AFD – Australian Faunal Directory

Australian Faunal Directory (AFD) is a public enquiry database and will serve as a source of taxonomic and biological information on all animal species known to occur in Australia.1 This is a project of Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS).

Description

Main Checklist

Central to the Australian Faunal Directory is a checklist which aims to list to family all animal groups known to occur in Australia and its dependant territories. Linked to this checklist at various taxonomic levels are databases ranging from simple checklists of names through to comprehensive catalogue style reports. Links to other sources of information, such as the Fauna of Australia, identification keys, endangered species, are under development.

Content

During compilation of the Australian Faunal Directory, the level of information available will vary from one animal group to another. For some groups, this may consist initially of only a list of scientific names to species. For others it will include the data compiled for the Zoological Catalogue of Australia database and further information on biology, ecology and distribution. Where species lists are not yet available, the Australian Faunal Directory will aim to list at least all families known to occur in Australia.

Status

Valid names are now available for an estimated 55% of described species. The groups available in the Australian Faunal Directory are listed on the Groups page. Data from both the Zoological Catalogue of Australia and the Fauna of Australia are included in the Australian Faunal Directory.

Source of Data

The central checklist to family was compiled from various sources and includes data derived from the Zoological Catalogue of Australia database, ABRS publications and advice from specialists. Due to the uncertain and changing status of many taxa, this checklist should be treated only as a guide and as a means to present the data. The checklist will be updated as new information is received. Published sections of the Catalogue database have been peer reviewed but users are advised that revised sections may not have been reviewed.2

Function

• Taxonomy
• Identification tools, keys
• User interface
• Personal and institutional use

Why use this tool?

• An authoritative source of scientific names for taxonomy

Who will use this tool?

• Data creation
• Experts - taxonomy
• Data capture
• Curators – specimens, identification
• Data users
• Expert
• Interest groups
• ALA infrastructure

How will the tool be used?

• Data can be downloaded as a RTF or HTML table for importing into a spreadsheet.
• Online tool
• User input required

Where in the data chain could this tool be used?

• Data source
• User’s machine

When could this tool be used?

• Before data is made available to ALA
• At the time of a user request
• As a post process, after data is with the user

Availability

• Australian Faunal Directory:

  http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/

• ABRS Fauna Online: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/
• Checklist:

  http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/abrs/fauna/tree.pl?pstrVol=TOC&pintMode=65

• Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Environment and Water Resources: http://www.environment.gov.au/about/copyright.html

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