THE WILDLIFE OF SOMEE,XISTING AND PROPOSEDNATURE RESERVESIN THE GIBSON,LITTLE SANDYANt) GREATVICTORIA DESERTS, WesternAustralia

EDITEDBY N. L.McKenzie and A. A. Burbidse

WESTERNAUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTRE 1979

DEPARTMENTOF FISHERIESAND WILDLIFE PERTH,WESTERN

Itildl. Res.Bull. Itest. Aust. 19,79,No. 8. l_36. CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT 5

PART I BACKGROUND N. L. McKenzre Background 5 References.... 5

PART II ENVIRONMENT A. A. Burbidgeand N. L. McKenzie Tntroduction 7 CarnarvonRange Area .... '1 Lake DisappointmentArea 8 Yeo Lake Area 10 GibsonDesert Nature Rese e .... 1l Acknowledgements .... 13

References.... IJ

PART.III MAMMALS N. L. McKenzie, W. K. Youngson,A. A. Burbidge, and A. ChaDman Introduction 16 SpeciesList 16 Discussion.... 18 Acknowledgements 20 References.... 20

PART MIRDS R. E. Johnstone,C. P. S. de Rebeiraand L. A. Smith Introduction 22 SpeciesList 22 Discussion.... 30 References.... 30

PART V AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES L. A. Smith and R. E. Johnstone Introduction 11 SpeciesList

Discussion.... JJ

References.... JJ

PART YI CONCLUSIONS A. A. Burbidgeand.N. L. McKenzie Conclusions 34 References.... 34 TABLES PART II ENVIRONMENT Page 1. Rainfall (mm) from threelocalities relevant to surveyareas l3 2. CarnarvonRange Area, vegetation l4 3. Lake DisappointmentArea, vegetation t4 4. Yeo Lake Area, vegetation 14 5. GibsonDesert Nature Reserve,vegetation.... 15

PART III MAMMALS 1. Breedinginformation-rodents and bats .... 2l 2. Speciesknown from the proposednature reserves (197 5-1976) .... 21

PART IV CONCLUSIONS 1. GibsonDesert formations 35

2. Dasyuridsand rodentsin reserves J) 3. Amphibolurusa\d Ctenotusspecies in reserves 36

FIGURES PART I BACKGROUND 1. Existingand proposednature reserves in WesternAustralian deserts ....

PART II ENVIRONMENT 1. Tall open-shrublandson top ofthe CarnarvonRange .... 2. Gully in the CarnarvonRange 3. Low woodlandsof Acaciaspp. south of the CarnarvonRange .... 4. Sandplainswith spinifexhummock grassland,Carnarvon Range Area 5. Low open-woodlandof mallee on sandplain,Carnarvon Range Area 6. Screeslopes, Durba Hills 7. Valley in the Durba Hills 8. Woodlandnear Durba Springs 9 9. Low open-shrublandson sandplains,Lake DisappointnentArea 9 10. Low open-woodlandsand low shrublands,Yeo Lake Area 10 11. Low shrublandsof Bluebushand Saltbush,Yeo Lake Area l0 12. Mulgaat StonyPoint . .... 10 13. Pan and gypsumdune vegetation,Yeo Lake Area n 14. Low open-woodlandon sandplainbetween pans of Yeo Lake .... ll 15. Low open-woodlandon sandplain,Yeo Lake Area 11 16. Gravellysandplain at EverardJunction 1l 17. Mulga low open-woodland,Young Range 12 18. Spinilexopen-hummock grassland near Young Range .... 12 19. Tall shrublandof Acaciqspp., Gibson Des€rt Nature Reserve.... 12 20. Campsite,Gibson Desert Nature Reserve.... 12

PART III MAMMALS 1. Taphozousflavirerlrrs, Durba Hills .... l8

COLOURPLATES_CENTRE PAGE 1. CarnarvonRange vegetation. 4. Low open-woodland,Yeo Lake Area 2. Sanddune near CarnarvonRange 5. Durba Springs 3. Durba Hills 6, Ride'sNingaui Wildl. Res.Bull. West.Aust. 1979,.tvo.8,l-36

