Australian Museum Research Articles

Isolation rearing does not constrain social plasticity in a family-living lizard

Financial support for this research was provided by the Australian Research Council (ARC DP130102998, grant to MJW and RWB), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (scholarship to JLR), the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behavior, the Australian Museum, Macquarie University (scholarship to JLR), and the Australian Government (Endeavour Postdoctoral Fellowship to JLR). DWAN was supported by an ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award (DE150101774) and University of New South Wales Vice Chancellors Fellowship.

Dispatches from the front line: A curator’s view of history exhibitions in Australia

Abstract Every year millions of Australians visit history exhibitions across the country. While museums are clearly one the most popular places for Australians to encounter their past, there is surprisingly little critical understanding of how history exhibitions are produced. While there is a growing literature in the academy about museums, there is little material written by practising history curators. When reviewing the Australian literature, the impression emerges that history curators are still working to define what it is they do and how they do it. The definition of curatorship varies considerably across the country. Debate occurs within institutions as to the remit of the curator, and professional demarcations fluctuate from museum to museum. The role of the curator as the driving force in the development of collections and exhibition content is constantly under challenge. In this environment of shifting professional boundaries an understanding of what history curators do is often left implicit rather than explicit. This lack of clarity stands in contrast to other curatorial streams in museums and galleries. Visual arts and natural history curators, for example, possess long-standing critical traditions that underpin their practice. History curators, however, are yet to gain full acceptance within Australian museums as the intellectual architects of exhibition content. In this article, I explore the role of history curators in producing historical knowledge and the part they play in exploring Australian popular culture.

Contribution to Research: Colin Pearson

The contribution that Colin Pearson has made to materials conservation in Australia is second to none. The impact that Colin had on the foundation of the Western Australian Museum’s conservation department has continued to echo down through four decades. This paper is a reflection from the WA Museum perspective on the man, his talents and the inspiration that he left behind that has motivated conservators and conservation scientists in Western Australia.

Revisiting Rapa Nui Matā

Based on a use-wear and residue analysis of a collection of 12 mata‘a in the Australian Museum, Sydney, we question the value of relying on tool shape as an adequate indication of past use. Although the tools in this collection were used for a broad range of tasks, including plant processing, wood, shell and bone working, and cutting and piercing of flesh or skin, some may have been used in interpersonal conflict. The study illustrates the value of museum ethnographic collections for understanding past tool use.

An annotated type catalogue of the geckos and pygopods (Squamata: Gekkota: Carphodactylidae, Diplodactylidae, Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae) in the collection of the Western Australian Museum

An annotated type catalogue of the geckos and pygopods (Squamata: Gekkota: Carphodactylidae, Diplodactylidae, Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae) in the collection of the Western Australian Museum

An annotated type catalogue of varanid lizards (Reptilia: Squamata: Varanidae) in the collection of the Western Australian Museum

An annotated type catalogue of varanid lizards (Reptilia: Squamata: Varanidae) in the collection of the Western Australian Museum

