And now the second group of Panini bony fish. That is the second put up of bony fishes, specializing in those that is perhaps recognizable to genus or household however…not a lot past that. I’ve obtained some guesses for a number of of them, however I’m glad to take recommendations from readers. It’s at all times a problem, particularly with these random units, that some figures are fairly apparent (if imperfect) however others might need a generic recognizable form however intimately or color matches nothing particularly.
Anyway, right here is the checklist of posts yet another time:
- 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
Let’s see how these figures are, perhaps I’ll drop some clues that can assist somebody make a greater identification. I’m going to have a look at them so as from most impossible to ever be assigned past household, by ones that could possibly be identifiable to household or genus or, if we’re beneficiant (or squinting) even species:
Porcupinefish Diodontidae (?Diodon sp.)
Our first determine is probably the most obscure and unusual. It’s a globular, purple fish with yellow fins, eyes, and mouth. The on the edges the physique is roofed in round rings of small bumps. The overall form and type of the determine might be meant to characterize a porcupinefish, household Diodontidae. The sort genus is Diodon however in fact the general look is just not closed to any species (or actually, genus) in any respect. Particularly utilizing the color. I can’t discover a porcupinefish (or any pufferfish) with this color scheme. It’s a small determine, however when you keep in mind the final put up about bony fish, you may guess how lengthy it’s…sure, 2.9cm (1.1 inches) lengthy. Not figuring out the dimensions…or actually even the genus…scale is tough to find out. The typical size of diodontids is round 40cm (15.7 inches), so round 1:14. However there’s numerous wriggle room on that.
That is based mostly primarily on the general ball form, indicating a porcupinefish that has taken in water or air to inflate itself as a deterrent to threats. Usually porcupinefish are coated over many of the physique briefly, sharp spines that act as an extra deterrent to ingestion (or get caught within the mouth/throat of one thing that tries). The bumps on the determine don’t cowl the entire physique, solely the edges, and are brief bumps as an alternative of spikes however not shocking given the corporate and measurement. The eyes are additionally unusual, extra bugged out, with the yellow color left with a purple spot on every, however not in the identical place, so the fish seems to be googly-eyed. The mouth additionally isn’t notably beak-like, simply sort of pursed open.
There are additionally some unusual components within the sculpt. The tail fin is squared, if weirdly lumpy. There are not any pectoral fins in any respect, which is fallacious, but in addition no pelvic fins, which is correct! Towards the rear of the physique is a brief rounded dorsal and anal fin which is not less than positionally appropriate. However there’s additionally a fin on the highest of the pinnacle which is…bizarre and fallacious. Total, not an excellent illustration of a well-recognized fish that’s definitely identified from different porcupinefish figures, and in contrast to some, it stands out so weirdly that it wouldn’t even be nice in diorama work. On the upside, the slight flattening of the stomach does enable it to face upright.
Butterflyfish Chaetodon sp.
Our subsequent determine is a butterflyfish, in all probability Chaetodon, however probably a unique genus of Chaetodontidae (aside from Chelmon, which is within the Panini set already. Or a number of different genera which additionally look completely different). The overall form seems to be fairly respectable for a marine butterflyfish. The general physique is oval and laterally compressed, with a small, pointed mouth and tiny caudal peduncle ending in a small fan-shaped tail fin. The dorsal fin is in depth, beginning on the crest of the pinnacle to some extent all the best way again to the posterior of the physique with a degree that extends over the peduncle. There’s a mild indent for a gill cowl, adopted by a spherical pectoral fin. On the stomach is a pair of expanded out pelvic fins that enable the determine to face, and behind these an anal fin begins halfway alongside the stomach, extending rearward, additionally with a degree prolonged underneath the peduncle.
So, broadly, the mannequin is a reasonably respectable illustration of a marine butterflyfish, in some ways extra competent than a few of their different identifiable fashions. The proportions are affordable, the fins are principally correct, and it even stands upright! It is a bit more elongate than many butterflyfish, so that in the first place I although it is perhaps a marine angelfish (the associated household Pomacentridae), however the slim, prolonged mouth is just not a function of that household. It’s additionally a ‘big’ fish determine at nearly 3.3cm lengthy (1.3 inches) lengthy, so it stands out that approach as properly. On condition that there is no such thing as a approach to determine the species, we are able to at finest go along with a mean for the genus of round 16cm-17cm (6.3 – 6.7 inches) lengthy, for a scale of round 1:5. However why is it so tough to place an ID to this species? As a result of the color sample chosen is totally unidentifiable. Varied options are harking back to some species, however none of them associate with any species I can inform.
