Brigalow Belt Bioregion – a Biodiversity Jewel

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Brigalow Belt bioregion – a biodiversity jewel

Brigalow habitat © Craig Eddie

What is brigalow? including eucalypt and cypress pine forests and The term ‘brigalow’ is used simultaneously to refer to; woodlands, grasslands and other Acacia dominated the tree Acacia harpophylla; an ecological community ecosystems. dominated by this tree and often found in conjunction with other species such as belah, wilga and false Along the eastern boundary of the Brigalow Belt are sandalwood; and a broader region where this species scattered patches of semi-evergreen vine thickets with and ecological community are present. bright green canopy species that are highly visible among the more silvery brigalow communities. These The Brigalow Belt bioregion patches are a dry adapted form of rainforest, relics of a much wetter past. The Brigalow Belt bioregion is a large and complex area covering 36,400 000ha. The region is thus recognised What are the issues? by the Australian Government as a biodiversity hotspot. Nature conservation in the region has received increasing attention because of the rapid and extensive This hotspot contains some of the most threatened loss of habitat that has occurred. Since World War wildlife in the world, including populations of the II the Brigalow Belt bioregion has become a major endangered bridled nail-tail wallaby and the only agricultural and pastoral area. Broad-scale clearing for remaining wild population of the endangered northern agriculture and unsustainable grazing has fragmented hairy-nosed wombat. The area contains important the original vegetation in the past, particularly on habitat for rare and threatened species including the, lowland areas. glossy black-cockatoo, bulloak jewel butterﬂ y, brigalow scaly-foot, red goshawk, little pied bat, golden-tailed geckos and threatened community of semi evergreen Biodiversity hotspots are areas that support vine thickets. Sadly, there are already plants and animals that once lived in the Brigalow Belt that we signiﬁ cant biodiversity values threatened have lost forever such as the Darling Downs hopping- with destruction. mouse and paradise parrot.

Eighty percent of the bioregion lies within Queensland, Map 1. Queensland Brigalow Belt Bioregion the remainder lies within New South Wales. The bioregion stretches up north to Townsville in Queensland extending south of Dubbo in central-western New South Wales. The bioregion is divided into Brigalow Belt North and Brigalow Belt South.

What are the characteristics of the Brigalow Belt in Queensland The bioregion is charcterised by the brigalow tree Acacia harpophylla, a wattle tree with silvery foliage that grows as forests or woodlands on clay soils. The canopy is usually 10-15m in height, and brigalow is the dominant tree species. However large areas of the bioregion are dominated by other communities

What is a bioregion? Bioregions are relatively large land areas containing natural ecological communities with characteristic ﬂ ora, fauna, and environmental conditions, and are bounded by natural rather than artiﬁ cial borders.

What are the issues? continued... The bioregion occupies an area nearly 20 percent of Weeds such as parthenium have invaded many areas Queensland. Despite the threat to so many species and replaced native ground layer plants. Inappropriate only approximately 3.6 percent of the region is in fi re regimes and predation by feral animals, in particular protected areas. Of the 163 regional ecosystems pigs, cats and foxes, pose additional threats to local identifi ed in the Brigalow Belt in Queensland by plant biodiversity. ecologists, 33 are classifi ed as endangered and 32 as being of concern.

How you can help • Protect remnant bush in your community or on your land to help provide habitat for all our native species. • Support local efforts to conserve threatened species in your area by joining a local organisation such as a Landcare or catchment group, natural history or a ‘friends of’ group or by volunteering for Green Corps or the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers. • Participate in special events, information nights, tree planting days and weed eradication programs. • Help manage threats such as overgrazing, weeds, ﬁ re and feral animals to maintain healthy native vegetation.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Golden-tailed gecko © Craig Eddie Brigalow scaly-foot

Spinifex habitat © Craig Eddie Description It shelters beneath sandstone slabs, logs, loose bark, The Brigalow scaly-foot is a legless lizard, lead grey dense leaf litter and in grass tussocks, including to greyish brown in colour. The base of the head is spinifex. It is also known to climb small trees, using cream to pale brown, darkening towards the snout and the trunk and main branches and climbing to heights in contrasting sharply with the black bar on the base of excess of two metres. the head. This lizard is quite heavy set with a round On Boyne Island, sap from hickory wattle forms a snout and moderately large limb-fl aps. The scales major portion of the diet of both adults and juveniles. are smooth and glossy and usually occur in 18, or While primarily ground-dwelling, individuals from this occasionally 20, rows. population have been recorded climbing the rough Distribution bark of wattles to lick exuding sap. Studies on captured female species from Boyne Island record the species The core distribution of the Brigalow scaly-foot is within laying two eggs in early November with the eggs the Brigalow Belt of Queensland. It extends north to hatching in late January. the southern Desert Uplands bioregion, south west of Charters Towers, and west to Idalia National Park in Scientifi c Name: the Mulga Lands bioregion. One specimen has been Paradelma orientalis recently recorded from Wyaga in New South Wales, just south of the Queensland border. Conservation Status Habitat Vulnerable - IUCN Red The Brigalow scaly-foot is found in open forests and List of Threatened Species woodlands of ironbark, poplar box, cypress pine, belah, (International) bulloak, spotted gum, brigalow, gidgee, lancewood and hickory wattle. They have also been found in vine Vulnerable - Environment thickets. Topography varies from sandstone ridges to Protection and Biodiversity fl ats and gently undulating plains with clay, loam or Conservation Act 1999 sand. (National)

Ecology and Life Cycle Vulnerable - Nature Conservation Act, 1992 The Brigalow scaly-foot is nocturnal, which means it is (Queensland) active during the night.

When alarmed it rears its head and fore body and ﬂ ickers its tongue, possibly to mimic a venomous snake.

Brigalow scaly-foot © S.Wilson Key Threats Inappropriate fi re regimes: Fire frequency, intensity, Inappropriate roadside management: Roadsides and season, type and extent of fi res over time, infl uence road reserves often provide suitable reptile habitat. biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Inappropriate Populations of reptiles that live within linear remnants, fi re regimes can potentially alter ecosystem structure such as roadside strips, are particularly vulnerable and impact on the species habitat requirements by, for to disturbances that remove essential microhabitat example, removing food sources and shelter. features, for example, rocks, logs, dense leaf litter and fallen bark. Threats can arise from inappropriate Did You Know? roadside burns, slashing and road widening. Despite their snake-like appearance, the legless lizards are unlikely cousins of the Feral animals: The Brigalow scaly-foot is vulnerable to predation by foxes, cats and pigs. geckos.

