Photo/Illutration Koichi Fukuoka holds a copy of his illustrated encyclopedia of ammonites and other prehistoric creatures. (Provided by Koichi Fukuoka)

Koichi Fukuoka’s career as a copperplate engraver took an unexpected turn after he encountered fossils of ammonites, a spiral-shelled creature that lived in the age of the dinosaurs.

The artist, who lives in Hokkaido, switched his subjects from local landscapes to a wide variety of ammonites found on Japan’s northernmost main island.

Fukuoka, 75, has finally published an illustrated encyclopedia that details more than 300 fossils of ammonites and other prehistoric creatures found on the island.

It features copperplate images he produced over the past 20 years, including ammonites in four suborders, 36 families and 181 genera.

“Ammonites are so beautiful. As a living thing, their forms were functional in every way,” he said. “It is my job as a painter to show people that such fantastic fossils are found in Japan.”

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A drawing of the ammonite genus Sharpeiceras characterized by two rows of spike-like projections on the back (Provided by Hokuryukan Co.)

Ammonites, belonging to the same group as squid and octopi, flourished in the oceans before they went extinct along with dinosaurs 65 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period.

Hokkaido is one of the world’s richest sites for ammonite fossils. More than 500 species have been discovered, and new varieties continue to be found.

Fukuoka became captivated by ammonites after he found an ammonite fossil with fossil enthusiasts in Hokkaido.

In addition to well-known varieties with snail-like swirls, ammonites come in different shapes. The genus Nipponites, characterized by irregular whorls, appears to be a squiggly snake.

The more Fukuoka learned about ammonites, the more he became mesmerized.

Around 2001, the artist stopped working on Hokkaido landscapes to focus on ammonites. His copperplate images capture detailed taxonomic characteristics of each variety.

“I never thought I’d be working on ammonites for this long,” he said.

Fukuoka started compiling his works into an encyclopedia five years ago.

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A drawing of Nipponites, an ammonite genus known for its unique shape like a winding snake (Provided by Hokuryukan Co.)

Although it took far longer than initially planned due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the book was finally completed with the help of experts in paleontology.

“Cretaceous Ammonites and Other Life with Copperplate Pictures,” published by Hokuryukan Co., also features dinosaurs, fish species and sea lilies.

It is priced at 16,500 yen ($128), including tax.

“As I look at Fukuoka’s artworks, I feel the urge that we researchers want to express our feelings for fossils more strongly,” said Makoto Manabe, deputy head of the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo. “I think you can find something new when you look at fossils again after seeing his works.”

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