Biogeography, phylogenetics and systematics of Australian tarantulas

Tarantulas (Araneae, Theraphosidae) are amongst the largest, most diverse and widespread mygalomorph spiders in the world, however the knowledge on the Australian fauna is still building. My research is aiming to better understand the biogeography, phylogenetics and systematics of Australian tarantulas. These large spiders are prolific throughout Australia, being found in almost all regions of the continent. However, we know almost nothing about these spiders, including their biodiversity and species composition across the landscape. Through widespread sampling of the Australian fauna and the use of Next-generation sequencing, I look to build foundational research on this group.