How to help • Support pest management activities which seek to address feral animal threats e.g. foxes, cats and pigs. • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation and avoid ploughing remnant strips/patches of native grassland or woodland. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining at least 70% ground cover. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. If possible, leave stick-raked timber piles unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Cleared habitat © Alison Goodland Collared delma

Poplar box habitat © Craig Eddie Description Ecology and Life Cycle The collared delma is the smallest of the legless lizards, The collared delma is a secretive, burrowing fl ap- growing to a total length of 15 centimetres with a tail footed lizard that shelter under rocks, logs, leaf litter twice the length of its body. and in soil cracks. They are most active during the day, however, also become active during the evening or This lizard resembles a small snake or large worm and twilight during warmer weather. is coloured reddish-brownish on top with a bluish grey fl ush to the tail. The head and neck is strongly banded They are presumed to be solitary and long lived (greater with broad black and narrow yellow/red bands. The chin than 5 years). It feeds on small arthropods including and throat has bold grey to black bands or marbling. native cockroaches and other insects and spiders. It has a relatively short blunt snout and conspicuous external ear-openings. Scales occur in 16 rows at mid- All delmas lay two eggs per clutch, with the collared body. delma believed to lay around December, hatching in Distribution February or March. The core range of the collared delma is within south Scientifi c Name: east Queensland, however, in the Brigalow Belt it Delma torquata has been recorded from scattered localities including Millmerran, Warwick, the Bunya Mountains, Expedition Conservation Status Range, Blackdown Tableland and stock routes west of Vulnerable - IUCN Red Roma. List of Threatened Species Habitat (International) This species is often found in rocky terrain within Vulnerable - Environment eucalypt woodlands dominated by ironbarks, spotted Protection and Biodiversity gum, white cypress pine and smooth-barked apple. The Conservation Act 1999 ground layer often contains kangaroo grass. It has also (National) been recorded in woodlands of river red gum, poplar box and brigalow with no signifi cant rock component, Vulnerable - Nature and adjacent to semi-evergreen vine thickets. Conservation Act 1992

Collared delma © Steve Wilson Key Threats Inappropriate roadside management: Roadsides Habitat disturbance: This delma is particularly sensitive and road reserves often provide suitable reptile habitat. to habitat disturbance e.g. rocks being overturned. This Populations of reptiles that live within linear remnants, factor is signifi cant when considering that this species such as roadside strips, are particularly vulnerable appears to be sedentary, staying within a very small to disturbances that remove essential microhabitat area and possibly using the same rock for shelter. features, for example, rocks, logs, dense leaf litter and fallen bark. Threats can arise from inappropriate Grazing effects: Overgrazing by stock results in habitat roadside burns, slashing and road widening. degradation through soil compaction, erosion and alteration of the vegetation community. Small remnants Did You Know? and isolated unconnected strips of vegetation are often The collared delma can be hard to identify used as areas of shade for cattle. The isolation of as it looks very similar to some other legless remnants combined with heavy grazing pressure may lizards, for example the immature excitable result in signifi cant changes to remnant vegetation condition such as loss of plant material and ground delma Delma tincta. A distinguishing feature cover. of delmas is the unforked fl eshy tongue, obvious external ear-openings and two small Invasive weeds: Collared delmas are known to decline scaly hindlimb fl aps that are remnants of in rocky areas covered by invasive weeds such as ancestral hind legs. Like some other lizard creeping lantana Lantana montevidensis. species and the gecko, the collared delma can re-grow its tail if severed or cast-off.

How to help • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation and avoid ploughing remnant strips/patches of native grassland or woodland. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining greater then 70% ground cover. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. If possible, leave stick-raked timber piles unburnt. • Contact your local NRM group to get information on implementing a weed control program in your area. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Grassy poplar box habitat © Craig Eddie Common death adder

Brigalow habitat © Craig Eddie Description Scientifi c Name: The common death adder has a short, stout body with Acanthophis antarcticus a large triangular head and a thin tail ending in a fl at, soft spine. The tail tip is cream or black and the body Conservation Status colouration varies between grey to rich reddish brown. Rare - Nature This species’ body is marked with irregular dark-edged Conservation Act 1992 cross-bands. The underside is whitish and fl ecked with (Queensland) black or brown. The common death adder’s eyes are small and inconspicuous. This snake grows to a length of 70 to 100 centimetres, although the average size tends to be 40 centimetres.

Distribution Ecology and Life Cycle The common death adder occurs from the Gulf region Common death adders are reliant on cover in their of the Northern Territory across to central and eastern habitat, particularly deep leaf litter, logs, rock piles and Queensland and New South Wales, then through bushy shrubs such as currant bush Carissa ovata. to southern parts of South Australia and Western Australia. Once very common in the southern Brigalow The common death adder ambushes its prey while half- Belt, the common death adder has undergone an buried in sand, soil or leaf litter, often lying in wait at extreme reduction in numbers, due to loss of habitat the base of trees or shrubs. The tail is segmented and and habitat degradation. can be wriggled convulsively like a worm or caterpillar to lure its prey. The fangs are long and capable of Habitat administering large quantities of powerful venom. This snake can be found in a wide variety of habitats including rainforest edges, shrubby eucalypt and A secretive snake, the common death adder ooline forests, shrubby Acacia woodlands (particularly can lay concealed for hours or days at a time brigalow), grasslands, chenopod dominated shrublands using cryptic colouration to avoid detection. and coastal heathlands.

Common death adder © Steve Wilson The common death adder feeds, during the day and vegetation condition such as loss of plant material and night, mainly on lizards and small mammals, and to a ground cover. lesser extent, birds and frogs. Young individuals usually feed on reptiles and frogs, whereas adults feed on a Removal of wood debris and rocks: This species is greater percentage of mammals and birds. It is a slow threatened by the removal of its microhabitat, which growing species with a lower food intake compared includes shrubs, partly buried rocks, fallen logs and with other snakes. leaf litter.

Sexual maturity is attained at 24 months old for the Feral animals: Poisoning through ingestion of cane males and 42 months old for the females. The female toads has been recorded to have caused the death of reproduces every second year, with mating usually common death adders. Continual spread westward of occurring in spring. Litters vary in size comprising from cane toads into the Brigalow Belt is a major concern, two to 32 fully formed live young usually born in autumn, as poisoning has had a marked effect on coastal and with each about 12 centimetres long at birth. island populations of the common death adder.

Key Threats Inappropriate fi re regimes: Fire frequency, intensity, season, type and extent of fi res over time, infl uence Habitat loss: the common death adder is susceptible to biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Inappropriate habitat loss (clearing), habitat fragmentation (isolation fi re regimes can potentially alter ecosystem structure of remnant patches) and habitat modifi cation (changes and impact on the species habitat requirements i.e. by to shrub and ground cover). removing food sources and shelter. Grazing effects: Overgrazing by stock can result in habitat degradation through soil compaction, Did you know? erosion and alteration of the vegetation community. In contrast to its stout body and sedentary Small remnants and isolated unconnected strips of vegetation are often used as areas of shade for cattle. habits, the common death adder can strike its The isolation of remnants combined with heavy grazing prey so fast that the human eye can scarcely pressure may result in signifi cant changes to remnant perceive the movement.

How to help • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation and avoid ploughing remnant strips/patches of native grassland or woodland. • Avoid “tidying up” shrubs and removing fallen logs, leaf litter and rocks in common death adder habitat as this disturbs and diminishes refuge sites. • Undertake cane toad control measures where practicable. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining greater than 70% ground cover. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. If possible, leave stick-raked timber piles unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Australia June 2008 Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. - © WWF

Common death adder habitat © Craig Eddie Darling Downs earless dragon

Darling Downs earless dragon habitat © Alison Goodland

Description Ecology and Life Cycle The Darling Downs earless dragon is a small, plump, The Darling Downs earless dragon, like most dragons, spiny earless lizard that grows to an average size of 12 is active during daylight hours and has been found centimetres. This lizard is well camoufl aged, ranging perched upon mounds of soil or stubble, sunning and from chocolate or reddish-brown to almost black in waiting for prey to pass. They tend to run quickly into colour, marbled with lighter cream. Prominent, thin grass tussocks, stubble and down cracks in the soil pale stripes run down the middle of the back and along when disturbed. each fl ank. Young are dark slaty black in colour. Their reproductive biology is largely unknown, The chin and throat, normally pale, may be seen however pregnant females have been seen in mid- occasionally with an orange fl ush, believed to be spring/summer and hatchlings observed in the late breeding colours. This species has a pink mouth-lining, summer. This lizard is known to eat ants and other short tail and scaly skin covering the ears, giving the small invertebrates. appearance of being earless. Scientifi c Name: Distribution Tympanocryptis The Darling Downs earless dragon is currently thought pinguicolla to be restricted to the Condamine fl oodplain region of the Darling Downs in southern Queensland. It has Conservation Status been recorded from Jimbour, Bongeen, Bowenville, Brookstead and Mt Tyson areas across this region. Endangered - Environment Protection Habitat and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 This dragon species is only known to survive in an (National) intensely cropped area in the Darling Downs. Prior to cropping, this area was natural treeless grassland. Endangered - Nature The soil is cracking black clay, providing the lizard with Conservation Act 1992 ample shelter. Like most dragons, it prefers to forage (Queensland) in more open ground areas, and uses cultivated areas that can provide both cover and care areas.

