Without the strongest conservation efforts, it can’t be long before the Maugean skate – and other marine living fossils in Australia – are wiped out * Explore the series – Last chance: the extinction crisis being ignored this election Australia is justly famous as a place where ancient species, long extinct elsewhere, live on. After aeons of adversity, Australia’s living fossils often survive only in protected habitats: the Wollemi, Huon and King Billy pines, the Queensland lungfish and even the Tasmanian devil (which thrived on the mainland at the same time as the Egyptians were building the pyramids) are good examples. Such species are a source of wonder for anyone interested in the living world and they should serve as a source of hope that, given half a chance, even ancient, slow-changing species can survive periods of dramatic climate change. Australia’s largest repository of living fossils is arguably the cool, shallow marine waters off its southern coastline. Despite that fact that most of us enjoy a swim, snorkel or walk on the beach, the biological importance of our shallow temperate seas is almost entirely unrecognised. Continue reading...

Researchers have found a pattern indicating certain ‘words’ are used more often than others – but humans won’t be speaking whale any time soon * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Humpback whale song is structured in a…

Scientists taking samples from city’s river did not expect to find presence of under-threat molluscs

Join Dr. Joëlle Gergis, IPCC climate scientist, for a conversation on climate change, resilience, and the future of our region. Free event, limited seats!

Samoa’s prime minister says US withdrawal from Paris climate agreement is ‘very disappointing’ and puts the survival of Pacific countries at greater risk Leaders and environmental advocates in the Pacific have expressed alarm over Donald Trump’s decision…

Biologist says the massive numbers of jellyfish and algae in Tasmania’s Storm Bay are ‘drivers of harm in the ocean’ * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A “magical”…