Memorial bench for Jeanette Covacevich in Cooktown Botanic Gardens

Plaque on memorial bench for Jeanette Covacevich

Jeanette Adelaide Covacevich (1945–2015) was a

herpetologist Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) and rept ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia. As a senior curator of

vertebrate Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () ( chordates with backbones), including all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the phylum Chordata, ...

s at the

Queensland Museum The Queensland Museum is the state museum of Queensland, dedicated to natural history, cultural heritage, science and human achievement. The museum currently operates from its headquarters and general museum in South Brisbane with specialist mu ...

, she discovered and studied many reptiles and frogs in Queensland. Covacevich is most famous for rediscovering and describing the Inland Taipan snake (''Oxyuranus microlepidotus''), the world's most venomous snake.Covacevich, J., McDowell, S.B., Tanner, C. & Mengdon, G. (Aust. Herp. Symposium, 1980)
The relationship of the taipan (''Oxyuranus scutellatus'') and the small-scaled snake (''O. microlepidotus''), Serpentes: Elapidae
(page 32). kingsnake.com Retrieved 15 November 2013 In addition, she described over thirty new species and genera including the Cape York striped blind snake (''Ramphotyphlops chamodracaena''), the Nangur spiny skink ('' Nangura spinosa''), and the Bulburin leaf-tailed gecko ('' Phyllurus caudiannulatus''). On 12 June 1995 she was awarded the

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

for her contribution to science, in particular for herpetology and conservation. Covacevich is commemorated in the scientific name of a species of earthworm, ''Terriswalkerius covacevichae''; the Australian spiders, ''Zophorame covacevichae'' and ''Kababina covacevichae''; the Australian frog, '' Pseudophryne covacevichae''; and the Australian gecko, ''

Amalosia jacovae ''Amalosia jacovae'', also known commonly as the clouded gecko or the clouded velvet gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Etymology The specific name, ''jacovae'' (Latin, feminine ...

'' Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . ("Covacevich", p. 60). (J. A. Cov. + Latin suffix ''-ae'').

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Covacevich, Jeanette 1945 births 2015 deaths People from Queensland Australian herpetologists Women herpetologists Australian women biologists Members of the Order of Australia 20th-century Australian women scientists 20th-century Australian zoologists 21st-century Australian women scientists 21st-century Australian zoologists Australian curators Australian women curators