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Taxonomy and Systematics in the Australian Museum
Projects, New Names and Publicatons in Taxonomy and Systematics for the Australian Museum since 1995
What are Taxonomy and Systematics?
Taxonomy is the process of describing and classifying living things and involves giving them unique names. By using a universal
convention to name new organisms, scientists from around the world are able to communicate accurate information about plants,
animals and microorganisms.
The importance of taxonomy cannot be underrated. Taxonomy provides a framework that enables us to undertake studies on
the relationships between living things (phylogenic studies), so that we are better able to understand evolutionary processes,
assess biodiversity and more efficiently manage it. Systematics is the combination of taxonomic and phylogenetic studies.
Projects in Taxonomy and Systematics
Invertebrate Division
Phylum Arthropoda: Class: Arachnida (spiders) (Arachnology Section)
Dr Mike Gray - Senior Research Scientist
Review of the subfamily Desinae: descriptions of genera & species in the Desis, Namandia & Forsterina
groups
Taxonomy of the Taurongia group of stiphidiid spiders
Taxonomy of the "scape" group of stiphidiid spiders (with H. Smith). Funded through NPWS State Biodiversity
Strategy
Taxonomy of some ctenid spider groups (with R. Raven & K Stumkat; with J. Thomson)
Funnel web spider systematics
Graham Milledge - Collection Manager/Technical Officer
A Revision of the genera Storenosoma and Otira (Araneae, Amaurobiidae).
Revision of the genera Sphodropoda, Trachymantis and Zopheromantis (Mantodea, Mantidae).
Students:
Helen Smith - Ph.D. student (University of Sydney, supervisor M. Gray & H. Rose)
Twig mimicking spiders: a taxonomic revision of the genus Poltys and a study of behaviour and variation within Poltys
and related genera.
Taxonomy of the "scape" group of stiphidiid spiders (with M.R. Gray). Funded through NPWS State Biodiversity
Strategy
Margaret Humphrey - Ph.D. student (University of Sydney; supervisors M. Gray and M. Moulds, H. Rose)
Revision of the genus Corasoides (Amaurobioidea) with a review of its biology and phylogeny.
Associates:
Graham Wishart
Taxonomic revision of the spider genus Misgolas (Araneae: Idiopidae).
Class Insecta (insects) (Entomology Section)
Dr Dan Bickel - Research Scientist
Describing new species of Dolichopodidae and Empididae (Diptera) from Australia, New Caledonia, and New Zealand
Constructing a key to the genera of Costa Rican Dolichopodidae.
Dr Gerry Cassis - Head, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Research
Taxonomy of Heteroptera and Dermaptera
Dr Max Moulds - Collection Manager, Entomology
Various projects on the taxonomy of Cicadidae (Hemiptera).
A reappraisal of the higher classification of cicadas (Hemiptera Cicadoidea) based on a cladistic analysis of world tribes.
Funded partly by AM, partly by PhD scholarship, partly by Linnean Soc. of NSW, partly by Uni. of Sydney.
A review of the genera of Australian cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea). Funded partly by AM, partly by PhD scholarship.
Description of a new species of Gnathothlibus Wallengren (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from Vanuatu.
Tim Moulds
A revision of the genus Kirkaldyella Poppius (Hemiptera: Miridae).
A revision of the Australasian Cylapinae (Hemiptera: Miridae)
Dr Chris Reid - Scientific Officer
Taxonomic revision of darkling beetles and leaf beetles
Students:
Annie Noack - Ph.D. (University of Sydney; supervisor M. Moulds)
Taxanomic revision of the Australian species of the genus Temelucha (Ichneumonidae: Cremastinae).
Research Associates:
Dr. D.K. McAlpine - Research Fellow
Shoreline flies of subfamily Zaleinae (Diptera:? Canacidae). This includes morphological study, including electron
microscopy to ascertain the systematic position of this little known group; also descriptions of new species from Australia,
Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia.
Further study of upside-down flies (Diptera: Neurochaetidae) of Australia and Madagascar. Includes description of new species,
phylogenetic study, new behavioural observations and host-plant records.
Signal flies (Diptera: Platystomatidae) of genus Duomyia. At least 30 new species have been found since the last
revision of this endemic Australian genus (1973).