The taxonomy of this population is in dispute. This particular lizard may be a completely new species or an outlying population of another species of earless dragon. Further work is planned on the genetics of this lizard.

Darling Downs earless dragon © Carly Starr Cracking black clay soils © Alison Goodland

Key Threats loss of ground cover also leaves the dragon exposed Feral Animals: The Darling Downs earless dragon is and unsheltered when the cracks close up after vulnerable to predation by foxes and feral cats. rainfall.

Changes in land use practices: Future changes in Inappropriate roadside management: Roadsides and farming systems, such as an increase in pesticide use, road reserves often provide suitable reptile habitat. a new pesticide or reversion to broadacre cropping These areas are often islands of native vegetation in practices, may have a detrimental impact on this a fragmented landscape providing important refuge species population. sites. Threats can arise from inappropriate roadside burns, slashing and road widening. Soil structure decline: Lippia Phyla canescens is a major threat to the maintenance of soil structure in Did You Know? cracking clay soils across this dragon’s range. Lippia The Darling Downs earless dragon has been dries out the soil proﬁ le and out-competes other native heard to vocalise with a high pitched hiss ground cover, exposing the soil to erosion and soil as a juvenile, and adults with a high pitched structure decline. This soils distinctive ‘cracks’ collapse, reducing shelter and refuge sites for this species. The squeak from an open mouth.

How to help • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native grassland vegetation and avoid ploughing remnant strips/patches of native grassland. • Maintain grassed waterways, roadsides and headlands in paddocks. • Be cautious when changing a farming practice and undertake farming practices that minimize soil structure decline. • Be vigilant with feral cat and fox control measures. • Reduce the spread of, and control, Lippia where possible. Maintenance of a healthy ground layer is vitally important. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining greater than 70% ground cover. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation. • More research is required on the genetics of the Tympanocryptis genus, including the Darling Downs earless dragon.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008 Dunmall’s snake

Bulloak woodland © Craig Eddie

Description Scientiﬁ c Name: The Dunmall’s snake is a robust, shiny snake with small, Furina dunmalli dark eyes and little or no pattern. Its body is uniformly dark grey-brown above, fading to white on the lower Conservation Status ﬂ anks. The scales of the body are smooth and light- Vulnerable - IUCN Red edged. Most of the upper lip scales have paler blotches in List of Threatened Species the centre or on the back edge. It reaches a total length (International) of about 60 centimetres. Vulnerable - Environment Distribution Protection and Biodiversity It is almost entirely restricted to the southern half of the Conservation Act 1999 Brigalow Belt bioregion. Its range extends from Yeppoon (National) and the Expedition Range in the north, to Oakey, Glenmorgan and Inglewood in the south. It has mostly Vulnerable - Nature been recorded between 200 and 500 metres in altitude. Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland) Habitat Although little is known about this species, the Dunmall’s snake appears to prefer open forest and woodland, particularly those dominated by brigalow, cypress pine and bulloak. The substrate varies from deep-cracking black clay to loamy soils.

Ecology and Life Cycle This extremely secretive snake shelters in soil cracks and under fallen timber which is embedded in deep-cracking Although the Dunmall’s snake is venomous clay soils. and the effects are documented as being This snake is active during the night, feeding on small moderately severe, it is reluctant to bite when lizards. It lays eggs rather than live young. disturbed.

Dunmall’s snake © Steve Wilson Key Threats Inappropriate roadside management: Roadsides and Feral animals: The Dunmall’s snake is vulnerable to road reserves often provide suitable reptile habitat. predation by foxes and feral cats. Populations of reptiles that live within linear remnants, such as roadside strips, are particularly vulnerable to Loss of habitat due to clearing and thinning: The focus disturbances that remove essential microhabitat features, of vegetation clearing in the Brigalow Belt is shifting for example, rocks, logs, dense leaf litter and fallen bark. from the essentially cleared Brigalow ecosystems Threats can arise from inappropriate roadside burns, on fertile soils to the eucalypt woodlands on poorer slashing and road widening. soils. Consequently the survival of dry woodland/open forest species with limited geographic ranges and/or specialised habitat requirements, such as the Dunmall’s snake, remain uncertain unless conservation action is undertaken.

How to help

• Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation and avoid ploughing remnant strips/patches of native grassland or woodland.

• Retain fallen timber and ground cover as these provide essential habitat.

• Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining good ground cover.

• If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt.

• Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance.

• Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation.

• Leave snakes alone. They are protected under Queensland legislation and it is illegal to harm them, not to mention potentially dangerous.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected] © WWF-Australia June 2008

Brigalow woodland © Craig Eddie Five-clawed worm-skink

Five-clawed worm-skink habitat © Alison Goodland Description clay loams adjacent to or on the lower slopes of slight The fi ve-clawed worm-skink is a medium-sized rises, usually of reddish soil. The fi ve-clawed worm- reduced-limb skink with three fi ngers and two toes. It is skink has also been found in open grassy paddocks shiny and wormlike in appearance with dark brown to with scattered eucalypts and moist black soil. greyish colouring above and pale yellow-green below. Individual scales have a dark spot in the centre, giving Ecology and Life Cycle an appearance of a series of lines along the body. This In captivity it has been known to eat crawling insects pattern is more conspicuous in northern populations. and insect larvae. The few known adults collected in spring were reproductively active, with females carrying Distribution one or two eggs. The fi ve-clawed worm-skink is distributed throughout a relatively small area in sub-humid regions along the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. This Scientifi c Name: range extends from north-eastern New South Wales to Anomalopus mackayi the eastern Darling Downs in southern Queensland. Its total range appears to have contracted eastwards and Conservation Status is now largely confi ned to relict roadside verges. Vulnerable - IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Habitat (International) Queensland populations have been recorded in remnant native grasslands of the Condamine fl oodplain, Vulnerable - Environment characterized by deep-cracking clay soils and minimal Protection and Biodiversity to no tree cover. Conservation Act 1999 (National) In New South Wales, this species prefers open woodland areas with low closely spaced tussock grasses and Endangered - Nature scattered eucalypts. This type of woodland is generally Conservation Act 1992 supported by deep cracking, inundation-prone, dark (Queensland)

Five-clawed worm-skink © Steve Wilson Key Threats These areas are often islands of native vegetation in Loss of habitat due to clearing and thinning: This lizard a fragmented landscape providing important refuge is under considerable risk of extinction. Maintenance sites. Threats can arise from inappropriate roadside of remnant patches of native grassland in the Darling burns, slashing and road widening. Downs is critical for its survival. Grazing effects: Overgrazing by stock results in habitat degradation through soil compaction, erosion and Soil structure decline: Lippia Phyla canescens is a alteration of the vegetation community. Small remnants major threat to the maintenance of soil structure in and isolated unconnected strips of vegetation are cracking clay soils across this skink’s range. Lippia often used as areas of shade for cattle. The isolation of dries out the soil profi le and out-competes other native remnants combined with heavy grazing pressure may ground cover, exposing the soil to erosion and soil result in signifi cant changes to remnant vegetation structure decline. The soils distinctive ‘cracks’ collapse, condition such as loss of plant material and ground reducing shelter and refuge sites. The loss of ground cover. cover also leaves this skink exposed and unsheltered when the cracks close up after rainfall. The fi ve-clawed worm-skink lives down cracks Inappropriate roadside management: Roadsides and in the clay soils and in permanent tunnel- road reserves often provide suitable reptile habitat. like burrows under well-embedded logs and rocks.

