Taxonomic Research

There is continuing research into the systematics of Australian mammals, particularly rodents and small dasyurid marsupials, using both morphometric and molecular genetic techniques, with new species being described.

Similar techniques are employed to determine the status of snakes, skinks and bats from along the Banda Arcs in eastern Indonesia and their relationship to Australian forms.

A variety of reptile species are under study and several new species are currently being described.

Taxonomic revisions of Indo-Australian bird fauna continues by using the extensive collections from the Banda Arcs in eastern Indonesia.

The majority of the Departments systematic work is undertaken in conjunction with the molecular labs at the Evolutionary Biology Unit of the South Australian Museum and at the University of Western Australia’s Department of Anatomy and Human Biology.

Current Projects

The staff are involved in a programme of research projects covering many aspects of Western Australian and South East Asian vertebrate biogeography and ecology.

The Department is also actively involved in the following on-going projects:

FrogWatch (opens in new window)

Cockatoo Care (opens in new window)

Biogeography
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Threatened Species
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Vertebrate Anatomy
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Ecology
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