The determine contains a principally white physique together with the white mouth and many of the pelvic fins, with a thick black masks over the eyes throughout the pinnacle from prime of head to throat; masks of various thicknesses are widespread in butterflyfish (so many I’m not even itemizing all of them). The dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are all yellow in a hoop across the dorsal, posterior, and ventral margins, a colouring that additionally exhibits up in a number of butterflyfish species. However ringing the precise physique margin, throughout the again, peduncle, and stomach, is a thick blue border, and inside that blue border is a pair of curved rows of blue spots. This similar blue is seen on the margin of the yellow pectoral fins and suggestions the pelvic fins. That is the place it will get actually bizarre–I can’t discover just one chaetodontid in any respect that has greater than a small blue spotlight on it (the ‘blue-blotched butterflyfish’ Chaetodon plebius) but it surely’s not that blue, or in that sample. Some species do have colored borders, or spots, or patches. However none like this. In a approach, it’s too unhealthy, as a result of the determine is respectable, however doesn’t match any species, so at finest it’s a butterflyfish determine that actually solely works as a generic background filler. Possibly somebody can discover one thing to place a reputation to it?
Surgeonfish Acanthurus spp.
The following fish is one other that took me a bit get a deal with on–and being Panini, who even is aware of if it was intentional. It’s probably a tang/surgeonfish from the household Acanthuridae, in all probability genus Acanthurus. This was based totally on the sculpt. The physique form is rounded and barely elongate, laterally compressed, with an intensive, low dorsal and anal fin alongside the again and stomach. Pectoral fins are sculpted towards the physique, and extremely, there are pointed pelvic fins sculpted on the entrance of the anal fin, current with a slight hole from the anal fin. However there’s just one, and being a ridge, sure, this determine doesn’t rise up. The mouth has a slight bulge within the lips, which is extra bulbous than then common terminal mouth. Most attention-grabbing, the caudal fin is triangular, with lengthy, trailing suggestions. The entire fins are sculpted with sculpted rays. There’s additionally no trace of the protecting backbone on the caudal peduncle.
The colors are distinctive. However they don’t match any current surgeonfish–however just like the butterflyfish, there are components that look sort of like current species. The face is a white masks. The principle physique is mild throughout the edges, and vibrant yellow alongside the stomach and the rear margin of the physique. The dorsal, pelvic, anal, and caudal fins are darkish blue, and the pectorals are yellow, blended towards the throat. The sunshine blue sides has a number of horizontal stripes; the identical color outlines the gill margin and forehead ridge, in addition to the eyes themselves, that are blue dots on slight bumps. It’s fairly sloppily utilized general, however distinctive. Once more, there isn’t actually a surgeonfish that seem like this.
Total, the determine isn’t unhealthy if indeterminate. The largest trace is probably going within the in depth recommendations on the tail fin, which solely present up in a number of species (Acanthurus albimento, A. bariene, A,. lineatus, A. nigricauda, A. sohal, and A. reversus have probably the most distinguished ones). The horizontal stripes may point out A. lineatus however every thing else concerning the mannequin is fallacious. There’s additionally a unique genus of various fish–the lyrteail angelfish, genus Genicanthus, that are sort of comparable; in addition they have the same ovoid form and trailing tail suggestions, however the dorsal and anal fins have a tendency to increase past the physique (like different pomacentrid angelfish). And the colors are additionally nothing like all species. I suppose it might probably work for whichever fits its goal, given the scale that may principally place it as diorama background materials. It’s small in fact–guess how lengthy! Yup, 2.9 cm (1.1 inches). The dimensions is tough to inform although, in all probability someplace between 1:9 and 1:13 relying on species (or genus) you select. It’s positive, however there are definitely higher made surgeonfish figures on the market. No lyretail angels although.
Sabertooth fish Evermannella sp.
Subsequent up is likely one of the extra particular fashions within the set, if solely as a result of it probably represents a household of fish that hasn’t been represented as a determine by anybody else. If solely it was a greater, extra clear determine, however generally us collectors take what we are able to get. This determine is probably going a species of sabretooth fish, household Evermannellidae, in all probability Evermannella, however there’s solely a pair different genera. This determine is actually small, like tiny, 2.6cm (1 inch) lengthy, which might give a scale of 1:4 since they aren’t particularly massive in actual life (the most important is Odontostomops, at 18cm/7 inches lengthy). Sabretooth fish are mid- to deepwater fish present in subtropical waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Their widespread title comes from outsized, recurved palatine enamel. They’ve telescopic, upturned eyes used to hunt prey resembling cephalopods and small fish. However not as small as anticipated–they’ve distensible stomachs (like many deepwater fish) permitting them to swallow prey bigger than their our bodies. There’s proof that they possess photophores, however in their very own distinctive approach, which we’ll get to.
Describing the determine is hard, as it is rather tiny and lacks element. The general fish is tubular and elongate, a giant head with large open mouth at one finish, tapering to a slim peduncle that expands right into a compressed, forked tail. There are enamel sculpted into the mouth, however I suppose for ease of manufacturing, the mouth cavity is crammed with materials to make it simpler (keep in mind this once we see the final group of figures, it’s one other Panini trope). They didn’t differentiate the lengthy palatine enamel (and related lengthy enamel within the jaw), however did seize the toothy mouth. The eyes are current as divots, though the paintjob does its personal factor, and there are some rays sculpted into the tail.
