Pterosaurs (Mini)(Chap Mei)

As we’ve seen here in the past, Chap Mei’s prehistoric figures generally lean more towards the preposterous than the precise. Joining their larger brother in the sky are these freaky little flyers.

First, take a gander at this pair. Their toothy, keel-tipped bills might suggest members of the family Ornithocheiridae were it not for their long tails ending in leaf-shaped vanes, which are typical of the family Rhamphorhynchidae. The necks and bodies are stocky, the wings are broad and somewhat ragged, and they are reared up on their hind legs. Truly, they defy taxonomy.

Which is not to say that they don’t look cool. Their teeth are large, their claws, are curved, and they have thick veins running across their wings. The bodies are mostly scaly, but there are some visible pycnofibres on the heads, as well as prominent crests. These pterosaurs look ferocious and deadly, winged demons that would think nothing of carrying off some helpless little child to mercilessly devour. They measure a little over 10 cm long and have wingspans of almost 14 cm. One version is all red save for black eyes and stripes and white teeth. The other is far nicer-looking: black with purple wings, red and white markings, a red head, dull green eyes, and white teeth.

These two pterosaurs have rotating necks, wings, and tails. Take care not to let very young children play with them, as the pieces come apart with relative ease, and a little force is necessary to snap them back together!

And now check out this third monstrosity. It measures 8 cm long, has a wingspan of 10 cm, and is coloured very dark brown with blue airbrushing on the neck, chest, and wings, grey teeth and claws, a red tongue, and light green eyes. It is sculpted with its wings curving inward, its head turned to the left, and its mouth open in an unholy screech. Looks like it would be right at home perched on the roof of an old cathedral. Unlike the first two pterosaurs, it is made from a single piece of plastic and lacks articulation.

The tail on this pterosaur is rather short, with a spoon-shaped tip. The body is entirely scaly with veined wings and an impressively muscled chest and neck. And then there’s the head. It has a short bill, small, sharp teeth, prominent brow ridges, and a large, double-tipped crest. Overall, I find this one to be even creepier-looking than the twins!

While these pterosaurs may be pure fantasy, they have a delightfully freakish appearance and are certainly fun to play with. The twins have shown up in a number of Chap Mei sets, but the other one seems to be rarer. Recommended for collectors who enjoy a good dose of weirdness.