Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
REPTILES OF THE SOUTHERN BRIGALOW BELT Steve Wilson April 2003 First published in 2003 by WWF Australia. © WWF Australia 2003. All Rights Reserved. ISBN 1-875941-43-6 WWF Australia Guide: 03/03 Photography: Steve Wilson Design/Layout: Design Farm Printed and Bound: The Brisbane Printing Place Editing: Wendy Drury (Lambert and Rehbein Pty Ltd), Keryn Hyslop (TSN) and Sonya Lesic (WWF Australia). Acknowledgements: This booklet was produced by the Threatened Species Network, a community-based program of the Commonwealth Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and WWF Australia. The author and editors would like to thank the Southern Brigalow Belt Reptile Recovery Team, and in particular the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service for the significant amount of support it provided. We are also grateful for the continual interest from the Lake Broadwater Natural History Association, Dalby Wildlife Preservation Society, Greening Australia Queensland and Chinchilla Field Naturalists Club. Particularly, we would like to thank Rod and Jenny Keys and Warrick and Diane Hill from Meandarra for their hospitality and enthusiasm in the pursuit of further knowledge on Brigalow Belt reptiles. North Region Office WWF Australia Level 2, 490 Upper Edward Street, Spring Hill PO Box 710 Spring Hill, QLD, Australia 4004 Tel: +617-3839-2677 Fax: +617-3839-2633 Head Office WWF Australia GPO Box 528 Sydney, NSW, Australia 2001 Tel: +612-9281-5515 Fax: +612-9281-1060 [email protected] For copies of this report or a full list of WWF Australia publications on a wide range of conservation issues, please contact us on [email protected] or call (02) 9281 5515. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ..................................................................2 Aim and scope of this publication Who is this publication for? The Southern Brigalow Belt ........................................3 Where is the Southern Brigalow Belt? A hotspot for reptiles It’s All in the Eye of the Beholder ...............................5 What is brigalow? The brigalow community Changing Face of the Land ........................................7 Threats What can we do? Description of Reptiles ..............................................11 Reptile identification tips Conservation status Lizards 14 Dragons 14 Flap-footed lizards 16 Geckos 18 Goannas 20 Skinks 23 Snakes 28 Blind snakes 28 Pythons 28 Venomous snakes 30 References and Selected Reading...........................37 Appendix I: Complete Checklist of Southern Brigalow Belt Reptiles ......38 Appendix II: Reptile Field Sighting Sheet .............40 Useful Contacts .........................................................41 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 1 INTRODUCTION Aim and scope of this publication There are more than 130 species of reptiles found in the Southern Brigalow Belt. This booklet features only a small selection of these, chosen to illustrate the common, those of ‘conservation concern’ and the potentially dangerous. The booklet makes no attempt to provide descriptions of all the reptiles found in the region and is not intended to replace more comprehensive guides such as those listed in the selected reading section of this publication. It is, however, intended to engage, to educate and to engender respect for a group of native animals all too often overlooked, or regarded as somehow less important, than the more charismatic furred and feathered fauna. What’s more, this booklet strives to illustrate the importance of the Southern Brigalow Belt and the plant communities that these resilient reptiles and other fascinating creatures call home, no matter how small and encroached these remnants may be. Who is this publication for? This booklet serves as an introduction to the reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt and is intended to be both an easy to use identification guide and an educational resource for: • Local residents and landholders; • Naturalists and other community groups; • Local reptile enthusiasts and aspiring naturalists; • Natural resource management extension officers; • Local schools; • Local councils; • Environment organisations; and • Government agencies. Page 2 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt THE SOUTHERN BRIGALOW BELT Where is the Southern Brigalow Belt? Queensland’s Southern Brigalow Belt stretches from Rockhampton in Queensland to the border of New South Wales. The region encompasses much of the country that receives 500-750 mm rainfall per annum. The Southern Brigalow Belt has been extensively cleared over the last 200 years. In fact, more than 13 million hectares (60%) of the original vegetation has been cleared (Accad et al, 2001). As a result, vegetation communities, plants and animals, including several species of reptiles, have become threatened. Many of these reptiles are endemic, which means they occur nowhere else in the world. Queensland’s Southern Brigalow Belt Map courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency (Toowoomba Office). Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 3 A hotspot for reptiles The Southern Brigalow Belt is a hotspot for reptiles. All five of Australia’s lizard families, four of the six snake families, and one of the four turtle families are represented in the Southern Brigalow Belt. Those missing are all confined to marine habitats and tropical freshwater environments. Many of the reptiles, including the eastern striped skink and Burton’s snake lizard, are widespread across Australia. Others that inhabit the dry forests, such as the golden-tailed gecko, Dunmall’s snake and brigalow scaly-foot, are regional endemics (meaning that the species only occurs in the Southern Brigalow Belt). The Southern Brigalow Belt is a meeting place where fauna and flora adapted to different climates come together. Species such as the mulga snake, western brown snake and woma that are adapted to dry to arid environments, and that cover vast tracts from the west coast to the interior meet with the denizens of the humid east coast, such as pink-tongued skinks, green tree snakes and freshwater snakes. Page 4 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt IT’S ALL IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER What is brigalow? The term ‘brigalow’ has a number of meanings. For example, brigalow can refer to a species of acacia (Acacia harpophylla), or it can mean an ecological community, dominated by Acacia harpophylla and often including other species such as belah (Casuarina cristata), wilga (Geijera parviflora) and false sandalwood (Eremophila mitchellii). The term ‘brigalow’ has also been used to describe the region in Australia where these species and ecological communities occur, thus giving rise to the term ‘Brigalow Belt’. The brigalow community A patch of brigalow scrub can mean many things, depending on how you look at it. To a traveller it may be little more than a blue/green blur at 110 km/h, to be forgotten as soon as it is passed. The pastoralist, however, sees much more. A skilled eye can gauge soil fertility, recognise the brigalow, belah, cypress and ironbarks that characterise each vegetation community, and know which hardwoods are good for fencing and what shrubs make fine fodder. To the wildlife that live there permanently, the patch is a world of opportunity and competition, safety and danger. It is the sum of their experience, a land of hollows, leaf-litter and soil cracks, of things to catch and things to dodge. It is a land of discrete environments that are neatly partitioned to accommodate all those relying on it. Below ground level, insect holes and soil cracks, larger burrows and cavities beneath rotten stumps are all prime real estate. They offer a stable, humid atmosphere, protected from extreme outside temperatures for a host of snakes, ground dwelling geckos and other lizards. