THREATENED SPECIES SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Minister’s delegate approved this Conservation Advice, effective from 05/05/2016.

Conservation Advice

Tympanocryptis condaminensis

Condamine earless dragon

Species Profile

Taxonomy Conventionally accepted as Tympanocryptis condaminensis Melville, Smith, Hobson, Hunjan & Shoo, 2014 (AFD, 2016). Between 1979 and 2007, what is now known as T. condaminensis (i.e. earless dragons in the Darling Downs in Queensland) was known as T. pinguicolla (Hobson, 2015; Melville et al., 2007). Importantly, at the time when T. pinguicolla was included in the EPBC Act list of threatened species, it was believed to occur in the Darling Downs (Covacevich et al., 1998, cited in Melville et al., 2014; Robertson and Cooper, 2000; Smith et al., 1999). This treatment was maintained until Melville and colleagues (2007) reported genetic evidence that indicated that the subpopulation of T. pinguicolla in the Darling Downs were a new species more closely related to T. tetraporophora. More recently, the Darling Downs part of T. pinguicolla’s range is now described as a new species, T. condaminensis (Melville et al., 2014).

Conservation Status Tympanocryptis condaminensis (Condamine earless dragon) is listed as Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act). The species is eligible for listing as, prior to the commencement of the EPBC Act, the species was considered a subpopulation of T. lineata pinguicolla, a species that had been listed as Endangered under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth).

As provided by section 184(d) of the EPBC Act, the Delegate of the Minister of the Environment amended the EPBC Act list of threatened species by updating the name of T. pinguicolla to T. pinguicolla and T. condaminensis, effective from 5 May 2016.

The main factor that is the cause of the Condamine earless dragon being eligible for listing in the Endangered category is that the species has a restricted geographic distribution that is precarious for its survival. This precariousness is due to the species distribution being severely fragmented and the continuing decline of extent and quality of habitat.

The Condamine earless dragon is also listed as Endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland).

Description The Condamine earless dragon is a small to medium sized earless dragon with a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 6 cm and well-developed lateral (side) and ventral (underside) body patterning. This patterning is strongly contrasting brown-black and white irregular banding and speckling (Melville et al., 2014).

The species is unlikely to be mistaken on the Condamine floodplain: the only other dragons in the area include Pogona barbata (eastern bearded dragon), which has much larger adults with a SVL of up to 60 cm, and Diporiphora australis (tommy roundhead), which occurs in different habitat (low, often rocky, sparsely treed hillocks) (Hobson, 2015).

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Distribution The Condamine earless dragon occurs in the eastern Darling Downs region of south-east Queensland, in the Brigalow Belt South IBRA bioregion. It occurs on the Condamine River floodplain in an area bounded by the Pirrinuan/Jimbour area in the north-west, Millmerran in the south-west, Clifton in the south-east and Toowoomba in the north-east. Specific locations where collections have been made include Oakey, Mt Tyson, Brookstead, Bongeen and Bowenville (Melville et al., 2014). There are no data on abundance or whether the species occurs as more than one subpopulation. Its extent of occurrence is estimated at less than 2000 km2 and its area of occupancy is 76 km2 (Department of the Environment, 2015a). The species has not been recorded from protected areas; localised extinctions could occur on private land if changes in land management practices took place (DEHP, 2015).

Relevant Biology/Ecology The Condamine earless dragon occurs in an area on black-cracking clays that is intensively cropped (DEHP, 2015). Almost all records of the species have been made on one private property, along narrow road reserves or in headlands (thin, less than 10 m wide strips of grassland on paddock verges) (DEHP, 2014). Vegetation where this species has been observed is cropland (on private property), and remnant native grassland and exotic grassland (on private property, headlands and road verges) (Hobson, 2015; Melville et al., 2014). The species has been found in cotton, sorghum, maize and sunflower crops (Melville et al., 2014). It is known to forage in stubble fields and may benefit in areas where no-till farming is employed (Hobson, 2015).

Prior to European settlement, the area where the Condamine earless dragon occurs was natural grassland. This grassland has been extensively cleared or modified and less than one percent of its pre-European extent remains (Accad et al., 2006, cited in TSSC, 2008a) and is evidence of continuing decline of species extent and quality of habitat. There are no large, non-linear areas of remnant grassland remaining. In Queensland, the remnant grasslands are classified as Regional Ecosystem (RE) 11.3.21, Dichanthium sericeum (Queensland bluegrass) and/or Astrebla spp. (Mitchell grass) grassland on alluvial plains on cracking clay soils. This RE corresponds with the ‘Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland’, which is listed as Critically Endangered under EPBC Act list of threatened ecological communities (TSSC, 2008a).

