“Maip” might sound like an odd identify for a dinosaur at first, however it’s in reality a reference to a malevolent entity in Tehuelche mythology that’s described as “the shadow of dying that kills with chilly wind.” That subsequently strikes me as relatively acceptable for a big and highly effective meat-eating theropod. And certainly, Maip macrothorax (the species identify means “massive chest”) might have been the most important megaraptoran of all of them, maybe reaching 10 metres in size. It lived in Argentina throughout the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous, between 72.2 and 66 million years in the past, and to date it’s the largest identified carnivore of the Chorrillo Formation the place it was found. Its prey in all probability included juveniles of the titanosaur Nullotitan, the small ornithopod Isasicursor, and the massive 30 lb (that actually is big for its time) mammal Patagomaia.
A Deluxe-sized Maip is CollectA’s greatest dinosaur for 2025, and the very first toy of the species. Standing 10 cm tall on the head and measuring an excellent 27 cm lengthy, it’s sculpted in a horizontal stance with its head dealing with upward and angled to the left. The arms are dangling down, the left foot is positioned ahead, and the tail is raised with the tip swaying to the left. All this makes the Maip look as if it’s on the hunt and pausing to smell the air for any telltale scents of prey. It appears to be like fluid and lifelike this fashion and I prefer it. The toy shouldn’t be mounted on a base, and it stands up superb by itself, however as a consequence of each the pinnacle and the tail being angled to the left, it does fall over pretty simply while you poke it along with your finger. Fortuitously, additionally it is very gentle despite its measurement, so the danger of breakage is low.
The principle color right here is sandy gentle brown with darkened patched across the shoulder and hip areas, gentle beige for the underbelly, darkish brown arms and ft with darkish gray claws, medium and darkish brown feathers, shiny black eyes and nostrils, creamy tooth, gentle pink mouth, and at last, reddish-orange for the crest atop the pinnacle. A reasonably fundamental color scheme, nothing too daring or extraordinary, however it actually works.
The Maip‘s head is lengthy, comparatively slim, coated in tiny spherical scales, and contains a hinged decrease jaw that opens to about 20 levels. The mouth contains a lengthy tongue, a ribbed palate, and many small however sharp tooth. Not like final 12 months’s Deluxe Velociraptor and the 2021 Megalosaurus and Neovenator, this predator doesn’t have lips protecting mentioned tooth. I have to admit that it is a bit disappointing; I hoped that after CollectA began placing lips on their theropods, they’d hold at it. Nonetheless, it’s not like I don’t have a ton of lipless theropods in my assortment, and can little doubt be including extra sooner or later, particularly in the event that they’re all-new species like this one.
Adorning the Maip‘s skull is a big feathery crest, and there are extra feathers on the again of its neck and alongside its again right down to the hips. The remainder of its physique is roofed in rounded scales of various measurement, which I’d say is an affordable interpretation given how massive the animal was. And naturally, there are additionally loads of thick folds and wrinkles alongside the neck and across the limb joints. Plus the arms and ft are coated in rows of scutes. All of it sculpted to the standard prime quality normal.
The torso appears to be like very typical of most huge theropods, with nothing actually noteworthy to the attention. However what’s noteworthy is that Maip‘s fossilized ribs have what seem like attachment factors for ligaments, which signifies that it possessed a respiratory system nearer to that of birds than any household of reptiles. The hind legs additionally seem very typical, with well-defined musculature and quick, pretty blunt claws. And naturally, the tail is sweet and lengthy, accounting for half the Maip‘s size.
The arms are usually not so typical, nevertheless. They’re proportionally bigger than these of tyrannosaurids and carcharodontosaurids and have lengthy, lethal-looking foreclaws. These claws are admittedly not tremendous sharp to the contact like those on Haolonggood and PNSO toys; they’re pointed, however blunted on the ideas, undoubtedly to forestall unintended damage throughout play. This can be a a lot safer and extra acceptable toy for kids in addition to adults to personal than the aforementioned merchandise. Normal follow for CollectA, Safari Ltd., Schleich, and different such firms. And I don’t suppose it actually takes away from the general fearsome and highly effective look of the Maip. And certainly, for additional proof of its grit, there’s a recent trio of slashes on its shoulder that was clearly inflicted by one other of its personal form.
So how correct is that this Maip? Are the claws and arms too huge or too small? Is the pinnacle the best form? Does it have the right dentition? Properly, as is the unlucky case with all megaraptorids, the known fossil material for this beast is fairly scant, to the purpose the place none of these questions could be answered nowadays. There’s an axis, a number of vertebrae, some ribs (after all) and gastralia, a part of a shoulder blade, and a piece of the best pubis. However that is sufficient to establish it as a megaraptorid, and to permit for an affordable estimation of its measurement. And given what we learn about different megaraptorids like Aerosteon, Australovenator, Megaraptor, and Murusraptor amongst others, this does appear to be a superbly cheap restoration of probably the most huge member of all. Time might effectively show that Maip did in reality have larger arms, longer claws, or an extended cranium, however it may additionally show that this toy is lifeless on, or very near it.
General, the CollectA Maip is a strong first illustration of a most savage and selcouth saurian. Spectacular measurement, nice sculpting work, fierce look, and enjoyable to play with. And definitely distinctive, after all. It’s going to turn out to be obtainable for buy halfway via the 12 months.
This has been yet one more very particular evaluate, for it commemorates my shut relationship with CollectA. For ten years now, they’ve been extremely form and beneficiant in sending me free evaluate samples effectively forward of the official launch dates. It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to evaluate these things and I’ll all the time be grateful to them. Thanks from the underside of my coronary heart. And I can’t wait until November when the 2026 assortment will get revealed!
Trending Merchandise