Signal flies of New Caledonia (Diptera: Platystomatidae). This is a relatively rich mainly endemic fauna, with very few
of the species yet described.
Unnamed flies from Costa Rica probably representing a new family.
Dr Courtenay Smithers - Research Associate
Revision of Australia Sisyridae (Neuroptera).
Revision of Australian Myopsocidae (Psocptera).
Taxonomic study of the Psocoptera of Lord Howe Island.
Taxonomic study of a collection of Psocoptera from north-eastern New South Wales.
Preparation of a world species list and bibliogrpahy of the order Psocoptera (in collaboration with Dr. C. Lienhard, Geneva).
Gunter Theischinger - Research Associate
Taxonomy of dragonflies (Odonata) and craneflies (Diptera: Tipulidae)
Dr Geoff Williams - Research Associate
New species of Nascioides from New Caledonia and the additional foodplant records for the genus.
Class Crustacea (crustaceans) (Marine Invertebrates Section)
Dr Shane Ahyong - Reasearch Fellow & Research Associate
Phylogeny of the Decapod Crustacea. ARC funded.
Phylogeny and taxonomy of the Stomatopod Crustacea. Ongoing.
Dr Penny Berents - Head, Invertebrate Zoology Division. Collection Manager/ Scientific
Officer
Lowry & Berents. Cerapid amphipod crustaceans of Australia. Originally funded by ABRS this project describes the
Australian cerapid fauna in a series of small papers (about 25 species).
Lowry, Berents & Springthorpe. Australian Amphipoda: an illustrated, interactive information and retrieval system. This
project funded by ABRS, is developing electronic monographs which documents the Australian marine benthic amphipod fauna
(about 600 species) for the Australian Museum Online website known as crustacea.net.
Lowry, Stoddart, Berents, Peart & Huggett. Amphipods of the Andaman Sea. A series of papers (currently in press) to
be published in a book on the biodiversity of crustaceans in the Andaman Sea. Partially funded by DANIDA (Danish overseas
aid program).
Dr Jim Lowry - Principal Research Scientist, Amphipods
http://www.crustacea.net/
Lowry and Stoddart. Lysianassoid amphipod crustaceans of Australia. Originally funded by ARC and ABRS this project publishes
monographs which describe the extensive Australian fauna (about 250 species).
Lowry and Berents. Cerapid amphipod crustaceans of Australia. Originally funded by ABRS this project describes the Australian
cerapid fauna in a series of small papers (about 25 species).
Lowry, Berents and Springthorpe. Australian Amphipoda: an illustrated, interactive information and retrieval system. This
three year project funded by ABRS, is developing electronic monographs which documents the Australian marine benthic amphipod
fauna (about 600 species) for the Australian Museum Online website known as crustacea.net.
Lowry and Springthorpe. The genus Melita (Amphipoda, Melitidae) in the southern hemisphere.
Lowry and Dempsey. The giant cirolanid isopod genus Bathynomus. This project redescribes all known species in the
genus and describes about 15 new species. Funded by ARC as part of the SEAS Project.
Parker (Oxford University) and Lowry. The scavenging cypridinid ostracod fauna of eastern Australia (about 70 new species).
Funded by ABRS.
Lowry. World Crustaceans. A crustacea.net project to develop illustrated, interactive electronic monographs to the world
crustacean families (about 800). This project currently includes about 40 contributing scientists from around the world.
Workshops are funded by each institution that holds them: to date the Australian Museum, the University of Maine and the
Kristeneberg Marine Laboratory.
Vader (Tromso Museum, Norway) and Myers (National University of Ireland). The ischyrocerid and isaeid amphipods associated
with hermit crabs living off the east coast of Australia. Part of the SEAS Project, funded by ARC and FRDC.
Lowry and Myers (National University of Ireland). A phylogenetic reclassification of the iphimedioid amphipod families.
Myers (National University of Ireland) and Lowry. A phylogenetic reclassification of the corophioid amphipod families.
Lowry and Peart. The talitrid amphipod fauna of New South Wales. NSW Biodiversity Strategy funding.
