Collectible figures of ancient fish made with soft material
A PVC figure of the coelacanth, a “living fossil” whose body form has changed little over roughly 400 million years. Its collectible size makes it enjoyable both for play and display.
Coelacanth
Classification: Coelacanthiformes/Latimeriidae/Latimeria
Size: Body length approx. 2 meters
Habitat: Comoro Islands near southern Africa
Coelacanths are often called “living fossils” because their body form has changed relatively little over roughly 400 million years. Long thought to be extinct, they astonished scientists when a living specimen was discovered in South Africa in 1938. Unlike most fish, coelacanths lack typical vertebrae; a fluid-filled notochord connects the head and tail. Their pectoral and pelvic fins are attached to muscular, limb-like bases, offering insight into the evolutionary history of vertebrate limbs. A second living species, the Indonesian coelacanth, was identified in 1997.
Interview with Supervisor Kazuyuki Mori
- The Ancient Fish series is a new category added to Favorite’s lineup. First of all, what kind of creatures are “ancient fish”?
- The term “ancient fish” can be interpreted in several ways, but simply put, it refers to modern fish that have survived to the present while retaining primitive characteristics. In this series, the coelacanth is the most ancient in evolutionary terms, while the silver arowana appeared relatively more recently.
- Ancient fish, sometimes called “living fossils,” have survived on Earth from ancient times to the present day. What characteristics, ecology, and appeal can be found in their prehistoric forms?
- Many kinds of coelacanth lived during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, but most became extinct, and only two living species are known today. The model represents Latimeria chalumnae, a living coelacanth. As the Japanese name for coelacanths suggests, their fins have muscular, arm-like bases, one of the group’s distinctive features. In a somewhat poetic sense, the living Latimeria connects us to a coelacanth lineage stretching back roughly 400 million years.
- You were responsible for sculpting and painting the prototypes. What concepts guided each model, and what details did you pay particular attention to during production?
- Most people, myself included, can only see coelacanths as specimens. Specimens provide detailed data about the fish, but their shape and proportions can differ greatly from those of a living animal. I therefore focused on recreating its living appearance by repeatedly studying photos and videos, consulting researchers, and gathering reference materials. I wanted to give the model value from a different perspective than that of an actual specimen.
- We asked fish researcher Toshiaki Igarashi to supervise the series. What kinds of discussions did you have with him?
- We carefully refined the models based on feedback about both the overall impression and the accuracy of details. Because the presence and volume of a three-dimensional object cannot be conveyed through images alone, we discussed proportions, overall appearance, and the state of the fish being depicted. We also reviewed fine details and measurements, including scales and fin rays.
- Finally, please share your comments on the Ancient Fish series.
- The central concept is to capture the fish alive and swimming. We hope the models evoke a vivid scene, as if a moment of movement had been frozen in time. Pick one up and you can appreciate the details of the fish, from the sculpted head to the scales, as well as its satisfying volume. It is enjoyable both to display and to handle.
Supervisor Profile
Kazuyuki Mori(Kazuyuki Mori)
Natural history model artist.
His work is based on the concept of a “private tropical world.”sculpting、working across both three-dimensional and two-dimensional media,、and has held numerous solo and group exhibitions.。
He was responsible for the sculpting and Supervision of the Aqua Fish Mini Models.