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Systematic Ichthyology Lab
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The lab studies systematic ichthyology, uncovering the species diversity of fishes through specimens and morphology.
AboutAbout the lab
Giving names to fish that have none
The Systematic Ichthyology Lab studies the species diversity of fishes based on morphology.
Many fish in the water still have no names, and several hundred new fish species are discovered around the world every year.
The lab is strongest in phylogenetic systematics: correctly distinguishing fish species, deciding their scientific names, and classifying them along the paths of evolution.
The materials for its research are scientific specimens kept in museums.
Key terms
- Phylogenetic systematics
- The science of distinguishing living species along the paths of evolution, naming them, and classifying them
- Scientific name
- The formal name of an organism, used worldwide. A new species is given a new scientific name
- Scientific specimens
- Actual organisms collected for research and kept for a long time. They serve as a clue for checking research results later
ResearchResearch themes
As a field science exploring “fish species diversity,” the lab studies fish systematics grounded in morphology. Within systematics, it is strongest in phylogenetic systematics, which distinguishes species, decides their names, and classifies them along the paths of evolution.
*Illustrative imageUncovering fish species diversity
Each fish species has its own distinctive features, such as body shape, habits, and DNA, yet many fish are still unknown. To understand underwater ecosystems, the lab works to solve these mysteries one by one.
*Illustrative imageBuilding classification systems by studying phylogeny
The lab estimates relationships among species through phylogenetic analysis, gives names to groups that diverged from a common ancestor, and presents a classification system. It also looks for the features (taxonomic characters) that make it possible to distinguish species reliably.
*Illustrative imageResearch using scientific specimens
The Museum of Fisheries Science on the Hakodate Campus holds a collection of fish specimens (the HUMZ Collection). Students in the lab also take part in specimen management as volunteers, providing an environment where they can gain practical skills.
*Illustrative imageDiscovering new species
New species are found not only through surveys in unexplored places but also by re-examining specimens kept in museums. At Hokkaido University, new fish species have been discovered by both methods.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members consist of faculty and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students. Faculty from the University Museum also help with supervision.As of 2026
- ProfessorHisashi Imamura
- Associate ProfessorToshio Kawai
- Assistant ProfessorFumihito Tashiro
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Flathead Platycephalidae family ( )” Rickard Zerpe / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Uncovering fish species diversity: “Baker Island reef Anthias 2023” NOAA Fisheries / Public domain (cropped)
- Building classification systems by studying phylogeny: “Zenopsis-nebulosa transparent specimen NMMBA” Tiouraren (Y.-C. Tsai) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Research using scientific specimens: “Deep Sea Specimens from the Discovery Collection” Tim Sheerman-Chase / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Discovering new species: “Armored Searobin ( ) (cropped)” NOAA Ocean Exploration & Research from USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
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（資源生物学講座） ): “Phocoena phocoena ssp. vomerina” Ben Phalan / CC BY 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (北方生物圏フィールド科学センター 臼尻水産実験所): “Usujiri Fishing Port 20220605” Reh gambare / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (漁場学講座
（資源生物学講座） ): “Flounder Larva, Woods Hole, MA, USA” Taeylenol / CC BY 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab
(動物生態学研究室): “Hon-yadokari1104-1” ふうけ / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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