The again bears a single rounded dorsal fin (it needs to be a bit extra squared) halfway on the again, however not the adipose fin (that is, nonetheless, picked out as a blue sprint of paint). There are additionally no pectoral fins, though once more it seems they have been painted on. The one fins current are a pair of triangular pelvic fins jutting out laterally from the caudal peduncle…which is simply too far again. They need to be halfway on the underside, and a protracted anal fin needs to be underneath the peduncle, however is just not current in any respect. So some huge misses, however a number of options are not less than sort of sabretooth fish-like; the one different main contender is the viperfishes and kin (Stomiidae) however the fins and form are even much less appropriate for that group.
The color is putting, if exaggerated. The general fish is jet black. The opposite color on the physique is a lightweight blue, marking the fins (particularly, the place the sculpt didn’t embrace them), the attention patch, and your complete mouth, enamel and infill each. The attention has a big black dot on the underside; if we’re being beneficiant, perhaps the intent was to have the blue be the ‘tube’ with the black dot giving depth to it? I’m speaking numerous generosity right here. The stomach options two rows of darkish crimson dots, which I consider are imagined to replicate the photophores; in sabretooth fish these are current within the intestines of all issues–and given the skinny pores and skin and distensible stomach, maybe somebody at Panini realized sufficient to try to present the luminescence by the stomach. Or simply knew that they had them and didn’t know the way else to do it. That is definitely a singular mannequin, each in look and taxonomically, so it is perhaps extra collectible than lots of the Panini fashions. It’s nonetheless not nice, however stands out. Annoyingly, it can also’t actually keep upright–the flared pelvic fins are too excessive up. And, once more, it’s actually tiny. My guess is that this determine ended up in numerous vacuum cleaners.
Moray eel Gymnothorax? sp.
The final determine is one other one which isn’t actually identifiable, however some good guesses will be made. If allowances are given for the easy model of Panini. It’s clearly an eel, with a protracted, sinusoidal form (in contrast to many of the fish figures, it isn’t a straight line). The heavy head and tapered physique probably point out a moray eel, in all probability the genus Gymnothorax. The remainder of the sculpt is fairly easy–the physique is tubular, tapering to a extra laterally compressed tail. As can be appropriate for a moray eel, there’s no paired fins, only a skinny dorsal fin extending alongside again. It doesn’t, nonetheless, proceed across the tip of the tail into an anal fin which is a little bit of a miss. The mouth is large open, and looking out inside, there are enamel sculpted on the higher jaw–in contrast to most Panini figures, the open mouth isn’t crammed with materials, however left aside.
So the form is fairly generic. Does the color give any clues to the species which may have been an inspiration? Possibly. The overall colouration is a lightweight chocolate brown, with vibrant yellow highlights. The dorsal fin is yellow, and the color extends out over the again. One the edges is various yellow markings, with a row of small spots slightly below the dorsal margin. This extends alongside the size of the physique to the top of the tail. Under this row of spots are a few bigger yellow spots with brown dots inside, giving the looks of a easy rosette. These markings are fairly sloppily utilized, with a number of drips and drabs. The attention seems to be just like the rosettes on the physique, though the brown spot is extra central, so we’re again to panda eyes. The brown spot covers a small bump the place the attention was sculpted. The whole lot of the mouth was left unpainted which is unlucky.
So given the patterns and color, there’s a moray species that sort of seems to be like that, considering the bounds of what Panini can do. The species is Gymnothorax prionodon, the mottled moray eel or Australian mottled moray. This can be a modestly sized eel (80cm – 150cm from the western Pacific, discovered from southern Japan and the South China sea to Australia and New Zealand. Their colouration is extremely variable however is general brownish with yellowish spots or rosettes over many of the physique; these will be small spots or massive irregular rosettes. So…perhaps. I couldn’t discover many different morays that have been brown with yellow markings, but it surely’s nonetheless fairly open to interpretation, and might probably match many species. It will work properly for surroundings and backgrounds, as it’s fairly small, 3.2 cm (1.3 inches) alongside the curve, for a scale wherever from 1:25 to 1:47. And giving how skinny it’s, it’s in all probability one other a type of little ones that discovered itself misplaced regularly. I actually am a fan of moray eel figures, however this one’s at finest okay.
In order that’s the second assortment of bony fish from Panini. And once more, a broad vary of fashion and high quality. A few of them have numerous element and an attention-grabbing paint scheme, whereas others are easy, or seem to replicate attention-grabbing animals. Others are fairly easy in each approach. And that porcupinefish is simply goofy. Their small sizes, and far of their design, in all probability limits the enchantment to many collectors, however can be nice for surroundings and background work. One factor that solely simply occurred to me–your complete Panini set options no pelagic bony fish, and solely a pair deeper-water ones (of which I’ve one); it’s just about near-shore/reef fish. Subsequent time, it’s the final grouping from Panini, the ‘other fish’, and the one pelagic fish within the lot. Together with the one determine that was my important motivation for getting this set within the first place.
