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ANU Archaeology and Natural History Osteological Reference Collection
The ANU Department of Archaeology and Natural History maintains a collection of animal skeletons for use
in identifying bones recovered from archaeological or natural death sites. We have an extensive fish collection
with specimens from Australian waters as well as samples from Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and other locations. Our
amphibian, bird, mammal and reptile collections include a variety of specimens from Australia and nearby islands. The
collection is available to students and researchers. Contact ANH
for access.
A catalog of the holdings in the ANH osteological collection is available via an
online collection database. This
online catalog includes
birds,
fish,
mammals, and
reptiles/amphibians. Detailed descriptions of the fields included in the database are
available here. ANH personnel wanting to update the database
should see related information here.
Fish Collection Characteristics
The ANU ANH osteological fish collection includes substantial collections of fish from
Australian, Solomon Island, and Tongan waters, and also includes some fish from Papua New
Guinea. Characteristics of the collection are shown below, based on a complete inventory
performed on February 27, 2009. In addition to boxed specimens, a number of key skeletal
elements have been either mounted on cardboard or separately bagged to facilitate species
comparisons. These separated elements were not included in the February 27 inventory, but
presumably are from a subset of the inventoried specimens.
The collection is stored in alphabetical order by family, genus, species and ANH Specimen Id.
Space considerations require that some specimen boxes are stored behind others, making
them not visible unless boxes are moved around. However, the start of each family
is always in the front and specimens are stored alphabetially so locating specimens stored
behind others is straightforward. When using the collection, please ensure that specimen boxes are
returned to their proper place.
While most of the specimens are completely skeletonized, some are simply dried and
include scales and skin. This is particularly common for the specimens recorded as collected
by Jerry van Tets. While a dried fish has its uses, further processing may be necessary
before it can be used for comparison to archaeological samples.
Some of the specimens are known to be incomplete (see the Bones Included field in the database).
As noted in the table below, the taxonomic identification of many specimens changed since the
initial identification. These do not represent changes in the identification of the
specimen itself but rather genus or species scientific name changes necessary to correspond to the
Integrated Taxonomic Identification System (www.itis.gov)
as of February, 2009. The comments field describes the name change process for each changed
specimen.
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| Specimen Counts |
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Fish Cataloged: |
665 |
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On Permanant Loan: |
2 |
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Missing, No Loan Recorded: |
13 |
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Specimens Present: |
650 |
| Taxonomy Statistics |
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Families Represented: |
79 (including 1 unknown family) |
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Genuses Represented: |
180 (including 11 unknown genuses from different families) |
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Species Represented: |
265 (including 27 unknown species from different genuses or families) |
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Most Specimens from One Species:
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75 (Allomycterus pilatus)
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Secondmost Specimens from One Species:
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63 (Notolabrus tetricus)
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Species with Only One Specimen:
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161
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| Strength of Taxonomic Identification |
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Secure, Not Questioned: |
435 |
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Taxonomic Name Change: |
196 |
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Uncertain: |
26 (Questioned either by initial collector or later researcher) |
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Mixed with Another Specimen: |
4 |
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Identified via Bone Comparisons Only: |
2 |
| Collection Dates |
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Earliest Recorded Collection Date:
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12 August 1965
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Latest Recorded Collection Date:
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10 November 1993
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No Collection Date Recorded:
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143 Specimens
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| Collection Method |
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Not Recorded: |
394 |
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Obtained from Bird of Prey: |
103 |
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Purchased from Store: |
88 |
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Fished (Line, Net, etc.): |
60 |
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Washed Up on Beach: |
20 |
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Bird Collection Characteristics
The ANU ANH osteological bird collection consists primarily of birds found in southeastern
Australia, although there are some that were collected from other regions of Australia or
from Papua New Guinea. Characteristics of the collection are shown below, based on a complete inventory
performed on April 20, 2009.
The collection is stored in alphabetical order by family, genus, species and ANH Specimen Id. Some
large birds (B0003, B0108, B0113, B0115, B0154) require oversize boxes and are stored together on shelving
adjacent to the rest of the colleciton. Space considerations require that a few specimen boxes within
the Procellariidae and Psittacidae families are
stored behind others, making
them not visible unless boxes are moved around. However, the start of each family
is always in the front and specimens are stored alphabetially so locating specimens stored
behind others is straightforward. When using the collection, please ensure that specimen boxes are
returned to their proper place.