How to help • Avoid disturbing remnant strips or patches of native grassland or woodland. • Manage cropping headlands to retain grass cover. • Control and reduce the spread of Lippia and other invasive weeds, where possible. Maintenance of a healthy ground layer is vitally important. • Retain fallen timber and ground cover as these provide essential habitat. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining good ground cover and soil structure. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Five-clawed worm-skink habitat © Alison Goodland Golden-tailed Gecko

Cypress pine © Craig Eddie

Description ribbon-like bark (spotted gum, red gums), bulloak and The golden-tailed gecko has been described as one brigalow/belah. Soils where this species is found can of the world’s most beautiful geckos. It is white to pale range from sand and sandy loams through to dense grey, intensely patterned with a network of small black clays. markings over the head, body and limbs, and a bright yellow-orange blaze down the tail. The black markings Ecology and Life Cycle occur more densely towards the tail. The large eyes are This nocturnal species actively forages by night, bright orange to red in colour, highlighting the vertically hunting insects. By day it shelters in hollow limbs and elliptic pupil. The mouth-lining is dark blue. The fi ngers stumps, under loose bark either on trees or on the and toes have broad pads, tipped below with a pair ground and occasionally, it can even been found out of large plates. This gecko reaches an average total in the open, clinging to stems, with its netted pattern length of about 12 centimetres with a rather long, effectively camoufl aging it in the mottled light. There slender tail. is typically a large amount of fallen woody debris and leaf litter in these vegetation types which this gecko Distribution appears to favour. The golden-tailed gecko occurs exclusively in Queensland, with its range virtually confi ned to the Females lay two eggs per clutch but show no parental southern half of the Brigalow Belt bioregion. It occurs care for eggs or young. from the Darling Downs, north to Rockhampton, and north-west to Alpha. Important populations are known Scientifi c Name: to occur at Barakula State Forest and Allies Creek Strophurus taenicauda State Forest where the largest tracts of native forest in the southern Brigalow Belt occur. Conservation Status The distribution of the golden-tailed gecko has Rare - Nature Conservation contracted due to land clearing for agriculture and Act 1992 (Queensland) grazing.

Habitat The golden-tailed gecko is found in a wide variety of dry open forests and woodlands on a range of soils e.g. cypress pine, ironbark, eucalypts with ﬂ aky or

The golden- tailed gecko is a very adaptable lizard, being equally at home moving about in the trees and shrubs (arboreal) or on the ground (terrestrial).

Golden-tailed gecko © Craig Eddie Key Threats ﬁ re regimes can potentially alter ecosystem structure Loss of habitat due to clearing: The golden-tailed and impact on the species habitat requirements i.e. by gecko has a relatively limited range and land clearing removing food sources and shelter. is continuing throughout this region. This causes a concern for its long term survival.

Inappropriate roadside management: Roadsides and road reserves often provide suitable reptile habitat. Did you know? Populations of reptiles that live within linear remnants, This species belongs to a small group of such as roadside strips, are particularly vulnerable to Australian geckos sharing the unique ability disturbances that remove vegetation and essential to squirt sticky irritant fl uid from pores along microhabitat features, for example, rocks, logs, dense leaf litter and fallen bark. the top of the tail when under threat. This fl uid has a nasty taste and causes an intense Inappropriate fi re regimes: Fire frequency, intensity, irritation and a burning sensation if it comes season, type and extent of fi res over time, infl uence in contact with eyes. biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Inappropriate

How to help • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation and avoid ploughing remnant strips/patches of native grassland or woodland. • Retain mature cypress and brigalow trees, dead standing trees, fallen timber and ground cover as these provide essential habitat for the gecko. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining greater than 70% ground cover. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. If possible, leave stick-raked timber piles unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Ironbark Woodland © Craig Eddie Grey snake

Grey snake habitat © Craig Eddie

Description embedded timber which has usually been stranded As its name suggests the grey snake is a uniform grey after fl oating into place on fl oodwaters. When forced to olive colour above fading to a pale grey along the from shelter by fl oods, the grey snake will take refuge sides, with a white or cream under belly featuring a few amongst the emergent bushes. dark fl ecks. A dark patch or band can usually be seen at the base of the head in adults. The iris is mostly They bear 4 to 16 live young each year from January black with a fi ne silvery brown rim around the pupil. to March. The grey snake generally reaches a total length of about 70 centimetres. While producing venom, they are not considered particularly dangerous; however care should be taken Distribution with large individuals. The grey snake occurs from the Fitzroy River near Rockhampton, to the southern interior of New South Scientifi c Name: Wales. The core area for this species in the Brigalow Hemiaspis damelii Belt is south of the Great Dividing Range between Dalby and Glenmorgan. Conservation Status Endangered - Nature Habitat Conservation Act 1992 The grey snake favours clay fl oodplains vegetated (Queensland) by grassland, and woodlands and open woodlands of brigalow/belah and eucalypts, such as poplar box. It occurs on both cracking clays and areas with small gullies or ditches (gilgais or melon holes). The grey snake is a ground-dwelling species Ecology and Life Cycle that is largely active during the night, when The grey snake has been found under logs, bark and it emerges to hunt frogs and the occasional soil cracks. It is also known to shelter under fallen and lizard.

Grey snake © Steve Wilson Key Threats Feral animals: Frog-eating snakes, such as the grey Hydrological changes: Changes in hydrological regimes snake, are at risk of poisoning through the ingestion such as damming of watercourses, may impact species of cane toads. They are also eaten by cats and foxes. reliant on wetlands, waterways or water bodies, such Destruction of wetland habitat by feral pigs is a major as the grey snake, which occurs in low lying areas threat to this species, along with the associated found on ﬂ oodplains and near inland watercourses. destruction of frog habitat and direct competition for Mechanical activities that result in simpliﬁ cation of their food source (frogs). habitats, such as leveling of gilgais and melon holes, will also be unfavourable to grey snakes.

How to help • Retain remnant vegetation, particularly near creeks and rivers. • Undertake coordinated feral pig control measures. • Avoid removing fallen timber and ground cover as these provide essential habitat. • Undertake cane toad control measures where practicable. • Leave snakes alone. They are protected under Queensland legislation and it is illegal to harm them, not to mention potentially dangerous. • Control grazing in riparian zones to protect ground cover and reduce soil erosion. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Grey snake habitat © Craig Eddie Mount Cooper striped lerista

Leaf litter habitat © Alison Goodland Description Key Threats The Mount Cooper striped lerista is a slender skink, Loss of habitat due to clearing and thinning: Deciduous which appears limbless but in fact has very small hind vine thicket vegetation has undergone extensive limbs with one digit each. It is shiny silvery grey to fragmentation over the last 50 years, due to their silvery brown with four narrow dark lines that run from occurrence on fertile soils. This has resulted in behind the head to the tail and a broader dark brown extensive fragmentation. The remaining small, isolated side stripe from the eye to the tail tip. This species has remnants are often highly impacted by grazing, ﬁ re and a movable lower eyelid. weeds.

