Australian Museum

Introducing the next blockbuster at the AM, Machu Picchu & the Golden Empires of Peru, opening this summer! ⛰️ This incredible exhibition will have you marvelling at the wonders of ancient Peru, including the legendary Machu Picchu. Immerse yourself in the opulent history of the Andean people, with a glimpse into their daily lives, spiritual beliefs and extraordinary achievements. Upgrade your ticket and you’ll even have the chance to fly-through Machu Picchu yourself, with a VR experience transporting you to the mysterious city in the sky! Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will be at the Australian Museum from Saturday 23 November 2024. Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru is presented in partnership with Neon Global, Museo Larco and the Ministry of Culture of Peru. Tickets are on sale NOW : https://bit.ly/3TZ2ErK #MachuPicchuAM

It's World Frog Day 🐸🌎 We're celebrating the day with a series of ribbeting facts: 🐸 Frogs close their eyes when eating because their eyeballs push food down their throats. 🐸 Many frogs have "teeth." Instead of using them for chewing, they prevent prey from escaping. 🐸 Frogs drink water through a "drink patch" on their belly skin. 🐸 Frog saliva is 175 times more sticky than human saliva. 🐸 Only male frogs make the calls you hear at night- they are love songs to attract female frogs. 🤔 Let us know in the comments which one surprised you most?

Species of the week - Decorator Crab 🦀🌿 This is the crab that doesn’t want company - the Decorator Crab would rather cover itself in seaweed or coral polyps than be seen! This shy crab collects suitable camouflage material like seaweed and coral sponge to affix to its own shell to help it stay hidden. It attaches camouflage to velcro-like hooks that cover the carapace and legs. The Decorator Crab lives on intertidal rocky shores and coral reefs, so watch for this shy creature when searching rock pools. The next time you spot seaweed - take a closer look. It might be a crab in disguise! Learn more about this fascinating crab on the AM site: https://bit.ly/41O4Fda 📸: Cigdem Cooper/Shutterstock

Have you met our resident Irish Elk at the AM? ☘️ Standing about two metres tall, with antlers spanning more than three metres, the Irish Elk (Megaloceros giganteus), was one of the most impressive megafauna of the Pleistocene epoch. Despite its name, the Irish Elk actually lived all across Europe. Most of the preserved antlers and skeletons of the Irish Elk have been found in Ireland. Conditions in Ireland at the end of the Ice Age were perfect for preserving fossils. The skeletons would fall into lakes and sink into the sediment at the bottom, becoming preserved in peat. Hence the dark colour of this skeleton in our collection! You can come and see this Irish Elk skeleton up close in our Westpac Long Gallery. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3RmixYw #StPatricksDay

We often hear that native predators prey on our koalas, and this is used as justification for baiting those species. But is it true? With the new science of eDNA, we can analyse droppings from animals in koala habitats and see just which animals are preying on this beloved marsupial. And it's not the ones you'd expect 🤔 Read more about the research from Gundungurra Knowledge Holder and Mob at the Museum Cultural Resident, Kazan Brown, here: https://bit.ly/4bPUkCe

Species of the week - Azure Kingfisher 🦜 Instead of looking up to spot this beautiful bird, you're more likely to find it if you look down. The Azure Kingfisher nests in a burrow dug out of a river bank. This bird is never far from water, preferring freshwater rivers and creeks as well as billabongs, lakes, swamps and dams, usually in shady, overhanging vegetation. To hunt, the Azure Kingfisher plunges from overhanging perches into water to catch prey like fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects and other invertebrates. Sometimes, they even eat frogs. These clever birds don't just hunt alone - they often watch platypuses foraging underwater and catch anything that is disturbed. You can see this beautiful bird in our Birds Of Australia gallery, or learn more about this blue beauty on the AM site: https://bit.ly/3W6eMp5 📸: JJ Harrison

Meet the Peruvian Hairless Dog 🐕 These adorable four-legged friends have their roots in pre-Inca cultures and can be found on Moche ceramics dating back to 600-700 CE. The mythological hero Ai Apaec even had one as a companion who would help him cross between worlds and warn him of impending danger. They were sometimes mummified and buried along with their owners to help the departed find their way to the world of the dead or to continue serving their owners in the afterlife. These days, the breed are much loved creatures of Peru and even have their own national day on the 12 June each year. Come and find out more about ancient Peru at our major summer exhibition, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3BDn7vJ #MachuPicchuAM

We are pleased to announce Her Excellency, the Hon. Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, has been appointed as Patron of the Australian Museum. AM Director and CEO, Kim McKay AO, said, "As we approach the significant milestone of the AM’s 200th anniversary in 2027, we will all benefit from the Governor-General’s support and her insights and expertise”. The Governor-General has been a longtime supporter of the AM, having served as both President of the AM Trust and as a Trustee. Her Excellency said returning to the AM as Patron was an honour and a privilege. “I am thrilled to once again be a part of the Australian Museum ... I look forward to collaborating with President Brian Hartzer and CEO Kim McKay, alongside the hard-working AM team, as they focus on expanding the Museum’s impact and ensuring its position as one of our nation’s most important cultural institutions." The Governor-General joins esteemed Lifetime Patron, Sir David Attenborough as a prominent ambassador for the AM. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g63tUQUu

👀 Take a close look at this photo from the archives of the Australian Museum. 🏛️ How many things can you see in this photo that are different to today? Let us know in the comments ⬇️ 📸: Howard Hughes. Photo is ams351_V11066_A, digitised as part of the Photographic Archives Digitisation (PAD) Project in 2023q

Can you see a step motif on this object? 📶 Once you spot them, you will see them everywhere on Andean objects! 👀 Step motifs were used throughout the Andean world to represent movement between the Upper World, the Middle World (Here and Now) and the Inner World. In Moche Culture, steps connect layered temple complexes that allowed priests, priestesses and political leaders to climb higher to the inner temple and communicate directly with the gods. You can see this object and over 130 other ancient Peruvian artefacts in Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru on now at the AM. Now extended to May 11, 2025. You can purchase your tickets here 🎟️: https://bit.ly/3U0prn7