Australian Fish Collections Fish Splash page Fish Introduction Fish Researchers Collections & Institutions Fish Family Key Fish Stories --What's in a name?-- +++AMOL home+++

	Australian Fish Biodiversity
	Introduction Fish Collections and institutions Research scientists  Keyfinder Stories Acknowledgments Fresh Fish

Introduction
	This website is designed to promote and disseminate information about fish collections and taxonomic research on fishes within Australia. It is the result of the efforts of collection management staff and research scientists of the nine major Australian institutions holding fish collections, and is the initial step in the multistage development of an on-line electronic information source for the provision of: details about the institutions within Australia having significant, permanent collections of fishes, as well as insights into the collections themselves, information about research scientists who are working, or have previously worked on the taxonomy and biogeography of Australian fishes, and about the nature of their studies, an interactive method for locating fish specimens currently held within Australian museums by taxon and collection locality, and a series of aids for the identification of Australian fishes and for attaining additional information about these taxa.
Fish Collections and institutions
	These research collections contain fishes that held by State museums, the museum of the Northern Territory and a number of local museums and research institutions in Australia.
Research scientists
	Scientists researching fish biodiversity are most often specialists in classification, known as taxonomists. Although primarily employed by museums, taxonomists also work in universities, fisheries organisations and their own home.
Keyfinder: Australian Fish Families
	This website provides an aid to the identification of Australian fish families using easily recognised characteristics. Proceed to the key for a more comprehensive introduction and then use it to place your fish in its appropriate family. For a list of species occurring in Australian waters view the Australian Fish Species list.
Stories about fish
	Story 1: What's in a name? The subject of scientific versus common names can instantly generate a vigorous debate. This segment explores the many issues surrounding the adoption and use of names as a means for accurately conveying information.
Acknowledgments
	This website represents the combined efforts of fish collection managers and fish taxonomists throughout Australia. The overall concept was developed by Martin Gomon and Tania Bardsley. The family key and name story were devised by Martin Gomon with assistance from Mark McGrouther and Dianne Bray. Sarah Kenderdine of the AMOL Website development team was responsible for design and construction. The Australian Species List is a modification of the June 1998 version of CSIRO's CAAB list. We are grateful to Gordon Yearsley and his team for permission to use it. Drawings illustrating the family key were undertaken by Rosalind Poole. We are grateful to Rudie Kuiter, Graham Edgar and others for the use of their photos. The site is being maintained by Martin Gomon. Comments about the site may be directed to mgomon@mov.vic.gov.au