Distribution Inappropriate fi re regimes: Fire frequency, intensity, The Mount Cooper striped lerista is poorly known and season, type and extent of fi res over time, infl uence occurs only in Queensland. Previously believed to occur biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Inappropriate only in a small area near Mount Cooper Station near fi re regimes can potentially alter ecosystem structure Charters Towers, it probably occupies a signifi cantly and impact on the species habitat requirements i.e. by wider area. Nearly identical skinks have been found at removing food sources and shelter. Blackbraes National Park, and Kidston Station in the Einasleigh Uplands and these are almost certainly the Scientifi c Name: Mount Cooper striped lerista. Lerista vittata

Habitat Conservation Status The skink shelters among leaf litter and burrows into Endangered - IUCN Red List of loose soil under logs in deciduous vine thickets growing Threatened Species (International) on yellowish-red deep sandy soils. Vulnerable - Environment Protection Ecology and Life Cycle and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (National) Very little is known about the life history and ecology of the Mount Cooper striped lerista. Most Leristas are Vulnerable - Nature Conservation burrowing species which feed on termites and other Act 1992 (Queensland) small invertebrates. However, it is not known if this is the case with the Mount Cooper striped lerista. When Juveniles and sub-adults usually have a red disturbed, they usually ‘dive’ immediately into the loose or orange ﬂ ush on the tail. sandy substrate.

Mount Cooper striped lerista © Steve Wilson Logs © Alison Goodland

How to help • Avoid clearing vine scrub within the species’ known range to protect habitat and populations. • If burning near vine thicket vegetation, leave a buffer and use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. • Avoid disturbance of vine thicket habitat by restricting grazing by fencing if necessary. • Contact your local NRM group to get information on implementing a weed control program in your area. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Mount Cooper striped lerista habitat © Craig Eddie Ornamental snake

Ornamental snake habitat © Craig Eddie

Description Habitat The ornamental snake has a stout body, which grows The ornamental snake can be found on fl oodplains, to a total length of around 42 centimetres. Its body is undulating clay plains and along the margins of swamps, greyish brown on top and the underside is cream, often lakes and watercourses. It also occurs on adjoining with darker streaks or fl ecks on the outer edges of the areas of slightly elevated ground with clay and sandy belly. The entire head, and at least the fore body, is loams. It has been recorded in woodlands and open very fi nely peppered with dark brown or black. The lips woodlands of coolabah, poplar box, belah and brigalow, of the ornamental snake are distinctly barred. as well as fringing vegetation along watercourses and grasslands. Ornamental snakes have also been found Distribution in cleared woodlands that contain adequate ground The ornamental snake occurs exclusively in central cover and shelter sites, such as logs. Queensland and was thought to be restricted to the Dawson and Fitzroy River drainage systems. Its Ecology and Life Cycle geographic range has recently been extended north- The ornamental snake is a nocturnal species which east to the Collinsville district. Habitat clearance has shelters under fallen timber, rocks and bark and in been extensive in this region. deep soil cracks. Suitable habitat may support a high population density, with numbers dropping sharply with Scientifi c Name: a shift in soil type or topography. Denisonia maculata It is capable of fl attening its body when disturbed Conservation Status or when squeezing through a narrow space. This Vulnerable - Environment mechanism is also used as a defence posture where Protection and Biodiversity the body is depressed and held in a series of stiff Conservation Act 1999 curves, from which it will thrash about and bite savagely (National) if approached.

Vulnerable - Nature The ornamental snake feeds almost exclusively on Conservation Act 1992 frogs. They bear live young with an average of six to (Queensland) eight per litter.

Ornamental snake © Steve.Wilson Key Threats Mining: There are many coal mines within the species Grazing effects: Overgrazing by stock results in habitat distribution, and as the industry is experiencing a degradation through soil compaction, erosion and boom, the pressures from mining activities are likely to alteration of the vegetation community. Small remnants increase. The impact of this to the ornamental snake and isolated unconnected strips of vegetation are includes additional habitat disturbance, more road often used as areas of shade for cattle. The isolation of construction and an increase in trafﬁ c including heavy remnants combined with heavy grazing pressure may vehicles. result in signiﬁ cant changes to remnant vegetation condition such as loss of plant material and ground cover.

Feral animals: Frog-eating snakes, such as the ornamental snake, are at risk of poisoning through the ingestion of cane toads. Destruction of wetland habitat by feral pigs is a major threat to this species, along This species should be treated with caution with the associated destruction of frog habitat and as its’ bite can produce severe effects. direct competition for their food source (frogs).

How to help • Avoid removing or disturbing native vegetation, particularly near creeks, water courses or rivers. • Undertake coordinated feral pig control measures. • Undertake cane toad control measures where practicable. • Control grazing in riparian zones to protect the ground cover and reduce soil erosion. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. • Leave snakes alone. They are protected under State legislation and it is illegal to harm them, not to mention potentially dangerous.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Australia June 2008

Threatened Species Network at - [email protected]. © WWF

Ornamental snake habitat © Craig Eddie Retro Slider

Retro slider habitat © Alison Goodland Description The retro slider has not been seen since 1960. The retro slider, also known as Allan’s lerista, is a However surveys have been undertaken during sub- moderately robust burrowing skink with no forelimbs optimal seasonal conditions, so there is still hope of and only one digit on the hindlimbs. Its general fi nding this species again. appearance is grey or grey-brown above with a dark spot on each dorsal and lateral scale and dark-edged Key Threats ventral scales, particularly under the tail. The retro slider’s lower eyelid is moveable. Loss of habitat due to clearing and thinning: Virtually all of the retro slider’s preferred habitat has been Distribution cultivated and no longer supports natural vegetation. The retro slider occurs exclusively in the Brigalow Belt Small, disturbed or highly modifi ed grasslands occur bioregion. It is only known from the undulating black on road verges and other public lands. soil plains at Clermont, Logan Downs Station and Retro Station. Scientifi c Name: Lerista allanae Habitat The retro slider is suspected to favour the root systems Conservation Status of grass tussocks growing in grasslands on black soil Critically Endangered downs surrounded by scattered gums and groves of - IUCN Red List of tea trees or bottle trees. Threatened Species (International) Ecology and Life Cycle Very little is known about the life history and ecology of Endangered - this species. The species has been found under rocks Environment Protection and logs in open woodland. and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (National)

Did You Know? There have been no recent sightings of this endangered species and searches for the retro slider over recent years have failed to locate specimens.

Thirteen museum specimens comprise the total knowledge base of the retro slider. All 13 individuals were collected in three locations (Retro, Logan Downs and Clermont) in close proximity to one another, between 1929 and 1960.