The Condamine earless dragon is active during the day and has been observed in exposed areas and perched upon rocks or masses of soil (DEHP, 2015). To avoid detection the species will crouch and freeze and when disturbed, it will disappear into soil cracks or ground cover (tussocks, coarse surface debris, surface rocks, rocky outcrops) (DEHP, 2015; Richardson, 2006). Headlands and roadside verges may be important refuges in intensely cultivated areas (Hobson, 2015), particularly during harvesting operations.

The diet of the Condamine earless dragon is not well known, but it probably feeds on small invertebrates. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that ants are a popular food source. Dragons generally eat far more ants than other lizard species (DEHP, 2015).

Very little is known of the reproductive biology of this lizard. Males in breeding colour (canary- yellow throat and chin) have been observed in December and a pregnant female was recorded in November (DEHP, 2015).

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Threats Table 1 – Threats impacting the Condamine earless dragon in approximate order of severity of risk, based on available evidence.

Threat factor Threat Threat Evidence base type status Roads Road Known Current This species has been collected at a number of sites development along the Warrego Highway between Toowoomba and Dalby. It is likely that the species will be adversely affected by planned duplication or widening works to this stretch of highway (Department of the Environment, 2015b; DTMR, 2012; Queensland Government, 2015). Road Potential Current This species has been collected at a number of maintenance roadside sites. The maintenance of these sites is identified as a threat (DEHP, 2015; Richardson, 2006), however, it is unclear how maintenance activities should be undertaken to minimise risks to the species. Agriculture Changed Potential Current Changes to any of the following practices could have practices an impact on the species: extent, timing or type of ploughing; timing of harvesting; crops sowed; pasture improvement (Richardson, 2006); or stubble management. Expansion of Potential Current Expansion of cropping (DEHP, 2015) into headlands cropped area (cropped paddock verges) or other previously uncropped areas could threaten the species. Weeds or Potential Current Weeds or pasture species that change the soil pasture species structure could reduce the availability of refuge sites (DEHP, 2015). Invasive species Predation by Potential Current Feral cats are suspected to predate on the species feral cats (DEHP, 2015), however there is no referenced study (Felis catus) to confirm this or demonstrate the impact. Predation by Potential Current Foxes are suspected to predate on the species foxes (DEHP, 2015), however there is no referenced study (Vulpes vulpes) to confirm this or demonstrate the impact.

Conservation Actions

Recovery Plan The Condamine earless dragon is not considered to have a national recovery plan in force. The plan adopted for Tympanocryptis pinguicolla (Robertson and Evans, 2009) did not include the Queensland subpopulation of the species (i.e. Condamine earless dragon) when it was adopted.

Primary Conservation Objectives Increase the abundance and distribution of the Condamine earless dragon by maintaining and rehabilitating known and potential habitat.

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Conservation and Management priorities Key Habitat and Priority Areas for Conservation

• Identify key habitat and priority areas for conservation and develop management guidelines to protect these areas (DEHP, 2015; Richardson, 2006). • Ensure land managers are aware of the species’ occurrence. Negotiate management agreements with landholders that are in line with recommended management guidelines to protect key habitat and priority areas for the species in remnant grasslands, and paddock and road verges (DEHP, 2015). • Land managers should protect remnant grassland and rehabilitate modified grassland. Identification of what is considered the Critically Endangered ecological community is provided by DSEWPaC (2012) and priority recovery actions for this ecological community are provided by TSSC (2008b). Roads

• Ensure that road development does not significantly impact the species. Protect reptile habitat on the stock route network and shire roadsides and reserves (DEHP, 2015; Richardson, 2006). Develop and implement best practice management guidelines for these types of sites. Agriculture

• Agricultural land management guidelines need to be developed to benefit the species. Avoid the intensification of agricultural practices. Actions that may limit impacts on the species include the fencing of grassland remnants, weeding and protecting headlands (paddock verges). • Determine whether any weeds or pasture species are changing the soil structure of sites and implement control measures as appropriate. Invasive Species

• Determine the degree of impact of feral cat and fox predation on the species. If the impact is moderate, develop and implement an integrated pest management plan in line with the threat abatement plans for predation by feral cats (Department of the Environment, 2015c) and foxes (DEWHA, 2008) to benefit the Condamine earless dragon. Stakeholder engagement

• Raise community awareness of this species and other priority reptile species in the Brigalow Belt (DEHP, 2015). Community awareness campaigns should be undertaken in association with the Pittsworth District Landcare Association, Mt Tyson District Landcare Group, and the Condamine Alliance and local indigenous groups. • Sightings of the species should be reported to the Queensland Government WildNet Team via email on [email protected] (DEHP, 2015).

Survey and Monitoring priorities • Implement monitoring programs in key habitat and priority conservation areas for the species (DEHP, 2015; Richardson, 2006). • Undertake survey work in suitable habitat and potential habitat to locate any additional occurrences to more precisely assess population size and distribution. The Survey guidelines for Australia's threatened reptiles (DSEWPaC, 2011) includes survey design Approved Conservation Advice for Tympanocryptis condaminensis (Condamine earless dragon) Page 4 of 7

principles when planning a reptile survey. A successful method for detecting the species is active searches (manually looking for active or sheltering individuals) along crop edges and stubble lines during warmer months (Wilson, 2016, pers. comm.). Information of the distinctiveness of this species is provided under the heading Description.

Information and Research Priorities • Research aspects of the species reproductive biology, including defining the species breeding season, to the increase knowledge of the species biology and to inform management (DEHP, 2015). • Determine at which time of year the species is most detectable so that monitoring can be targeted during these periods. Wilson (2016, pers. comm.) suggested that detection surveys should occur in ‘warmer months’; however, this could be refined to determine the peak acitive period, particularly in relation to the breeding season, when the species is likely to be most active. Availble data indicates that the breeding season is late spring and early summer.

References cited in the advice

DTMR (Department of Transport and Main Roads) (2012). Warrego Highway Upgrade Strategy. The State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads). Hobson, R. (2015). The Diverting History of an Earless Dragon. Wildlife Australia 52(4): 31-33. Melville, J., Smith, K., Hobson, R., Hunjan, S., and Shoo, L. (2014). The Role of Integrative Taxonomy in the Conservation Management of Cryptic Species: The Taxonomic Status of Endangered Earless Dragons (Agamidae: Tympanocryptis) in the Grasslands of Queensland, Australia. PLOS ONE 9(7): e101847. Melville, J., Goebel, S., Starr, C., Keogh, J.S., and Austin, J.J. (2007). Conservation genetics and species status of an endangered Australian dragon, Tympanocryptis pinguicolla (Reptilia: Agamidae). Conservation Genetics 8: 185-195. Richardson, R. (2006). Draft Queensland Brigalow Belt Reptile Recovery Plan 2008-2012. Report to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra. Brisbane, Queensland: WWF-Australia. Robertson, P., and Cooper, P. (2000). Recovery plan for the Grassland Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla 2000-2004. April 2000. Canberra: Environment Australia. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/archive/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/earless -dragon/index.html Robertson, P., and Evans, M. (2009). National Recovery Plan for the Grassland Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis pinguicolla. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/tympanocryptis -pinguicolla.html

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TSSC (Threatened Species Scientific Committee) (2008a). Advice to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) on an Amendment to the list of Threatened Ecological Communities under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Commonwealth Listing Advice on Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. Canberra: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/pubs/88-listing- advice.pdf TSSC (2008b).Approved Conservation Advice for Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. Canberra: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/pubs/88-conservation- advice.pdf

Other sources cited in the advice AFD (Australian Faunal Directory) (2016). Australian Faunal Directory. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online- resources/fauna/afd/home DEHP (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection) (2015). Condamine earless dragon. The State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection). A-Z of animals. Available on the internet at: https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals- az/darling_downs_earless_dragon.html DEHP (2014). Species profile - Tympanocryptis condaminensis (Agamidae). The State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection). Spatial data download. Available on the internet at: https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/species- search/details/?id=18390 Department of the Environment (2015a). AOO and EOO of the Condamine Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis condaminensis). Draft unpublished report. Department of the Environment (2015b). Warrego Highway Passing Lanes – Oakey to Dalby. Referral of proposed action. EPBC Referral No. 2015/7444. Prepared by Eco Logical Australia on behalf of the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. Available on the internet at: http://epbcnotices.environment.gov.au/ Department of the Environment (2015c). Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/threat-abatement- plan-feral-cats Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008). Threat abatement plan for predation by the European red fox. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/predation-european- red-fox DSEWPaC (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) (2011). Survey guidelines for Australia's threatened reptiles: Guidelines for detecting reptiles listed as threatened under the EPBC Act. EPBC Act survey guidelines 6.6. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/survey-guidelines- australias-threatened-reptiles-guidelines-detecting-reptiles-listed

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DSEWPaC (2012). Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities: Natural Grasslands on Basalt and Fine-textured Alluvial Plains of Northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland, and Natural Grasslands of the Queensland Central Highlands and the Northern Fitzroy Basin. A guide to the identification, assessment and management of nationally threatened ecological communities. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/natural-grasslands-guide Queensland Government (2015). Warrego Highway Upgrade Program. The State of Queensland 1995-2015. Available on the internet at: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/projects/warrego/ Wilson, S. (2016). Personal Communication via email January 2016. Herpetologist, Brisbane.

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