At this time I’m reviewing an ingenious assortment of spiders by Toy Spirits. The gathering known as 3D Image E-book Spiders of the World. The verbiage ‘3D Picture Book’ (or related) is used typically in Japanese figures, most notably by Yujin, however this time it is rather acceptable, because the figures come displayed in small books (extra on that beneath). The gathering simply got here out earlier this 12 months, however has a copyright date of 2018, which makes me assume this is perhaps a re-release (and primarily based on a typo on one of many bins, the 2018 version might have had a unique species composition!). All 5 figures are recognized by their Latin names within the books and from what I can inform, three of them are new/distinctive in toy kind (and the opposite two have been made lower than 5 occasions).
The set containes 5 small paper bins designed like little books. Every is itself a strap determine that may be additionally worn on a keychain. Inside the e-book is organic data and a mini diorama on which to show the spiders (I’ll do a step-by-step reveal beneath). The spiders themselves are high quality PVC. Whereas they might seem considerably stylized on account of their small dimension, they’re precisely painted each dorsally and ventrally. They fluctuate in complete size (together with appendages) between 3-4 cm.
First a take a look at the closed e-book and the acrylic base (for displaying the ultimate product, if desired):
Subsequent, open the e-book revealing the primary web page (on the suitable), which has the spider’s Latin and Japanese names, a picture of the species, and, in Japanese, the utmost physique lengths for female and male spiders, geographic distribution, and ecology:
Flip that web page, and the subsequent web page has one other {photograph} of the spider with extra data in Japanese. On the suitable, the plastic determine is enclosed in what’s going to change into the background of the mini diorama with an acrylic cowl:
This subsequent picture reveals the liberated spider, diorama background, and acrylic base:
Now that we have now seen the general presentation, let’s take a look at the person species. There are a number of methods to show the ultimate product, relying on how the diorama background is minimize and folded. I’m photographing them with their backgrounds right here for this Weblog evaluate, however I’m not sure I’ll show them that approach on my cabinets.
Mexican red-kneed tarantula, Brachypelma hamorii
There’s confusion to the identification of spiders known as Mexican red-knees. Traditionally, they have been often called Brachypelma smithi till the outline of a cryptic species, B. hamorii, in 1997. The 2 species are indistinguishable morphologically and may solely be separated by DNA barcoding and strict geographic distribution. Except a determine is particularly marketed on the species stage, I might historically assume it’s B. smithi. Nevertheless, this determine we’re seeing at the moment was particularly marketed as B. hamorii, most likely the very first to have been performed so! The 2 species are geographically separated by the Balsas River in Mexico, with B. hamorii discovered on the north aspect of the river within the states of Colima, Jalisco, and Michoacán. Its pure habitat is deciduous tropical forests. The determine measures 4.0 cm in complete size. The physique size (excluding appendages) is 2.2 cm for a scale of 1:2.4 for a mature feminine.
Redback spider, Latrodectus hasselti
This species is native to Australia however has been launched to New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Like different members of the genus Latrodectus, it’s venomous to individuals. Whole determine size is 4.0 cm. Physique size (minus appendages) is 1.5 cm for a scale of 1.5:1. Having been made three different occasions, that is surprisingly the best-represented species on this set!!! The opposite three are by Ok&M Worldwide, Science & Nature, and Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.
Adanson’s home jumper, Hasarius adansoni
Believed native to Africa and the Center East, this species now happens all through a lot of the world in hotter climates, together with the Americas, Europe, India, Laos, Vietnam, China, Japan, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Being an anthropophilic species, it will get round simply, most likely on introduce vegetation in gardens and greenhouses. Whole determine size 3.5 cm. Physique size (excluding appendages) 2.0 cm for a scale of two.5:1. That is the second consultant of this specie in toy kind, the opposite being by Kaiyodo.
Jorō spider, Trichonephila clavata
Native to Southeast Asia and Japan, this species has been launched to and is established within the Southeastern United States. Whole determine size 4.0 cm. Physique size (excluding appendages) 1.5 cm, just below 1:1 scale for a small feminine (regular physique size 1.7-2.5 cm). This species seems in Japanese folklore because the Jorōhumo, a shapeshifting creature that may flip from a spider into a phenomenal girl. As a human girl, Jorōhumo seduces males, binds them in her silk, after which devours them!
Hawaiian happy-face spider, Theridion grallator
That is the species I used to be most likely most excited for, and truthfully I’ve been secretly wishing for years Safari Ltd. would introduce one of their Unbelievable Creatures line. Because the frequent identify suggests, this species is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands the place it lives in moist forests. It’s normally discovered on underside of plant leaves. It will get the opposite half of its frequent identify from the distinctive smiling face-like design on the stomach. Whole determine size 3.1 cm. Physique size (excluding appendages) 1.4 cm for a scale of two.8:1.
Whether or not or not you just like the presentation, this set provides an opportunity to get a number of distinctive or very hardly ever made spider taxa. It comes extremely really useful for collectors of attention-grabbing taxa. On or off the diorama bases, in addition they take up little or no area and on the dioramas they’ve good shelf presence.