Retro slider © Steve Wilson Retro slider habitat © Alison Goodland

How to help • Keep an eye out for the species and report any potential sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation. • Continue organised searches for the species in suitable habitat. • Avoid disturbing remnant strips or patches of native grassland or woodland. • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation. • Retain fallen timber and ground cover as these provide essential habitat. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining good ground cover and soil structure. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promotes patchiness and leaves areas of ground cover unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Retro slider habitat © Alison Goodland Sadlier’s skink

Sadlier’s skink habitat © Eric Vanderduys

Description Habitat Sadlier’s skink is a very small ground-dwelling skink The basic habitat requirements of this species are that reaches up to 63 millimetres in size. It is brown poorly understood. Most specimens have been with some gold ﬂ ecking and an oily bluish sheen over recorded from the low lying areas of Magnetic Island, some of its scales. The sides of this skink are dark including woodlands, well shaded gullies and disturbed brown. garden areas.

Distribution Ecology and Life Cycle Sadlier’s skink occurs only in Queensland and is only Very little is known about the ecology of Sadlier’s skink. known from Magnetic Island, north Queensland. This It tends to warm itself underneath sun-warmed leaf species may occur on parts of the mainland, but more litter, to reduce their exposure to potential predators. targetted surveys need to be conducted to clarify this. When Sadlier’s skink is disturbed it quickly vanishes under leaf litter and even into crumbly soils. Scientiﬁ c Name: A captive study showed that one female laid two eggs, Menetia sadlieri each weighing only 0.05 grams, but these failed to hatch in captivity. Conservation Status Rare - Nature Conservation Key Threats Act1992 (Queensland) Loss of habitat and weed invasion: Island species such as Sadlier’s skink, may have suffered more than species in any other habitat. Having evolved in isolation, often in response to specialised conditions, and lacking reservoirs for re-colonisation, these Sadlier’s skink warms itself underneath sun- species display the characteristics of small populations warmed leaf litter, to reduce their exposure including sensitivity to changes in their environment. Uncontrolled development in lowland areas of the to potential predators. island may destroy vital habitat.

Sadlier’s skink © Eric Vanderduys Sadlier’s skink habitat © Eric Vanderduys

How to help • Become involved in community-based on-ground projects such as ﬁ eld surveys to clarify the extent of the skink’s range and its habitat preferences. • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Sadlier’s skink © Eric Vanderduys Short-necked worm-skink

Short-necked worm-skink habitat © Craig Eddie

Description Distribution The short-necked worm-skink is a small, limbless, The short-necked worm-skink occurs exclusively in burrowing skink with a head and body length of around central-eastern Queensland. Its range is restricted to 11 to 16 centimetres. Its body is a light tan to buff colour, the northern half of the Mackenzie/Fitzroy/Dawson with darker bluish-brown colour on the head and tail. catchments, from Eungella in the north to Clermont in The belly is whitish or ﬂ esh coloured and the chin and the west and south to Theodore. throat are spotted with dark brown. A dark speckle on each scale creates a pattern of dotted lines along the Habitat length of the skink. It has a rounded snout and hidden The short-necked worm-skink is a habitat generalist. ear-openings. It can be found in a variety of vegetation types including dry sclerophyll forest, monsoon rainforest and permanently moist rainforest. It has also been Scientiﬁ c Name: recorded in vine scrubs and on rock outcrops. Anomalopus brevicollis Ecology and Life Cycle Conservation Status The short-necked worm-skink is a burrowing species, taking refuge among leaf litter, under rocks and fallen Rare - Nature Conservation timber on well-draining soils. When disturbed it burrows Act 1992 (Queensland) deeper into soft substrates or into rock crevices. It feeds upon soil invertebrates. One or two eggs are produced per clutch.

Skinks are the most widespread and diverse lizard group in Australia. There are nearly 400 species of Australian skinks.

Short-necked worm-skink © Steve Wilson Short-necked worm-skink habitat © Craig Eddie

Key Threats Inappropriate fi re regimes: Fire frequency, intensity, Loss of habitat due to clearing and thinning: The focus season, type and extent of fi res over time, infl uence of vegetation clearing in the Brigalow Belt is shifting biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Inappropriate from the essentially cleared Brigalow ecosystems fi re regimes can potentially alter ecosystem structure on fertile soils to the eucalypt woodlands on poorer and impact on the species habitat requirements i.e. by soils. Consequently the survival of dry woodland and removing food sources and shelter. open forest species with limited geographic ranges and/or specialised habitat requirements, such as the short-necked worm-skink, remain uncertain unless conservation action is undertaken.

How to help • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation and avoid ploughing remnant strips/patches of native grassland or woodland. • Avoid removing native vegetation particularly near creeks, water courses or rivers. • Avoid removing essential habitat such as fallen timber, rocks and ground cover. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining greater than 70% ground cover. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Striped-tailed delma habitat © Eric Vanderduys Description Ecology and Life Cycle The striped-tailed delma is reddish brown or grey brown The striped-tailed delma is diurnal, which means that above and cream on the underside. The colouring upon it is active during the day. It is extremely shy and is its head tends to be yellowish and then greyer along usually only seen briefl y. The striped-tailed delma has the tail region. been known to use leaf litter, logs and sheets of iron as shelter. It feeds upon a variety of arthropods and It has a very distinctive pattern of alternating cream usually lays two eggs per clutch. and yellow vertical bars on the lips and side of the head and a narrow dark stripe along each side of its tail. Scientifi c Name: Striped-tailed delmas have long snouts and tails that Delma labialis are around four times the length of the body. It reaches approximately 40 centimetres in length. The mid-body Conservation Status scales are in 16 rows. Vulnerable - IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Distribution (International) The striped-tailed delma occurs exclusively in Queensland, with a signifi cant proportion confi ned Vulnerable - Environment to the Brigalow Belt bioregion. It occurs along the Protection and Biodiversity central Queensland coast south to Keswick Island off Conservation Act 1999 Mackay. It has also been recorded in the far northern (National) Brigalow Belt from Magnetic Island and a few localities on the mainland near Townsville, to the foothills below Vulnerable - Nature Paluma. There is a single record from higher altitude, Conservation Act 1992 near Paluma itself. (Queensland)

Habitat On the mainland striped-tailed delmas prefers low open The striped-tailed delma occurs exclusively coastal forest with grassy understorey. They have also in Queensland, with a signiﬁ cant proportion been found in wet sclerophyll forest on islands and conﬁ ned to the Brigalow Belt bioregion. open woodland in coastal regions.

Key Threats Removal of wood debris and rocks: This species is Inappropriate fi re regimes: Fire frequency, intensity, threatened by the removal of its microhabitat, which season, type and extent of fi res over time, infl uence includes partly buried rocks, fallen logs and leaf litter. biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Inappropriate fi re regimes can potentially alter ecosystem structure and impact on the species habitat requirements i.e. by removing food sources and shelter.