THE WILDLIFE OF SOME EXISTING AND PROPOSED NATURE RESERVES IN THE GIBSON, LITTLE SANDY AND GREAT DESERTS,

N. L. McKenzie and A. A. Burbidge,Editors (W.A. Wildlife ResearchCentre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo.W.A. 606t. Containspapers by_A A. Bur]-tidge,N. L. McKenzie,W. K. Youngson(W.A. Wildlife ResearchCentre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo,W'A. 6065),A. Chapman,R. E. Johnstone,L. A. Smith (W.A. Museum,Francis Street,perth. W.A. 6000)and C. P. S. de Rebeira(C.S.l.R.O. Division of WildlifeResearch. Fyfe Slreer, Helena Valley, W.A. 6056.).

ABSTRACT

The Cibson Desert Naturc Reserve and three pro-p_o_sedlqtgre _re!e_r]9s(Lake Disappointment, Carnatvon Range and Yeo Lake Areas) w€re examinedduring November and December1975 and Malch 1976. Mammals and reptiles were collecteda;d observationsmade oi . The environment ol each area is descdbed. Sixteen,speciesof native and four speciesof introduced mammals were recorded. The known range of Nrigad /Zel was greatly extended, A number of medium sized mammals which were presentin these desertsin the past have apparently disappeared. One hunfued and one speciesof birds have been rccorded from the foua areas 46 at Lake Disappointment, 58 at the Gibson Desert Nature Reserye, 66 at Carnarvon Range and 75 at Yeo Lake. Many speciesare highly nomadic and iuither trip! would add to the lists. Two specjesof frog and_58species of reptile are known from the four areas. The number ftom eacharea is: 22 ftom Lake Disappointment Area, 18 ftom Gibson Desert Nature Reserve,30 -fro_mCamarvon Range Area and 40 from Yeo Lake Area. A futther 7 sfacies have beelr collected just outside the Yeo Lake Area. The last area has been morc intensively collected than the other sites. The system of desert conseryationreserves proposed by the ConservationThrough ReseryesCommittee in 1974appears to include the major plant formationsof^lhe region and habitatsol nearlyall \ertebrateanimals-allhough more work is neededto clarify rhesituaLion wrtn respeclto a nur-noerol mammal specres.

PART I BACKGROUND by N. L. McKENZIET

BACKGROT]ND Board of WesternAustralia. The third survey again involved two four-wheel drive vehicles. Personnel During 1975and 1976the WesternAustralian Wildlife were: N. L. McKenzie and W. K. Younsson-A. from the ResearchCentre organizedthree wildlife suryeysinto Departmentof Fisheriesand Wildlife, Chuprun, the desertregions of W.A. Their aim was to collect R. E. Johnstoneand L. A. Smith from the Western additional information on the vertebratefauna of a Australian Museum and C. P. S. de Rebeiralrom the seriesof desertconservation reserves proposed by the C.S.I.R.O.Division of Wildlife Research. Conservation Through ReservesCommittee (1974). The desertreserves proposed by the Committeewere Four areaswere visited (Fig. 1): delineatedfrom vegetational,geological and soils data. l. Carnarvon Range Area-20 Knowledge of the fauna of each nature reserveand to 24 November 1975.28to 31 March 1976. proposed reservewithin the proposed serieswas in- adequate,being derivedfrom a few isolatedcollections 2. Lake DisappointmentArea-26 November to 1 or from an extraoolationof distributional data based December1975. on a knowledgeol the habitat preferencesof individual 3. Yeo Lake Area 18 to 21 ll4arch 7976. specres. 4. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-23 to 27 March The results of the fust of these survevshave alreadv 1976. beenpublished (Burbidge et al. 1976)-;lheresults oi the two subsequent surveys are reported here. The secondsurvey lasted from 18 Novemberto 4 December 1975and involved five peopleand two four-wheeldrive REFERENCES vehicles. Personnel were: A. A. Burbidge, N. L. Burbidge, A. A., McKenzie, N. "The L., Chapman, A. and I-ambert, McKenzie,W. K. Youngsonand R. F. Dear from the P. M. (1976). Wildlife of some Existing and Proposed Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, C. P. S. de Reseruesin the Creat Victoria and Gibson Deserts.Western Rebeirafrom the C.S.I.R.O. Division of Wildlife Re- Australia". Wildl. Res. Bull. West. Aust. No.5, 1-t6 (Dept. search and P. J. Roberts from the National Parks Fish. wildl.. Perth). Consenation Through ReseryesCommittee (1974). "Conserv- ation Reservesin Western Austmlia. ReDort of the Conserv- l Westem Australian Wildlife Research C€ntre. P.O. Box 51. Wan- ation Through Reserve5Commi(ee to rhe tnvironmental nerco. W.A. 6065. ProtectionAuthority". Cyclostyled. BOTANICAL PROV]NCE FN OCO