The specimens have all been completely skeletonized and cleaned. Some of the specimens are
known to be incomplete (see the Bones Included field in the database).
As noted in the table below, the taxonomic identification of a few specimens changed since the
initial identification. These do not represent changes in the identification of the
specimen itself but rather genus or species scientific name changes necessary to correspond to the
Integrated Taxonomic Identification System (www.itis.gov)
as of April, 2009. The comments field describes the name change process for each changed
specimen.
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| Specimen Counts |
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Birds Cataloged: |
185 |
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On Permanant Loan: |
0 |
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Missing, No Loan Recorded: |
36 |
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Specimens Present: |
149 |
| Taxonomy Statistics |
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Families Represented: |
33 (including 2 unknown families) |
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Genuses Represented: |
76 (including 2 unknown genuses from different families) |
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Species Represented: |
71 (including 5 unknown species from different genuses or families) |
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Most Specimens from One Species:
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24 (Puffinus tenuirostris, muttonbird)
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Secondmost Specimens from One Species:
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63 (Dromaius novaehollandiae, emu)
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Species with Only One Specimen:
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38
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| Strength of Taxonomic Identification |
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Secure, Not Questioned: |
157 |
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Taxonomic Name Change: |
11 |
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Uncertain: |
14 (Questioned either by initial collector or later researcher) |
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Mixed with Another Specimen: |
0 |
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Identified via Bone Comparisons Only: |
3 |
| Collection Dates |
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Earliest Recorded Collection Date:
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12 April 1965
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Latest Recorded Collection Date:
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April, 1994
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No Collection Date Recorded:
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113 Specimens
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| Collection Method |
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Not Recorded: |
74 |
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Obtained from Another Museum (Estimate): |
108 |
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Purchased from Store: |
3 |
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Reptile and Amphibian Collection Characteristics
The ANU ANH osteological reptile and amphibian collection consists primarily of reptiles found
in Australia. The only amphibians are five frogs, four of which have not been identified to species.
Characteristics of the collection are shown below, based on a complete inventory
performed on May 7, 2009.
The collection is stored in alphabetical order by family, genus, species and ANH Specimen Id. The amphibians
are stored first, followed by the reptiles. Some reptiles are stored in plastic vials rather than the
usual cardboard boxes, and these have been shelved together in open boxes near other specimens from the same
family so that the vials do not fall over or occupy a large amount of shelf space. There are a number of
specimens that have only been identified to a non-scientific category of animals (e.g., "snake"). These
are stored near identified specimens from the same category (i.e., next to the Elapidae family of snakes).
A crocodile (R0012) that requires two oversize boxes is stored on an adjacent shelf.
No specimens are stored behind others, so all specimen identifiers should be visible without
needing to move specimen containers around on the shelves.
When using the collection, please ensure that specimen boxes are
returned to their proper place.
Most specimens have been completely skeletonized and cleaned. Some of the specimens are
known to be incomplete (see the Bones Included field in the database). As of May 2009, the
Integrated Taxonomic Identification System (www.itis.gov)
lacks entries for many reptiles indigenous to Australia. When a specimen's scientific name was
missing from ITIS, the Catalogue of Life
(www.catalogueoflife.org) taxonomy was used.
In such cases, "COL" was prepended to the species identification codes to distinguish
them from ITIS codes, and a note included in the comments field.
As noted in the table below, the taxonomic identification of a few specimens changed since the
initial identification. These do not represent changes in the identification of the
specimen itself but rather genus or species scientific name changes necessary to correspond to ITIS
as of May, 2009. The comments field describes the name change process for each changed
specimen.
Many of the specimens apparently were donated by other museums, which is reflected in
changes in identification coding. Some bones have identifications written on them (e.g., "AR10")
which do not correspond to their ANH specimen identifiers (R0105 in the above case). This is
unfortunate but unavoidable because the ANH collection already contained an R0010 specimen. Whenever
more than one identifier has been associated with a specimen, the obsolete identification codes
are displayed on the specimen label in brackets below the current identifier.
