South Australian Museum - North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000

Micro-CAT scan of lined earless dragonEmbryo of White's skinkSouthern rock dtella

Recent studies have included taxonomic revisions of arid-zone lizards from several families, phylogenetic studies of major lizard groups using genetic techniques, studies on fossil lizard remains, and conservation and ecology of endangered lizard species. All four research areas are currently the focus of new work. Studies in Herpetology are carried out in collaboration with several other groups within and outside the SA Museum, including the SAM Evolutionary Biology Unit, the SA Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the imaging facilities of the University of Adelaide Microscopy Centre.

Student Research Opportunities

Students enrolled at the University of Adelaide or Flinders University can undertake research projects in the Herpetology Section, supervised or co-supervised by SAM staff members who are affiliated with one or both of these universities. Areas of research include (but not limited to) studies of speciation, phylogeny, palaeoherpetology, comparative morphology, conservation biology and evolutionary ecology.