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FiSure l-Existing and proposedconservation reserves in Vy'esternAustralian deserts. Adapted from the ReDortby theConservationThroughReservesCommittee(1974)NomenclatureofdesertsafterBeard(1969). PARTII ENVIRONMENT by A. A. BURBIDGETand N. L. McKENZIEI

INTRODUCTION The Carnarvon Range (Colour Plate 2) consists of cross beddedsandstones, thought The of WesternAustralia to be of Middle to deserts have been described Upper Proterozoic age. The sandstones and delineatedby Beard (1969). Their geology has form low, gently undulating hills with occasionalsteep cliffs and been describedby the GeologicalSurvey of Western gulliescontaining a few semi-permanentpools. Australia (1975). The CarnarvonRange and the Lake DisappointmentAreas lie within the BangemallBasin, Beard (1974a, 1974b) mapped the vegetation of the a Precambriansedimentary basin of the WesternShield. proposedNature Reseryeinto six categories(Table 2). The €asternportion of this basin approximaielycorres- "Little Our campsitewas at the mouth ofa gully on the southern ponds to Beard's (1969) Sandy Desert". The side of the Carnarvon Range, ca 2 km at 110" from Yeo Lake Area and the Gibson DesertNature Reserve Trig M6 (25'17'5, 120"41'E). lie within the Offcer Basin,a Phanerozoicsedimentary basin (of Permianor Mesozoicmarine and continental Habitats we collectedin are as follows: "Great "Gib- rocks) includedin Beard's Victoria" and 1.1 The vegetationof the range is a tall open-shrub- son" deserts. land to tall shrublandof Acaciaaneura F. M:uell. Soils have been mapped at l:2 000000 by Northcote ex Benth. vat. latifolia J. M. Black to +5 m with et al. (1968). Beard (1974a,1974b, 1976) has mapped Grevilleasp. (unnamed)and. Hakea sp. (Figure 1; the vegetationat 1:1000000. The climate of the Colour Plate l). Below the shrubsar€ scattered region has been describedby Beard (loc. cit.) arLd areas of hummock grassland(Triodia basedowii Jackson(1976). and Plectrachne melvillei) of up to 50 per cent projective foliage cover. There are scattered Prior to the work reported here the desertsreceived emergent Eucqlyptus cqmaldulensisDehn. and unusuallyhigh rainfall. Table 1 showsthe mean and Cqllitris columellqrusF. Muell. Many areas of median rainfall for Warburton, Giles and Glenayleas barc rock arepresent. wellas monthly figures from January1973 to March 1976. Generaldescriotions of the areaswe worked in can be found in the above oublicationsand in Conservation Through Reseryeseommittee (CTRC) (1974). The detailed descriDtionsnrovided below are intended to amplify thesedata and to provide habitat information for the specimenswe collected. Descriptionsof vegetationformarions use the termin- ology of Specht(1970) although we describeeach layer of vegetation, not only the upper stratum. Each formation is givena numberto facilitatecross reference in later papersin this publication.

