Identification and advisory services

Identification and advisory services

Members of the public can tap into the broad professional expertise of Zoology Unit staff if they need occasional or one-off help in identifying animals that they come across in Tasmania.  Staff may also be able to assist with information on, or the identification of, animals found outside Tasmania if they fall within the groups on which they have taxonomic expertise or specialised knowledge.

Staff prefer to receive initial enquiries by email, ideally with a high-quality image of the animal in question attached. They can also be contacted by phone.  Specimens (in suitable containers only) can also be dropped off at TMAG’s Rosny Collections and Research Facility by prior arrangement. Please ensure that details regarding date, location and collector’s name are provided at the time of submission.

Staff will do their best to assist, but cannot guarantee a timely and precise identification. They are also able to advise on related matters and general biology, such as whether a particular species is venomous or poses any danger to humans.

Enquiries from companies and institutions are also welcome, using the same channels; however there is a policy of charging a fee for identification and advisory services, based on staff time spent. 

Many of Tasmania’s most enquired-about animals are also featured on TMAG’s Field Guide to Tasmanian Fauna app.