Peart. Australian ampithoid amphipod fauna. A PhD project which describes for the first time the extensive ampithoid amphipod
fauna of Australia (about 60-80 species). Funded by a University of New England Research Scholarship.
Peart. Indo West Pacific ampithoid amphipods. A description of about 30 species based on collections made by Lowry, Myers
and Peart from the Austral Isles, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Sabah. Funded from various sources, such as the French
Army, the Christensen Foundation and ORSTOM.
Huggett and Lowry. A revision of the amphipod family Iciliidae. No outside funding.
Roger Springthorpe - Technical Officer (Scientific)
Lowry and Springthorpe. The genus Melita (Amphipoda, Melitidae) in the southern hemisphere.
Helen Stoddart - Scientific Officer
Lowry & Stoddart. Lysianassoid amphipod crustaceans of Australia. Originally funded by ARC and ABRS this project publishes
monographs which describe the extensive Australian fauna (about 250 species).
Dr George (Buz) Wilson - Principal Research Scientist, Isopods
http://www.amonline.net.au/centres/cntrevol.htm
http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/%7Ebuz/home.html
G. Wilson & S. Keable, Systematics of the Phreatoicidea (Isopoda, Crustacea). Three years, commenced 1999. ABRS funded.
G. Wilson. Systematics of the Asellota. Ongoing.
K. Larsen & G. Wilson. Systematics of the Leptognathiidae and related families (Tanaidacea, Crustacea). Ph.D. Project,
Danish State funding. Three years. 1997-1999.
K. Worrell & G. Wilson, Species of Iathrippa in NSW (Asellota, Isopoda, Crustacea). Honours Project, 1 year,
commenced 1999.
B. Lillemets & G. Wilson, Taxonomy of the Armadillidae (Oniscidea, Isopoda, Crustacea) from Lord Howe Island. NSW Biodiversity
funding & Honours project, 1 year, commenced 1999.
A. Chu & G. Wilson. A new species of Crenoicus (Phreatoicidea, Isopoda, Crustacea) from Barrington Tops. Sydney
Univ. year 2 advanced biology project, 1 year, commenced 1999.
Students:
Birgitta Lillemets - Honours (University of Sydney; supervisor B. Wilson)
Systematics and biogeography of the armadillidae (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Lord Howe Island.
Kim Larsen - Ph.D. (Macquarie University; supervisor B. Wilson)
Systematics of the Leptognathiidae (Crustadea: Tanaidacea) (commenced 2000)
Rachael Peart - Ph.D. (University of New England; supervisor J. Lowry)
Peart. Australian ampithoid amphipod fauna. A PhD project which describes for the first time the extensive ampithoid amphipod
fauna of Australia (about 60-80 species). Funded by a University of New England Research Scholarship.
Peart. Indo West Pacific ampithoid amphipods. A description of about 30 species based on collections made by Lowry, Myers
and Peart from the Austral Isles, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Sabah. Funded from various sources, such as the French
Army, the Christensen Foundation and ORSTOM.
Class Chilopoda (centipedes)
Dr Greg Edgecombe - Senior Research Scientist (Palaeontology Section).
Systematics of Australian Lithobiomorpha. NSW Biodiversity Strategy funding.
Edgecombe, G. and Giribet, G. Phylogeny of Chilopoda, combining morphology and molecular sequence data.
Edgecombe, G., Giribet, G. and Wheeler, W. Phylogeny of the southern temperate centipede family Henicopidae.
Giribet, G., Edgecombe, G. and Wheeler, W. Phylogeny of Arthropoda, combining morphological data and eight genes (funded
by American Museum of Natural History).
Class Trilobita (trilobites)
Dr Greg Edgecombe - Senior Research Scientist (Palaeontology Section)
Edgecombe, G. and Banks, M. Ordovician trilobites from Tasmania.
Edgecombe, G. and Chatterton, B.D.E. Systematics and ontogeny of Ordovician trilobites from Argentina.
Phylum Annelida: Class Polychaeta (Marine Invertebrates Section).
Dr Pat Hutchings - Principal Research Scientist
Taxonomy and phylogeny of Australian Terebellidae, together with a world revision of Polycirrus, with Dr Chris Glasby-
NT Museum.
