Horn-Expedition

The Horn Expedition was the first scientific expedition to study the natural history of central Australia, which took place in May to August 1894.

Expedition participants

The participants of the expedition traveled from Adelaide to the station in Oodnadatta, South Australia, to then ride on Australian camels to the sedimentary basins of the Finke River in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and the Macdonnell Ranges.

This expedition was equipped by William Austin Horn and funded, a wealthy land and mine owners, who accompanied the expedition at the beginning. The area was explored, was in the land of the Aboriginal Arrernte and Luritja who supported the participants of the expedition and declared them natural history features, as well as artifacts and information gave willingly.

Members of the expedition were Walter Baldwin Spencer ( zoologist and photographer ), the Edward Charles Stirling ( anthropologist ); Ralph Tate ( geologist and botanist ), JA Watt ( geologist and mineralogist ), C. Winnecke ( meteorologist ), who led the expedition. The expedition joined Francis James Gillen and other -end side were George Arthur Keartland ( ornithologist ), a cook and four camel drivers. Furthermore, indigenous Aborigines were involved as leaders in parts of the expedition.

Research results

Among the results of the expedition were many new species of mammals such as the mouse bag types Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis and Sminthopsis psammophila and Sminthopsis macroura, Kowari, Central Council of rock, Shark Bay Mouse, Sandy Inland Mouse, Spinifex Hopping Mouse. Furthermore, first fish of Central Australia were collected and described. Findings showed that fish in the desert survive the dry season by aestivation and the flood for their survival is of great importance.