In 2013, Museum Victoria began a project to image capture Victoria’s rich wildlife.
Through generous philanthropic support the museum has been able to employ a dedicated specialist photographer. David Paul has accompanied Museum scientists around the state capturing engaging and diagnostic images of animals.
A particular focus of this project is of animals that are difficult to photograph.
Catching The Eye: Trombidiidae, Red Velvet Mite by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Perhaps because they're very small...
Grampians Bioscan: Agnoplognathus sp., Scarab Beetle by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Grampians Bioscan: Lemodes Sp., Beetle by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Orthorhinus cylindrirostris, Elephant Beetle by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Lamprima aurata, Golden Stag Beetle, female by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Grampians Bioscan: Pyrgomorphinae, Grasshopper by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Grampians Bioscan: Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium, Halictine Bee by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Anthelidae, Caterpillar by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Sparassidae, Huntsman Spider by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Apis mellifera, European Honeybee by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Or move fast...
Catching The Eye: Intellagama lesueurii howittii, Gippsland Water Dragon by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Threskiornis molucca, Australian White Ibis by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Percassa rugifrons, Mountain Grasshopper by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Live in remote locations...
Catching The Eye: Amphibolurus muricatus, Jacky Lizard by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Grampians Bioscan: Antechinus flavipes, Yellow-footed Antechinus by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Grampians Bioscan: Galaxias sp., Freshwater Fish by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Or live in habitats that are difficult to reach.
Catching The Eye: Litoria verreauxii, Verreaux's Frog by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Some are easier to hear than spot.
Catching The Eye: Nyctophilus gouldi, Gould's Long-eared Bat by David PaulMuseums Victoria
And some are nocturnal.
The project also focuses on animals that are rare or rarely seen.
This includes endangered species such as the Alpine Tree Frog which is Critically Endangered in Victoria.
Grampians Bioscan: Euastacus bispinosus, Glenelg Spiny Freshwater Crayfish by David PaulMuseums Victoria
The Glenelg Spiny Freshwater Crayfish is Endangered in Victoria.
Grampians Bioscan: Cercartetus nanus, Eastern Pygmy-possum by David PaulMuseums Victoria
The Eastern Pygmy-possum is Near Threatened in Victoria.
Grampians Bioscan: Litoria raniformis, Growling Grass Frog by David PaulMuseums Victoria
The Growling Grass Frog is Endangered in Victoria.
Not all of David's work is in remote areas.
There's plenty of wildlife close to home to photograph, including the parks and gardens around Melbourne...
Catching The Eye: Ptilotula penicillatus, White-plumed Honeyeater by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Nycticorax caledonicus, Nankeen Night Heron by David PaulMuseums Victoria
So far over 800 species from around Victoria have been photographed.
Catching The Eye: Jalmenus evagoras, Imperial Hairstreak, Common Imperial Blue, feeding by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Grampians Bioscan: Rattus lutreolus, Swamp Rat by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Trichoglossus haematodus, Rainbow Lorikeet by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Catching The Eye: Anguilla australis, Southern Shortfin Eel by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Grampians Bioscan: Eulamprus tympanum, Southern Water-skink by David PaulMuseums Victoria
Museum Victoria would like to thank the following supporters of this project:
The R. E. Ross Trust
The Hugh T. Williamson Foundation
The Limb Family Foundation
The Ian Potter Foundation
The Besen Family Foundation
And other anonymous donors
To read more about Catching The Eye: Victorian Wildlife Image Capture Project, visit Museum Victoria Collections: http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/articles/14986