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 5 Around the bases of trees, islands of thick leaf-litter accumulate above a thin layer of soft compost and loose soil. This makes up a separate, distinct habitat, supporting reptiles that live no-where else. Tiny litter skinks, such as Low’s litter skink, forage on and under the leaves, while burrowing skinks wriggle in the compost and soil below. There are several different kinds of skinks, some with tiny limbs and others with limbs virtually absent, reflecting their various subterranean habits. A healthy forest includes trees of all ages. The old, the dying and the dead are among the most valuable to wildlife for the shelter they provide, as these offer hollows, deep cracks and loose bark that take decades to develop. Geckos inhabit narrow gaps behind bark, while other cavities provide shelter for goannas and pythons, bats and birds, and a host of other animals. A walk through a patch of brigalow scrub will reveal a great deal to the careful observer, but much more remains concealed. Many species are only active at night while others are extremely secretive and easily overlooked. Some reveal themselves only when a narrow window of opportunity opens, such as after heavy rain. But whether we see these species or not, the knowledge that a complex community relies on these remnant stands of vegetation for survival is enough to justify the protection of such patches. Page 6 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt CHANGING FACE OF THE LAND Threats Land clearing and the creation of pastures and dams have dramatically altered the landscape. Whilst this has had a negative impact on many species, some reptiles have actually benefited from these activities. Eastern brown snakes thrive in open country and may be more common in disturbed areas such as rubbish dumps or around barns than in natural forests. House geckos are as comfortable on the walls of buildings as they are on tree trunks, and bearded dragons remain a familiar sight perched on fence posts, while a variety of small skinks scuttle in the leaf-litter of garden beds. The abundance of these species may lure us into believing that all is well, but many other kinds of reptiles have not fared so favourably. Some have seriously declined. Historical records, for example, indicate that the death adder was once extremely common. By some accounts (probably exaggerated), stepping outside was a hazardous exercise because of their sheer numbers. They are now rare across the region, possibly because of altered fire regimes and disturbance to the leaf-litter. The brigalow scaly-foot and Dunmall’s Snake are also of concern. They appear to require relatively undisturbed forest or regrowth and have difficulty crossing broad, cleared areas. Fragmented habitats result in isolated, weakened populations unable to diversify genetically or to disperse and recolonise in times of adverse conditions such as flooding or fire. Shinglebacks suffer a heavy toll from traffic. The Southern Brigalow Belt is also intersected by roads that are an additional challenge to reptiles and other wildlife. Not only do they pose an obvious danger to animals attempting to move between habitat areas, they are also appealing, yet lethal, basking sites at all times. At night, nocturnal snakes come to soak up stored heat from roads and tragically often don’t recognise approaching vehicles as danger. The daily injury and mortality rate contributes considerably to other threats to the survival of local reptile populations. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 7 Other threats include inappropriate fire and grazing regimes, predation and degradation of habitat by feral animals and weed encroachment. Key Points to Remember • Land clearing for agriculture and grazing dramatically alters the landscape forcing reptiles to adapt where possible or face serious depletion • Fragmented habitats result in isolated, weakened populations that are unable to diversify genetically or to disperse and recolonise in times of adverse conditions such as fire and flood • Inappropriate fire and grazing regimes threaten reptiles and also destroy leaf-litter and vital understorey such as shrubs, grasses and herbs and other reptile habitat • Inappropriate grazing regimes result in soil compaction • Roads hinder the movement of wildlife between habitats and are lethal basking sites during the day and at night Page 8 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt WHAT CAN WE DO? Continued clearing of native vegetation remains the greatest threat to reptiles and other wildlife of the Southern Brigalow Belt. Inappropriate clearing regimes where broad expanses of land are completely cleared result in direct habitat loss and the isolation of populations within remaining wooded stands. This reduces fauna diversity. By leaving corridors between existing stands, avenues of dispersal are kept open. Road verges and strips of natural vegetation along paddock boundaries can provide effective habitat corridors for maintaining these avenues of dispersal. Keep an eye out for those old, dead and dying trees. Their hollows and cavities are vital wildlife refuges and their removal can substantially reduce diversity. Keep in mind that felled timber dozed into piles offers alternative habitat opportunities for displaced fauna. They are lost if these piles are subsequently burned. The yakka skink, listed as vulnerable, sometimes establishes colonies in these piles of mixed timber and earth. Smouldering timber pile a possible reptile home destroyed. Also keep an eye out for wildlife on roads and stay within speed limits. Womas (large, slow moving non-venomous snakes) are often hit by fast moving cars, yet they are easy to avoid, so give these long, banded snakes and other native species right of way wherever possible. Learn to recognise local species, particularly those of conservation concern. The next section in this booklet offers pointers for identification. Armed with the correct information, you may discover you have an endangered species in the wood pile. Enjoy the privilege. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 9 Checklist for Good Reptile Habitat • Fallen leaf-litter, branches, logs and rocky areas • Native trees and understorey (shrubs, groundcovers and grasses) • Old mature trees with hollows and standing dead trees and stags • Cracks and crevices • Few, if any, weeds or feral animals • Connecting corridors between patches of scrub Activities that may be detrimental to reptiles Suggestions for reducing detrimental effects Clearing native vegetation Avoid clearing where possible, but if essential, retain some large, uncleared areas, patches of scrub and corridors in their ‘unkept’ state Leave understorey uncleared, but if essential, retain some patches Revegetate and rehabilitate corridors to connect patches of scrub Annual burning Leave some patches unburnt to provide refuge areas for reptiles Trial less frequent burns and monitor reptile numbers Page 10 Continuous grazing Avoid grazing too frequently - trial grazing on a rotational basis with lower stock numbers ‘Tidying’ up by removing timber and dead trees or rocky outcrops Avoid removing timber and dead and dying trees if you need to ‘tidy’, stockpile instead and leave as reptile habitat rather than burning these piles Fatality and injury from vehicle strikes Keep an eye out for wildlife on roads, day and night, travel within speed limits and allow wildlife right of way Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt DESCRIPTION OF REPTILES Reptile identification tips Each of the Southern Brigalow Belt reptile species has distinctive features that distinguish it from all others. Some, like the colours of the bandy-bandy or the sharp snout of Burton’s snake lizard, are obvious and easy to recognise. Others are much more subtle and require a degree of skill and prior experience to determine. For instance, some species of lizards have long bodies and greatly reduced limbs. They are often referred to as ‘legless lizards’ and could easily be misidentified as snakes. Here are a few pointers to tell them apart: • Snakes have slender, deeply forked tongues, but all lizards except goannas have broad, fleshy tongues. • Snakes do not have ear-openings or eyelids. Some snake-like lizards lack eyelids but have ear-openings. Other snake-like lizards have lost their ear-openings but have eyelids, which means they are able to blink. All snake-like lizards have either eyelids or ear-openings or both. Brigalow scaly-foot, a snake-like lizard, with its broad, fleshy tongue. • Most snakes (except blind snakes) have wide, belly scales that are significantly and abruptly broader than their other body scales, and extend across the full width of the belly. The belly scales of lizards are much the same as the adjacent scales or, if larger, in a paired series. If you are unsure, it is safest to regard the animal as a snake and follow safety precautions. Spotted black snake with its slender, deeply forked tongue. