Our Australian National Wildlife Collection provides important information on Australia's wildlife heritage through the collection of land vertebrates including birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
About our wildlife collection
The Australian National Wildlife Collection is a significant resource on Australia's biodiversity, aiding the study, classification and documentation of Australia's mammals, birds and reptiles.
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Aim of our wildlife collection
Our collection is a vital archive for research and conservation of Australia's terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity.
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What our wildlife collection holds
We hold almost 200 000 irreplaceable scientific specimens of wildlife, including skins, skeletons, specimens in spirit, bird egg collections, a wildlife sound library and frozen tissue.
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Our wildlife sound archive
Our archive of wildlife sound recordings is the most comprehensive library of its kind in Australia and is among the largest in the world.
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History of our wildflife collection
For over 50 years, we have strived to be a modern collection of national scope for Australian land vertebrates including birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
Wildlife research
Our research informs Australian wildlife conservation and helps to protect biodiversity.
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Reading the trail of evolution in crimson rosellas
Our research uncovered clues as to how different populations of the crimson rosella are related to each other. This helps us understand the effect of long-term environmental changes on our wildlife, so that we can predict its future.
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Tiger parrots show their true evolutionary stripes
Genetic research undertaken with the New Mexico State University in the United States has helped scientists better understand how Australian birds evolved.
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New goanna species discovered in the Pilbara
Our research led to the discovery of a new species of goanna in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia.