Jack Ashby
@jackdashby.bsky.social
Award-winning author #PlatypusMatters & #NaturesMemory. Assistant Director of @ZoologyMuseum.bsky.social at Cambridge Uni. President of the Society for the History of Natural History. Australian mammal nerd. He/him. Own views.
Pinned
Jack Ashby
@jackdashby.bsky.social
· Nov 13
OK here I go. Expect posts about the wonderful world of Australian mammals, the quirks of natural history museums, and chasing beasts around the place.
So cool to see #beavers making themselves very much at home in an urban nature reserve in West London. These epic #rodents were extinct in Britain 400 years ago, and know they're back in our cities. 🦫🌃 #rewilding #UrbanWildlife
January 19, 2026 at 9:01 AM
So cool to see #beavers making themselves very much at home in an urban nature reserve in West London. These epic #rodents were extinct in Britain 400 years ago, and know they're back in our cities. 🦫🌃 #rewilding #UrbanWildlife
This is a great book about a fascinating topic - what do specimens on display in #museums use to tell us the story of #extinction? If you're around #Cambridge, come along and hear @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social talking about Ghosts Behind Glass.🦤 (I'm really looking forward to introducing the event!)
Around 99% of all species to have existed on Earth are now extinct, find out more as Dolly Jørgensen shares insights from her book 'Ghosts Behind Glass', exploring how museums display extinct species. 11 Feb 2026, 7pm Tickets FREE, please book https://ow.ly/5EsK50XWE6X
January 15, 2026 at 1:44 PM
This is a great book about a fascinating topic - what do specimens on display in #museums use to tell us the story of #extinction? If you're around #Cambridge, come along and hear @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social talking about Ghosts Behind Glass.🦤 (I'm really looking forward to introducing the event!)
Reposted by Jack Ashby
Australia's Main Battle Tank!
Wombats: big head, big body, tiny legs.
#WombatWednesday #Tasmania #wombats #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombat
#WombatWednesday #Tasmania #wombats #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombat
January 14, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Australia's Main Battle Tank!
Wombats: big head, big body, tiny legs.
#WombatWednesday #Tasmania #wombats #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombat
#WombatWednesday #Tasmania #wombats #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombat
January 14, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Wombats: big head, big body, tiny legs.
#WombatWednesday #Tasmania #wombats #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombat
#WombatWednesday #Tasmania #wombats #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombat
My favourite fact from reading this is that some populations of Labord's #chameleon hatch in November, start mating in January, then lay eggs by March, when all adults die. They then only exist as eggs until thy cycle restarts. They're the shortest living of any reptile, bird, amphibian or mammal.🦎
January 13, 2026 at 8:00 AM
My favourite fact from reading this is that some populations of Labord's #chameleon hatch in November, start mating in January, then lay eggs by March, when all adults die. They then only exist as eggs until thy cycle restarts. They're the shortest living of any reptile, bird, amphibian or mammal.🦎
This is an exceptional book about an exceptional story.
Tongerlongeter led the most significant resistance against British invasion in Australia, before leading #Tasmania's exiled community. The campaign he championed then influenced British policy towards Indigenous peoples across the Empire.
Tongerlongeter led the most significant resistance against British invasion in Australia, before leading #Tasmania's exiled community. The campaign he championed then influenced British policy towards Indigenous peoples across the Empire.
January 12, 2026 at 8:02 AM
This is an exceptional book about an exceptional story.
Tongerlongeter led the most significant resistance against British invasion in Australia, before leading #Tasmania's exiled community. The campaign he championed then influenced British policy towards Indigenous peoples across the Empire.
Tongerlongeter led the most significant resistance against British invasion in Australia, before leading #Tasmania's exiled community. The campaign he championed then influenced British policy towards Indigenous peoples across the Empire.
Reposted by Jack Ashby
Call now open for Visiting Fellowships in our Natural History Humanities programme! Building long-term collaborations with early career researchers on Cambridge GLAM collections.
@camunivmuseums.bsky.social @theul.bsky.social @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/initiatives/...
@camunivmuseums.bsky.social @theul.bsky.social @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/initiatives/...
Natural History Humanities - Collections Connections Communities
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk
January 9, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Call now open for Visiting Fellowships in our Natural History Humanities programme! Building long-term collaborations with early career researchers on Cambridge GLAM collections.
@camunivmuseums.bsky.social @theul.bsky.social @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/initiatives/...
