Cephalopods include the octopuses, squid, cuttlefishes and nautiluses. Cephalopod research at Museum Victoria is led by Dr Mark Norman. His primary research interests are:
Systematics and biogeography of benthic octopuses (Family Octopodidae)
Revision of the world fauna, particularly Australian and shallow Indo-West Pacific species, in collaboration with Dr Eric Hochberg of Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
Evolution of toxicity in cephalopods
Research into use of chemical toxins by diverse cephalopods, as both a means of subduing prey and as defence. Dr Norman has a current ARC research project on this topic in collaboration with the University of Queensland’s Institute of Molecular Biosciences.
Development of identification tools for cephalopods
Including illustrated and photographic keys to Australian species and the upcoming octopod volume of the FAO Catalogue of Cephalopods of the World.
Deep-sea cephalopods
Revision of benthic and pelagic deep-sea cephalopods of the Australasian region, through a current ARC-funded collaboration with the Deep Australia Project and other deep-sea surveys around Australia (i.e. CSIRO/Southern Surveyor)
Cephalopod behaviour and adaptation
Research into evolutionary advantages and significance of diverse cephalopod morphologies and behaviours.
As mollusc curator, Dr Norman is also collaborating on developing identification tools for southern Australian molluscs.
Related links
www.argosearch.org.au
www.malsocaus.org