The Occurrence of Gilbert's Dragon gilberti in the Paroo Drainage Basin, Western New South Wales

Murray Ellis and David Higgins R.Z.S. Mammal Section, P.O. Box 20, Mosman, New South Wales 2088

INTRODUCTION In the latest major revision of the Australian herpetofauna, Cogger (1992) gives the distribu- tion of Gilbert's Dragon as northern Australia, with its southern limit

being about the South Australian/Northern Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/rrimo/book/chapter-pdf/2644336/rzsnsw_1993_003.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 Territory border (Fig. 1). However, Swan (1990) recorded Gilbert's Dragon in the northern reaches of the Darling River Drainage Basin in New South Wales (Fig. 3). Ehmann (1993) adds to the confusion by splitting the New South Wales and south-east Queensland from L. gilberti into an undescribed species. A further complication to the and nomenclature is the presence of an assigned to L. gilberti which is similar Fig, 2. Lophognathus gilberti from Nocoleche Nature Reserve. in appearance to the Nobby Amphibolorus nobbi bank of the Paroo River (latitude 29°51'38"S, and is an inhabitant of the sandplains of the longitude 144°8'8"W), and another was central north of New South Wales. observed about 2.5 m up a tree 10 kms further south (Fig. 3). The latter eluded capture by leaping to the ground and retreating into the undergrowth. These records are about 150 km west north west of the nearest point recorded in Swan (1990) and are in the Paroo River Drainage Basin rather than the Darling River Drainage Basin. They are also to the west of the area where the Nobby-like L. gilberti have recently been found (P. Morris, pers. comm.).

Fig. 1. The distribution of Lophognathus gilberti according to Cogger (1992).

The animal under consideradon here is that in the sense of Swan (1990) with strongly developed vertebral spines, and white lips, chin and dorso-lateral bands (Fig. 2). It is a semi- arboreal species inhabiting the margins of creeks and rivers throughout this range (Swan 1990). During a fauna survey of Nocoleche Nature Fig. 3. The distribution in New South Wales of Lophognathus gilberti according to Swan (1990) (solid circles) and Reserve in October 1992 an adult one of these the current records (open circle). Shading shows the was trapped in an Elliott trap in Lignum areas expected to contain L. gilberti between the shrubs Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii lining the previous known distribution and the latest records. Herpetology in Australia 35 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS According to Swan's (1990) description of the requirements for this , the course of We would like to thank the New South Wales the Paroo contains suitable habitat along most NPWS Bourke staff for making the quarters at of its length and thus is likely to be inhabited Nocoleche available to the RZS Mammal Section, by this dragon. Given its occurrence on the and for showing a consistent interest in our Paroo, it is also likely to occur further west activities. along the Darling River towards the Paroo than is currently described by Swan (1990) (Fig. 3). REFERENCES This information has been registered in the COGGER, H. G., 1992. and Amphibians of Australia. 5th Atlas of New South Wales Wildlife database ed. Reed: Sydney. run by the New South Wales National Parks EHMANN, H., 1993. Encyclopedia of Australian Animals: and Wildlife Service (Ellis 1992) for future Reptiles. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. reference. Such computerization of fauna ELLIS, M., 1992. Revision of the Adas of New South Wales records by wildlife authorities and museums Wildlife. Ausl. Zool. 28: 59-64. should make mapping of fauna distributions SWAN, G., 1990. A Field Guide to the Snakes and Lizards of New easier and more reliable. South Wales. Three Sisters Productions: Winmalee. Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/rrimo/book/chapter-pdf/2644336/rzsnsw_1993_003.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021

the various populations. Some common VIEWPOINT urban species such as Lampropholis delicata seem quite capable of withstanding substantial THE NEED FOR A CRITICAL REVIEW predation by cats and other predators within the urban environment. OF THE IMPACT OF PEST ANIMALS ON AUSTRALIA'S HERPETOFAUNA Similar to that found for other native verte- Mike Braysher brates, I believe that the major impact on Bureau of Resource Sciences, P.O. Box Ell reptiles has been due to habitat modification. Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600 Clearing land for urban development, agri- culture or other purposes or modifying it for grazing plus the impact of grazing in the 1 am certain that if the review were under- pastoral lands are major factors. It is likely that taken the answer would be that we do not know the impact of exotic herbivores, such as feral the damage. For the past two and a half years, goats and rabbits, as well as increased numbers I have been managing a programme which is of kangaroos, also have played a role in developing national guidelines for managing modifying habitat and hence influenced the the environmental and agricultural damage suitability of the habitat for some reptile due to Australia's major vertebrate pests. A species. On the other hand some species major deficiency identified for the pest species undoubtedly have benefited from the presence that have been considered so far (rabbits, foxes, of some pests, e.g., arid-zone goannas from the feral goats and feral horses) is the extremely availability of rabbits. However, there are little poor information available on the economic or data available to quantify the extent of impact, the environmental impact of pests, even for be it positive or negative. Longer term studies well studied species such as the rabbit. I suspect that assess the change in target reptile popula- that a major cause for this is the past emphasis tions in response to manipulations of pest on controlling pest numbers rather than the density are required to answer the question. damage pests cause. Copies of a recent publication I prepared on Concerning reptiles, diet studies clearly show the principles and strategies for managing that foxes and cats take reptiles. The crucial vertebrate pests which more fully oudines question is what impact the level of predation some of the above points are available on by pests is having on the long-term viability of request.

36 Herpetology in Australia