrencei (Errinundra plum-pine), Leucopogon (heaths), and Rubus (blackberry).

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Species: Ochotona hyperborea (Pallas, 1811)
Common name(s): northern pika

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Chocoegg Animatales Series 5
Year of Production: 2001
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 4.3 cm for a scale of 1:2.9-1:4.3
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Being one of the original Chocoegg figures, some assembly is required. It's possible this figure was reissued for special sets, as was common for Chocoegg figures.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Montane eastern and northeastern Asia, including Russian Far East (including Sakhalin Island), Mongolia, China (Manchuria), North Korea, Japan (Hokkaido)
Habitat: Alpine screes and rocky slopes, boulder fields, coniferous woodlands, Alpine meadows; burrows are usually made at the edges of rocks, fallen logs, and tree stumps
Diet: Grasses, sedges, flowers, twigs, stems, pine needles; also their own droppings, especially nocturnally-deposited black droppings
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Despite their similarity to rodents, pikas are lagomorphs and are related to rabbits and hares. They are known for their 'singing'. During the breeding season, males use a call composed of chattering sounds followed by a sequence of loud, sharp whistles. Individual animals have unique calls. A shorter call is used between breeding pairs to announce each other's presence or to warn of a potential predator in the area.

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Species: Chaetodon lunula (de Lacépède, 1802)
Common name(s): raccoon butterflyfish; crescent-marked butterflyfish; lunule butterflyfish; halfmoon butterflyfish

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Maia & Borges
Series: Tropical Fish
Year of Production: 2012 (2001)
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 8.5 cm for a scale of 1:2.4 for a maximum-sized specimen
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (unique as a sculpt; see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: Maia & Borges first produced this figure in 2001 for Schleich, and was retired after one year. Maia & Borges reissued it twice under their own brand. I am not sure of the first time, but it was probably in 2002 or 2003 after Schleich retired their model. My version is from a 2012 release. Chaetodon lunula is variable in color, and the Schleich and M&B releases have slightly different, albeit both accurate, paint jobs (and I kinda actually prefer the original Schleich version).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indo-Pacific and extreme Southeast Atlantic (South Africa)
Habitat: Coral reefs, shallow reef flats; at depths of 0-170 meters
Diet: Benthic invertebrates, coral polyps, algae
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Chaetodon lunula is popular in the aquarium trade as it is generally not aggressive towards other fish, with a couple notable exceptions being lionfish and triggerfish. It can live up to seven years in captivity if well cared for.

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Nice fish

Species: †Platyhystrix rugosus (Case, 1910)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Play Visions
Series: Prehistoric Amphibians
Year of Production: 1998
Size/Scale: Figure length 7.2 cm. Using the skull as a metric (n=1.5 cm), scale comes to approximately 1:12.7
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This is one of several unique species in Play Visions' Prehistoric Amphibians collection (although nothing in the set is well represented in the toy/figure realm). This is one of the most popular and sought-after sets by Play Visions! Many of Play Visions' figures were based on popular books at the time. In this case, the sculpts and paint jobs for the Prehistoric Amphibians were based on the original 1998 edition of the Macmillan Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Late Pennsylvanian (Gzhelian) to Early Permian of present-day southwestern North America
Habitat: Swamp forests
Diet: Arthropods, worms, other amphibians, other small vertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [prehistoric]
Miscellaneous Notes: Platyhystrix rugosus possessed a sail on its back, much like the contemporary synapsids Dimetrodon and Edaphosaurus. Given that such a feature is seen in different taxa in the same era, it probably represents convergent evolution for some environmental pressure. A likely theory is that the sail was used for thermoregulation, but any of the theories applied to Dimetrodon and Edaphosaurus could easily apply to Platyhistrix as well, including sexual display and species regulation, fat storage, or intimidating would-be predators.

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Species: Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s): European robin; robin redbreast

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Papo
Series: Wild Animals/Garden Animals
Year of Production: 2021
Size/Scale: Body length approximately 5.8 cm for a scale of 1:2.1-1:2.4
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: In 2023, Papo moved several of the figures in their Wild Animals line into a new line, Garden Animals, including today's robin. In 2021, members of the STS forum voted today's European robin Figure of the Year in their annual contest, and anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing this figure in-hand should have no reason to question that result!

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Europe to Western Siberia, with some populations wintering in North Africa and parts of the Middle East
Habitat: Woodlands, farmland, heathland, parks and gardens
Diet: During the breeding season, insects and other terrestrial invertebrates; in the winter, the diet is supplemented with berries and fruit
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Throughout most of its range, Erithacus rubecula doesn't vary enough to form distinct subspecies, and those that are recognized usually represent populations on islands and mountains. There are two populations in the Canary Islands that are quite distinct and may warrant recognition as separate species, the Gran Canaria (E. r. marionae) and Tenerife (E. r. superbus) subspecies. They are morphologically distinguished from other European robins by having a more prominent white eye-ring, an intensely colored breast, a grey line demarcating the orange and brown coloration, and their bellies are pure white. Their vocalizations are also different. Genetic analysis of the cytochrome b oxidase gene suggests the Canary Islands subspecies are distinct and are probably derived from mainland birds that arrived on the islands 2 million years ago.

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