How to help • Avoid removing fallen logs, leaf litter and rocks in striped-tailed delma habitat as this minimises vital refuge sites. • Become involved in community-based on-ground projects (e.g. fencing remnants to reduce grazing impacts, reptile monitoring and ﬁ eld surveys). • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species

Woma habitat © Craig Eddie Description Ecology and Life Cycle The woma is a large, stocky, python with an average The woma is generally considered nocturnal. However, length of 1.5 metres but can grow to 2.7 metres. It is it can sometimes be encountered basking in the sun. a glossy yellowish or reddish brown to a pale greenish Unlike other types of pythons which are skilled climbers, brown with prominent banding and dark patches above the woma is a ground dweller. It takes shelter within the eyes. Large adults sometimes lose these bands hollow logs, animal burrows or thick herbage during and dark eye patches as they get older. The belly of the day. In the evening and at night the woma forages the woma is cream to yellow with numerous pink or for ground birds, small mammals (including hares and brown blotches. This is one of only two pythons in the rabbits) and other reptiles. world lacking heat sensitive pits along the lips. An egg layer, the woma lays up to 22 eggs. It incubates Distribution and protects its eggs by coiling its body around the The woma is widespread throughout arid and semi-arid clutch almost continually until they hatch. Australia. In Queensland it occurs in the dry subtropics from the Northern Territory border east to the Miles/ Scientiﬁ c Name: Glenmorgan area. Core populations are found within Aspidites ramsayi the Mulga Lands and Brigalow Belt South bioregion. Conservation Status Habitat Endangered - IUCN Red List of The woma is a habitat generalist, occurring in a broad Threatened Species (International) range of habitats. These include: (a) rocky ridges vegetated by narrow-leaved ironbark, mountain Appendix II - Convention on yapunyah, ooline, bendee or lancewood, (b) mulga/ International Trade in Endangered poplar box/silver-leaved ironbark woodlands on Species (International) sandy and loamy red earths, (c) white cypress pine, bulloak, carbeen, poplar box woodlands on sandy Rare - Nature Conservation Act soils associated with levees along major watercourses 1992 (Queensland) eg. the Maranoa and Balonne Rivers, (d) brigalow/ belah woodlands on clay soils (rarely) (e) poplar box woodland on alluvial ﬂ ats or low hills with clay, loam or stony substrates, and (f) spinifex grasslands or open This species is non-venomous but has been woodlands on deep sandy soils. observed eating venomous snakes.

Key Threats Misidentiﬁ cation: Womas are frequently killed at Loss of habitat due to clearing and thinning: The focus property homesteads and other areas, often as a case of vegetation clearing in the Brigalow Belt is shifting of mistaken identity with venomous snakes. from the essentially cleared Brigalow ecosystems Illegal collecting: The woma is very popular in the on fertile soils to the eucalypt woodlands on poorer reptile collecting trade, with illegal collecting potentially soils. Consequently the survival of dry woodland/ open forest species with limited geographic ranges impacting on populations of this species. and/or specialised habitat requirements, such as the woma, remain uncertain unless conservation action is Did You Know? undertaken. Unlike most other pythons, such as the familiar Ripping of rabbit warrens: The practice of ripping rabbit carpet python, the woma’s head and neck are warrens has been known to kill womas, as well as about the same width as the body. destroying an important shelter site for this species.

Inappropriate roadside management: Roadsides and This is one of only two pythons in the world lacking road reserves often provide suitable reptile habitat. heat sensitive holes along the lips. Most pythons These areas are often islands of native vegetation in have heat sensing pits to hone in on warm blooded a fragmented landscape providing important refuge animals and birds. However, because the woma sites. Management practices of these remnants should goes after reptiles which don’t radiate heat in the reﬂ ect the multi-use nature of these areas. cool of the night, it doesn’t need the heat sensing Feral animals: Juveniles are at risk of predation from apparatus. pigs, foxes and feral cats. This species is non-venomous, however it is an Road deaths: Some populations of womas are unusual python because it actually likes to eat particularly prone to mortality from vehicle trafﬁ c. other reptiles; venomous snakes in particular.

How to help • Leave snakes alone. They are protected under Queensland legislation and it is illegal to harm them or interfere with them, not to mention potentially dangerous. • Implement coordinated feral animal control measures. • Monitor for the presence of reptiles using rabbit warrens before undertaking warren ripping practices in known woma areas. Use other control measure if possible. • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of native vegetation across the landscape. • Retain fallen timber, including stacked timber piles, and ground cover as these provide essential habitat. • Ensure grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining good ground cover. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008 Yakka skink

Yakka skink habitat © Craig Eddie Description Distribution The yakka skink is a robust lizard with a thick tail and The core of the yakka skink’s distribution is within the short legs around the same size as a blue tongue Mulga Lands and Brigalow Belt South bioregions. Other lizard. Its body colour ranges from pale to dark brown, populations are scattered throughout the Brigalow Belt usually with a broad dark brown stripe extending along North (east to the Rockhampton area) and Einasleigh the back from the neck to the tail. This dark stripe Uplands bioregions, extending northwards to southern is bordered on either side by a narrow, pale fawn Cape York Peninsula. Recent surveys have detected stripe. Some of the scales at the rear of its head are populations along the Queensland/New South Wales fragmented, so it lacks the symmetrical arrangement of border. other skinks. There are several large, plate-like scales along the leading edge of the ear, partly concealing the Habitat opening. Yakka skinks occur in a wide variety of vegetation types including poplar box, ironbark, brigalow, white cypress The average size from head to tail tip is 40 centimetres, pine, mulga, bendee and lancewood woodlands and making it one of the largest skinks in the region. open forests. Substrates include rock, sand, clay and loamy red earth. They can persist in clearings where Scientiﬁ c Name: shelter sites such as tunnel erosion, rabbit warrens Egernia rugosa and log piles exist.

Conservation Status Ecology and Life Cycle Vulnerable - Environment The yakka skink is active during cooler parts of the day, Protection and Biodiversity dusk and sometimes at night. Individuals dig a deep Conservation Act 1999 burrow system under and between partly buried rocks (National) or logs, or into old root tracts at the base of remnant stumps. They may also utilise old rabbit warrens, Vulnerable - Nature deep gullies, tunnel erosion/sinkholes or under rural Conservation Act 1992 buildings. (Queensland)

The yakka skink is omnivorous, consuming a wide such as roadside strips, are particularly vulnerable variety of invertebrates (beetles, grasshoppers, to disturbances that remove essential microhabitat spiders) that venture into or near the burrow entrance. features, for example, rocks, logs, dense leaf litter They also consume soft plant materials and fruits. and fallen bark. Road widening and maintenance works may also impact on yakka skink populations by It produces live young with around six per litter. destroying burrows.

Key Threats Removal of wood debris and rocks: This species is Loss of habitat due to clearing and thinning: The focus threatened by the removal of its microhabitat, which of vegetation clearing in the Brigalow Belt is shifting includes partly buried rocks, fallen logs and leaf litter. from the essentially cleared Brigalow ecosystems Ripping of rabbit warrens: The practice of ripping rabbit on fertile soils to the eucalypt woodlands on poorer warrens has been known to kill womas, as well as soils. Consequently the survival of dry woodland/open destroying an important shelter site for this species. forest species with limited geographic ranges and/or specialised habitat requirements, such as the yakka Feral animals: The yakka skink is vulnerable to skink, remain uncertain unless conservation action is predation by foxes and feral cats. undertaken.

Inappropriate roadside management: Roadsides and An extremely secretive species, its presence road reserves often provide suitable reptile habitat. is often indicated by scats near the burrow Populations of reptiles that live within linear remnants, entrances.

How to help • Maintain large, healthy, connected patches of suitable habitat – for example poplar box, ironbark, brigalow and mulga woodlands. • Retain fallen timber and ground cover as these provide essential habitat. • Implement coordinated feral animal control measures. • Survey roadsides before undertaking road widening or maintenance operations. Flag and protect suitable habitat and burrows if found. • Avoid disturbance of colonies by ensuring grazing practices are sustainable, maintaining good ground cover or restricting grazing by fencing if necessary. • If burning, use cool burns in a mosaic pattern that promote patchiness and leave areas of ground cover unburnt. • Consider entering into a conservation agreement (e.g. Land for Wildlife, Nature Refuges or incentive agreements through grant programs) for conservation and land management assistance. • Report sightings to WWF-Australia, the Queensland Museum or the EPA/QPWS. Taking a photo of live or dead specimens is useful to help identiﬁ cation.