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 11 Although accurate reptile identification can only be undertaken by an expert, a keen observer and enthusiast could assist with identification by noting various characteristics and physical features such as the size, colour and pattern of the animal, along with any distinctive, behavioural characteristics, including the time of activity (day or night), whether seen climbing or on the ground, moving swiftly or slowly or found foraging or uncovered under debris (see Appendix II - Reptile Field Sighting Sheet). This information, ideally accompanied by a photograph, can help with identification by an expert. The Queensland Museum welcomes such enquiries. Identification is a free service and operates seven days a week for all types of wildlife, including reptiles. Details can either be emailed to [email protected] or posted to the Queensland Museum, Inquiry Centre, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, Qld 4101. You can also call the inquiry line on (07) 3840 7555. Alternatively, you can contact the Environmental Protection Agency’s Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service at their Roma Office on (07) 4622 4266 or the Toowoomba Office on (07) 4639 4599. Key Points to Remember • All native reptiles are protected in Queensland and should not be disturbed or removed • Due to the venomous nature of some snakes, it is not recommended that they be captured or touched in any way for identification Page 12 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Conservation status Species of conservation concern have declined in varying degrees. Their long term survival is dependent upon our ability to recognise their vulnerability to inappropriate land management practices, feral predation and natural events such as droughts, fires or floods that might further negatively impact upon them. The State (Queensland Nature Conservation Act, 1992) and Commonwealth Government (Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999), along with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN’s Red List) have ranked these species according to how close to extinction they are. Conservation status refers to this ranking. The following list explains each ranking or classification. (Note: This publication only cites the conservation status for those species that are classified as threatened with extinction - either ‘endangered’, ‘vulnerable’ or ‘rare’ - under State and Commonwealth legislation. All other species that do not have an E, V or an R are ‘common’, meaning they are protected by law but not classified as threatened.) Endangered: Species in danger of extinction in the near future if threats to their existence continue. Species are also listed as ‘endangered’ if they have not been sighted in the wild for a period critical to their life cycle. Vulnerable: Species considered likely to become ‘endangered’ in the near future if the threats to their existence continue. Species may be listed as ‘vulnerable’ even when numbers are high, if their habitat is at considerable risk or their populations are localised or dependent on habitat at risk. Rare: Species which are not yet classified as threatened but have either relatively large populations in a restricted range or smaller populations thinly spread over a wider range. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 13 LIZARDS DRAGONS Dragons are easily recognized by their rough, often spiny skin, upright postures and long limbs. They often perch on elevated sites such as stumps and fence posts from which they survey their surroundings with a keen eye. Many dragons employ a suite of visual signals to communicate. Head-bobbing, arm-waving, tail-lashing and even changing the intensity of colour are used to indicate such things as territory and sexual status. Dragons can also be extremely secretive. If approached they often freeze, lower their head, and closely hug their perch to remain undetected. All dragons are egg-layers, usually selecting relatively exposed, open sites where they excavate a burrow and lay their clutch (set) of white, soft-shelled eggs. Burn’s dragon or ta-ta lizard (Amphibolurus burnsi) Description: This dragon has small, rough scales and several longitudinal rows of larger spiny scales. The most conspicuous row begins as a crest on the neck and runs down the middle of the back. Two other large rows run along each side. It is grey to black with a pair of prominent pale grey to white stripes or series of large blotches along each side of its back. Distribution: Dry woodlands and river margins in the eastern interior, not extending east of the Brigalow Belt. Notes: Ta-ta lizards are the swiftest dragons in timbered areas throughout the region. If approached, they often leap from their perch and hit the ground running, sprinting to safety on their hind limbs. The unusual common name, shared with several more northern relatives, is a result of the frequent habit of signalling by arm-waving. Page 14 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Bearded dragon (Pogona barbata) Description: A very large and distinctive dragon with spiny scales scattered over its back, clustered in a row along its flanks, and arranged in a line along a pouch under the throat which can be suddenly erected to form a beard. Usually drab grey, but rival and breeding males develop black beards. Distribution: Widespread in eastern Australia. Notes: Bearded dragons are masters of camouflage and will often cling to rough bark, unmoving and unnoticed. When confronted the spiny beard is erected, the body flattened, and the mouth gaped to reveal the bright yellow interior. The combined effect is designed to startle its enemy. It has also led to confusion with the true frillneck or ‘frilly’ lizard of the northern and eastern areas of Australia that erects a thin scaly ruff around the neck. Bearded dragons eat insects and vegetation. They are particularly fond of flowers. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 15 LIZARDS FLAP-FOOTED LIZARDS Despite their snake-like appearance, these are unlikely cousins of the geckos. Some scientists even classify them together. The two groups share an ability to squeak, and the peculiar habit of using their tongue like a broad wet windscreen wiper to clean the surface of the eye. Flap-footed lizards have no forelimbs, and the hind limbs are reduced to tiny, scaly flaps. They look superficially like snakes but have broad fleshy tongues, ear-openings and very long tails - from two to four times the length of the body. Flap-footed lizards can lose and re-grow their tails, so at times these may be shorter than the body. A re-growing tail is clearly indicated by an abrupt change in pattern and scale arrangement. By contrast, snakes have thin forked tongues, no ear-openings, and tails much shorter than the body. Flap-footed lizards live under leaf-litter, in grass tussocks and other thick vegetation, and in soil cracks or insect holes. Most are nocturnal, but some can be seen by day. Burton’s snake lizard (Lialis burtonis) Description: Whatever superficial resemblance this species has to a snake, its acutely pointed wedgeshaped snout easily