Scientific Fish Illustration for Research, Publishing & Education
Fish Illustration Archive creates accurate, purpose-driven fish illustrations based on scientific observation and morphological understanding.
From full-color and line illustrations to species comparison and identification, each illustration is designed to communicate fish morphology clearly for research, publishing, education, and scientific communication.
View Selected Works
Commission & Collaboration
Male Rhinogobius mizunoi shown as both a full-color scientific illustration and a black-and-white line illustration, demonstrating two visual formats based on the same external morphology.
01. Selected Works
Scientific Fish Illustration Across Multiple Formats
Fish Illustration Archive creates fish illustrations in multiple formats according to the purpose of each project.
From full-color and line illustrations to comparative, identification, and diagnostic plates, each work is designed to communicate relevant morphological information clearly and accurately.
① Color Scientific Illustration
Opsariichthys platypus
Full-color illustrations representing external morphology, proportions, coloration, and species-specific features.
② Scientific Line Illustration
Tanakia lanceolata
Black-and-white line illustrations designed for clear representation of morphology in scientific publications, identification materials, field guides, and educational resources.
③ Comparative & Identification Illustration
Sebastes inermis · S. ventricosus · S. cheni · S. thompsoni · S. oblongus
Illustrations that organize multiple species or morphological characters under consistent visual conditions to support comparison, identification, and understanding of species differences.
④ Diagnostic & Morphological Plate
Rhinogobius yaima
Structured plates that integrate illustrations and scientific information to visualize diagnostic characters, external morphology, and features relevant to identification.
The illustration format is selected according to what the project needs to communicate—not simply as a matter of visual style.
02. From One Species to Multiple Scientific Formats
One species. Multiple ways to communicate morphology.
The same species can require different forms of illustration depending on what needs to be communicated. Fish Illustration Archive develops scientific illustrations from a shared understanding of morphology, adapting the visual format to the purpose of each project.
Base Single Species Illustration — Male Rhinogobius yaima
A full-color scientific illustration serving as the morphological foundation for developing line, comparative, identification, and diagnostic illustrations.
Scientific Line Illustration — Male Rhinogobius yaima
Black-and-white representation developed from the same morphological foundation as the full-color single species illustration.
Scientific Line Illustration
Morphological information expressed through line
A line illustration translates the external morphology of the base illustration into a clear black-and-white format. Body proportions, scales, fins, fin rays, and other morphological structures are represented through line work, without relying on coloration.
This format is suitable for scientific publications, field guides, identification materials, educational resources, and other applications where morphological clarity and reproducibility are important.
Comparative & Identification Illustration — Rhinogobius yonezawai and Rhinogobius yaima
Male and female illustrations arranged under consistent visual conditions for comparison of external morphology between species and sexes.
Comparative & Identification Illustration
Making morphological differences visible through standardized comparison
Comparative illustrations place related species and sexes under consistent visual conditions, making differences in external morphology easier to observe and compare.
This plate presents male and female Rhinogobius yonezawai and Rhinogobius yaima in lateral view. By aligning multiple illustrations within a common visual framework, differences in body shape, fin morphology, coloration, and other external features can be examined across species and sexes. This approach supports species identification, comparative morphology, research communication, and educational use.
Diagnostic Character Plate — Male Rhinogobius yaima
A structured scientific plate integrating the species illustration with diagnostic characters, meristic information, pelvic-fin morphology, and distribution information.
Diagnostic Character Plate
Integrating diagnostic characters and scientific information into a structured visual reference
A Diagnostic Character Plate integrates the species illustration with information relevant to identification and morphological understanding. Diagnostic features are selected and organized using reliable scientific references, together with supporting information such as meristic characters and distribution.
This plate presents male Rhinogobius yaima together with selected external characters, fin and scale information, pelvic-fin morphology, and distribution information. Rather than presenting the fish illustration alone, the plate organizes multiple forms of evidence into a single visual reference for species identification, research communication, and educational use.
The format changes. The underlying morphological understanding remains consistent.
By selecting and organizing information according to its intended use, the same species can be visualized for different needs—from publication and education to comparison and species identification.
03. Scientific Approach
From observation and scientific references to visual interpretation
Scientific fish illustration requires more than reproducing the visible appearance of a fish. Fish Illustration Archive examines morphological information from available specimens, living fish, photographs, and scientific literature, then selects and organizes the information required for the intended purpose of each illustration.
① Observation
Understanding the fish before illustrating it
External morphology, proportions, fins, scales, coloration, and other visible features are examined using available specimens, living fish, and photographic references.
② Scientific References
Verifying morphology through reliable sources
Taxonomic literature, original descriptions, peer-reviewed papers, and other reliable scientific sources are consulted to verify identification, diagnostic characters, meristic information, and other relevant morphological information.
③ Information Selection
Determining what the illustration needs to communicate
Relevant morphological information is selected according to the purpose of the project. A publication illustration, comparative plate, identification material, and diagnostic plate may require different information from the same species.
④ Visual Interpretation
Organizing scientific information into a clear visual form
Verified information is translated into an appropriate visual format while maintaining morphological consistency. The objective is not simply to add detail, but to make the relevant structure and information clear for the intended use.
Accuracy Before Decoration
Scientific accuracy, biological understanding, and aesthetic quality are treated as integrated requirements. Visual refinement is built on a verified understanding of the fish—not used as a substitute for it.
04. About Fish Illustration Archive
Scientific understanding, field experience, and visual communication
Fish Illustration Archive is a scientific illustration practice specializing in fish morphology and visual communication.
Each illustration is developed through the integration of biological observation, scientific references, and illustration, with the aim of communicating morphological information clearly and accurately.
The archive also serves as an evolving body of work in which knowledge gained through the study and illustration of fish is accumulated across species and projects.
Illustrator
The illustrator behind Fish Illustration Archive has an academic background in biological and environmental sciences, together with practical experience in fish observation, fieldwork, and illustration.
Experience in medical illustration has also contributed to an approach that emphasizes anatomical understanding, accuracy, and the clear visual communication of biological structures.
・Biological & Environmental Sciences
Academic background in biological and environmental sciences.
・Fish Observation & Fieldwork
Practical experience observing and studying fish in the field.
・Medical Illustration
Experience translating biological and anatomical structures into accurate visual information.
・Scientific Fish Illustration
Ongoing development of reference-based fish illustrations for scientific communication.
05. Commission & Contact
Scientific illustration for your project
Fish Illustration Archive welcomes commission and collaboration inquiries for research, publishing, museums, education, conservation, and international projects.
If the required illustration format has not yet been determined, you are welcome to contact us with an outline of your project. The appropriate format can be considered according to the species, purpose, and information that needs to be communicated.
Research · Publishing · Museums · Education · Conservation · International Projects