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| Specimen Counts |
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Amphibians Cataloged: |
5 |
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Reptiles Cataloged: |
94 |
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On Permanant Loan: |
0 |
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Missing, No Loan Recorded: |
4 |
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Specimens Present: |
95 |
| Taxonomy Statistics |
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Families Represented: |
14 (including 7 unknown families) |
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Genuses Represented: |
22 (including 7 unknown genuses from different families) |
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Species Represented: |
35 (including 8 unknown species from different genuses or families) |
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Most Specimens from One Species:
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11 (Tiliqua rugosa and Tiliqua scincoides)
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Species with Only One Specimen:
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11
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| Strength of Taxonomic Identification |
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Secure, Not Questioned: |
157 |
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Taxonomic Name Change: |
19 |
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Uncertain: |
5 (Questioned either by initial collector or later researcher) |
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Mixed with Another Specimen: |
0 |
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Identified via Bone Comparisons Only: |
0 |
| Collection Dates |
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Earliest Recorded Collection Date:
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March 1969
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Latest Recorded Collection Date:
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12 October 1992
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No Collection Date Recorded:
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71 Specimens
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Mammal Collection Characteristics
Most of the ANU ANH osteological mammal collection is currently loaned to the ANU School
of Archaeology and Anthropology in support of archaeozoological teaching. The loaned specimens remain available
to researchers but are not currently included in the online catalog. Contact ANH
for information on these specimens and to arrange for access.
The specimens currently housed in the ANH osteological laboratory and included in the online catalog
consist primarily of domesticated animals (pig, cattle, horse, dog) plus a few kangaroos, wallabies and wombats.
Characteristics of the collection are shown below, based on a complete inventory
performed on May 23, 2009.
The collection is stored in alphabetical order by family, genus, species and ANH Specimen Id.
A few large animals require oversize boxes and are stored on lower shelving. Six of the animal skeletons
(M0009, M0063, M0223, M0279, M0485, and M0629)
are not boxed at all, but rather are spread out on shelves for easier viewing.
No specimens are stored behind others, so all specimen identifiers should be visible without needing to
move specimen containers around on the shelves.
When using the collection, please ensure that specimen boxes are
returned to their proper place.
The specimens have all been completely skeletonized and cleaned. Some of the specimens are
known to be incomplete (see the Bones Included field in the database).
As noted in the table below, the taxonomic identification of a few specimens changed since the
initial identification. These do not represent changes in the identification of the
specimen itself but rather genus or species scientific name changes necessary to correspond to the
Integrated Taxonomic Identification System (www.itis.gov)
as of May, 2009. The comments field describes the name change process for each changed
specimen. Except where specified mentioned, the counts below do not include the specimens
on loan to the ANU School of Archaeology and Anthropology
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| Specimen Counts |
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Mammals Present and Cataloged: |
92 |
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On Permanant Loan (External to ANU): |
2 |
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Missing, No Loan Recorded: |
2 |
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Mammals Loaned to ANU A & A, Not Cataloged: |
540 |
| Taxonomy Statistics |
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Families Represented: |
14 (including 2 unknown families) |
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Genuses Represented: |
23 (including 2 unknown genuses from different families) |
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Species Represented: |
31 (including 6 unknown species from different genuses or families) |
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Most Specimens from One Species:
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22 (Sus scrofa, pig)
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Secondmost Specimens from One Species:
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12 (Ovis aries, sheep)
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Species with Only One Specimen:
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14
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| Strength of Taxonomic Identification |
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Secure, Not Questioned: |
87 |
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Taxonomic Name Change: |
3 |
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Uncertain: |
6 (Questioned either by initial collector or later researcher) |
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Mixed with Another Specimen: |
0 |
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Identified via Bone Comparisons Only: |
0 |
| Collection Dates |
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Earliest Recorded Collection Date:
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30 December 1964
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Latest Recorded Collection Date:
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August, 1995
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No Collection Date Recorded:
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62 Specimens
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| Collection Method |
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Not Recorded: |
77 |
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Obtained from Another Museum (Estimate): |
19 |
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Purchased from Store: |
0 |
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