The exhibition DeCLASSIFIED! Nature’s secrets exposed at Te Papa has just opened. It showcases recent discoveries by Te Papa’s scientists.
Find out more about DeCLASSIFIED! Nature’s secrets exposed on Te Papa’s website.
There are species new to science – from fish to landhoppers, seaweeds, lice, ferns, and fossil parrots.
Other discoveries include newly documented behaviours. Who knew that blobfish could swim gracefully? (Only blobfish themselves – till recently!) Learn how spider orchids pretend to be mushrooms to attract fungus gnats, which end up acting as pollinators. And discover the fate of one long-tailed skua that flew so high above the Coromandel that it collided with a commercial airline!
Find out more about science at Te Papa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLQgJO03Ps0
Help us make more discoveries
You can help unlock nature’s secrets too.
If you contribute photos to our citizen science programme on spiders and ferns:
- you’ll be providing data to help better understand and manage New Zealand’s biodiversity.
- we’ll provide expert identifications.
- your photo might be displayed in Te Papa as part of the DeCLASSIFIED! exhibition.
- and – possibly, just possibly – you could help discover an entirely new species!
More details about how to help us make more discoveries
Te Papa’s scientists talk about making discoveries
Botany Curator
I specialise in the taxonomy (i.e., naming) and evolution of New Zealand’s ferns, often using DNA analyses to address issues that can’t be resolved by consideration of the external features of the plants alone. I enjoy exploring new places, even if it is only to see plants I’ve never before encountered in the wild!