Identification of Species
Identification of the Fauna of the Northern Territory
A wide variety of sources are available for use in the identification of the fauna of the Northern Territory. Most of the references given below relate to a specific taxonomic group and generally cover the entire Australian continent. However, a number of sources are specific to the Northern Territory.
Mammals
Two comprehensive books that cover all Australian mammal species are:
- Steve Van Dyck and Ronald Strahan, editors. (2008), The Mammals of Australia, 3rd edition. (New Holland Publishers, Sydney).
- Peter Menkhorst & Frank Knight (2001), A field guide to the mammals of Australia (Oxford University Press, Melbourne).
One publication provides keys and descriptions for all of the rats, mice and dasyurids (carnivours marsupials) that occur in the Northern Territory:
- Jeff Cole and John Woinarski (2002) Field Guide to the Rodents & Dasyurids of the Northern Territory (Surrey Beatty & Sons).
A number of books are available to aid in the identification of specific mammal groups. The best book on bats, which are probably the most difficult mammals to identify, is:
- Sue Churchill (1998) Australian bats (Reed New Holland, Frenchs Forest). A smaller book that covers Northern Territory bats is:
- Bruce Thompson (1989), A field guide to bats of the Northern Territory (Conservation Commission of the NT, Darwin).
A detailed specialist account of Australia's rats and mice is contained in:
- C. H. S. Watts & H. J. Aslin (1981), The rodents of Australia (Angus and Robertson, Sydney).
Birds
Four high quality field guides are available that cover all Australian species. Any of these books can be used to identify the birds of the Northern Territory.
- Ken Simpson and Nicholas Day (2004), Field guide to the birds of Australia, 6th edition. (Penguin Books, Ringwood).
- Michael Morcombe (2003), Field guide to Australian birds, 2nd edition.(Steve Parish Publishing, Archerfield).
- Peter, Pat and Raoul Slater (2003), The Slater field guide to Australian birds, revised edition (New Holland, Frenchs Forest).
- Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight. (2007), The Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight field guide to the birds of Australia, 8th edition (HarperCollins, Sydney).
Reptiles and Frogs
Very good references for identification of all Australia's frogs and/or reptiles include:
- Steve Wilson and Gerry Swan (2008), A complete Guide to the Reptiles of Australia, 2nd edition (New Holland Publishers).
- Harold Cogger (2000), Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (Reed New Holland, Frenchs Forest). This publication contains keys to all Australia's reptiles and frogs.
Several publications that only cover the Northern Territory may be of particular value in confirming identifications. These include:
- Paul Horner (1992), Skinks of the Northern Territory (Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences, Darwin); and
- Michael Tyler and Margaret Davies (1986), Frogs of the Northern Territory (Conservation Commission of the NT, Darwin).
Freshwater Fish
The following recently published book covers identification of all Australia!&s freshwater fish:
- G. R. Allen, S. H. Midgley, M. Allen (2002), Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Australia (Western Australian Museum, Perth). Several useful books that cover identification of all or part of the Territory's freshwater fish fauna are:
- Helen Larson & Keith Martin (1989), Freshwater fishes of the Northern Territory (Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences, Darwin); and
- Rob Wager & Peter Unmack (2000), Fishes of the Lake Eyre catchment of central Australia (Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane).
Insects
Insects are a large and incredibly diverse group of animals. Most individuals can only be identified to the family level (at best). A selection of useful identification books is listed below:
- CSIRO (1991), The insects of Australia, 2nd edition (Melbourne University Press, Carlton).
- P. Zborowski & R. Storey (2003) A Field Guide to Insects in Australia, 2nd edition (Reed New Holland, Sydney).
- M.F. Braby (2004) The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood).
- P. Zborowski & E.D. Edwards (2007) A Guide to Australian Moths (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood).
- G. Theischinger & J. Hawking (2006) The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood).
- M.S. Moulds (1990) Australian Cicadas. (New South Wales University Press, Kensington).