CARNARYONRANGE AREA This proposednature reservelies on the boundary of the CarnegieSalient and the Little SandyDesert (term- inology of Beard 1969). MuJga ( aneura F. Figurel-Tall open-shrublandsof mulga and Greyilleo on top of the Muell. ex Benth.) formationstypical of the former are CarnarvonRante (f.l). Thetree is Eucolyptuscomaldulensis, restrictedmainly to the southernedge of the Area, the remainder,exc€pt for the Rangeitself, beingpredomin- 1.2 In the gullieswhich contain pools and ephemeral antly sandplain and sand dune country supporting slreams, microtheca F. Muell. (Cool- spinifexformations typical of ths Little Sandy Desert. abah)to 15 m forms lringing formations(Figure 2) although proposed columellqris is also common The Area was as a nature reserveby CTRC and Ficusplatypoda A. Cunn. is present,especially (1974). proposal The was supportedby the Environ- on steepareas. Other speciesnot€d in the gullies Authority by mental Protection in 1975and endorsed include Eucalyptus selosc Schau., Pittosporum Cabinet in 1976. The boundariesof the Area are: "from phillyraeoides DC. and Meleleuca nervosa(Lindl,) the north-east boundary corner of Marymia Cheel. pastorallease (approximately 24"52'5, 120'18'E) east to I20'52'E,south to 25"19'5,west to the boundaryof I .3 Againstthe baseof the southernside of the range Neds Creek pastoral lease (approximately12028'E), are screesand gibberswith a tall shrublandto low then north along the east boundary of Neds Creek woodland of mulga ()and Gidgee pastoral lease to its north boundary, then west to (A. pruinocarpaTindale) or, sometimes,low open- approximately 120"18'E, then north to the starting woodlandsof Eucalyptusselosa Schau.over low point" (CTRC 19'14). Il has an area of ca 258000 ha. shrubs, including Eremophila sp. and Cassra Jlarlr'i R.Br., with hummock and tussock grasses 1 Westem Australian Wildlife ResearchCentre. P.O. Box 51. Wan- (Triodiq sp. and Eragrostis eriopodll Ben|h.), neroo, W.A. 6065. Figure 3; Colour Plate l). Figure 2._A fringing formation of Eucalyptusmicrothe

Figure 3-Low woodland of mulSa and Gidgee immediately south Figure 4-Ttiodio bosedowii hummock grassland on red sandplains of the Carnarvon Range(1.3). a".n".uon Rante Area. The emergent is Hokeo /oreo To the south of the range are extensive red sandplains ll.;f." with occasional low dunes. 1.4 A low open-woodland of Corkwood (Hakea lorea R.Br.) and scatteredAcqciq spp. over a hummock grassland of Triodia basedowii covers the plains (Figure 4). 1.5 Where the sandplains approach the range the soil is firmer and a low open-mallee-woodland over mulga and spinifex occurs (Figure 5). 1.6 The dunes have a low open-woodland of Eucel- lplrls sp. (an unnamed bloodwood) with a scattered shrub layer of Acacia sp. and Thrlptomene maison- neurii F. Muell. over a hummock srassland \Triodia sp.) (Colour PIate 2). Thc de(c-nblack- boy Xanthorrhoea thorntoni Tate occurs in patches on the plains and on some low dunes.