distinguishes it from all other Australian reptiles. Its colour ranges from grey to yellow or brick red, with or without prominent stripes or rows of dashes. The scaly flaps are extremely small and can be difficult to see, even under close examination. Distribution: Burton’s snake lizard occurs throughout the region in all habitats. It has the largest distribution of any Australian reptile, ranging from south-western Western Australia to New Guinea. Notes: This species has an extremely specialised diet. It eats predominantly lizards, though the odd snake is sometimes taken. Prey is seized in the lizard’s long scissor-like jaws, and thanks to a strange hinge across the top of its head, the jaw-tips meet to completely encircle and suffocate the victim, which is then swallowed whole. It is active by day and night. Page 16 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Brigalow scaly-foot (Paradelma orientalis) Conservation status: Listed as VULNERABLE under State, Commonwealth and international legislation. Description: Very glossy and smooth with a milky sheen. Greyish brown with a dark band across the neck and a much paler cream to pale brown head. The scaly flaps are large enough to be clearly seen if examined closely. Distribution: The Brigalow scaly-foot is largely restricted to the Southern Brigalow Belt. Notes: It is nocturnal, sheltering by day under thick leaf-litter, beneath rocks, logs and other debris. When provoked, it rears its head and flicks its tongue in an apparent mimicry of a small, venomous snake. To a skilled observer, the presence of ear-openings and a thick fleshy tongue reveal it to be a harmless lizard. Small predators are more easily fooled. Eastern hooded scaly-foot (Pygopus schraderi) Description: Matt-textured, with weak longitudinal ridges running down its back. Reddish brown with a dark grey to black blotch on top of the head and neck. The scaly flaps are very large and can be easily seen if examined closely. Distribution: Widespread in dry parts of eastern Australia. Notes: Widespread throughout the area, mainly on firm reddish soils. It has similar habits to the Brigalow scalyfoot, including its threat posture, which apparently mimicks a venomous snake. The dark head markings are very similar to those of young brown snakes, though it is not known whether this is due to direct mimicry or whether the pattern helps regulate temperature or there are other reasons. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 17 LIZARDS GECKOS Geckos are soft-skinned lizards with large, lidless eyes, protected by fixed transparent covers. Some grounddwelling geckos have simple, clawed feet, but others have their fingers and toes flattened and expanded to form pads. Beneath these pads are rows of broad, modified scales, covered with thousands of microscopic bristles. These adhere to minute irregularities on seemingly smooth surfaces, allowing the lizards to scamper with gravity-defying ease over walls, windows and even ceilings. Geckos are nocturnal. Some shelter deep in soil cracks by day, others hide behind loose bark or in hollows. A few even cling to branches, well hidden amongst foliage. For some geckos, houses offer excellent alternative habitats. Gaps behind wall-hangings and between weatherboards are as acceptable as those in trees, with the added advantage of limitless supplies of insects attracted to lights at night. All Australian geckos lay two (rarely one) eggs per clutch. Wood gecko (Diplodactylus vittatus) Description: A small gecko with distinctive pattern; greyish brown with a broad pale stripe running down the back and tail. The stripe is usually zigzagging, has deeply notched edges, or is broken into blotches. The tail is thick and fleshy, and the fingers and toes have small pads, tipped below with a pair of enlarged plates. Distribution: Widespread in eastern Australia. Notes: Despite the padded feet, this gecko has only limited climbing ability. By day it hides in insect holes and soil cracks and at night it forages on the ground. Wood geckos often select a small, fallen twig as an elevated perch. From the majestic height of up to 5 cm they survey the surrounding terrain. Page 18 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt House gecko or dtella (Gehyra dubia) Description: Grey with dark streaks and pale dashes by day, and ghostly pink with little or no pattern at night. The fingers and toes have large, circular pads, with a prominent claw arising from the upper surface of all except the innermost digit. Distribution: Widespread in eastern Australia. Notes: This is the most common house gecko in the region, occupying virtually all human structures. Those of us who strive to tolerate the little ‘parcels’ they leave on the window-sills and kitchen sink should also bear in mind the geckos’ invaluable service as cockroach disposal agents. The round, brittle-shelled eggs sometimes accumulate in sheltered sites such as wall cavities. Outside the human environment this gecko is a tree dweller. Golden-tailed gecko (Strophurus taenicauda) Conservation status: Listed as RARE under State legislation. Description: This is one of the world’s most beautiful geckos. It is white to pale grey, intensely marked with a network of small black blotches over the head, body and limbs, and a bright orange blaze down the tail. The large eyes are red, highlighting the vertically elliptic pupil. The fingers and toes have broad pads, tipped below with a pair of large plates. Distribution: Mainly confined to the Brigalow Belt. Notes: This tree-dwelling gecko lives mainly in foliage and on slender branches. By day it clings to stems, with its netted pattern effectively camouflaging it in the dappled light. At night it patrols the foliage or descends to the ground in search of insects. It belongs to a small group of Australian geckos sharing the unique ability to squirt sticky irritant fluid from pores along the top of the tail. If this fluid comes in contact with eyes it causes an intense burning sensation. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 19 LIZARDS GOANNAS Goannas (also called monitors) are easily recognised by their thick, loose skin, long necks, narrow snouts and constantly flickering, deeply forked tongues. The feet are strongly clawed, the teeth long and curved backwards, and the tail and limbs usually powerful. Many species are enormous and the family includes the world’s largest lizards. Goannas are predators and scavengers. They plunder bird nests, capture reptiles and mammals, occasionally raid chook pens for eggs, and even dine on roadside carrion. Some species are largely tree dwellers, sheltering in hollow tree trunks and branches; others are terrestrial, excavating large burrows. All can often be encountered on the ground, where they walk with a distinctive swaggering gait. Goannas are egg-layers. Some deposit their clutches in burrows, but others excavate active termite nests to shelter the eggs. When the termites seal the damage, the eggs are effectively entombed. There is evidence to suggest the female goanna returns months later and opens the nest to free her hatchlings. Page 20 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Gould’s goanna (Varanus gouldii) and yellow-spotted goanna (Varanus panoptes) Description: Both of these very similar species are yellowish brown with a pale-edged, dark stripe through the eye. They can be difficult to distinguish and remain problematic, even to the ‘experts’. Gould’s goanna (Varanus gouldii) has clustered pale yellow spots on the back and narrow pale bands on the tail, with the last quarter to third of the tail pale and unbanded. The pale throat has grey streaks. The yellowspotted goanna (Varanus panoptes) has round yellow spots arranged in rows across the body, and the narrow bands on the tail sometimes extend to the tip. The pale throat has black spots. It tends to be heavier than Gould’s goanna. Gould’s goanna. Distribution: Gould’s goanna extends across most of Australia, while the yellow-spotted goanna is widespread in northern areas. Notes: They live mainly on the ground, lay their eggs in burrows, and rarely climb trees. Yellow-spotted goanna. Freckled monitor (Varanus tristis) Description: A very small, slender goanna with very conspicuous, dark-centred, pale circular spots arranged in rows across the body and base of the tail. The rest of the tail is dark and patternless. Distribution: Widespread in dry areas across Australia and approaching its eastern limit in the Southern Brigalow Belt. Notes: Lives mainly in trees, sheltering behind loose bark and in hollow limbs. It is very swift and wary, lacking the confident nonchalance exhibited by its larger relatives. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 21 LIZARDS Lace monitor (Varanus varius) Description: Two different colour types live in the region. The common type is dark grey to black with numerous rows of small pale spots across the back and tail-base. The rest of the tail has a few very broad, widely-spaced bands. The pale throat has broad, dark strap-like bands. The banded type (sometimes called ‘Bell’s form’) has a few simple, broad, pale yellowish brown and dark brown bands on the body and tail and usually no bands across the chin. Distribution: Widespread in eastern Australia. Notes: Lives mainly in trees but forages widely on the ground. It is the largest lizard in the region. Eggs are laid exclusively in termite nests. Page 22 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt SKINKS Skinks are the most common and obvious lizards in the Southern Brigalow Belt. Typical skinks are the small, swift and shiny lizards we see scurrying up and down tree trunks and house walls or diving beneath the leaf-litter. Skinks usually have smooth, overlapping body scales, four obvious limbs with five fingers and toes, large scales on the head arranged in a symmetrical pattern, and movable eyelids that they can close to blink. Skinks are also among the most variable of all Australian vertebrates. None of the features outlined above apply to all species. For example, blue-tongues and the shingleback are big and slow-moving. Body scales of the shingleback are rough and look like the outside of a pine cone. Some skinks cannot blink as they have fixed, clear spectacles covering their lidless eyes. Several burrowing varieties have long, worm-like bodies, tiny limbs and a reduced number of fingers and toes. A few have no legs at all. Some skinks lay eggs, while others give birth to fully-formed young. Burrowing skink (Anomalopus leuckartii) Description: Very long-bodied with a wax-like tip to the snout, small eyes, and ear-openings represented by scaly depressions. The forelimbs are very short with only two stubby fingers, while the minute hind limbs are reduced to clawless stumps. It is shades of brown, usually with a pale band across the base of the head. Distribution: Confined to the mid-eastern interior of Australia. Notes: Occurs throughout the region, inhabiting the soft upper soil profile beneath the mats of leaf-litter around the bases of trees. It can wriggle with ease through this crumbling medium, and if uncovered can vanish in a flash. It is an egg-layer. There are several different kinds of local burrowing skinks ranging from those with obvious, small limbs, to those with virtually no limbs at all. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 23 LIZARDS Eastern striped skink Striped skinks (Ctenotus species) Description: Of about six species of striped skinks occurring in the region, the eastern striped skink (Ctenotus robustus) and Ingram’s striped skink (Ctenotus ingrami) are the most frequently encountered. They share a bold pattern of longitudinal stripes. The eastern striped skink has a broad, pale-edged black stripe down the middle of its back, and a diffuse row of pale blotches along the upper flanks above a weak pale stripe through the middle of the flanks. Ingram’s striped skink is slightly smaller, with little or no stripe down the middle of the back, black, patternless upper flanks and a very sharp white stripe through the middle of the flanks. Distribution: The eastern striped skink occurs over northern and eastern Australia. Ingram’s striped skink is restricted to dry woodlands of the mid-eastern interior. Ingram’s striped skink Notes: These are the swiftest of the Southern Brigalow Belt skinks. They forage widely among leaf-litter and low vegetation, are extremely wary of possible danger and sprint for cover if approached. Striped skinks are predators, feeding mainly on insects and spiders, but also taking smaller lizards. All are egg-layers. Yakka skink (Egernia rugosa) Conservation status: Listed as VULNERABLE under State and Commonwealth legislation. Description: This very robust, thick-tailed skink is one of the largest in the region. It is brown with a broad, darker brown to black zone along the back. Some of the scales at the rear of its head are fragmented, so it lacks the symmetrical arrangement of other skinks. There are several large, plate-like scales along the leading edge of the ear, partly concealing the opening. Distribution: Restricted to dry woodlands and outcrops of Queensland’s eastern interior. Page 24 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Notes: Yakka skinks share communal burrow systems, often excavated in earth and timber that have been bulldozed into heaps. They may also occupy disused rabbit warrens and have occasionally been recorded living under buildings. Colonies include individuals of all ages. They are extremely wary, basking near, or partly concealed by, their shelter sites. They seldom venture far and retreat to cover at the first sign of disturbance. Yakka skinks eat both animal and plant material, including insects, fruits and soft foliage. Their presence is often indicated by a shared site where they deposit their droppings. Young are born fully-formed. Tree skink (Egernia striolata) Description: This robust skink has a slightly flattened head and body and a series of low, longitudinal ridges along each of the scales on its back. It is dark brown to grey in colour, with scattered pale flecks, a distinctive paler flush through each shoulder to about the middle of the back, and dark brown to black upper flanks. The scales along the lips are often conspicuously paler. Distribution: Widespread in the eastern interior of Australia. Notes: It is associated with standing or fallen timber, including fence posts and wood piles. Individuals or small groups live in hollows or beneath loose bark. They are often seen basking, but seldom venture far from shelter. Young are born fully-formed. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 25 LIZARDS Broad-banded sand-swimmer (Eremiascincus richardsonii) Description: A very shiny skink with a distinctive pattern of simple, dark bands from neck to tail-tip, against a brown to reddish brown background. Distribution: Central and western arid-zones, becoming rare east of the Southern Brigalow Belt. Notes: Mainly active at night, when it may be seen scuttling across roads. By day it shelters in loose soil under thick leaf-litter, in disused burrows and soil cracks. The sand-swimmer is an egg-layer, named for its habit of disappearing into soft, loose sand and its ability to wriggle with ease below the surface. Low’s litter skink (Menetia timlowi) Description: This is probably the smallest reptile in the Southern Brigalow Belt. With a body length of less than 3 cm, it is smaller than many medium-sized insects. It has only four fingers on the forelimb and a large, fixed, transparent spectacle covering the eye. It is dark greyish brown with little pattern, except for some darker and lighter flecks. When viewed indirectly, it reflects an attractive, iridescent sheen. Distribution: Dry woodlands of Queensland’s eastern interior. Notes: Litter skinks are extremely secretive inhabitants of leaf-litter accumulated around the base of trees. These egg-layers rarely venture into open spaces and vanish swiftly and silently into the matrix of dead leaves if approached. The clear eye-covering is believed to be an adaptation by small skinks living in dry climates to reduce water loss from the surface of the eye. Page 26 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Blue-tongue (Tiliqua scincoides) and shingleback (Tiliqua rugosa) Description: These distinctive skinks share a unique combination of large size, robust build and short, widely-spaced limbs with stubby fingers and toes. Both are very slow-moving. The blue-tongue has a thick, pointed tail, small, smooth scales and a prominent banded pattern. With a body length of more than 30 cm, it is arguably the largest of more than 1400 skink species world wide. The shingleback has a bulbous tail, very large, rough, ‘pine cone’ like scales and sombre, dark colouration. Distribution: Distributions of blue-tongues and shinglebacks collectively cover most of Australia, including towns, cities and rural areas. Not surprisingly they are tolerant of altered habitats and are widespread in the Southern Brigalow Belt. Notes: They are often encountered crossing roads and suffer a high mortality rate as a result. When disturbed they gape their mouths and present their broad, flat, blue tongues. They appear fierce, but are quite harmless, though a nip can be painful. It has been suggested that these slow, giant, largely vegetarian skinks are roughly the equivalent to the land tortoises of other continents. Young are born fully-formed. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 27 SNAKES BLIND SNAKES OR WORM SNAKES Ramphotyphlops species These harmless, non-venomous, worm-like snakes have cylindrical bodies, short, blunt tails tipped with a short spur and close-fitting, highly polished body scales. Scales are of uniform size around the body, lacking the large belly scales of other snakes. The eyes, discernible as a pair of dark spots set below the head scales, are extremely light-sensitive but generally thought to be unable to determine images. Blind snakes are Australia’s only insect-eating snakes. They feed on termites and the eggs, pupae and larvae of ants. Some large species specialise on the formidable bulldog ants. Blind snakes are burrowers, living within the galleries and chambers of their hosts and under rocks and logs. They sometimes ascend to the surface at night, particularly after rain. If disturbed, some species emit repellent odours. Identification of the different species is difficult without a microscope and plenty of prior experience. PYTHONS Pythons are large, non-venomous, constricting snakes. They have several modifications to overpower and consume large prey, including muscular bodies, highly flexible skulls, and very small, numerous body scales allowing great elasticity of the skin. Most species also have a row of heat-sensitive pits in the scales along the lower jaw. These can detect warm-blooded animals by the body heat they produce. Contrary to popular belief, pythons do not crush their prey. They constrict it in ever tightening coils, causing death by suffocation and perhaps circulatory disruption. Pythons exhibit the greatest maternal care in Australian snakes, with mothers coiling around their eggs and guarding them. During the two-month incubation period females normally do not feed and will strike at any intruders that venture too close. Once the babies hatch, maternal care ceases and they are on their own. Page 28 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Woma (Aspidites ramsayi) Conservation status: Listed as RARE under State legislation and ENDANGERED under international legislation. Description: This is one of only two pythons in the world lacking heat sensitive pits along the lips (the other is the closely related black-headed python which occurs further north). It is a large, robust snake with simple, distinctive bands across the body. The head is often flushed with yellow and there is sometimes a small dark patch above each eye. Distribution: Widespread in central and western arid zones, reaching its eastern limit in the Southern Brigalow Belt. Notes: This is an unusual python for several reasons. The absence of heat sensitive pits has been attributed to a reptile-dominated diet (reptiles do not generate internal body heat). It is almost entirely terrestrial and rarely climbs. Most other pythons are skilled climbers, as likely to be encountered on a rock face or in a tree as they are on the ground. Womas shelter in hollow logs and abandoned burrows (those of goannas, rabbits, and once upon a time, bilbies). They are mainly nocturnal and are locally uncommon. Snake Safety Tips • Leave snakes alone. They are protected under State legislation and it is illegal to injure or harm them, not to mention potentially dangerous. • Keep your homestead clear of livestock feed which attracts mice and rats, and free from material that covers the ground, such as old tin. • Never put your hand where you cannot see it, such as in a log or under a wood pile. • Keep an eye out for snakes whilst walking through tall grass and vegetated areas. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 29 SNAKES VENOMOUS SNAKES With few exceptions, Australia’s venomous snakes belong to a family called Elapidae. Elapids have two fangs at the front of the mouth, connected to a venom gland. The venom is used primarily to immobilise prey and secondly as retaliation against attack. Elapids include some of the most lethal snakes in the world. However the great majority are small, inoffensive and regarded as harmless. None will attack if left alone. The family includes egg-layers and live bearers, diurnal (day) and nocturnal snakes, dietary specialists and broad opportunists. Within the Southern Brigalow Belt, elapids have smooth scales in 21 or fewer rows around the body, wide, distinctive belly scales, and large head scales arranged in a symmetrical pattern. Some have a single row of scales under the tail, like those on the belly. Others have a paired series with a zigzagging suture down the middle or a combination of both. Death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus) DANGEROUS Conservation status: Listed as RARE under State legislation. Description: Very distinctive, with a short, thick body, broad obvious triangular head, and abruptly slender tail, ending with a small curved spur. The body is banded against a grey or reddish brown background. Distribution: Widespread in eastern and southern Australia. Notes: Death adders are extremely secretive, lying concealed under mats of leaf-litter for hours or days at a time. The tail is segmented and can be wriggled convulsively like a worm or a caterpillar to lure birds, lizards and mammals to within striking range. In stark contrast to its sedentary habits and slow locomotion, the strike is so fast that the human eye can scarcely perceive the movement. Historically, death adders were abundant throughout the Southern Brigalow Belt but their numbers have crashed, possibly to levels critically threatening their survival over recent decades. Young are born fully-formed. Page 30 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Coral snake (Brachyurophis australis) Description: A short, robust snake with an acute cutting edge at the tip of its up-turned snout. It is coral pink with a black blotch on the head, a broad, black band across the neck and narrow bands of cream-centred, dark-edged scales across the body and tail. Distribution: Occurs in dry to arid zones of eastern Australia and is uncommon east of the Southern Brigalow Belt. Notes: A secretive burrowing snake that usually lives deep within soil cracks, insect holes and rotten stumps. It is often found on the road at night or uncovered during ploughing. Coral snakes have an unusual diet - they feed almost entirely on lizard eggs, taking only the occasional whole lizard. They are egg-layers. Yellow-faced whipsnake (Demansia psammophis) Description: An extremely slender, large-eyed snake with a thin black line across the snout, a pale edge to the eye and a dark, comma-shaped streak from below the eye to the corner of the mouth. It is bluish grey, often with a rusty flush or a pair of rusty stripes from the neck to the front third of the body. Distribution: Widespread over Australia. Notes: A very swift snake that is active by day, often patrolling open areas. This is the ‘cheetah of the snake world’. It locates lizards with its keen eyesight and captures them on the run with a burst of speed. It lays eggs, and several females sometimes gather to lay them communally. