Collections
Documentation
Lizard specimen with registration tag.
One of the original hand-written registration catalogues.
One of the original hand-written registration catalogues.
Electronic collection database.
All specimens acquired by the Australian Museum are given a unique registration number. This number serves as the link between the specimen and information or data associated with it. The data are held as a hard copy on hand-written and printed data sheets, and as an electronic database.
The individual registration number attached to each specimen consisted originally of a metal tag with numbers punched into the surface (R1-25000), but currently is a cardboard label with the numbers printed on the surface. Each number is preceded by an 'R' prefix and on the cardboard labels has 'AUST.MUS.' printed on the back.
The information recorded consists of a number of 'core' data fields, which record the information relevant to the specimen's provenance such as:
- location at it which it was collected, including relevant geographical coordinates
- date of collection
- collector or donor
- habitat
- date of death if known
This is accompanied by an identification, which is usually assigned by the collection manager or someone with a degree of expertise in the particular group the species might belong to.
Additional 'curatorial' fields give extra information on:
- the accuracy of geographical coordinates assigned to the location
- the source and accuracy the identification assigned
- the form of the specimen, whether it is spirit stored or has been made into a special preparation
- the date of registration into the sequential 'R' catalogue
- any relevant information for type specimens.
Today all registration numbers for herpetology specimens are preceded with the letter 'R'; however, before the current 'R' register there were several other registration systems. The 'A', 'B', and 'Parmer' registers all contained a combination of entries from different animal groups including reptiles and amphibians. Some specimens are still only registered under these earlier catalogues, but a number have been re-registered under the current 'R' system.
The original hand-written registers consist of four volumes that cover the current 'R' series from the first entry in 1886 to around 35,000 in 1972. Information was then entered by hand onto data sheets formatted for computer entry. Current practice is for data to be entered directly onto the computer and sheets with these data are printed and bound.
With the current system it is possible to review the collection holdings of a particular species, or the species recorded from within an area defined by a set of geographical coordinates.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002
