Collections
Specimen form
R126862 Freshwater Crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni.
R133349 Arnhem Land Monitor Varanus baritji.
Most reptile and amphibian specimens kept in the collection for scientific research are held as whole specimens stored in ethanol.
Specimens stored this way can be:
- examined for external and internal diagnostic features used in systematic research,
- or for investigating various aspects of a species biology such as diet (analysis of stomach contents)
- timing of reproduction (stage of reproductive cycle at time of preservation)
- or age (presence of annual growth-rings in certain bones).
The initial stages of preservation involve saturation of the specimen in a 10% formalin solution, 'fixation' of the specimens takes from several hours to a day or more, depending on the size of the specimen. Specimens are then stored in an ethanol solution (75% ethanol/25% water for reptiles; 65% ethanol/35% water for amphibians).
R158442 Carpet Python Morelia spilota variegata.
R37394 Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea.
R86385 Asian Salamander Ranodon sibiricus.
Further information
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002