Taxonomy of the Australian Sabellariidae. ABRS funded
Development of an interactive key to Australian polychaetes, mainly from SE Australia to species-using DELTA- with Robin
Wilson Museum of Victoria—funded from ABRS, EPA, Environment Trust.
Polychaetes and Allies- a Southern Synthesis- first comprehensive account of the polychaete families present in Australian
waters- ABRS.
A revision of the Australian Trichobranchidae (Polychaeta). ABRS funded. Spionidae from Tahiti- Hutchings, P.A., Frouin,
P., Hily C. 1998. Two new species of Spionidae (Polychaeta) from Tahiti, French Polynesia. Proceedings of the Biological
Society of Washington 11: 799-806.
Hutchings, P.A.1997 New species of the family Terebellidae (Polychaeta) from Darwin Harbour Australia. In: Proceedings of
the 6th International Marine Biological Workshop. The Marine Flora and Fauna of Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory Beagle.
Ed. Hanley, R. 133-161.
Hutchings, P.A. 1997. New species of the family Terebellidae (Polychaeta) from Abrohlos Island, Western Australia. In: Proceedings
of the 7th International Marine Biological Workshop. The Marine Flora and Fauna of Abrohlos Island, Western Australia.
Ed F.E.Wells. Western Australian Museum. Vol 2: 459-502.
Hutchings, P.A., and Smith, R.I., 1997. New species of the family Terebellidae (Polychaeta) from New Zealand and Australia.
In: Proceedings of the 5th International Polychaete Conference. Eds Reish, D., Qian, P. Bulletin of Marine Science 60(2):
324-349.
Research Associates:
Guillermo San Martin - Visiting Fellow, Universidad Autonóma de Madrid
Systematics of Australian Syllidae: I. Subfamily Exogoninae.
Collaborators - Dr Chris Glasby- NT Museum
Dr Robin Wilson- Museum of Victoria
Students - none involved in taxonomy as such.
Phylum Mollusca (Malacology Section)
Class Gastropoda (snails, limpets, slugs etc.).
Dr Winston Ponder - Principal Research Scientist, Head of Centre for Evolutionary Research.
http://www.amonline.net.au/centres/cntrevol.htm
Ponder, W.F. and Middelfart, P.U. Systematics of problematic, small-sized marine bivalves of the Galeommatoidea, Cyamioidea
and Condylocardiidae (funded by ABRS).
Ponder, W.F. and Clark, S. Interactive guide and key to the freshwater mollusca of Australia (funded by ABRS).
Revision of Australian Viviparidae and Bithyniidae (funded by ABRS).
Studies on the systematics and taxonomy of Hydrobiidae (previously funded by ARC and ABRS).
C. Lydeard (University of Alabama), W. Ponder and M. Glaubrecht (Zoological Museum, Humbolt University). Systematics and
phylogeny of cerithioidean snails (NSF; previously funded in part by ARC).
Phylogeny of gastropods (previously funded by ARC - with several collaborators including D. Colgan (AM), D. Lindberg (University
of California, Berkeley), J. Healy (University of Qld), J. Stillwell (James Cook Univ. of N. Qld).
Dr Bill Rudman - Principal Research Scientist
http://www.seaslugforum.net/
Biology and Taxonomy of the Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia). Long term. Commenced 1980. Australian Museum funding (previous
funding from ARC, MST)
The Opisthobranchs of New Caledonia. Commenced 1988. French Govt funding - various agencies.
A Revision of the Gymnodorididae, a family of predatory nudibranchs. Commenced 1997. Australian Museum funding
Taxonomy and Biology of the Australian and Indo‑West Pacific Nudibranchia ‑ miscellaneous projects. Commenced
1980. Australian Museum funding (previous funding from ARC)
The Sea Slug Forum - an interactive website for taxonomists and others interested in opisthobranch molluscs Commenced 1997.
Australian Museum funding.
Dr Peter Middelfart - Scientific Officer
Ponder, W.F. and Middelfart, P.U. Systematics of problematic, small-sized marine bivalves of the Galeommatoidea, Cyamioidea
and Condylocardiidae (funded by ABRS).
Checklist of Australian and Indo-west Pacific marine Mollusca (funded by ABRS and OBIS) (collaboration with Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia, California Academy of Science and Paris Museum).
