Download Native Animals of the gold Coast Riparian areas

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Native animals living in or near creeks and rivers of the Gold Coast
This list contains examples of some of the native fauna species you might see, hear or find
signs of on your property if you have a creek, river, dam or pond. Learning to recognise the
wildlife on your property can be very enjoyable and rewarding but also provides an indication
of the ecological health of your property. How many species make their home in your
backyard or use it when passing through?
These are not complete fauna species lists. For a full listing of Gold Coast fauna visit the
NCS Flora & Fauna Database.
Many excellent field guides are available to assist with identification – see Land for Wildlife
Technical Note 1.
Undisturbed native vegetation close to your local creek or stream or dam provides essential
food, shelter and breeding sites for many animals. Habitats include large trees with or without
hollows, fallen logs, leaf litter, and understorey vegetation.
Frogs
Frog habitat includes creeks, dams, temporary puddles and artificial frog ponds which may
be needed for breeding, food and shelter. Riparian vegetation including grasses, sedges and
shrubs, provides shelter and places to find insect prey. Logs and rocks near water offer
shelter. If you have a water feature like a frog pond it is not necessary to introduce frogs to
your pond as they are easily able to find new habitat and colonise without assistance.
Transporting frogs or tadpoles can spread pathogens like the chytrid fungus.
Large areas of mowed grass only benefit cane toads. To discourage cane toads and help
frogs, plant native grasses, sedges and shrubs and avoid use of pesticides and fertilisers.
Common name
Scientific name
Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog
Graceful Tree Frog
Broad Palmed Rocket Frog
Stony Creek Frog
Striped Rocket Frog
Whistling Tree Frog
Tusked Frog
Eastern Common Froglet
Clicking Froglet
Striped Marsh Frog
Brown Pseudophryne
Litoria fallax
Litoria gracilenta
Litoria latopalmata
Litoria lesueuri
Litoria nasuta
Litoria verreauxii
Adelotus brevis
Crinia parinsignifera
Crinia signifera
Limnodynastes peronii
Pseudophryne major
Birds
Many birds are permanent residents or regular visitors to the creeks and rivers of the Gold
Coast. Some of the more common or conspicuous species are listed below. Whilst some
birds can adapt to disturbance and even inhabit suburban gardens many are specialists and
rely on natural riparian vegetation for shelter, food and nesting. By retaining and regenerating
the vegetation around creeks and streams in your local area you can help provide suitable
habitat for many of our native birds.
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Common name
Scientific name
Whistling Kite
Osprey
Azure Kingfisher
Darter
White-faced Heron
Pacific Heron
Egrets
Varied Triller
Pheasant Coucal
Eastern Whipbird
Bar-shouldered Dove
Brown Cuckoo-Dove
Dollarbird
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Brush Cuckoo
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Spangled Drongo
Black-faced Monarch
Spectacled Monarch
Leaden Flycatcher
Rufous Fantail
Forest Kingfisher
Welcome Swallow
Australian Brush-turkey
Eastern Spinebill
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
Lewin’s Honeyeater
Rainbow Bee-eater
Brown Gerygone
White-browed Scrubwren
Red-browed Firetail
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Eastern Yellow Robin
Rose Robin
Haliastur sphenurus
Pandion haliatus
Ceyx azurea
Anhinga melanogaster
Ardea novaehollandiae
Ardea pacifica
Egretta spp.
Lalage leucomela
Centropus phasianinus
Psophodes olivaceus
Geopelia humeralis
Macropygia amboinemsis
Eurystomus orientalis
Cuculus pyrrhophanus
Cuculus variolosus
Scythrops novaehollandiae
Dicrurus hottentottus
Monarcha melanopsis
Monarcha trivirgatus
Myiagra rubecula
Rhipidura ruffifrons
Halcyon macleayii
Hirundo neoxena
Alectura lathami
Acanthorynchus tenuirostris
Entomyzon cyanotis
Lichmera indistincta
Meliphaga lewinii
Merops ornatus
Gerygone mouki
Sericornis frontalis
Emblema temporalis
Lonchura castaneothorax
Eopsaltria australis
Petroica rosea
Waterfowl - Ducks etc.
Common name
Scientific name
Chestnut Teal
Grey Teal
Pacific Black Duck
Hardhead
Maned Duck
Anas castanea
Anas gracilis
Anas superciliosa
Aythya australis
Chenonetta jubata
Mammals
Habitats for our native mammals include large trees with or without hollows, fallen logs, leaf
litter, and understorey vegetation. These provide food, shelter and breeding sites.
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Common name
Scientific name
Swamp Wallaby
Platypus
Northern Brown Bandicoot
Common Ringtail Possum
Mountain Brushtail Possum
Water Rat
Wallabia bicolor
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Isodon macrourus
Pseudocheirus peregrinus
Trichosurus caninus
Hydromys chrysogaster
Fish
Aquarium fish, even if they are native species, should never be introduced directly or
indirectly to natural waterbodies as they may not be bred from local stock. This could also
spread disease or cause ecological imbalances. Get advice from your pet shop about
introducing native fish such as pacific Blue Eyes for mosquito control in artificial ponds which
do not drain into natural waterbodies.
Common name
Scientific name
Long finned Eel
Empire Gudgeon
Firetail Gudgeon
Duboulay’s Rainbow Fish
Pacific Blue Eye
Eel-tail Catfish
Anguilla reinhardtii
Hypseleotris compressa
Hypseleotris galii
Melanotaenia duboulayi
Pseudomugil signifer
Tandanus tandanus
Reptiles
Reptiles need riparian vegetation including trees, shrubs and groundcover as well as logs,
rocks and other cover close to water. For example, Eastern Water Dragons climb high into
trees, perch on branches or logs looking for insect prey and burrow into banks to lay their
eggs. They dive and swim often remaining submerged for long periods. Baby water dragons
need thick, low growing vegetation and logs to hide from predators.
Common name
Scientific name
Eastern Water Dragon
Eastern long-necked Turtle
Brisbane Saw-shell Turtle
Common Tree Snake
Common Keelback
Marsh Snake
Eastern Water Skink
Physignathus lesueurii
Chelodina longicollis
Emydura signata
Dendrelaphis punctulata
Tropidonophis mairii
Hemiaspis signata
Eulamprus quoyii