Again with the final submit of the Panini marine animals, this time we’re entering into the not-bony fish, jawless and cartilaginous fish. Most excitingly, it contains certainly one of only a few lamprey figures! Which is my means of claiming that this one determine was major the rationale I picked up this set. On reflection, in all probability the one for me (collectors’ mileages might fluctuate). Let’s have a look! And see if it was price it!
However one final time, a reminder of the posts of the entire units:
- Group One: Cetaceans (whales and dolphins) 6 species, 7 figures
- Group Two: Marine carnivorans (bears, weasels, and pinnipeds), penguin, and sea turtle 7 species
- Group Three: Invertebrates (starfish, jellyfish, mollusks, and arthropods) 8 species
- Group 4: Bony fish which are in all probability identifiable (pufferfish, clownfish, wrasse, grouper, butterflyfish, seahorse) 6 species
- Group 5: Bony fish which are…much less identifiable (porcupinefish, eel, sabertooth fish, lyretail angelfish, and butterflyfish) 5 species
- Group Six: The ‘other fish’ Lamprey and Chondrichthyans (sharks and rays) 6 species
Now the figures. As at all times, a blended group of excellent and unhealthy:
Reef manta ray Mobula alfredi?
The primary determine is the one ray you count on in a marine figures set, if any rays are included, a manta ray. I can’t bear in mind why I assumed Mobula alfredi, the reef manta ray, but it surely could possibly be as a result of it’s a small determine, and the reef manta is the smallest of the mantas (although not of the genus Mobula). The general look does probably not lend itself to a lot of an identification, with a easy colouration of black again and all white underside. The eyes, equivalent to they’re, are painted as white spots, and the cephalic fins, the extensions to the edges of the mouth, are solely black. The determine lacks the lighter shoulder markings or black ventral markings which are usually used to distinguish the manta ray species. There are some smaller Mobula species that are usually extra black general, and being pretty generic the determine might in all probability stand for a kind of as an alternative (though I’d doubt that was the intention).
The sculpt, although, is comparatively respectable. For Panini. The physique itself is deeper, tapering from the broad mouth to the bottom of the tail. On both aspect of the physique in a easy transition are the broad, triangular pectoral fins, extending outward and backward from the eyes to some extent, then attaching in a barely recurved, wavy line to the bottom of the tail. The rear margin exhibits some good particulars of wrinkles. The tail is lengthy and skinny, and extends in a powerful curve again across the left aspect, tapering barely to a rounded tip, with no seen backbone. The cephalic fins prolong downward, and the eyes are small divots (the paint spot is just too massive). The one dorsal fin is positioned nicely again on the physique, on the bottom of the tail, and underside has two separate pelvic fins. There are additionally 5 pairs of gill slits sculpted into the underside of the physique, which look roughly right.
So far as manta ray figures go, this one isn’t too unhealthy; maybe damning with faint reward, however manta figures could be a lot worse. The paint job is fairly primary, however the sculpt seems to have serviceably captured the primary particulars of a manta. It’s a small determine, extending about 4.7cm (1.9 inches) throughout the wingtips. For scale, this could possibly be as much as 1:149 or so for the large mantas, however for smaller Mobula species (usually known as ‘devil rays’) this might vary down so far as 1:30 to 1:50. It’s okay, if not spectacular.
Frequent torpedo ray Torpedo torpedo
The subsequent ray may be very distinctive, which is why the determine itself is such a disappointment. It’s a typical torpedo ray or frequent electrical ray Torpedo torpedo, a species new to the weblog and really unusual as a determine (there’s one different one). The frequent torpedo ray is certainly one of many electrical rays within the household Torpedinidae, a gaggle notable for his or her muscle tissue that has been modified into electrical organs that can be utilized as defensive and looking mechanisms, nicely past the power of most elasmobranchs to easily use electroreception for sensory functions. This species is discovered alongside coastal waters of the japanese Atlantic, from the shores of Angola north to the Iberian peninsula and within the Mediterranean, although they like hotter waters than different torpedinid species. They’re benthic dwellers, and like to hunt fish alongside the substrate. Most are between 30-40cm (12-15 inches) lengthy, though bigger people have been discovered. So how did Panini do, with a determine of a species that just about by no means will get made?
