The Victorian Naturalist Volume 121(5) October 2004 Published by The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria since 1884 Research Reports Distribution, habitat preferences and conservation status of reptiles in the Albury-Wodonga region Damian R Michael¹ Abstract Records of reptiles from scientific literature, wildlife atlas databases, unpublished reports, verbal accounts and extensive regional surveys were reviewed and collated to produce a comprehensive list of species known to occur in the Albury-Wodonga region. In total, 52 species of reptile (91 %), from a possible 57 expected species based on current literature, have been recorded within the region and 28 (49 %) occur within the Albury-Wo- donga Local Government Area (LGA). Considering zoogeographical distributions and habitat requirements an additional three species may occur within the LGA, and five within the region. Thirty-eight species (73 %) reach limits of their zoogeographical ranges in the region and 14 (27 %) occur ubiquitously in both Eyrean and Bassian regions. Twenty-eight species (54 %) are restricted in range, 17 (33 %) are localised in occurrence and 7 (14 %) are widely distributed across the region. Fifteen species (29 %) are commonly encountered, 20 (39 %) are uncommon and 17 (33 %) are considered rare. Five species recorded in the region are listed under State or National threatened species legislation: the Pink-tailed Worm-lizard Aprasia parapulchella, Woodland Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops proximus, Lace Monitor Varanus varius, Eastern Bandy Bandy Vermicella annulata and the Murray/Darling Carpet Python Morelia spilota metcalfei. (The Victorian Naturalist 121 (5), 2004, 180-193) Introduction South-eastern Australia contains a rich and the conservation of reptiles in the region, many diverse assemblage of reptiles with representa- species may become increasingly pressured by tives from ten out of the twelve Australian threatening processes such as the incremental terrestrial families (Wilson and Swan 2003). loss of habitat and may continue to experience As the study of herpetology advances, phylo- contractions in range or suffer population de- genetic relationships will become clearer and clines. additional species will be recognised, whilst The south-west slopes of NSW represent an others will be recorded in new locations. Much area of zoogeographical transition from the of the continent has at some time been super- inland Eyrean region towards the mesic, Bas- ficially surveyed by herpetologists or collectors sian region in the east. The concept of dividing working for museums. However many parts of the Australian continent into subregions, such Australia remain poorly surveyed or studied as the northern Torresian, south-eastern Bas- (Brown and Bennett 1995). Although distribu- sian and an inland Eyrean region, is based on tion maps and accounts of general habitat pref- broad climate patterns and was first reported erences exist for most species (Cogger 2000, by Spencer (1896). These regions have been Wilson and Swan 2003), a vast amount of anec- found to accurately reflect major biogeographic dotal information and faunal sightings remain distributions in Australian fauna such as rep- unpublished (Greer 1989). Locating and iden- tiles (Cogger and Heatwole 1981, Keast 1962). tifying reptiles in the field can be difficult and A high frequency of species changeover can be time consuming to the inexperienced. This, expected to occur near these transitional zones coupled with the stigma that reptiles carry, can (Caughley and Gall 1985). Hence, a diverse as- be disadvantageous to the study of herpetology semblage of reptiles could be expected to oc- and may even prevent valuable observations cur in the Albury-Wodonga region. However, from being made, published or reported to the aside from a small number of unpublished lo- relevant departments. Not surprisingly, there cal fauna surveys (Bos and Lockwood 1996; is a dearth of information regarding the com- Davidson 2000; Klomp et al. 1995, 1996, 2001) position and status of reptiles inhabiting the few detailed herpetological studies have been Albury-Wodonga region. With little published conducted in the region. Four studies have fo- information available to land managers, devel- cused on the south-west slopes of NSW (Sass opers and environmental consultants regarding 2003, Annable 1995; Caughley and Gall 1985; Lemckert 1998) and one examined the Mur- ¹ School of Environmental and Information Sciences, ray River region (Brown 2002). Some species Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789 Albury, NSW 2640 180 The Victorian Naturalist Research Reports can be considered widespread and common in Vegetation communities vary across the re- south-eastern Australia (e.g. Marbled Gecko gion in relation to moisture, aspect, elevation Christinus marmoratus and Boulenger's Skink and soil type. These communities include: (1) Morethia boulengeri, Bennett et al. 1998) and plains open woodland dominated by Grey Box others may have increased in number (e.g. Eucalyptus microcarpa and White Cypress Pine Garden Skink Lampropholis guichenoti and Callitris glaucophylla in the west; (2) riparian Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja texilis), or woodland dominated by River Red Gum E. adapted to urbanisation (e.g. Carnaby's Wall camuldulensis on the floodplain and creek sys- Skink Cryptoblepharus carnabyi and Common tems; (3) grassy woodlands dominated by White Blue-tongue Tiliqua scincoides). However, some Box E. albens, and the endangered community are rare and others are at risk of becoming lo- White Box, Yellow Box E. melliodora, Blakely's cally extinct. A complete inventory of reptiles Red Gum E. blakelyi woodland, throughout known to inhabit the Albury-Wodonga region the valleys and slopes; (4) wet and dry forest in has never been published. Therefore, this paper the south and east dominated by Peppermint aims to: (1) document all reptile species known species E. robertsonii, E. dives and Eurabbie E. to occur within the Albury-Wodonga Local bicostata; (5) shrubby woodland dominated by Government Area (LGA) and within a 50 km Long Leaf Box E. goniocalyx, Red Stringybark radius of the LGA boundary; (2) assess the like- E. macrorhyncha, Currawang Acacia doratoxy- lihood of rare, threatened or extra-limital spe- lon, Black Cypress Pine C. enderlicheri and cies occurring within the LGA and region; and Drooping Sheoak Allocasurina verticillata on (3) increase the understanding of reptile distri- the less fertile, elevated, rocky sites (Stelling butions, habitat requirements and conservation 1994, 1998). status within urban and rural environments in this region. Methods Records of reptiles occurring in the Albury- Study Area Wodonga LGA and surrounding region were The cities Albury and Wodonga, with a com- obtained from a number of sources which in- bined population of approximately 90 000, are cluded: (1) the wildlife atlas of New South Wales positioned within the south-west slopes biore- National Parks and Wildlife Service, Museum gion of New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria and Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (De- Victoria (Figure 1), at approximately 35º south, partment of Sustainability and Environment), 147º west and at an altitude of 180 m above sea (2) unpublished reports conducted by local level. They straddle the Murray River flood- environmental consultants and the author, (3) plain and are bordered by low foothills covered personal communications from local natural- in grassy and shrubby woodland and inter- ists and an extensive network of local landhold- grading foothill forest vegetation communi- ers and (4) personal observations from selected ties. Remnant vegetation across the landscape survey locations within the region since 1997. is highly fragmented in lowland areas and is Personal observations were made in NSW predominately confined to elevated ridges and and Victoria and covered a range of climatic hilltops. The climate for the region has been conditions and seasons and were conducted described as temperate, continental and sub- in areas deemed suitable for reptiles over a six- mesic (Annable 1995), and the area experiences year period. Survey sites were chosen to repre- an average annual rainfall of 765 mm. Winters sent the broad range of environments and veg- are usually mild with frequent frosts and sum- etation types reptiles were expected to inhabit mer is typically hot and dry with occasional in the region. Reptiles were actively searched thunderstorms. The average annual tempera- for beneath suitable cover such as logs, rocks, ture ranges from 12ºC - 30ºC in the summer corrugated iron, leaf litter, behind bark slabs or and 0ºC - 12ºC in the winter (Commonwealth within rock crevices. Bureau of Meteorology 2003). The geology of Survey sites include locations such as: (1) in the region is complex Ordovician and has un- Albury: Nail Can Hill, Black Range, Munga- dergone 450 million years of sedimentation bareena, Eastern Hill, One Tree Hill, Wonga and volcanic activity to produce high-grade Wetlands; (2) in Wodonga: Huon Hill, McFar- phyllite, conglomerates, slate, schist, gneiss and lanes Hill and Bear's Hill; (3) in NSW: Gerogery granite outcrops (Joplin 1944). Range, Morgan's Ridge, Tabletop Mountain, Vol 121 (5) 2004 181 Research Reports Fig. 1. Location of Albury-Wodonga study area in south-eastern Australia Woomargama National Park and Benambra Na- Hill and Tabletop Mountain, were surveyed on tional Park and (4) in Victoria: Mount Granya, more than ten occasions and encompass more Mount Lawson, Chiltern-Mount Pilot