Mr James Nankivell
Externally-Funded Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences
College of Science
I am broadly interested in the evolution, systematics and conservation of reptiles. I apply a range of techniques to conduct my research ranging form traditional field and museum based work through to modern genetic and imaging methods.My current Postdoctoral research is focussed around the role of prawn trawl bycatch in the conservation of sea snakes. I have worked closely with industry and government bodies in Western Australia improving the reliability of sea snake bycatch data recording. This has involved substantial time at sea on trawl vessels and is yielding new insights into sea snake conservation, population dynamics and ecology. I have ongoing projects on the population genetics and taxonomy of sea snakes as well as other groups of Australian terrestrial elapids. These projects make use of of the latest NGS sequencing techniques but also highlight the important role of natural history museums in cataloging and conserving biodiversity.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 - ongoing | Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of Adelaide |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Bessesen, B., González-Suárez, M., Saborío-R, G., Myers, E. A., Buzás, B., Géczy, C., . . . Nankivell, J. H. (2025). The Golfo Dulce yellow sea snake (Elapidae: Hydrophis platurus xanthos) from morphological and molecular perspectives. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 205(2), 14 pages. |
| 2025 | Nankivell, J. H., & Sanders, K. L. (2025). Convergent morphological and genetic patterns delimit Evolutionary Significant Units in endangered Aipysurus sea snakes.. BMC ecology and evolution. |
| 2023 | NANKIVELL, J. H., MARYAN, B., BUSH, B. G., & HUTCHINSON, M. N. (2023). Whip it into shape: Revision of the Demansia psammophis (Schlegel, 1837) complex (Squamata: Elapidae), with a description of a new species from central Australia. Zootaxa, 5311(3), 301-339. Scopus1 WoS1 |
| 2022 | Sherratt, E., Nash-Hahn, T., Nankivell, J., Rasmussen, A. R., Hampton, P. M., & Sanders, K. (2022). Macroevolution in axial morphospace: innovations accompanying the transition to marine environments in elapid snakes. Royal Society Open Science, 9(12), 1-12. Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC9 |
| 2021 | Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Dix, S., Pieterman, L., Nankivell, J. H., Ford, M., Ludington, A. J., . . . Allen, L. (2021). From matte banded to glossy black: structures underlying colour change in the caudal lures of southern death adders (Acanthophis antarcticus, Reptilia: Elapidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 132(3), 666-675. Scopus7 WoS4 |
| 2021 | Melville, J., Chapple, D. G., Keogh, J. S., Sumner, J., Amey, A., Bowles, P., . . . Tingley, R. (2021). A return-on-investment approach for prioritization of rigorous taxonomic research needed to inform responses to the biodiversity crisis.. PLoS biology, 19(6), e3001210. Scopus19 WoS20 Europe PMC8 |
| 2020 | Nankivell, J. H., Goiran, C., Hourston, M., Shine, R., Rasmussen, A. R., Thomson, V. A., & Sanders, K. L. (2020). A new species of turtle-headed sea Snake (Emydocephalus: Elapidae) endemic to Western Australia. Zootaxa, 4758(1), 141-156. Scopus10 WoS8 Europe PMC2 |
| 2019 | Crowe-Riddell, J. M., D'Anastasi, B. R., Nankivell, J. H., Rasmussen, A. R., & Sanders, K. L. (2019). First records of sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) diving to the mesopelagic zone (>200 m). Austral Ecology, 44(4), 752-754. Scopus17 WoS16 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| - | Nankivell, J. (n.d.). Supplementary Data: Whip it into shape: Revision of the Demansia psammophis (Schlegel, 1837) complex (Squamata: Elapidae), with a description of a new species from central Australia. DOI |