I .7 South of Mt Methwin is another area of red FiSures-Low open-woodlandof malleeand mulgaove. spinifex sandplains and low dunes. In this region the nearthe CarnarvonRange (1.5). vegetation is predominantly an open-heath to fow shrubland ol Thrvptomanemaisonneuvii o\er Parks(Anon. 1965). Their recommendation,which was l OqtA SO. for a large reserveencompassing the whole of the Lake and extendingwestward to the No. I Rabbit Proof Fence,did not teceiveofficial approval. LAKE DISAPPOINTMENT AREA The Area under discussionhere was Droposedas a The proposed Lake DisappointmentNature Resene naturereserve by CTRC(1974). lt lies-wiihin23'31'- lies in the Little Sandy Desert. The first recommend- 24"00'5 and 123"00'-124"00'E.Its area is ca 367000 ation for a reservein this region was made in 1962by ha. The proposalwas supportedby the Environmental the Western Australian Sub-Committeeof the Aus- Protection Authority in 1975 and was endorsed by tralian Academy of ScionceCommittee on National Cabinetin 1976. Much of the DroDosedreserve consists of red sand dunes with spinifex-formations but it also includes part of the saline and usually dry Lake Disappointment and the Durba Hills, a flat topped, steep sided range of Middle Proterozoic sandstones heavily incised with water eroded valleys. Beard (1974a)has mapped the vegetation ofthe proposed reserve into three categories (Table 3). Habitats we collected in are as follows: 2.1 On top of the range is a low open-woodlandof Eucalyptus ? Jelosa Schau. with a scattered shrub layer of Thryptomene maisonneuvii F. Muell. and Acacia spp. The sparse ground cover (less than 10 per cent projective foliage cover) is of Triodia and Plectrachne. There are gxtensive areas o bare rock (Colour Plate 3). 'fhe Figure7-Water erodedvalley in the DurbaHills. Scatteredtrees 2-2 massive screeson the steep sides of the range an? shrubsinclude EucolyDtua comoldulensis, E. ? setoso.Crevilled (Figure 6) support occasional Eucalyptus ? setosa wickhamiiand Ptilotus obovatus (2.3). Schau. up to 10 m and patches of Ficus platlpocla A. Cunn. to 3 m over sparse Plectrqchne and. Ptilotus obovatus(Gaud.) F. Muell. (10 to 20 per cent) to I m.

Fisure8-Eucd/yDtus comoldulensis woodland over couchtrass (? Cinodondoctylon) near the Durba Springs(2.4).

2.6 A low open-shrublandcovers the inter-dune FiSure6-Sparse vegetation on the massivescree slopes of the plains Acacia sp., Grevillea "eriostachya (2,2). with DurbaHills Lindl." and Hakea lorea R.Br. beingthe common occurs as a pools ephemeral species. Thryptomene maisoknewii 2 .3 In the watereroded valleys are and with Triodiq sp. (30-50 per formatioos of Eucalyprus sparseunderstorey - streams with fringing cint) as a ground-cover(Figure 9). cqmaldulensisDehn., and shrubs such as Grevillea \tickhqmii Meisn., Eremophila 2 latrobei F. Muell. 2.'1 To the west of the hills is an area of Acacia sp. arndPtilotus obovatus(Gaud.) F. Muell. (Figure 7). tall shrublandwith patchesof Triodia. Ficusplatvpoda A. Cunn. occurson screes. Durba Sprinls dre situated near the mouth of a major valley (Colour Plate 5). 'fhe 2.4 campsite was adjacent to the springs in an area of -E. cqmaldulensiswoodland with a ground cover of couch grass l? Cynodon dactylon,L)^ (Figure 8). Around the springs are stands ol Cyperus voginatusR.Br. Killagurra Rock. Hole. in a narrow sectioo of another such valley, is surrounded by a small arca of E. camqldulensis woodland over Cyperus. To the north of the range are extensive red sand dunes with sandplains between. 2.5 The dunes are covered with a 1ow open-woodland ol Eucalyptussp. (un-named.same speciesas at the Carnaivon Range) with shrubs to 3 m including stenobotrya F. Muell., Acacia dictyoph- Greillea -Red over F' Muell. Figure 9 sandplain supportinS low open-shrubland Ieba F. Muell., Eremophila longfolia TrJodiohummock grassland(2.6). Part of the steeP scree sloPe and a scattered groundcover of Triodiq and surrounding the pEteau of tie Durba Hills is visible in the back- P lectrachne. ground, YEO LAKE AREA The proposed Yeo Lake Nature Reservelies in the Great Victoria Desert. The Area was DroDosedas a reserveby CTRC { 1974). The proposalwas

