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. https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1979.40.04 31 July 1979 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF SOUTH GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA By K. C. Norris, A. M. Gilmore and P. W. Menkhorst Fisheries and Wildlife Division, Ministry for Conservation, Arthur Ryiah Institute for Environmental Research, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084 Abstract The South Gippsland area of eastern Victoria is the most southerly part of the Australian mainland and is contained within the Bassian zoogeographic subregion. The survey area contains most Bassian environments, including ranges, river flats, swamps, coastal plains, mountainous promontories and continental islands. The area was settled in the mid 180()s and much of the native vegetation was cleared for farming. The status (both present and historical) of 375 vertebrate taxa, 50 mammals, 285 birds, 25 reptiles and 15 amphibians is discussed in terms of distribution, habitat and abundance. As a result of European settlement, 4 mammal species are now extinct and several bird species are extinct or rare. Wildlife populations in the area now appear relatively stable and are catered for by six National Parks and Wildlife Reserves. Introduction TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY {see Hills 1967; and Central Planning Authority 1968) Surveys of wildlife are being conducted by The north and central portions of the area the Fisheries and Wildlife Division of the are dominated by the South Gippsland High- Ministry for Conservation as part of the Land lands (Strzelecki Range) which is an eroded, Conservation Council's review of the use of rounded range of uplifted Mesozoic sand- Crown Land in Victoria. stones and mudstones rising to 730 m.
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