Research

  • 27 Nov 2023

    WA Museum is on the lookout for Collections and Research Volunteers

    Our Western Australian Museum passionate volunteers make a significant contribution to our organisation in a variety of roles by donating their valuable time, knowledge and resources.

    We are currently recruiting for enthusiastic volunteers for WA Museum’s Collections and Research Legacy Project so if you would like to play a vital part in supporting curatorial and collections staff then please take a read of how to get in touch.

    Legacy Project Overview

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    News
    Deanna Watson

  • Bare-nosed wombats under UV light

    4 Oct 2023

    Researchers explore the phenomenon of fluorescence in mammals

    In the last few years, more and more mammals have been reported to fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Fluorescence is commonly reported amongst animals including birds, reptiles, and fish. But until now, no-one knew how common it was amongst mammals.

    After testing more than 125 species of mammals, the research led by the Western Australian Museum’s Curator of Mammalogy Dr Kenny Travouillon, in partnership with Curtin University, determined that fluorescence amongst mammals is also extremely common.

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    News
    Flora Perrella

  • Head of a planarian worm under a microscope

    16 Aug 2023

    National Science Week 2023 at the WA Maritime Museum and WA Shipwrecks Museum

    Did you know the ocean is home to a huge population of creatures that can’t be shown in a display case but are very important to life? We might not think about these tiny, living organisms when we are swimming or out on a boat, but they are critically important to all life on Earth, not just those living underwater.

    These tiny organisms which can be found in plankton and slimy algae are so small that they can only be seen under a microscope! And you will be surprised by their amazing colours and shapes!

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    News
    Flora Perrella

  • Technical Officer, Terrestrial Vertebrates Dr Kailah Thorn

    8 Aug 2023

    National Science Week with Dr Kailah Thorn: Early career researcher bridging the divide between herpetology and palaeontology.

    To celebrate National Science Week 2023, the Western Australian Museum is excited to share some of the stories and highlight some of the research undertaken by our very own scientists this year.

    Working as a Technical Officer in Terrestrial Vertebrates, Dr. Thorn’s role involves collecting, preparing, archiving, and loaning out the museum’s mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian specimens.

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    News
    Kasper Johansen

  • An artist impression of the Tiliqua frangens or 'Frangens’

    15 Jun 2023

    Super-sized Shingleback: WA Museum and Flinders University researchers discover Australia's gigantic extinct armoured lizard

    A fossil lizard discovered by researchers at Flinders University and a member of Western Australian Museum staff has been described as by far the largest and most bizarre skink that ever lived.

    Related to the Shinglebacks – commonly known as sleepy lizards or bobtails – found in gardens today, Tiliqua frangens or 'Frangens’, was covered in thick spiny armour and measured roughly the size of a human arm.

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    News
    Kasper Johansen

  • Dr Glenn Moore diving next to a cod.

    10 Nov 2022

    The fishy work of WA Museum’s fish scientist

    Dr Glenn Moore is the Curator of Fish at WA Museum and the State-recognised authority for the identification and taxonomy of marine and freshwater fish. He is regularly involved in scientific projects to grow our understanding of Western Australian biodiversity and biogeography.

    In his role as Curator, Glenn is responsible for maintaining the quality, documentation and development of the State’s fish collection, which includes almost 200,000 specimens from around the world. 

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    News
    Kasper Johansen

  • A gloved hand holds a large cowrie shell.

    14 Sep 2022

    Precious black cowrie shell donated to WA Museum Boola Bardip

    In a generous act of philanthropy, an incredibly rare and valuable black cowrie shell found in Western Australian waters was recently gifted to the Western Australian Museum’s Aquatic Zoology department.

    Hailing from the Mollusc phylum, the Leporicypraea geographica rewa form rovae cowrie shell was found off the coast of Exmouth in a 24-metre-deep sea sponge garden.

    More commonly known as sea snails, cowries are nocturnal by nature, living in underwater caves and hiding under rocks during the day and feeding on coral and algae at night.

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    News
    Yoshika Kon

  • A snorkeler dives towards an anchor deep in the ocean.

    9 Sep 2022

    Explore almost 400 years of Batavia stories through a rich digital experience

    On Friday 9 September, the Western Australian Museum will launch an innovative and interactive digital experience, which brings together almost 400 years of one of Australia’s most notorious events – the wreck of the ship, Batavia, in 1629.

    The Batavia 1629: National Heritage Listed Place Guide is the first interactive e-book produced by the Western Australian Museum.

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    News
    Yoshika Kon

  • A pseudoscorpion looks like a cross between a scorpion, spider and tick.

    17 Aug 2022

    Seven pseudoscorpion species believed to be new to science discovered

    Seven pseudoscorpion species believed to be new to science have been discovered by our Head of Department and Curator (Arachnids and Myriapods) Dr Mark Harvey on a Bush Blitz expedition in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.

    The discovery was made at Charnley River Station, an Australian Wildlife Conservancy property, and at Wunaamin Conservation Park.

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    News
    Yoshika Kon

  • A spotty and patterned gecko with big round eyes on a rock, its mouth is slightly open.

    12 Aug 2022

    Herpetology – the study of amphibians and reptiles in action at the Museum of Geraldton

    As part of National Science Week 2022, the Museum of Geraldton are featuring three Western Australian herpetologists for Public Talk: Wildlife Research in Action on Wednesday 17 August.

    Herpetology is the study of amphibians and reptiles, and new and exciting discoveries within the Western Australian Museum Collections and Research continue to be made every year.

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    News
    Yoshika Kon

  • 13 Mar 2019

    WA and UK researchers discover new species of extinct Australian mammal

    A team of researchers led by the Western Australian Museum and the Natural History Museum in London has discovered a new species of very small, incredibly fast extinct Australian Pig-footed Bandicoot.

    Dr Kenny Travouillon, Curator of Mammalogy at the WA Museum, said the discovery of Chaeropus yirratji is a breakthrough for science as little was known about the mammal previously.

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    News
    Hillary Henry

  • 29 Oct 2018

    New WA coral discovery provides hope for future of reefs

    A team of scientists from the Western Australian Museum and universities in Australia and Japan has discovered a new species of coral in waters off the coast of north western WA, offering insight into which coral species are adapting in areas where climate change has had a severe impact.

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    News
    Hillary Henry

  • 9 Aug 2018

    Museum researchers identify new populations of one of WA’s rarest and most bizarre animals

    A team of researchers led by scientists from the Western Australian Museum has identified two new populations of one of WA’s rarest and most bizarre animals, the blind cave eel.

    The finds were made in two locations in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia.

    The blind cave eel, Ophisternon candidum, is one of Australia’s least-known fishes and is the longest cave fish in the world, growing up to 40cm long.

    It is one of only three Australian vertebrates known to be entirely restricted to underground waters such as caves and wells. 

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    News
    Hillary Henry

  • 18 May 2018

    Describing Fauna Before they are Lost Forever

    It is sometimes hard to comprehend just how biodiverse the planet is.

    Despite almost 300 years of progress describing the animals, plants, fungi, and other organisms, there are estimated to be over 9 million undescribed species, which is almost five times the number of described species.

    This is a huge problem for conservation, as undescribed taxa are at risk of being overlooked when shaping management strategies. Sadly, many species will go extinct before science ever discovers, describes, and protects them.

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    Article
    Joel Huey

  • 13 Oct 2016

    Conservation

    Textile conservation at the WA Museum Image copyright WA Museum 

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    Article
    Western Australian Museum

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