John began his palaeontological career as a seven year old, collecting fossils from around Melbourne. The first fossil he discovered, a beetle-like creature once found in the sea and known as a trilobite, started an interest that has led to a lifelong career in palaeontology, which has so far spanned the far reaches of Australia, and has included collecting and analysing fossils throughout Thailand, Vietnam, South Africa and Antarctica.

A Tsintaosaurus articulated skeleton - from the Dinosaurs from China exhibition. Source: Australian Museum Artist: Peter Trusler.

Dr Long's main research work has focussed on the early evolution of fishes in Australia and other parts of Gondwana. He has become particularly well-known for his discoveries of well-preserved Devonian-age fish fossils from Gogo in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, including his discovery of McNmaaraspis, the state fossil emblem of Western Australia. He is responsible for naming over 50 fossils, including a dinosaur named ozraptor subotaii, meaning Lizard of Oz.

His favourite fossil finds include a complete skull of an extinct air-breathing fish that was about 375 million years old. He was also involved in the discovery of the skeleton of a marsupial lion, the largest mammal predator that ever lived in Australia, along with a new type of kangaroo with horns from a cave in Western Australia.

"Some of the caves we were searching were newly discovered, so I was extremely lucky to be able to see skeletons that were untouched" said Dr Long.

Dr Long's knowledge has also played an important role in reducing the trade in smuggled fossils.

"Smuggling fossils is a massive problem, particularly with Chinese fossils," he said. "Chinese fossils are meant to be protected, yet we see them being sold in shops around the world."

His involvement has even seen him join a police raid at Mandurah in Western Australia, where over 3 800 Chinese fossils with a street value of $5 million were found.

Dinosaurs from China is is the first exhibition in Australia to display fossils proving the link between birds and dinosaurs. This very recent discovery was made north of Beijing in an area that was, 130 million years ago, an ancient lake - which ensured amazing preservation of the fossils, enabling people to see the fine covering of hair- like feathers.

"The site is truly remarkable - most of the skeletons found there are complete. Usually, there are only one or two bones found when a new species is discovered, so to find a full skeleton is a very rare palaeontological discovery," said Dr Long.

"China is generally very good for fossil finding - it has an abundance of rocks of the right type and age to preserve dinosaur bones from the Late Triassic to Late Cretaceous Periods. As early as 265 AD, people in China were recording the discovery of 'dragon bones'.

"Every visitor will be amazed at the size and scale of the dinosaurs; we are privileged to have such an important palaeontological exhibition here in Melbourne," said Dr Long.

Dinosaurs from China is on display until 17th April. For more information, phone 13 11 02.