I gained’t maintain again. It’s not nice. At a look, they did okay, however at a stare, there’s rather a lot to be desired. The general physique is generally round, though it squares off a bit on the rear. The pectoral fins are usually not differentiated in any respect from the physique, giving each the higher and decrease aspect a flat floor, with solely a touch of a bulge within the centre; torpedo ray fins needs to be distinctly apparent from the precise physique. Behind the disc of the physique is a tail that begins fairly broad, tapering right into a squared tail fin. Somewhat sloppy however cheap. There are additionally two massive, near-equally sized dorsal fins. To the edges of the thickest a part of the tail are the 2 pelvic fins. What they bought proper, the fins are rounded and distinct from the primary disc. What they bought unsuitable, the pelvic fins originate extra like wings from the aspect, versus originating underneath the physique and increasing outward. Talking of the underside, there may be nearly nothing occurring right here–no gill slits, no nostrils, nothing. Solely a skinny, curved line that’s technique to lengthy and is highlighted by a brown paint line. The dorsal floor is worse. They didn’t even embody eyes, by no means thoughts spiracles. There are torpedo rays that don’t have eyes (Benthobatis, Typhlonarke) however the fish doesn’t match these in form or sample.
The primary cause is that the general form matches a extra typical Torpedo species. The opposite cause is that, throughout the restricted capability of most Panini figures, they sort of represented the patterns of a typical torpedo ray nicely. The general dorsal color is a lightweight orange, which prolong to the underside over a lot of the tail, and the outer margins of the pectoral fins. In the primary centre of the underside, extending about halfway down the tail, is a flat cream color. The markings on the again embody 5 massive, brown spots in the midst of the physique (not the pectorals), and the remainder of the dorsal floor again to the tail is roofed in quite a few sparse, smaller white spots. The 5 massive spots seemingly characterize the 5 attribute eyespots on the again of the frequent torpedo ray, though they need to be surrounded by a darker ring. For as soon as, the eyes aren’t a darkish blobby spot…however they aren’t there in any respect.
Briefly, it ought to have been an thrilling determine to get, however up shut it’s actually missing. I do know it was one of many figures that positively intrigued me once I first realized of the set, however in hand it doesn’t maintain up nicely. Like I mentioned, there are a number of different torpedinids, and truthfully, they’re all higher. Not less than they’ve eyes. Even the DeAgostini model, and people are notoriously horrible. As for the Panini, it’s an fascinating inclusion is a set like this (versus the same old generic skate or whipray) however they may have accomplished even just a little higher.
White shark Carcharodon carcharias
Leaving the rays however staying with elasmobranchs, we’ve got our first shark. And as with nearly any set like this, after all it’s a white shark, Carcharodon carcharias. And it’s positively a shark. However is it good? It’s actually okay. Appears to be like like a shark. Appears small although, about 5.3cm (2.1 inches), for a scale of about 1:115. The overall options are broadly there, the lengthy, fusiform physique, with a big, broad head, and tapering towards the tail. The form of the physique is dorso-ventrally sinuous, with upturned snout, a hump on the dorsal fin, then a curve all the way down to the second dorsal and uplifted tail. The 2 pectoral fins are lengthy and pointed downward, with a triangular dorsal fin mid-body. It’s noticeably smaller than what we’d in all probability count on on a white shark. The pose is sort of harking back to a warning pose from a blacktip shark (I don’t suppose an organization has ever really made a determine like that for the file, though the Kaiyodo bottlecap appears to be like impressed by it). However different options are nonetheless extra white shark-like.
Halfway between the dorsal and caudal fin is a small second dorsal fin. On the underside is a pair of small pelvic fins and an equally small anal fin. The caudal fin is appropriately heterocercal and lunate, though the lobes, particularly the decrease, are just a little thick and rounded. A pleasant contact, that is perhaps intentional or is perhaps a cheerful accident from poor manufacture, is that the caudal peduncle seems laterally widened with a large keel. It might simply be a manufacturing seam although; as a minimum, it’s exaggerated by the seam. Additionally exaggerated is the mouth–it’s clearly meant to be open, however appears to be like like a large overbite–the higher tooth are sculpted visibly and squared, and the oral cavity is a…large blob, easily sculpted all the way down to the underside of the jaw. It’s fairly blocky and unhealthy, just like the shark has a goofy overbite. The gill slits are lengthy, however far too few, I feel 4, possibly three (it’s exhausting to inform), and the attention is sculpted as a tiny divot…however the portray, a black dot, is behind that divot. The remainder of the sculpt is easy and featureless.
The colors positively seem like a white shark. The higher physique is gentle gray, together with over the higher floor of the pectoral fins. The identical color extends all the way down to the decrease lobe of the tail, simply previous the anal fin, in addition to on the ideas of the anal fins and the whole lot of the pelvic fins. The color appears just a little too gentle, and needs to be darker, however appears to be roughly right. Apparently there are darker gray spots across the ideas of the entire bigger fins. Possibly there are people with that sort of marking, however I couldn’t discover something particularly like that (once more, a little bit of a blacktip reef shark affect?) The general underside is obvious white, together with underneath the pectorals and the whole lot of the white mouth blob. The overall sense of the determine is it’s okay if unremarkable (or goofy). There isn’t any scarcity of white shark figures and fashions at this or different scales, and that is certainly one of them…however there’s simpler ones to pay money for.