The Australian Museum Lord Howe Island Expedition 2017—birds and mammals

The Australian Museum Lord Howe Island Expedition 2017—birds and mammals

The Australian Museum Lord Howe Island Expedition 2017—Introduction

The Australian Museum Lord Howe Island Expedition 2017—Introduction

The Australian Museum Lord Howe Island Expedition 2017—marine invertebrates

The Australian Museum Lord Howe Island Expedition 2017—marine invertebrates

A palaeobiogeographical synthesis of Australasian Mesozoic marine tetrapods

Kear, B.P., Fordyce, R.E., Hiller, N. & Siversson, M., December 2017. A palaeobiogeographical synthesis of Australasian Mesozoic marine tetrapods. Alcheringa 42, 461-486. ISSN 0311-5518. THE LAST 15 years has witnessed a blossoming of research on Australasian Mesozoic marine tetrapod fossils. Much of this work has focused on amniotes, particularly those from the prolific Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) Lagerstätten of the Eromanga Basin in central and eastern Australia, and Upper Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) sequences of the North and South islands of New Zealand. However, rare and less popularized remains have also been found in Lower Triassic–mid-Cretaceous rocks from Australia, New Zealand and the Chatham Islands, and on the tectonically proximal landmasses of New Caledonia and Timor. Currently identified taxa include estuarine–paralic rhytidostean, brachyopid, capitosaurian and trematosaurian temnospondyls from the earliest Triassic (Induan–Olenekian), Middle–Late Triassic (Anisian–Norian) eosauropterygians, and mixosaurian, shastasaurian and euichthyosaurian ichthyosaurians, Early–Middle Jurassic (Sinemurian–Bajocian) ichthyosaurians, together with plesiosauroid and rhomaleosaurid-like plesiosaurians, and diverse Early (Aptian–Albian) through to Late Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) elasmosaurid, leptocleidid, polycotylid, probable cryptoclidid and pliosaurid plesiosaurians, as well as ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurians, sea turtles incorporating protostegids, and mosasaurid squamates. This faunal succession evidences almost continuous occupation of southern high-palaeolatitude seas, and repeated endemic diversifications (including nascent members of some key lineages) amongst emigrant cosmopolitan clades. The primary dispersal routes are likely to have been peri-Gondwanan, with coastal migrations along the western Tethys and polar margins of the Panthalassan Ocean. However, augmentation by increasing continental fragmentation and seaway corridor connectivity probably occurred from the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous. Latest Cretaceous mosasaurid and elasmosaurid taxa also reveal regional affinities with the emergent western Pacific and Weddellian austral bioprovinces. The extreme rarity, or complete absence, of many major groups prevalent elsewhere in Gondwana (e.g., tanystropheids, Triassic sauropterygians, bothremydid marine turtles, thalattosuchians and dyrosaurid crocodylomorphs) is conspicuous, and might be related to stratigraphical/collecting biases, or the predominantly higher-palaeolatitude, cooler-water Mesozoic palaeogeography of the Australasian region. Although the burgeoning record is substantial, much still awaits discovery and adequate documentation; thus Australasia is still one of the most exciting prospects for future insights into the global history of Mesozoic marine tetrapods. Benjamin P. Kear* [ benjamin.kear@em.uu.se ] Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden; R. Ewan Fordyce [ ewan.fordyce@otago.ac.nz ] Department of Geology, University of Otago, Post Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Norton Hiller [ norton.hiller@gmail.com ] Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand; Mikael Siversson [ mikael.siversson@museum.wa.gov.au ] Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106.

On a collection of Carabidae from Timor Leste, with descriptions of nine new species (Insecta: Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The ground beetle (Carabidae) fauna of Timor is reviewed based on recent collecting by the Australian Museum, in Timor Leste. 53 species were collected, of which the following nine species are described as new: Mecyclothorax timorensis sp. nov. Baehr; M. reidi sp. nov. Baehr; Rhytisternus externus sp. nov. Baehr; Arhytinus timorensis sp. nov. Baehr; Notagonum reidi sp. nov. Baehr; N. angusticolle sp. nov. Baehr; Perigona timorensis sp. nov. Baehr; Aristolebia timorensis sp. nov. Baehr; Lebia timorensis sp. nov. Baehr The new species are compa red with their nearest relatives. The remaining material is identified to species, or at least to genus, and discussed according to the current classification of Carabidae. Several species and genera are newly recorded for Timor. In spite of the rather small number of species contained, the sample allows some insight into the relations of the Carabid fauna of Timor to the Oriental and Australopapuan Regions, with about two thirds of the species belonging to the Oriental fauna, and one third to the Australopapuan fauna. A few species also belong to subgroups that are restricted to the southeasternmost Oriental Region “Wallacea”—Sulawesi, and the Maluku, Aru and Kei Islands.