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 31 SNAKES De Vis banded snake or mud adder (Denisonia devisi) Description: A short, thick slightly flat snake. Its eyes, set at the top of its head, have conspicuous pale irises. It is yellowish brown to olive, with irregular, ragged-edged, narrow dark bands across the body. Distribution: Alluvial flats (made of soil and sand left by rivers or floods) in mid-eastern interior of Australia. Notes: A sluggish snake of low-lying areas, particularly near sites subject to seasonal flooding. By day it shelters in soil cracks and other deep cavities, emerging at night to forage for its sole diet, frogs. De Vis banded snakes can sometimes be confused with death adders as both have thick, banded bodies. The De Vis banded snake’s tail does not taper abruptly and its head is not broad and triangular. It gives birth to fully-formed young. Dunmall’s snake (Furina dunmalli) POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS Conservation status: Listed as VULNERABLE under State, Commonwealth and international legislation. Description: A robust, shiny snake with small, dark eyes and little or no pattern. It is brown to olive with only a few faint pale smudges on the lips. There are 21 rows of scales around the body and two series of scales under the tail. Distribution: Largely confined to the Brigalow Belt. Notes: This very poorly known snake shelters by day under logs, in soil cracks and other deep cavities. It is nocturnal and feeds on lizards that are possibly captured at night while asleep. It is an egg-layer. Dunmall’s snake is probably genuinely uncommon even within its limited range. There is a record of a bite producing uncomfortable symptoms so this snake should be regarded as potentially dangerous. Page 32 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Grey snake (Hemiaspis damelii) Conservation status: Listed as ENDANGERED under State legislation. Description: Matt-textured snake with large, dark eyes and little pattern. Shades of grey with a dark band across the base of the head. There are 17 rows of scales around the body and a single series under the tail. Distribution: Alluvial flats in mid-eastern interior of Australia. Notes: Inhabits low-lying, flood-prone areas with heavy cracking soils. It lives by day in the cracks and emerges at night to hunt frogs. Young are born fully-formed. Pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus) POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS Description: Matt-textured snake with a dark grey, patternless body and a broad, distinctively marked head. The top of the head is pale grey with a band of dark blotches across the base and a pale band across the neck, edged behind by a black band or row of blotches. Distribution: Widespread in mid-eastern coast and interior of Australia. Notes: One of the few venomous Australian snakes that regularly climbs. It inhabits low-lying, flood-prone areas supporting large, mature trees such as river gums and ironbarks. By day it hides behind loose bark and in hollows. At night it forages over the trunks and limbs, often descending to the ground in search of frogs. It can be aggressive if provoked. There are records of bites producing uncomfortable symptoms, so this snake should be regarded as potentially dangerous. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 33 SNAKES Western brown snake (Pseudonaja nuchalis) DANGEROUS Description: A bewildering variety of colour forms are known, from plain brown to boldly-banded or brick red with a shiny black head. Juveniles invariably have a black blotch on the head and a broad black band across the neck. The belly is cream to yellow with small orange blotches. There are 17 scale rows around the middle of the body and the scales under the tail are mostly paired, though sometimes the first few scales are single. Distribution: Extends over vast tracts of the north, centre and west, reaching its eastern limit in the Southern Brigalow Belt. Notes: Occurs throughout the western parts of the region, particularly on the redder soils. It is active by day or night, depending on temperature, and shelters in hollow logs, abandoned burrows and soil cracks. All small vertebrates are taken as food. It is an egg-layer. Eastern brown snake (Peudonaja textilis) DANGEROUS Description: Very variable. Adults are typically brown and patternless, though they may be banded or flecked. Juveniles invariably have a black blotch on the head, a broad black band across the neck and sometimes narrow dark bands across the body. These are normally lost as the snake grows. The belly is cream with small orange blotches. There are 17 scale rows around the middle of the body and the scales under the tail are mostly paired, though sometimes the first few are single. Distribution: Widespread over dry parts of eastern Australia, including the peripheries of most major towns and cities. Notes: This is the most common, large, venomous snake in the Southern Brigalow Belt. Land clearing has been beneficial to this lover of open terrain. Likewise, the establishment of grain storage facilities has provided a limitless supply of introduced mice. It is shy if left alone but nervous and aggressive if provoked. It is an egg-layer. Page 34 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt King brown or mulga snake (Pseudechis australis) DANGEROUS Description: A very large, brown to reddish brown snake, usually with paler bases and darker hind edges to each scale, creating a net-like pattern. The belly is cream and patternless. The head is broad and slightly flattened. There are 17 scale rows around the middle of the body and the scales under the tail are a mix of single for the first 20% and paired along the remainder. Distribution: Extends over vast tracts of the north, centre and west, reaching its eastern limit in the Southern Brigalow Belt. Notes: Despite the name, this is not a true brown snake (it is related to black snakes) and its distribution extends well beyond any stands of mulga. It is often confused with brown snakes, but has a broader head and no orange blotches on the belly. King brown or mulga snakes are active by day or night depending on weather. They are egg-layers that feed on all suitably sized vertebrates. Spotted black snake or blue-bellied black snake (Pseudechis guttatus) DANGEROUS Description: Black to grey, often with scattered paler spots. The belly is grey to bluish grey. There are 19 scale rows around the middle of the body and the scales under the tail are a mix of single scales for the first 20% and paired scales along the remainder of the body. Distribution: Widespread over eastern interior of Australia, mainly on alluvial flats. Notes: Occurs throughout the region, particularly in low-lying, flood-prone areas. Spotted black snakes are active by day and night. They are egg-layers, feeding on all suitably sized vertebrates. These snakes should be regarded as dangerous, though there are no recorded fatalities. Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 35 SNAKES Red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) DANGEROUS Description: Glossy black above and pink below, merging to intense red on the lower flanks. There are 17 scale rows around the middle of the body and the scales under the tail are a mix of single scales for the first 20% and paired scales along the remainder of the body. Distribution: Widespread over eastern Australia, normally near water. Notes: One of our most familiar snakes, the red-bellied black snake is often seen basking along the edges of watercourses or sliding gracefully from view into a hollow log. It feeds mainly on frogs, and also takes mammals, birds and reptiles. Fully-formed young are born in clear sacks from which they emerge almost immediately. This snake has often been maligned and persecuted as an aggressive species, yet it is placid by nature. That said, it should be regarded as dangerous, though there are no recorded fatalities. Bandy-bandy (Vermicella annulata) Description: Unmistakable; thanks to the distinctive, sharply contrasting black and white rings encircling its body, the bandy-bandy cannot be confused with any other local snake. Distribution: It is widespread over eastern and northern Australia, from deserts to rainforests. Notes: This secretive burrower is only seen above ground at night, particularly after rain. It has one of the most unusual and specialised diets of any Australian snake, taking only blind snakes. Research indicates that it feeds infrequently, perhaps only a few times per year. If provoked, the bandybandy arches its body into a series of vertically oriented loops, thrashing and realigning the hoops at the slightest disturbance. Page 36 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt REFERENCES AND SELECTED READING Accad, A. et al. 2001, Remnant Vegetation in Queensland, Analysis of Pre-clearing, Remnant 19971999 Regional Ecosystem Information, State Government of Queensland, Environmental Protection Agency. Cogger, H. G. 2000, Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Reed New Holland, Sydney. Ehmann, H. 1992, Encyclopedia of Australian Animals, Reptiles, Angus & Robertson, Pymble. Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999, Commonwealth of Australia. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2002, International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Nature Conservation Act, 1992, Queensland Government. Wilson, S. K. and Knowles, D. G. 1988, Australia's Reptiles - A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia, Collins, Pymble. For more information relating to the conservation status of the species listed in this publication and others, please refer to the following web pages: Queensland Government Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.qld.gov.au/environment/plant/endangered/ Commonwealth Government Environment Australia www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html International International Union for the Conservation of Nature www.redlist.org/ Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 37 APPENDIX I: COMPLETE CHECKLIST OF SOUTHERN BRIGALOW BELT REPTILES The following is a list of reptiles that occur within the Southern Brigalow Belt. This list also includes a number of species whose presence in isolated, cool, moist uplands such as the Bunya Mountains places them within the region’s broad geographic boundaries. They are not, however, typical Southern Brigalow Belt fauna. Examples include the tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) and the skink Lampropholis colossus. E = Endangered V = Vulnerable Geckos Diplodactylus conspicillatus Diplodactylus steindachneri Diplodactylus tessellatus Diplodactylus vittatus Gehyra catenata Gehyra dubia Gehyra variegata Heteronotia binoei Nephrurus asper Oedura marmorata Oedura monilis Oedura rhombifer Oedura robusta Oedura tryoni Saltuarius salebrosus Rhynchoedura ornata Strophurus taenicauda (R) Strophurus williamsi Underwoodisaurus milii Delma inornata Delma plebeia Delma tincta Delma torquata (V) Lialis burtonis Paradelma orientalis (V) Pygopus schraderi Page 38 Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt R = Rare Skinks Anomalopus brevicollis Anomalopus leuckartii Anomalopus mackayi (V) Anomalopus verreauxii Calyptotis scutirostrum Carlia foliorum Carlia munda Carlia mundivensis Carlia pectoralis Carlia schmeltzii Carlia tetradactyla Carlia vivax Cryptoblepharus carnabyi Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus Cryptoblepharus virgatus Ctenotus allotropis Ctenotus arcanus Ctenotus ingrami Ctenotus pantherinus Ctenotus regius Ctenotus robustus Ctenotus taeniolatus Cyclodomorphus gerrardii Egernia cunninghami Egernia frerei Egernia modesta Egernia rugosa (V) Egernia striolata Eremiascincus fasciolatus Eremiascincus richardsonii Eulamprus brachysoma Eulamprus martini Eulamprus quoyii Eulamprus sokosoma Eulamprus tenuis Glaphyromorphus punctulatus Lampropholis adonis Lampropholis colossus Lampropholis delicata Lerista fragilis Lerista muelleri Lerista punctatovittata Menetia greyii Menetia timlowi Morethia boulengeri Morethia taeniopleura Saiphos equalis Tiliqua rugosa Tiliqua scincoides Goannas Varanus gouldii Varanus panoptes Varanus tristis Varanus varius Dragons Amphibolurus burnsi Amphibolurus muricatus Amphibolurus nobbi nobbi Chlamydosaurus kingii Diporiphora australis Physignathus lesueurii Pogona barbata Tympanocryptis lineata Tympanocryptis pinguicolla (E) Blind Snakes Ramphotyphlops affinis Ramphotyphlops ligatus Ramphotyphlops nigrescens Ramphotyphlops proximus Ramphotyphlops wiedii Pythons Antaresia maculosus Aspidites melanocephalus Aspidites ramsayi (R) Morelia spilota Freshwater Turtles Chelodina expansa Chelodina longicollis Elseya dentata Elseya latisternum Elapid Snakes Emydura krefftii Acanthophis antarcticus (R) Emydura macquarii Brachyurophis australis Rheodytes leukops (V) Cacophis harriettae Cacophis krefftii Cryptophis boschmai Cryptophis nigrescens Demansia psammophis Demansia vestigiata Denisonia devisi Denisonia maculata (V) Furina diadema Furina dunmalli (V) Hemiaspis damelii (E) Hoplocephalus bitorquatus Notechis scutatus Parasuta dwyeri Pseudechis australis Pseudechis guttatus Pseudechis porphyriacus Pseudonaja nuchalis Pseudonaja textilis Suta suta Vermicella annulata Colubrid Snakes Boiga irregularis Dendrelaphis punctulata Tropidonophis mairii Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 39 Page 40 10.01.03 8am Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt loam soils. Trees in surrounding area pattern, brilliant red strip include poplar box. Clay- up tail and lower back. Meandarra-Tara Road Golden-tailed gecko (Strophurus taenicauda). Mottled black and white Name of Species or Description (size, colour, pattern) Cleared paddock with occasional lime bush and false sandalwood. Habitat Type (soil type, vegetation type, landforms) 55J 0774984 6957997 18km south from intersection of Name of Observer/s: Date Time Location (GPS reading, map co-ordinates, landmark or road) Seen by day in a lime bush about 1 m above ground. Comments (swift or slow, climbing or on the ground, active by day or night etc) This sheet can be photocopied and used to record details of reptiles seen while out bush, or on your property. APPENDIX II: REPTILE FIELD SIGHTING SHEET USEFUL CONTACTS Threatened Species Network - WWF Australia North Region Office Level 2, 490 Upper Edward Street, Spring Hill PO Box 710 SPRING HILL QLD 4004 Telephone: (07) 3839 2677 Facsimile: (07) 3839 2633 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Web: www.wwf.org.au/tsn Queensland Museum Inquiry Centre PO Box 3300 SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101 Telephone: (07) 3840 7555 Facsimile: (07) 3846 1918 Email: [email protected] Web: www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Toowoomba District Office 158 Hume Street, Toowoomba PO Box 731 TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350 Telephone: (07) 4639 4599 Facsimile: (07) 4639 4524 Web: www.epa.qld.gov.au Roma District Office 36 Quintin Street, Roma PO Box 981 ROMA QLD 4455 Telephone: (07) 4622 4266 Facsimile: (07) 4622 4151 Web: www.epa.qld.gov.au Environment Australia GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Telephone: (02) 6274 1111 Web: www.ea.gov.au Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt Page 41 The Threatened Species Network (TSN) is a community-based program of the Commonwealth Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and WWF Australia. TSN has been at the forefront of educating the public and engaging community groups in threatened species conservation for over a decade. For in-depth information, email [email protected] or call our toll free number 1800 032 551.