Easy hammerhead shark Sphyrna zygaena
The subsequent shark within the set might be the subsequent most typical common determine for units of marine animals, in all probability due to the distinct head. It’s after all a hammerhead shark, in all probability a easy hammerhead Sphyrna zygaena primarily based on the entrance margin of the pinnacle (the ‘cephalofoil), which has only very slight scalloping. The overall figure is pretty basic for a hammerhead. It’s small, however bigger than the white shark, at 6.3cm (2.5 inches) lengthy for a scale of 1:79. The physique is lengthy and fusiform, rounded on the higher aspect and extra flattened on the stomach. There’s a slight curve to the physique, with the tail arcing to the suitable. The cephalofoil is after all fairly broad and recurved again barely, expanded on the lateral ends for the eyes, with an open mouth beneath. The higher jaw has small, sculpted tooth, and the decrease jaw is rounded and toothless–it’s not very open, however the inside is as soon as once more full of materials. Behind the pinnacle are sculpted gill slits; it’s actually exhausting to inform, however there is perhaps 5, or possibly simply 4.
The physique has the correct hallmarks of a hammerhead shark. The again has a slight hump to it, with a modest dorsal fin on the apex. A small second dorsal fin is current near the caudal fin, which is strongly heterocercal with a definite notch within the higher lobe. The pectoral fins are lengthy and prolonged extensively outward. Coupled with the slight flattening of the underside, the slight curve, and the marginally open mouth, it offers the looks of a shark transferring alongside the ocean backside. The pelvic fins and anal fin are small and rounded. A seam may be very seen alongside the aspect, all the way in which up the tail. The overall look of the determine isn’t unhealthy. Higher than the white shark (or lots of the whales).
The colouring is fairly easy if a bit sloppy. The vast majority of the determine is painted a medium gray, darker than the white shark. This color is utilized over the whole lot of the higher floor of the physique, the whole lot of the tail, and a part of the caudal peduncle behind the ventral fins. The underside is obvious white, on the underside of the pinnacle, the complete mouth, and the stomach, into some extent between the pelvic fins. The margin the place the gray meets the white is generally a straight line, however is a bit messy on the pinnacle noticeably messy on the cephalofoil and pectoral fins. There are additionally messy vertical traces alongside the gill slits, three in quantity…I feel they’re supposed to point the gills, however they don’t line up with the sculpted slits, in irregular blobs. The eyes are picked out on the cephalofoil with a black dot. This hammerhead shark isn’t unhealthy, in all probability on par with many hammerhead figures at an analogous measurement vary. It’s, nevertheless, certainly one of many figures of hammerhead sharks (they’re in all probability second solely to white sharks for figures) and being tough to seek out, there’s others on the market!
Whale shark Rhincodon typus
After which the third shark–one other highly regarded one, positively one of many ones you’d count on as a ‘third’ in units of marine figures (particularly massive ones of 40 figures!) It’s after all a whale shark Rhincodon typus. The overall fashion of the determine is respectable, about pretty much as good as the opposite sharks. It’s the identical measurement because the hammerhead shark at 6.3cm (2.5 inches), however after all that makes the size a lot totally different, at 1:238, which is loopy (and is determined by how large you assume the whale shark to be). The form of the determine isn’t too unhealthy, though proportionally it appears much less prolonged than it needs to be, prefer it’s shortened or one thing. The top and forebody are fairly broad, I feel it is perhaps that the taper to the tail is pretty fast and quick. again is a shallow dome, whereas the stomach is flatter with only a shallow bulge.
The overall options are okay. There are the 2 dorsal fins, with the primary bigger and simply previous the higher curve of the again. The second dorsal fin is way smaller and halfway between the primary dorsal and tail. The tail fin is heterocercal and lunate, though the posterior margin is just a little straight. The pectoral fins are broad and triangular, prolonged outward. The ventral fins are positioned about proper…however the pelvic finS are a single fin…how did Panini get this unsuitable when the opposite two have been proper? They’re each about the suitable measurement and form at the very least. There may be quite a lot of detailing on the physique. The mouth is current as a protracted line throughout the entrance of the pinnacle, slightly below the tip of the snout. Gill slits are sculpted into the aspect, and there are both 4 (unhealthy) or 5 (good) but it surely’s very exhausting to see. The underside is in any other case easy, however the again is extra spectacular, with a sequence of lateral and vertical ridges making a faint cross-hatch sample on the physique, with a small spot sculpted inside every of the hatches, in addition to throughout the highest of the pinnacle. Think about if the paint adopted this!
