Research

The Herpetology Section of the Australian Museum conducts research into the biology, evolution and conservation of amphibians and reptiles based primarily on the Museum's collections. Allen Greer is the Principal Research Scientist and Ross Sadlier is the Collection Manager in the Herpetology Section. Allen Greer's research focuses primarily on the biology and systematics of skink lizards. Ross Sadlier's research includes the systematics of the lizard fauna of New Caledonia, and various systematic projects on the rainforest lizards in eastern Australia.

The Section also has two long-term research associates, Dr Glenn Shea and Mr Gerry Swan. Glenn Shea's research is broadly based but currently includes the systematics of scincid (skinks) lizards in New Guinea, and various systematic projects on the reptiles of western New South Wales. Gerry Swan's research is primarily field based and includes a number of survey projects in western New South Wales. Both associates visit the lab, use the facilities, and interact with section staff throughout the year.

The lizards of New Caledonia

• Introduction

Systematics - The description of the New Caledonian lizard fauna

• The Orange-bellied Burrowing Skink, Simiscincus aurantiacus - a subterranean lizard species?
• Skinks endemic to the maquis shrubland - Lioscincus tillieri and Lioscincus maruia
• The discovery and description of new species restricted to high altitude forest in the Province Sud - Sigaloseps ruficauda and Marmorosphax montana

Field Research - The discovery of the New Caledonian lizard fauna

• Lizards of New Caledonias Sclerophyll Forests and the Threats Posed by the Indroduced Little Fire Ant Wasmannia auropunctata.
• Research on the lizards of Province Nord, New Caledonia, with special reference to threatened species and the herpetofauna of threatened or restricted habitats

Conservation - The future of the New Caledonian lizard fauna

• Conservation status of endemic New Caledonian lizards - an assessment of the distribution and threats to the species of lizard endemic to New Caledonia. Including species accounts.

Limb reduction in Australian lizards

The evolution of limbs was one of the major features accompanying the movement of vertebrates from the water to the land. Find out more in "Limb reduction in Australian lizards".

Encyclopedia of Australian Reptiles

The Encyclopedia of Australian Reptiles is an attempt to summarise all the biological information on the reptiles of Australia, as of August 2006, that may be of interest to a general reader. It is intended for herpetologists and naturalists; students at a secondary, tertiary and post-graduate level; researchers, and bureaucrats involved with Australian reptiles.

• Turtles
  • Chelidae (741k PDF)
  • Cheloniidae (639k PDF)
  • Dermochelyidae (211k PDF)
  • Carrettochelyidae (244k PDF)
  • Emydidae (116k PDF)
• Crocodilians
  • Crocodylidae (135k PDF)
• Lizards
  • Agamidae (850kb PDF)
  • Gekkonidae (1.13mb PDF)
  • Pygopodidae (734k PDF)
  • Scincidae (3.2mb PDF)
  • Varanidae (771k PDF)
• Snakes
  • Typhlopidae (291k PDF)
  • Pythonidae (628k PDF)
  • Acrochordidae (172k PDF)
  • Colubridae (291k PDF)
  • Homalopsidae (135k PDF)
  • Elapidae (1.4mb PDF)
  • Hydrophiidae (249k PDF)
• Abbreviations (58k PDF)
• Bibliography of Australian Reptiles (1.9mb PDF)

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Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002