Jeanette Covacevich
Australian herpetologist and museum curator
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jeanette Adelaide Covacevich AM (1945–2015) was a herpetologist in Queensland, Australia. As a senior curator of vertebrates at the Queensland Museum, she discovered and studied many reptiles and frogs in Queensland.[1] Covacevich is most famous for rediscovering and describing the Inland Taipan snake (Oxyuranus microlepidotus), the world's most venomous snake.[2][3] 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).[4]
Griffith University
Jeanette Covacevich | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 March 1945 |
| Died | 17 December 2015 (aged 70) Cairns, Queensland, Australia |
| Citizenship | Australian |
| Alma mater | (tertiary education): Griffith University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Scientist |


On 12 June 1995 she was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to science, in particular for herpetology and conservation.[5]
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[6] (J. A. Cov. + Latin suffix -ae).