line drawings

[Randy & Deb Carey <carey@spacestar.net>]

The advantages of using line drawings are [1] you don't have to get original
photos of each species covered (an potentially cumbersome and possibly
prohibitive task), and more importantly [2] the line drawings can illustrate the
significant features for distinguishing species and minimize details that are
variable (such as color).

If a line drawing does not illustrate a distinguishing feature, then either that
feature is not really a distinguishing point or the illustrator failed.

I agree with a comment Mike W. made a few days ago about the value of the line
drawings in the back of the first Linke/Staeck book.  By studying this set of
drawnings, I learned how to ID apistos.  When I wanted to distinguish between the
three species of rummy-nose tetras, I used line drawings and illustrated only the
features relevant for distinguishing the two (see
http://characin.com/carey/articles/98/three_rummynose_2.html ).

I wanted to use line drawings in my TFH article last year on distinguishing among
the species of each: bleeding hearts, rummy-noses, neons, and emperors.  But the
magazine's policy is to use color photos whenever possible.  But if I ever write
again on distinguishing species, I'm going to insist on line drawings and charts
like the one on the web page I just referenced.

-- Randy




Scott Olson wrote:

> I'd be more than happy to help with line drawings, as well.  Someone
> mentioned the drawings in the German L&S as being a good tool.  I never
> found them to be so because:
>
> The ones that are any good are just traced copies of the photos aready in
> the book, and provide little in the way of diagnostic markings, other than
> those clearly visible on the photos.  Look at the drawing of Eunotus, for
> example...pretty much bereft of ANY identifying marks.
>
> Some of them are wild guesses drawn from the original scientific
> description, and tend to be way off the mark - look at the drawing of
> Elizabethae, for example, and the female 'Hoignei'.
>
> Anyway, I think we can do better.
>
> Regards,
>
> Scott Olson
>
> Lee, if you're reading this between
> >moving your tanks to your new house, you know someone who likes to draw
> >cichlids.  Hint.
> >
> >Vinny
> >
> >
> >
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