The geologyof the south-easternportion of the Area Figure II-Low shrublandsof blu€bush (Moirednop/romiddto) and has been describedand mapped at l: 250000 by Yan salcbush(Atflpier sp.) in the Yeo Lake Area (3.2). Small cussocks de Graaf and Bunting (1975). Beard (1974b) has ol Aristido browniono are also presenc. mappedthe vegetationinto four categories(Table 4). The mulga country mapped by Beard as "arl-i" is 3.4 Near the abandonedYeo Lake Hon.restead(ca variable(Fig. 10). It rangesfrom low open-woodlands 28'05'5. 124"17'E)were a seriesof fresh-water of mulga (Acaciaaneura F. Muell.) to low open-shrub- pools in an otherwise dry watercourse. The landsof bluebush( spp.) and saltbush(Attiplex watercoursemeanders through a low open-shrub- spp.) with occasionalstands of stuntedmulga on slight land of saltbush and bluebush oyer Aristida risesin the drainagechannels associated with Yeo Lake. browniqnaHenr. In the watercourseare small patchesof the grassDiplacltne muelleri Benth. and the shrub Rutidosis helichrysoidesDC. 3.5 Isolatedrocky hills and breakawayssuch as Stony Point and Point Sunday are covered with low shrublandsof Acacia spp. including A. aneura (Figure 12). Beneathone such breakawaywas a pool of water, known as Miller Soak, and an epherneralwatercourse surrounded by a dense thicket of Acacia spp. and Eremophila longtfolia F. Muell.to 4 m. The outlying pans south of Yeo Lake are covered with a low open-shrublandof samphire(Arthroc- nemum spp.), saltbush(l/nple:r) and speciesof pigface(Figure 13). 3.7 Betweenthe pars are gypsum dunes supporting low open-woodlandsof Callitris columellarisF. Muell. and Cqsuarinacristate Mis. to 7 m over Figure lo-View southwards from Stony Point (Yeo Lake Area) scatteredAtriplex and tufrs of naiire grass(Fig- across low open-woodlands of Acdcio oneuro interspeFed with low ure l3). shrublandsof bluebushand saltbush. 3.8 Seventeenkm ENE of Stony Point is an area betweentwo pans where sand overlies gypsum. Habitatswe collectedin are as follows: The resulting red sandplain supports a low 3.1 The low open-woodlandswere mainly mulga (Acqcioaneurq F. Muell. ex Benth) (3-5 m) with somescattered Eucalyptus o/eosa F. Muell. to 5 m overa low shrublandofsuch speciesas Eremoohila IatrobeiF. Muell.and Acaciasp. orer a tussock grassland of Ercgrostis eriopoda Benth, and occasionalTriodia basedowiiE. Pritzel. (Colour Plate4). 3.2 In slight depressionsthe upperstoreydisappears and bluebush(Maireana pyramiilal4 (Benth.t P. c. Wilson) and saltbush (Atriplex sp.) form low shrublandsto I m over opel-tussockgrasslands of Aristidq brov)nianaHenr. and Eragristis eriopocla Benth.(Figure 11). 3.3 In extensivedepressions such as the drainage channelsassociated with Yeo Lake. small snecies of bluebushand saltbushform low open-shrub- landsalong with speciesof pigface Figure l2-Low shrublandsto low open-woodlandsof Acocio spp. and samphire at Srony Point (3.5). Nore the Arthrocnemumand pigface at ilie \Arlhromemumspp.). foot of the slope (3.3).