Isabel Hyman - Technical Officer
Taxonomy of charopid land snails living on limestone outcrops in New South Wales. NSW Biodiversity Stategy funding.
Class Bivalvia (bivalves, clams) (Malacology Section)
Research Associates:
Kevin L. Lamprell and Dr John M. Healy. A review of the Indo-Pacific Genus Lioconcha Mörch, including a description
of three new species from Queensland and New Caledonia (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Veneridae)
Kevin Lamprell and Peter Clarkson. Spondylus Linnaeus from the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean with the description
of a new species (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Spondylidae)
Kevin Lamprell and Peter Clarkson. Spondylus Linnaeus from the North and South Pacific Oceans with the description
of a new species (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Spondylidae)
John M. Healy, Kevin Lamprell and Jennifer Keys. The 'water-trap' spiny oyster, Spondylus varius Sowerby, 1829, from Australia
(Spondylidae,Bivalvia, Mollusca)
Students
Stephanie Clark PhD (University of Western Sydney; supervisor W. Ponder)
Population genetics and systematics of Meridolum corniovirens, an endangered land snail from western Sydney.
Sophie Townsend Honours (University of Wollongong; supervisor W. Ponder)
Micromollusc faunas in turfing algae.
Ristyanti Marwoto PhD (University of Indonesia; supervisor W. Ponder)
Systematics of an endemic radiation of Brotia in Lake Poso, Sulewasi.
Vertebrate Division
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves (birds) (Bird Section)
Dr Walter Boles - Collection Manager / Scientific Officer
Tertiary avifauna of Australia. Some University of New South Wales funding for recovery and preparation of specimens.
Class Mammalia (mammals) (Mammal Section, Directorate & CREATE
Prof. Michael Archer—Director of the Australian Museum)
Cretaceous, Tertiary, Quaternary and modern mammals of Australia. Funding also from ARC, the University of New South Wales,
World Heritage, Earthwatch, Pasminco and other sources.
Diversity, evolution and biogeography of global monotremes from the Cretaceous to the present.
Diversity, evolution and biogeography of global marsupials from the Eocene to the present.
Use of the fossil record of diversity, palaeobiogeography and evolutionary change to determine long-term trends in diversity,
biogeography and abundance as measures of lineage health in conservation.
Dr Stephen Wroe (U2000 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Sydney and Research Associate, Australian Museum)
Phylogeny and ecomorphology of Australian marsupial carnivores, extant and extinct. Funded by University of Sydney and Australian
Museum.
Associates
Mathew Crowther
Species identity of Planigale. Funding is from the Australian Museum, University of Sydney (postgraduate award),
Royal Zoological Society and Linnean Society of NSW.
Class Reptilia (Lizards, snakes etc.) (Herpetology Section)
Dr Allen Greer - Principal Research Scientist
Biology and systematics of skink lizards biology of dragon lizards
Dr Ross Sadlier - Collection Manager / Scientific Officer
Distribution and diversity of reptiles in closed forest habitats in Eastern Australia.
Distribution and diversity of reptiles in the Western Division of New South Wales.
Biology, distribution and diversity of reptiles in New Caledonia.
Associates
Glenn Shea
Alpha-systematics of Australian and New Guinean typhlopid snakes
Alpha-systematics of New Guinea skinks of the genus Sphenomorphus
Alpha-systematics of whipsnakes (genus Demansia)
Phylogenetic systematics of pygopod lizards
Systematics of the Egernia group of scincid lizards
Class Pisces (fishes) (Ichthyology and Palaeontology Sections)
Dr Jeff Leis - Principal Research Scientist.
Larval systematics of the fish families lutjanidae and sparidae (previous ARC support).
Larval taxonomy of coral reef fishes - no current funding. A book just published was supported by "Fauna Malesiana"
Dr Zerina Johanson - ARC Postdoctoral Fellow
Phylogenetic relationships of the Tetrapodomorpha (stemgroup tetrapods)
Phylogenetic relationships of the Dipnoi (lungfish)
Late Devonian fishes from New South Wales: Taxonomy, systematics, biogeography
Research Associate
Dr Alex Ritchie
Devonian Fishes
Further information
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