I did this trip, although I have done everal to the 5th continent already and was able to bring back alife such fishes as the featherfin rainbowfish (Iratherina wernerei) for the first time. I also was the first to discover the only freshwater sawfish species (Pristis leichhardti) until today - and bring it alife to the Berlin Aquarium were it lived for 7 years. This time I had lectures to hold at the world famous bi-annual ANGFA meeting in Melbourne. One of the greates Aquarium Fish Association I know world-wide. From there I drove 8000 km (5000 miles) across 4 states and digged into every single waterhole left in the Outback and Australia's central desert area (it is told to be the 3rd largest on our planet).

Although millions of flies, hundreds thousends of heads of cattle (even in every National Park) and sheep, sandy desert and 50-floor-high-dunes, stony desert parts as far as one could see, and even searching in the very top of Ayer's Rock, I was able to find a few jewels. One Rainbowfish (probably Melanotaenia tatei), which has not been in the hobby, a couple of beautiful desert gobies (living in 24 pp - almost marine water salinity) and interesting grunters.

This is my third field trip this year and I still have about 7 to go. The coming up (research) destinations in 2005 are: Congo (Demogratic Republic) ? into areas were I discovered and brought back for the first time into the hobby Pelvicachromis subocelatus in the late 1970s; Kyrgysztan; Tadjikistan; Russia; Ukraine; Brazil; Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

In a few days I will post an updated biography for those who do not know me (although there is an 15 year old one to find under www.aquageo.com), also giving a short rundown on the field trips since - at least the most outstanding (from the point of discovery). I will never be able to mention all. With the last one I concluded the 771st ? in 161 countries (missing 31 only). And I still have programmed 229 destinations to research for fresh- and brackishwater fishes as well as aqiuatic plants - all into areas were hardly any one has done anything...

So I will keep you posted.

Keep smiling with me and don't hesitate to make any question you like.

always
Heiko