10 gongylocarpa Blakely and/or E. youngiana F. Muell. wilh occasional Pittosoorum so. and Acacia spp. 3.10 Occasionalweak sand dunes occur. These sup- port low shrublands of Acacia spp., Eremophila and Thry)ptomene over spinifex although some Eucalyptus gongylocarpa Blakely and E. youngiana F. Muell. occur. 3.11 Twenty-onekm east of Stony Point another area of red sandplain supports a more variable upper storey. Here, the low open-woodlands included several other mallee species (Eucalptus sp, E. concinna Maiden and Blakely and E. oleosa F. Muell.) allhough E. youngiana I-. Muell. (l-ig- ure 15) and patches of E. gongylocarpa Blakely are still present. Occasionally, Acacia aneurq tall Figure13 An outlyingpan of Yeo Lake. ln the backgroundis a open-shrublandsover Triodia hummock grasslands Sypsumdune supportinS Collitfis colume/loris and Cosuotinoctistato (r.5,3.7). occur but rheseare probably interfacesiruations.

GIBSON DESERT NATURE RESERVE This Nature Reservelies entirely within the Gibson Desert. It was proposedas a rlserve by the CTRC (1974). The proposal was supportedby the Environ- {re_ntalProtection Authority (1975) and endorsedby Cabinetin 1976. The Reserve(No. 34606)was gazetted on 22 April 1977for the purposeof Conservationof Flora and Fauna,proclaimed Class A and vesledin the WesternAustralia; Wildlife Authodty. Boundariesare 2425' 25'25'5 and 124"40'-126"20'Eb:ut excludins- ReserveNo. 29452.lr hasan areaof 1859286ha. The Gibson Desert Nature Reserveincludes the maior plant lormationstypical of the Cibson Desefi.-exten- sive Mulga formations on laterite and lateritic sands, ,4caciashrublands between sandhills and DesertOak (Casuqrina Figurel4-Sandplx:n, sup,DtrrtinS a lov,/ open-woodland of EucJ/yptus decaisneanaF. Muell.)woodlands. Srnaller concinnoarer fflodrohummock grassland (3.8), becween cwo pans areas_of_Coolabah \Eucal),ptus microtheca F. Muell.) of Yeo Lake. $oodland.salt Iales and saltbush and samphireveget- ational\o occur(Table 5). Much of rhegeology of-the Reservehas beendescribed and mappedat 11250000 by Van de Graat119741and Jackson al9T6). Our campsitewas besidea drainage "Gary line which crosses the Highway" ca 4 km south of CharliesKnob (25"02'5,12459'E) a westwardextension of the youns Range. Habitats we collectedin are as follows: 4.1 The country around EverardJunction (25"11,5. 12:458'E) is a gravelly sandplain (Figure 16). The vegetationis a low open-humn.rockgrassland

FiSurels-_Low open-wooCIrrd of Err.d/yptrsycrngidnx o\er Triodia hummockgrassland on redsandplain east of StonyPoint (3. I l).

open-woodland of Euca\ptus concinna Maiden and Blakely to 12 m over Triodra hummock grass- land and occasional Acqcia qneura F. Muell. ex Benth. (Figure 14). Triodia hummock grasslandson sandplains are a prom- inent feature of the proposed nature reserve. 3.9 In the south-westerncorner of the proposal the Triodie format:tots of the sandplains are associ- Figure l6-5pinifex on gravellysandplain at Everard Junction, ated wilh low open-woodlands of Eucab'ptus GibsonDesert Nature Reserve (4.1).

