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  1. Homepage
  2. Discover & Learn
  3. Australia over time

Australia over time

Learn about our evolving landscape, Australian megafauna and other extinct animals, and how we use fossils to relate the animals of the past with those of today.


Bird specimen under glass display

Australia’s extinct animals

Learning about Australia’s extinct fauna helps us to create links through time that relate the animals of the past with those of today.

Extinction theories
Fact sheets
Read More

Diprotodon

Megafauna

Megafauna are large animals such as elephant, mammoth, rhinocerous and Australia's own diprotodon.

Extinction theory
Read more

Palaeo maps

Evolving landscape

Over thousands of millions of years, continents, oceans and mountain ranges have moved vast distances both vertically and horizontally.

Geological time scale
Continent formation
Discover more

Trilobite fossil

What are fossils?

The word ‘palaeontology’ refers to the study of ancient life. It is derived from the Greek words palaios (ancient) and logos (study). Fossils form the basis of this science.

Fossils form the basis of palaeontology
Read more

Canowindra Fish Fossils

Fossil sites of Australia

Fossils are a part of our natural heritage and while the vast majority of fossils found by amateur collectors are worth very little in monetary terms, they may be important scientifically.

Excavation sites
Palaeontology
Learn more

Mineral specimen

Earth science

The Mineralogy and Palaeontology collections include rocks, minerals, gemstones and fossils, and reveal how the earth was formed.

Shaping the Earth
Minerals
Fossils
Discover more


  • Palaeontology collection

    Ancient animals and plant fossils.
    Learn more
  • Mineralogy Collection

    Study of rocks & minerals.
    Learn more
  • Australian Museum Research Institute

    Scientific discovery & conservation of our collections.
    Find out more

You may also be interested in...

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spraying leaf curl spider in Web2spider workshop spraying a leaf curl spider web

How to identify a spider from its web

Learn an easy way to identify spider species with Arachnologist Dr Helen Smith.

Discover more

Jumping spider

D.I.WHY: Can you eat a spider?

Can you eat a spider? Become a scientist in your own backyard with this interactive video series.

Discover more

Euprymna brenneri, Bobtail Squid

New Bobtail squid named in top ten marine species for 2019

Bobtail Squid discovered in Japan by Australian Museum scientists and international collaborators

Read more

How to build a wind turbine

How to build a wind turbine

Make your own wind turbine at home and discover the science behind wind power.

Discover more

Sustainable living

Sustainability at home

Leading a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle and saving money in the process is easy with these helpful factsheets.

Cut down on waste
Worm farming
Read more

Getting started - Dissection of an Eastern Blue-spotted Flathead

Dissection of a Bluespotted Flathead

The dissection consists of three parts: an external examination, the internal organs, and the mouth and gills.

Discover more

Funnel-web Hadronyche sp

What is a parasite?

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in another organism, the host, and gets its food from or at the expense of its host.

Discover more

Dead Pig Decomposition Stage 2: Initial decay - 0 to 3 days after death

Stages of decomposition

Decomposition of a corpse is a continual process that can take from weeks to years, depending on the environment.

Initial decay
Putrefaction
Butyric fermentation
Learn more

Macropus giganteus

What is a marsupial?

A marsupial is born in a very incomplete state.

Discover more

Ornithology Collections 2008

Finding dead birds

The Australian Museum welcomes donations by the public of birds found dead. This is a major source of specimen acquisition by the Museum.

What to do
Preserving
Uses
Discover more

Coral diversity, Great Barrier Reef

Climate change resources

A collection of resources has been assembled to provide the latest information on the Australian Museum’s action on climate change and how you can contribute.

Blogs
Podcasts
Publications
Discover more

Tachyglossus aculeatus

What is a monotreme?

Monotremes are different from other mammals because they lay eggs and have no teats.

Discover more

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The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.
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We pay our respect to Aboriginal Elders and recognise their continuous connection to Country.
This website may contain names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Photo of two painted shields

The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.

Image credit: gadigal yilimung (shield) made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden