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ARNHEM LAND SKINK Bellatorias Obiri

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ARNHEM LAND SKINK Bellatorias Obiri Threatened Species of the Northern Territory ARNHEM LAND SKINK Bellatorias obiri Conservation status Australia: Endangered Northern Territory: Endangered Photo: M. Armstrong Description Bellatorias obiri is a large (to at least 20 cm snout-vent length) thickset ground-dwelling skink (resembling a blue-tongue lizard in shape). It is grey to light brown above, with a brown longitudinal streak. The legs are short and chunky. Until recently, the species was in the genus Egernia (Gardner 2008), and prior to 1990 it was more widely known as Egernia arnhemensis (Sadlier 1990). Distribution Known locations of Bellatorias obiri This species is restricted to the Western Arnhem Land plateau and outliers (e.g. Conservation assessment Jabiluka). Within this range, it has been recorded at relatively few locations, including There is little information on its population, Nawurlandja (Little Nourlangie Rock), distribution or trends in abundance. As with Jabiluka, near Oenpelli, near El Sherana and other endemics of the Western Arnhem Land Koolpin Gorge. massif, its total range spans about 34 000 km2, of which about one-third lies within Conservation reserves where reported: Kakadu National Park. Kakadu National Park. However, the limited data suggest that it is Ecology very patchily distributed, with the population comprising a set of (semi-) isolated This species is largely restricted to sandstone subpopulations. The species has been outcrops, typically with extensive fissures and recorded at only ten locations. Each is cave systems. It is probably at least partly 2 nocturnal or crepuscular (Sadlier 1990). probably less than 5 km so the total area of occupancy is less than 50 km2. For more information visit www.denr.nt.gov.au The best baseline information on status is that Complied by of many individuals caught as “by-catch” in mammal surveys at Nawurlandja in the late Simon Ward 1970s (Begg et al. 1981). No Arnhem Land John Woinarski skinks have been caught there in more recent Martin Armstrong surveys that used identical procedures [updated December 2012] (Watson and Woinarski 2003). A recent References trapping study of all previously-known sites caught only one individual, observed one and Armstrong, M., and Dudley, A. (2004). The found desiccated remains of another in a Arnhem Land egernia Egernia obiri in Kakadu National Park. Report to Parks Australia shallow cave (Armstrong and Dudley 2004). North. (NT Department of Infrastructure There were fewer than ten records of the Planning and Environment, Darwin.) species between 1980 and 2004 (Armstrong Begg, R.J., Martin, K.C., and Price, N.F. (1981). and Dudley 2004). The most recent records The small mammals of Little Nourlangie Rock, N.T. V. The effects of fire. Australian are from tourists or tour operators in Kakadu Wildlife Research 8, 515- 527. National Park. The species qualifies as Gardner, M.G., Hugall, A.F., Donnellan, M.N., Endangered (under criteria A2b; B2ab(v)) on Hutchison, M.N. and Foster, R. (2008). Molecular systematics of social skinks: the basis of: phylogeny and taxonomy of the Egernia group (Reptilia: Scincidae). Zoological Journal • its presumed decline by more than 50 of the Linnean Society, 154, 781–794 per cent in the past 15 years (three Sadlier, R.A. (1990). A new species of scincid generations); lizard from western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. The Beagle 7, 29-33. • probable total population of <2 500 Watson, M., and Woinarski, J. (2003). mature individuals; and Vertebrate monitoring and resampling in Kakadu National Park, 2002. Report to • limited extent of occupancy. Parks Australia North. (Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Darwin.) Threatening processes The ecology of this species is very poorly known. It may be affected by changes in food resources caused by altered fire regimes or predation by cats. Cane toads may affect B. obiri through poisoning, but this will be difficult to determine. Conservation objectives and management Current knowledge is insufficient to provide much guide to management. Research is required to more precisely delineate distribution, habitat preferences, ecology, and to identify threatening factors. This research should also provide a baseline for ongoing monitoring. Page 2 of 2 .
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