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The Australian Museum is closed to the public until mid-2020 to enable a major renovation. Project Discover is creating a renewed museum to match its world-class collection.
In this section, there's a wealth of information about our collections of scientific specimens and cultural objects. Come and explore what our researchers, curators and education programs have to offer!
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Citizen science
Streamwatch
Water and catchment
The water cycle

The water cycle

Author(s)

Greg McDonald
Updated

13/12/18
Read time

A minute

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Water cycle diagram

The water cycle — The water that existed on the earth millions of years ago is still with us today. Image: -
© Australian Museum

water cycle

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Also in this section

Water around the world
Why is water important?
NSW catchments
Water properties
What is fresh water?
The managed water cycle
Be waterwise
Drinking Water

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Metamorphic processes

Most minerals are only stable at particular temperatures and pressures, so changes in these result in the formation of new minerals.

Citizen Science Grant Announcement

Water and catchment

Learn about the value of water and how we manage our waterways and catchments.

Water around the world
Water cycle
Managed water cycle

Rhinella marina, Border Ranges NP

Cane Toad

The Cane Toad is tough and adaptable, as well as being poisonous throughout its life cycle, and has few predators in Australia.

Rhinella marina

Dragonfly life cycle - Hemianax sp.

Dragonfly life cycle

Dragonflies are insects. They have three stages in their life cycle: egg - larva - adult. Adult dragonflies have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs. They also have very large eyes.

Green and Golden Bell Frog Life cycle - Litoria aurea

Green and Golden Bell Frog Life cycle

Green and Golden Bell Frogs are amphibians. They have four stages in their life cycle: egg - tadpole - metamorph - adult.

What is a catchment?

A catchment is an area of land, usually surrounded by mountains or hills, over which water flows and is collected.

Water Spider

Water spiders are arachnids like all spiders, mites and scorpions. They have three stages in their life cycle: egg - spiderling - adult.

Botrylloides leachi

Ascidians - Urochordata

Sydney has over 80 species of ascidians. Ascidians belong to the subphylum Urochordata - one of the major groups of the phylum Chordata, which includes the vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals).

Spotted Marsh Frog Life cycle, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis

Spotted Marsh Frog Life cycle

The life cycle of a Spotted Marsh Frog, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis.

Limnodynastes tasmaniensis

Spotted Marsh Frog

The Spotted Marsh Frog is usually the first frog to colonise new dams, ditches and water-covered areas on disturbed ground.

Limnodynastes tasmaniensis

Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii)

Striped Marsh Frog

One of the most common frogs of the eastern coast of Australia, the Striped Marsh Frog is found from northern Queensland to Tasmania.

Limnodynastes peronii

Damselfly life cycle - Austrolestes sp.

Damselfly life cycle

Damselflies are insects. They have three stages in their life cycle: egg - larva - adult. They have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of long legs. They also have very large eyes.

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