@camunivmuseums.bsky.social @theul.bsky.social @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/initiatives/...
Reposted by Jack Ashby
Nature's Memory.
Fascinating. Looking at biases in natural history museum collections. Sexism. Insects. Plants.
Fascinating. Looking at biases in natural history museum collections. Sexism. Insects. Plants.
September 19, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Nature's Memory.
Fascinating. Looking at biases in natural history museum collections. Sexism. Insects. Plants.
Fascinating. Looking at biases in natural history museum collections. Sexism. Insects. Plants.
Everyone loves a list. 🤓🗒️
I've done my #MammalWatching tally for 2025 & it was a quiet one: just 40 species, & one first-timer (I was lucky to make two mammal trips to Australia this year, but nowhere else).
But that newbie was the #numbat - a beast that's been on my wish-list for decades.😀 #WildOz
I've done my #MammalWatching tally for 2025 & it was a quiet one: just 40 species, & one first-timer (I was lucky to make two mammal trips to Australia this year, but nowhere else).
But that newbie was the #numbat - a beast that's been on my wish-list for decades.😀 #WildOz
January 8, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Everyone loves a list. 🤓🗒️
I've done my #MammalWatching tally for 2025 & it was a quiet one: just 40 species, & one first-timer (I was lucky to make two mammal trips to Australia this year, but nowhere else).
But that newbie was the #numbat - a beast that's been on my wish-list for decades.😀 #WildOz
I've done my #MammalWatching tally for 2025 & it was a quiet one: just 40 species, & one first-timer (I was lucky to make two mammal trips to Australia this year, but nowhere else).
But that newbie was the #numbat - a beast that's been on my wish-list for decades.😀 #WildOz
Reposted by Jack Ashby
Morning Womble, I’m reading about the evolution of Australian mammals by reading Platypus Matters by Jack Ashby.
July 6, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Morning Womble, I’m reading about the evolution of Australian mammals by reading Platypus Matters by Jack Ashby.
Reposted by Jack Ashby
Follow Jack Ashby for more wombats! We all need more wombats in our timelines.
Happy New #Wombat. It's the first #WombatWednesday of the year - the traditional time to announce the winners of the wombatting world's most prestigious prize:
IT'S #WombatWednesday's WOMBAT OF THE YEAR 2025!
In Third Place, it's this waddling wonder 🥉:
bsky.app/profile/jack...
IT'S #WombatWednesday's WOMBAT OF THE YEAR 2025!
In Third Place, it's this waddling wonder 🥉:
bsky.app/profile/jack...
A sun-bathed #wombat waddles into the wilderness.
#WombatWednesday #fieldwork #Tasmania #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombats
#WombatWednesday #fieldwork #Tasmania #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombats
January 7, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Follow Jack Ashby for more wombats! We all need more wombats in our timelines.
Happy New #Wombat. It's the first #WombatWednesday of the year - the traditional time to announce the winners of the wombatting world's most prestigious prize:
IT'S #WombatWednesday's WOMBAT OF THE YEAR 2025!
In Third Place, it's this waddling wonder 🥉:
bsky.app/profile/jack...
IT'S #WombatWednesday's WOMBAT OF THE YEAR 2025!
In Third Place, it's this waddling wonder 🥉:
bsky.app/profile/jack...
A sun-bathed #wombat waddles into the wilderness.
#WombatWednesday #fieldwork #Tasmania #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombats
#WombatWednesday #fieldwork #Tasmania #MammalWatching #WildOz #wombats
January 7, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Happy New #Wombat. It's the first #WombatWednesday of the year - the traditional time to announce the winners of the wombatting world's most prestigious prize:
IT'S #WombatWednesday's WOMBAT OF THE YEAR 2025!
In Third Place, it's this waddling wonder 🥉:
bsky.app/profile/jack...
IT'S #WombatWednesday's WOMBAT OF THE YEAR 2025!
In Third Place, it's this waddling wonder 🥉:
bsky.app/profile/jack...
This was both thoroughly enjoyable to record and utterly fascinating to experience - dissecting a #kangaroo, seeing features [literally] in the flesh that I'd only read about. Have a listen:
January 6, 2026 at 8:01 AM
This was both thoroughly enjoyable to record and utterly fascinating to experience - dissecting a #kangaroo, seeing features [literally] in the flesh that I'd only read about. Have a listen:
That feeling when you're looking for #otters & you spot a long, dark sinewy mammal slinking along the stream, but it turns out to be a mink.