Yeah, they didn’t try this. The sculpted ridges and dots would have matched the patterns we see on the actual whale shark. As an alternative, the physique has a smattering of white dots irregularly spaced on the pinnacle and pectoral fins, a single row of dots alongside the edges, and a column of dots alongside the caudal fin. It’s sort of disappointing since somebody at Panini clearly knew what a whale shark might seem like. The dorsal color isn’t unhealthy, a bluish-grey, though it might stand to be a bit darker. The one different color is a a black dot on every eye, which is sculpted as a recessed bump. Like the opposite sharks, it’s not unhealthy, however even at this measurement, there are a number of on the market on this planet, and there’s no scarcity of whale shark figures, a lot of that are in all probability higher, and definitely simpler to seek out.
Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus
And at last, the determine that made me want the entire set, a lamprey determine! And from what I’ve been capable of finding, I feel that is the one lamprey toy that has been ostensibly launched for common sale (sure, there may be this one from Safari, but it surely’s not on the market) (additionally, there’s a hagish/slime eel toy with the Octonauts units, however I’ve by no means discovered one at a worth I’d pay). It’s been assumed to be a sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus however I feel that’s largely for simplicity, and in addition as a result of that could be a acquainted species to the Italian makers from Panini. However extra on that briefly. The general determine is extremely tiny, 3.8cm (1.5 inches) alongside the curved physique. This could give a scale of 1:20 for a normal-to-large sea lamprey, and a terrific scale for matching with quite a lot of frequent ‘regular scale’ measurement figures. Additionally a terrific measurement to accompany the moray eel and sabretooth fish in vacuum cleaners or couches…
The determine is one other one of many few fish figures that may be very sinuous or curved in general form, so it at the very least can keep ‘upright’. The physique is appropriately lengthy and thin, flattened on the stomach however in any other case fairly rounded or tubular, ending in a spherical tail. The top is expanded out with a downward-facing oral disc, underneath a sloping snout. Whereas easy, the oral disc is pretty respectable at this measurement, barely indented as a round house with small tooth sculpted in a faint ring. On the highest of the pinnacle there are two small divots for the eyes going through considerably upwards, however no nostrils or pores. These are picked out with a black dot. Close to the margin of the underside there are faint divots sculpted that seemingly point out the gill openings, however they’re very exhausting to see. I don’t suppose there are seven as can be right.
On the again is a single skinny, raised dorsal fin that doesn’t prolong to the tail tip. This fin can be current as a protracted single ridge, as an alternative of the extra right sequence of raised dorsal fins with gaps between them, ending in a brief, squared tail. Total, the sculpt isn’t unhealthy, particularly for the scale. It actually has the look of a parasitic part grownup or juvenile lamprey (relying on species). The color is sort of daring, and never all that near a sea lamprey, which tends to be brown-yellow or olive. Or most lampreys. The underside is vibrant yellow with is actually a wierd selection, and I can’t discover any that has that, though some species can have a yellowish or goldish hue. The oral disc is a peach color, and there are 6 or 7 peach spots alongside the edges–I feel the intent was to point the gill openings, however like with the above hammerhead, the paint doesn’t really match the sculpt. This identical color additionally highlights the dorsal fin, and spreads erratically over a part of the again. Once more, unusual color selection.
Lastly, the physique itself is vibrant powder blue, which can be sort of unusual–for a sea lamprey. There are a selection of lampreys which are extra silvery, which could possibly be bluish in sure lights. There are additionally some species that may really be bluish–particularly the Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus, which is definitely described as bluish-black or greenish when in a marine (parasitic) part within the Pacific ocean. In different phrases, the determine can stand in for a number of parasitic species/kinds and actually, there aren’t different selections anyway. Not less than for now, we are able to at all times hope (there are a number of 3D printable fashions I suppose). In sum, the determine is sweet, however very small, and it could take an actual fan of primitive fish (calling myself out right here I suppose) or complete collectors, to go to the difficulty of attempting to trace down this tough to seek out set only for it (and possibly a pair others).
To sum up this group–there are some good ones, or at the very least positively uncommon ones–don’t normally see torpedo rays as toys, and naturally by no means see lampreys in any type. The remainder are at greatest satisfactory, and at worst goofy and forgettable. Possibly that sort of describes the entire Panini marine figures.
I’m truthfully pleased to be accomplished with this…in lots of circumstances, for the second time, and I don’t even know what I gained or misplaced. However it’s been an journey to go over a sequence that’s so broad, and so blended by way of parts and high quality. Some figures are very thrilling and authentic. Some fashions are simply horrible and embarrassing (the dolphins within the very first submit…what a horrible begin). However I hope readers have appreciated the opinions and sequence, many of those fashions took me means out of my regular wheelhouse (whales? arthropods? penguin? I actually don’t know a lot about these general and don’t acquire them). And if I impressed anybody to attempt to observe this set down, if just for a number of fashions, good luck! I bought mine from Germany, in order that’s in all probability a great begin. And now I can sit up for attempting one thing totally different for a assessment.