Type specimens of non-fossil mammals in the Australian Museum, Sydney

The Australian Museum (AM) Mammal Collection represents one of the most significant world collections from the Australo-Pacific region, with over 50,000 mammal specimens of some 650 species from the region. The Collection contains about 882 primary (name bearing) and secondary mammal type specimens, representing 210 proposed names (species and subspecies), 124 of which are currently recognized as valid taxa. All are of taxa originating from the Australian region, Indonesia, Melanesia and the south-west Pacific. The 205 primary type specimens comprise 145 holotype specimens (on which 149 names are based), seven lectotypes, two neotypes; 33 syntypes of 18 taxa; and 18 specimens suspected to be syntypes of 11 taxa. Primary type material of the 185 named taxa represent 4 monotremes, 62 marsupials, 2 canids, 9 cetaceans, 68 rodents and 40 bats. The 677 secondary type specimens comprise 659 paratypes, 15 paralectotypes, and three suspected paralectotypes. This is the first published list of non-fossil mammal types in the AM Collection since the publication of Krefft’s catalogue in 1864. Individual accounts are presented discussing type status of 233 taxa by their originally proposed names, which includes taxa for which the type series has not been located since publication of the name. Registration data are given, with additional information not included in the published description, along with new information on many taxa proposed in the 19th century. Photographs of the primary type specimens of 43 taxa are provided, many of which are the first published images. New insights and a summary of current information is given for 14 taxa for which type material has not been located in world collections but we believe might have originally been lodged in the AM. Type material of seven taxa named by Krefft, Gray and Ramsay (all suspected junior synonyms), were identified in the AM Collection and are reported here for the first time since their original publication. These are: holotypes of Canis familiaris var. papuensis Ramsay, 1879, and Macleayius australiensis Gray, 1865 (= Eubalaena australis (Desmoulins, 1822)); syntypes of Pteropus rufus Ramsay, 1891 (= Pteropus neohibernicus Peters, 1876), Cuscus chrysorrhous var. goldiei Ramsay, 1877 (= Spilocuscus maculatus goldiei (Ramsay, 1877)), and Antechinus allanii Krefft, 1872 (= Antechinus cf. stuartii Macleay, 1841); and suspected syntypes of Halmaturus mastersii Krefft, 1871 (= Wallabia bicolor mastersii), and Phascolomys assimilis Krefft, 1872 (= Vombatus ursinus (Shaw, 1800)). The registration numbers of likely syntypes of two forgotten names, Antechinus brevicaudatus Krefft, 1872 (= ?Antechinus spp.), and Phalangista rufescens Krefft, 1872 (= Trichosurus spp.) have been located in the old specimen registers, the specimens have not yet been found in the Collection. The type series of many taxa proposed by Krefft and Ramsay are not fully defined and syntypes could remain unrecognized in the many institutions to which they extensively exchanged specimens during the 19th century. No nomenclatural actions are taken in this paper.

A review of the Acanthocephala parasitising freshwater fishes in Australia.

The acanthocephalan fauna of Australian freshwater fishes was documented from field surveys, a literature survey and examination of specimens registered in Australian museums. From the 4030 fishes, representing 78 of the 354 Australian freshwater fish species (22%), examined for infection seven species of acanthocephalan were recovered. These species comprised five endemic species, three in endemic genera, two species in cosmopolitan genera, one species not fully identified and 1 putative exotic species recovered from eight species of fish. Of these Edmonsacanthus blairi from Melanotaenia splendida, was the only acanthocephalan found at a relatively high prevalence of 38·6%. These findings are indicative of a highly endemic and possibly depauperate acanthocephalan fauna. Species richness was higher in the tropical regions than the temperate regions of the country. Exotic acanthocephalan species have either not been introduced with their exotic hosts or have been unable to establish their life cycles in Australian conditions. Consequently, acanthocephalans have not yet invaded endemic Australian fish hosts.

Anaspidesidae, a new family for syncarid crustaceans formerly placed in Anaspididae Thomson, 1893

This study was partially funded by a grant from the Australian Biological Resources Study and is a contribution from the Australian Museum Research Institute. M.A. Alonso-Zarazaga was partly supported by project CGL2015‐66571‐P (MINECO/FEDER) (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain).

A Guide to Public Engagement for Entomological Collections and Natural History Museums in the Age of Social Media

Social media has revolutionized the way research and museum collections communicate with the general public by disseminating knowledge and information in real time. Currently there are limited studies examining the use of social media by museums and entomological collections to engage the general public online. Social media has the power to promote museum and collection events, research, and staff, as well as raise awareness of entomological collections and demonstrate their relevance to the public, industry, policy makers, and potential students of entomology. Here we introduce SCOPE, a new framework for promoting museums and entomological collections using social media. The SCOPE framework streamlines strategy development, content choice, refinement of online engagement, choice of social media platform, and evaluation of social media campaigns using altmetrics. Case studies from the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, and National Museums Scotland following the SCOPE framework are provided so that other museums, entomological collections, staff, and students can replicate it to develop and maintain their own social media presence.