These are invasive species in Britain. When I first saw this one it had a small mammal in its mouth. Cute though. #BreconBeacons #WildWales #MammalWatching
These are invasive species in Britain. When I first saw this one it had a small mammal in its mouth. Cute though. #BreconBeacons #WildWales #MammalWatching
January 2, 2026 at 9:26 AM
That feeling when you're looking for #otters & you spot a long, dark sinewy mammal slinking along the stream, but it turns out to be a mink.
These are invasive species in Britain. When I first saw this one it had a small mammal in its mouth. Cute though. #BreconBeacons #WildWales #MammalWatching
These are invasive species in Britain. When I first saw this one it had a small mammal in its mouth. Cute though. #BreconBeacons #WildWales #MammalWatching
Happy New Year, mammal-watchers! 🦫🦌🐨🐀
I'm desperately hoping that my first mammal of 2026 will be an #otter. 🤞🦦🤞
#BreconBeacons #WildWales
I'm desperately hoping that my first mammal of 2026 will be an #otter. 🤞🦦🤞
#BreconBeacons #WildWales
January 1, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Happy New Year, mammal-watchers! 🦫🦌🐨🐀
I'm desperately hoping that my first mammal of 2026 will be an #otter. 🤞🦦🤞
#BreconBeacons #WildWales
I'm desperately hoping that my first mammal of 2026 will be an #otter. 🤞🦦🤞
#BreconBeacons #WildWales
There was some excellent, crazy frost in Bannau Brycheiniog today. The ice was forming like flags on the windward side of the grass stems! Does anyone know what that's called? ❄️❄️❄️
#BreconBeacons #WildWales
#BreconBeacons #WildWales
December 29, 2025 at 6:13 PM
There was some excellent, crazy frost in Bannau Brycheiniog today. The ice was forming like flags on the windward side of the grass stems! Does anyone know what that's called? ❄️❄️❄️
#BreconBeacons #WildWales
#BreconBeacons #WildWales
Reposted by Jack Ashby
Christmas Wombat
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight,
Walking in a #wombat wonderland.
Happy Wombatmas on this #WombatWednesday.
#Tasmania #mammalwatching #WildOz #wombats
Walking in a #wombat wonderland.
Happy Wombatmas on this #WombatWednesday.
#Tasmania #mammalwatching #WildOz #wombats
December 24, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Christmas Wombat
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight,
Walking in a #wombat wonderland.
Happy Wombatmas on this #WombatWednesday.
#Tasmania #mammalwatching #WildOz #wombats
Walking in a #wombat wonderland.
Happy Wombatmas on this #WombatWednesday.
#Tasmania #mammalwatching #WildOz #wombats
December 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight,
Walking in a #wombat wonderland.
Happy Wombatmas on this #WombatWednesday.
#Tasmania #mammalwatching #WildOz #wombats
Walking in a #wombat wonderland.
Happy Wombatmas on this #WombatWednesday.
#Tasmania #mammalwatching #WildOz #wombats
There are many books about #extinction, but this one is different.
"Ghosts Behind Glass" is a brilliant reflection on the specimens of extinct species that @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social encountered on display in #museums around the world: what are the stories being told, and why are they important?
"Ghosts Behind Glass" is a brilliant reflection on the specimens of extinct species that @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social encountered on display in #museums around the world: what are the stories being told, and why are they important?
December 19, 2025 at 7:38 AM
There are many books about #extinction, but this one is different.
"Ghosts Behind Glass" is a brilliant reflection on the specimens of extinct species that @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social encountered on display in #museums around the world: what are the stories being told, and why are they important?
"Ghosts Behind Glass" is a brilliant reflection on the specimens of extinct species that @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social encountered on display in #museums around the world: what are the stories being told, and why are they important?
Reposted by Jack Ashby
Books make the best gifts🎁. Might I suggest these for the curious, inquisitive folk in your life:
🏛️ #NaturesMemory: Behind the Scenes at the World's Natural History #Museums.
🦘 #PlatypusMatters: The Extraordinary Story of Australian Mammals.
💯 Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects.
🦇 Wild
🏛️ #NaturesMemory: Behind the Scenes at the World's Natural History #Museums.
🦘 #PlatypusMatters: The Extraordinary Story of Australian Mammals.
💯 Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects.
🦇 Wild
December 8, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Books make the best gifts🎁. Might I suggest these for the curious, inquisitive folk in your life:
🏛️ #NaturesMemory: Behind the Scenes at the World's Natural History #Museums.