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. © WWF-Australia June 2008 Queensland Brigalow Belt Reptile Recovery Program

What is a reptile native vegetation and the consequent fragmentation of Animals of the class Reptilia possess a scaly skin which their populations. is shed periodically, to facilitate growth. Reptiles differ from other terrestrial vertebrates in that they are cold What is the Queensland Brigalow Belt Reptile blooded or ‘ecothermic’ this means they are unable to Recovery Program? regulate their own body temperature so they rely on Reptiles are an important part of the natural the environment for body warmth. Being cold blooded, environment. Recovery plans set out the research and reptiles are not found in very cold regions, and in management actions necessary to stop the decline of, regions with cold winters they will usually hibernate. and support the recovery of, listed threatened species or threatened ecological communities. The Queensland The future of our reptiles Brigalow Belt Reptile Recovery Plan aims to secure The majority of Australia’s reptiles are declining in and improve the long term survival of the 16 species numbers, in fact one in four of Australia’s 850 reptile and to raise awareness of reptile conservation issues species are in signiﬁ cant decline. Of these Queensland generally within the community. has the highest number with 41 percent of species currently threatened. Unfortunately the ecology and The recovery program covers the Queensland part of distribution of reptiles is much less well known than the Brigalow Belt bioregion. This region is recognised by that of either mammals or birds. the Australian Government as a biodiversity hotspot.

Those species at the greatest risk of extinction are those whose declines are driven largely by clearing of

Table 1: Current status of species considered in this recovery plan Scientiﬁ c name Common name EPBC 1999 NCA 1992 IUCN Strophurus taenicauda golden-tailed gecko R Delma labialis striped-tailed delma V V V Delma torquata collared delma V V V Paradelma orientalis brigalow scaly-foot V V V Anomalopus brevicollis short-necked worm-skink R Anomalopus mackayi ﬁ ve-clawed worm-skink V E V Egernia rugosa yakka skink V V Lerista allanae retro slider E E CrE Lerista vittata Mount Cooper striped lerista V V E Menetia sadlieri Sadlier’s skink R Tympanocryptis pinguicolla Darling Downs earless dragon E E Aspidites ramsayi woma R E Acanthophis antarcticus common death adder R Denisonia maculata ornamental snake V V V Furina dunmalli Dunmall’s snake V V V Hemiaspis damelii grey snake E

CrE = Critically endangered EPBC = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 E = Endangered NCA = Nature Conservation Act, 1992 V = Vulnerable IUCN = World Conservation Union R = Rare Golden-tailed gecko © Craig Eddie

How will this be achieved? What species will it help to protect? The Recovery Plan outlines management actions that The recovery program focuses on 16 species of will need to be achieved over the next ﬁ ve years in threatened reptiles from the Queensland Brigalow order to help the survival of the species. A Recovery Belt bioregion. These include geckos, snakes, legless Team has been established to oversee, monitor and lizards, skinks and dragons. All of the species are evaluate the delivery of the management actions under recognised as threatened under state legislation, and this plan. ten of these are recognised under national legislation as threatened. Actions include activities such as identifying gaps in species research, developing and supporting research Why conserve reptiles priorities, identifying and protecting key habitat Generally the community perception of reptiles is not and populations of the species, working with local always positive. However, reptiles are often a useful government to protect reptile habitat on stock routes, ‘indicator’ group, meaning a decline in reptile species roadsides and reserves. or numbers may mirror reductions in other animal populations. Reptiles also contribute a key service in By working together with many different stakeholders the agricultural landscape, preying on production pests across the region the Recovery Team are aiming to such as rats, mice and insects. achieve some fantastic conservation outcomes for reptiles over the next ﬁ ve years and beyond. Australia has a rich and unique reptile fauna with over 90 percent of them found nowhere else in the world.

Did you know? Australia’s most dominant group of animals is the reptiles with over 850 recognised species. They have an excellent ability to cope with Australia’s extreme conditions. All native reptiles are protected in Queensland and should not be disturbed or removed.

To ﬁ nd out how you can get involved in the recovery program or for a copy of the draft recovery plan contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected]. To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn. © WWF-Australia June 2008

Golden tailed gecko © Craig Eddie Publications Richardson, R. (In prep). “Draft National recovery plan for Queensland Brigalow Belt Reptiles. Report Cogger, H., Cameron, E., Sadlier, R., Eggler, P. to the Department of the Environment, Water, 1993. “The Action Plan for Australian Reptiles”. Heritage and the Arts. WWF-Australia, Brisbane. Australian Museum, Canberra Sattler, P. & Williams, R. 1999. “The Conservation Covacevich, J. A., Couper, P. J., McDonald, K. Status of Queensland’s Bioregional Ecosystems”. R. 1998. “Reptile diversity at risk in the Brigalow Environmental protection Agency, Brisbane Belt”. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum: 42(2): 475-486. Swanson, S. 2007. “Field Guide to Australian Reptiles”. Steve Parish Publishing, Brisbane. Drury, W. 2001. “Reptiles under threat in Queensland’s Southern Brigalow Belt”. WWF- Australia, Brisbane Vanderduys, E. 2005. “Additional Information on Menetia sadlieri, a poorly known skink from Magnetic Island, North Queensland”. Dury, W. 2003. “Beneath the Brigalow – Being Herpetofauna. 35 (1): 54-60 Reptile Friendly: A School Education Kit”. WWF- Australia, Brisbane Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2008. “A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia”, 2nd Edition. Reed New H. G. Cogger. 2000. “Reptiles & Amphibians of Holland, Sydney Australia”, 6th Edition. Reed New Holland, Sydney Wilson, S. “Reptiles of the Southern Brigalow Belt”. Hobson, R. 2003. “Hidden Eardrum, Changing WWF-Australia, Brisbane Colour.” Summer edition, WILDLIFE Australia Magazine Wilson, S. 2005. “A Field Guide to Reptiles of Queensland”. Reed New Holland, Sydney Hoser, R.T. 1989. “Australian Reptiles and Frogs”. Pierson & Co, Sydney Wilson, S. K. and Knowles, D. G. 1988. “Australia’s Reptiles – A Photographic Reference to the Lloyd, R. 2005. A high altitude observation of Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia”. Collins, Pymble the North Queensland Pygopod Delma labialis. Hepetofauna. 35 (1): 40- 41

Australian Herpetological Society www.ahs.org.au

Australia Zoo www.australiazoo.com.au/

Australian Reptile Forum www.australianreptile forum.com

Australian Reptile Keeper Publications www.reptilepublications.com.au

Australian Reptile Park www.reptilepark.com.au

A-Z of Animals www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife/ az_of_animals/

Conservation Management Proﬁ le – Collared delma Delma torquata www.epa.qld.gov.au/publications?id=2094

Encyclopedia of Australian Reptiles www.amonline.net.au/herpetology/research/pdf/ varanidae.pdf

EPBC Act list of threatened fauna www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/ publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna

Reptiles and Amphibians www.qm.qld.gov.au/organisation/sections/ ReptilesAmphibians/index.asp

Reptiles Australia www.reptilesaustralia.com.au/

The Reptiles of Australia www.kingsnake.com/oz/

To ﬁ nd out more about saving threatened species check out www.wwf.org.au/tsn or contact the Threatened Species Network at [email protected] © WWF-Australia June 2008