Australian museums in the ‘age of risk’: a case study

ABSTRACTBalancing the needs and demands of audiences, sponsors and shareholders and making wise curatorial decisions concerning the politics of display in an increasingly risk averse society, are dilemmas many contemporary museums are experiencing. This article utilizes a case study comparing curatorial approaches to ‘risk management’ at two Australian museums (Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney, and Museum of Old and New Art Tasmania), in regard to contentious and ‘difficult’ topics. Based on empirical data, analysis will consider the role museums play as agents of social change in respect to counteracting prejudices and promoting appreciation of cultural differences through exhbitionary displays. Against the backdrop of the ‘culture wars’ and impact of media reporting, the writings of Ulrich Beck inform discussions surrounding different perspectives of museum professionals and audiences and how displays in the art museum conform to or contradict Beck’s vision of ‘reflective’ modernity in an increasingly ‘world risk society.’

Suitcases, keys and handkerchiefs: how are objects being used to collect and tell migrant stories in Australian museums?

ABSTRACTThis article examines the particular challenges that are associated with collecting and exhibiting objects to represent immigrant narratives. Everyday objects play a crucial role in migration history and curators need to capitalise on the representational possibilities offered by these seemingly banal objects when conceiving exhibitions. This analysis concentrates on strategies used by Australian museums – from large federal institutions to state-based organisations as well as smaller community-based and council-run museums – as migration history is core to the settler history of Australia. In critically examining how objects are collected, this article discusses what it means for museums to engage with and tell stories of migration today and into the future. The study reveals the diversity of approaches at play and what lessons can be learnt from the study of how curators and institutions themselves are striving to engage with a diverse audience in their collections and exhibitions.

What Could Have Bean: Using Digital Art History to Revisit Australia's First World War Official War Art

On his journey back to Australia in 1919, official war correspondent and historian Charles Bean wrote a detailed proposal for an Australian war memorial museum that included sketches of the facade ...

Does urbanization influence the diet of a large snake?

Urbanization facilitates synanthropic species such as rodents, which benefit the diets of many predators in cities. We investigated how urbanization affects the feeding ecology of dugites Pseudonaja affinis, a common elapid snake in south-west Western Australia. We predicted that urban snakes: 1) more frequently contain prey and eat larger meals, 2) eat proportionally more non-native prey, 3) eat a lower diversity of prey species, and 4) are relatively heavier, than non-urban dugites. We analyzed the diet of 453 specimens obtained from the Western Australian Museum and opportunistic road-kill collections. Correcting for size, sex, season, and temporal biases, we tested whether location influenced diet for our 4 predictions. Body size was a strong predictor of diet (larger snakes had larger prey present, a greater number of prey items, and a greater diversity of prey). We identified potential collection biases: urban dugites were relatively smaller (snout-vent length) than non-urban specimens, and females were relatively lighter than males. Accounting for these effects, urban snakes were less likely to have prey present in their stomachs and were relatively lighter than non-urban snakes. Other urban-adapted carnivores appear to benefit from urbanization through increased food supplementation, but we found the opposite of this: urban dugites were less likely to contain a meal, and their meals were smaller, indicating they did not make greater use of synanthropic species than was evident for non-urban snakes. In contrast to other carnivores, snakes do not appear to fit a consistent directional pattern for size differences between urban and non-urban populations.

Museum objects and Instagram: agency and communication in digital engagement

In recent years, museums have focused on engaging the public in their collections, exhibitions and programming as they reimagine themselves in the light of changes in technology and visitor expectations. This article spotlights public engagement with museum objects from the perspective of museum visitors, specifically how they engage with objects through the visual social media platform of Instagram. It draws on a case study of Instagram users who visited one popular, urban, Australian museum of contemporary art. We argue that visitor engagement with museum objects on Instagram is informed by agency and authority on the part of the user, and a primary motivation to communicate shared experiences using photography. Findings include a significant focus on objects despite public concerns that social media use in museum spaces is leading to a decreased public engagement in this area. Implications stemming from the research include specific insights for museum practice and understandings that have a potential to impact communication, engagement, and contemporary cultural practices generally.