🦘 #PlatypusMatters: The Extraordinary Story of Australian Mammals.
💯 Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects.
🦇 Wild
🏛️ #NaturesMemory: Behind the Scenes at the World's Natural History #Museums.
🦘 #PlatypusMatters: The Extraordinary Story of Australian Mammals.
💯 Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects.
🦇 Wild
Reposted by Jack Ashby
Out this year, #NaturesMemory is an insider's guide to the world's natural history #museums. It explores:
🪰what you see (& don't see) when visiting.
🪓honest histories of how collections were made.
🌍how they can help save the world.
It's the first book to combine these social and scientific stories
🪰what you see (& don't see) when visiting.
🪓honest histories of how collections were made.
🌍how they can help save the world.
It's the first book to combine these social and scientific stories
December 8, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Out this year, #NaturesMemory is an insider's guide to the world's natural history #museums. It explores:
🪰what you see (& don't see) when visiting.
🪓honest histories of how collections were made.
🌍how they can help save the world.
It's the first book to combine these social and scientific stories
🪰what you see (& don't see) when visiting.
🪓honest histories of how collections were made.
🌍how they can help save the world.
It's the first book to combine these social and scientific stories
Reposted by Jack Ashby
The multi-award winning🏅 #PlatypusMatters tells the story of the world's best animals - the #platypus & its Aussie buddies - exploring not only the incredible ways they live their lives, but also how the wider world came to know them, and how this history shapes their conservation today.
December 8, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The multi-award winning🏅 #PlatypusMatters tells the story of the world's best animals - the #platypus & its Aussie buddies - exploring not only the incredible ways they live their lives, but also how the wider world came to know them, and how this history shapes their conservation today.
Reposted by Jack Ashby
What's the only ethical way to fit #OneHundredAnimals in a Christmas stocking? 🎁🎄🎅
"Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects" tells 100 of nature's most incredible stories, through specimens in natural history #museums. 🐹🐨🐒🦍🐣🦟🦋🐝🐍🐛🦄🦫🦘
"Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects" tells 100 of nature's most incredible stories, through specimens in natural history #museums. 🐹🐨🐒🦍🐣🦟🦋🐝🐍🐛🦄🦫🦘
December 8, 2025 at 8:02 AM
What's the only ethical way to fit #OneHundredAnimals in a Christmas stocking? 🎁🎄🎅
"Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects" tells 100 of nature's most incredible stories, through specimens in natural history #museums. 🐹🐨🐒🦍🐣🦟🦋🐝🐍🐛🦄🦫🦘
"Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects" tells 100 of nature's most incredible stories, through specimens in natural history #museums. 🐹🐨🐒🦍🐣🦟🦋🐝🐍🐛🦄🦫🦘
Reposted by Jack Ashby
My children's book WILD encourages kids to spot similar features in completely different groups of animals, and to wonder why. Why are so many animals spiky?🦔🦔 Or have white bellies and black backs?🐧🐳 Or paddles?🦭🦆 Or venom?🐍🐝🕷️ Or eyes on tops of their heads?🐊🦫🦛
I hope your little people enjoy it!🎁
I hope your little people enjoy it!🎁
December 8, 2025 at 8:02 AM
My children's book WILD encourages kids to spot similar features in completely different groups of animals, and to wonder why. Why are so many animals spiky?🦔🦔 Or have white bellies and black backs?🐧🐳 Or paddles?🦭🦆 Or venom?🐍🐝🕷️ Or eyes on tops of their heads?🐊🦫🦛
I hope your little people enjoy it!🎁
I hope your little people enjoy it!🎁
Everybody loves #Echidna Taxidermy Fails!
In #PlatypusMatters, I make the case that no species are more often inaccurately depicted in #taxidermy as #echidnas are.
In #PlatypusMatters, I make the case that no species are more often inaccurately depicted in #taxidermy as #echidnas are.
Have you ever spotted a museum specimen with this mistake? I learned about this common mistake in @jackdashby.bsky.social ‘s book ‘Platypus matters’ - which I highly recommend! Have been keeping my eye out on museum visits ever since.
December 18, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Everybody loves #Echidna Taxidermy Fails!
In #PlatypusMatters, I make the case that no species are more often inaccurately depicted in #taxidermy as #echidnas are.
In #PlatypusMatters, I make the case that no species are more often inaccurately depicted in #taxidermy as #echidnas are.