Craig Moritz

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Craig Moritz
Education
Known forResearch on evolutionary biogeography, molecular ecology and Australian reptiles
AwardsAustralian Research Council Laureate Fellowship (2012)
Scientific career
FieldsEvolutionary biology, biogeography, conservation biology
Workplaces

Craig Moritz is an Australian biologist and evolutionary biologist known for his research in evolutionary biology, biogeography and conservation.

Career

During his doctoral studies at the Australian National University (1980–1985), Moritz demonstrated the existence of parthenogenesis in the gecko Heteronotia binoei. He subsequently undertook postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan from 1985 to 1988 and at the University of Queensland from 1988 to 2000. From 2000 to 2012, he was director of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and a professor at the University of California, Berkeley.[1] In 2012, he became a professor in the Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics at the Australian National University.[2]

Research

Moritz's research spans evolutionary biology, molecular ecology, biogeography, conservation biology, speciation, parthenogenesis in lizards and phylogeography.[1] He has contributed to the description and classification of several animal taxa, particularly Australian geckos, as well as amphibians.[1]

Taxa associated with his taxonomic work include:

Awards and honours

In 2012, Moritz became an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow. He has also been associated with the California Academy of Sciences.[1]

The gecko species Saltuarius moritzi, described in 2008, was named in his honour in recognition of his contributions to the phylogenetics of Australian rainforest reptiles.[6][7] The gecko Gehyra moritzi was also named in his honour.

References

  1. "Professor Craig Moritz" (PDF). Australian Research Council. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  2. "Moritz Lab – Evolutionary Biogeography & Conservation". Australian National University. Retrieved 15 October 2026 – via Wikiwix.
  3. "Amphibian Species of the World: Amazophrynella". American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  4. "Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)". Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  5. "The Reptile Database". Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  6. "Saltuarius moritzi". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  7. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 1–296.