Mammals & Birds

Dr Stephen Van Dyck
Mrs Heather Janetzki

Section

Our priceless collection of mammals spans the limits of size from the smallest of marsupials to the largest creatures ever to make an appearance on earth. Over 21,000 terrestrial, arboreal, marine and freshwater specimens are represented. The collection of skins, skulls, skeletons and spirit specimens is available to the public for research and reference and a specimen database is readily accessible. Research focuses on cetacean physiology; rodent and dasyurid taxonomy; and the status and ecology of rare and endangered species.

Throughout the history of Queensland, birds have been extensively studied. They are now well-known scientifically and our collection reflects that history. We do not actively collect birds any more but the collection is still used by scientists, artists, law-enforcement and conservation agencies, birdwatchers and the public.

Our current work

Steve Van Dyck: systematics of Australian and New Guinean dasyurids, particularly Antechinus, Murexia, Sminthopsis and Dasyurus; status, relationships and conservation of Queensland Pebble-mound Mice, False Water-rat and Mahogany Glider.

Significance

The mammal collection contains 150 type specimens and includes the holotype of Longman's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon pacificus (the world's rarest whale). The collection's strengths lie in its representation of dasyurid (carnivorous) marsupials, native pseudomyine rodents, beaked whales, and tropical gliders and possums. The bird collection contains 223 type specimens and includes the richness of the historic McGregor collection from New Guinea. Thirteen Paradise Parrots are represented in the collection along with the last-collected Night Parrot (a road kill from Boulia in 1991).

Guide to the collections

• Ingram, G.J. & Raven, R.J. 1991. An atlas of Queensland's frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals. Queensland Museum.
• Paterson, R.A. 1986. A list of specimens of the order Cetacea in the Queensland Museum. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 22(2):309-311.
• Paterson, R.A. 1994. An annotated list of recent additions to the cetacean collection in the Queensland Museum. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 35(1):217-223.

FAQ

Q: What is the rat-sized mammal that climbs around our trees and verandah at night, sometimes eats the pawpaws, macadamia nuts, or steals grain from the bird-feeder? It is too cute to be a rat!
A: It probably is a rat, and most likely a Black Rat Rattus rattus. Because Black Rats can be any colour from black to white it is often better called a Ship Rat. It has big eyes, large ears and a tail that is a good deal longer than its head-hody length. It certainly is an attractive animal but can be incredibly destructive.

Q: A bird outside our kitchen window calls 'coo-well' incessantly (night and day), from about September to April. I think I am going insane! What is it for the medical record?
A: It is a Common Koel, a cuckoo that migrates to Australia each Spring from New Guinea and the Philippines. Because it breeds here it does a lot of calling to attract a mate. It is best to plan extended holidays in the Northern Hemisphere around Koel time in Australia!

Q: What animal digs small holes all over the back lawn at night?
A: Bandicoots, medium-sized marsupials looking for grubs and worms. They do this mostly in winter, at which time they will also gratefully take uneaten food from dog or cat dishes left outside. Bandicoots are credited with the shortest gestation period of any mammal, an astonishingly short 12.5 days.

Q: Our cat brought in a little mouse that hopped away when we released it. Is it a hopping mouse?
A: If you lived in the deserts of Central Australia, yes, it might be, but most of the 'hopping mice' inquiries from the east coast turn out to be House Mice or baby rats which can 'hop' in a way that can be confusing. There are no true hopping mice east of Charleville.

Q: In the backyard we have big grey-brown birds that, apart from looking a bit scary, try their best to look like ironbark branches. They sit there all day without moving and with their eyes closed. What are they?
A: Tawny Frogmouths. They are nocturnal, so when they sleep in the day they do their best to camoflage themselves. They are not owls and when they call they do so quietly with a gentle but monotonous 'ooom-ooom-ooom-ooom'. They eat mostly insects.