11 80957-3 of Plectrachne and Triodia, with patches of soft 4. 5 The southern face of the ranse near Charlies Knob grass, growing on red sand covered with fine is mostly mesaform.wirh occasionaldeep cares black gravel. Emergent Hakeq lorea R.Br. along extending back into Mesozoic claystones and with occasional low mulga occur. sandstones. Steep slopes of light screeand gravel 4.2 Two kilometres north of Everard Junction are beneath the breakaway support a low open- some low red sand dunes around the base of which woodland ol Acaciq aneurq to 5 rt oyer Acacia is an open-hummock grassland of spinifex with spp. and Eremoplila exilifuliaF. Muell. (Figure 17). emergent Acacia spp, to 2 m and Hslcea lore.l 4.6 As the gradient of the slope easesit becomes R.Br. to 3 n and occasional desert bloodwoods covered with an open hummock grassland of (Eucalyptus sp.). On top of the dune is a low spinifex on gravel (Figure l8), with Eremophila open-shrubland of Gret'illea stenobotrlq F. Muell. sp. in rocky drainage lines and trends towards and Sda sp. over bare red sand with some large soils which are more sandy and on which the tussocks of P/eclrachneschinzii }{enr. spinifex tussocks become larger. Here Eucqlyptus 4.3 The slopes of the Browne Range near Mt Everard pachyphylla F. Muell. (mallee), mulga and very are covered with a low open-shrublald to low dense spinifex fringe the drainage lines. open-shrubland of A. aneura F. Muell. ex Benth. over^ soft grasses with occasional patches of sprnuex. 4.4 The top of the Young Range near Charlies Knob is flat to undulating sandstone and pebble col- glomerate with areas of shallow soil supporling a low open-shrubland of Acacia aneura F. Meull. ex Benth., A. grasbyi Maiden and Eremophila exilifolia F. Muell. Along a rocky watercourse on top of the range is a fringing community of Eucallptus papuana F. Muell , Acacia aneura, Sarcostemma australe R,Br. and, Dodonaea peti- olarrs F. Muell.

Figure l9 .Taff shrubland of Acocia kempeana and A. oneuro (in flower) with some Aco.ia ptuinocarpo oyer l/iodid pungens in gently undulating countr)' approximately 4 km south of Charlies Knob, Gibson Desert Nature Reservef4.7).

4.7 Fringing the range south of Charlies Knob is a band, severalkilometres wide, of gently undulating country with occasionallow stony hills, supportirg low open-woodlands of Acacia aneurq to 3 rn w\lh occasional A. grasbyi and A. pruinocarpa (Gidgee) to 6 m, and stunted mallee (Eucaltptus pqclry- phylla F. Muell.) over low Acacia shrubs ald patches of soft grasses and Triodia pungens R.Br. on pebbly reddish loamy sand. In low lying areas stands of Gidgee to 5 m occur along with Figure l7-Low open-woodlandof A.ocidspp. on slopesof the other Acacia spp. (Figure 19) sone of which YoungRange (4.5). were in flower at the time of our visit. About 6 km south of can.rpis an area of Acacia grasbyi

Fiture I8-Open-h!mmock grasslandof splnifexon heavygravel; FiSure20 Campsite,approximatel), 2.5 km southof CharliesKnob Young Rangein the background(4.6). The malleeis Eucolypt0s on a dry drainaSeline. Fringingcommunity includes Eucdlyptus sp. PochyPhyllo. to I2 m over low woodlandof Acociospp. over spilifex (4.7). 1? "fhe to 2 m and 20 per cent projective foliage cover Beard, J. S. (1914a). Vegetation of the Great Victoria Triodia to 0'5 m and 30 per cent. In a Desert Area". Explanatory Notes to Sheet3 of Vegetation ovet Survey of Westem Australia: Great Victoria Desert. (Uni- larger drainage line there is some Eucalyptus sp. versity of W.A. Press,Nedlands.) to 12 m (Figure 20) although the fringing com- Beard, J. S. (1974b). "The Vegetationof the Great SandyDesert munity is mostly Acqciq kempeana F. Muell. and Area". Part II of ExplanatoryNotes to Sheet2 of Vegetation A. aneura (3-4 m), with occasional Gidgee, Survey of Western Australia: . (Uni- R.Br., lcacz spp. (shrubs versity of W.A. Press,Nedlands.) Sqrcostemma australe Beard, J. S. (1976). "The Vegetationof the Murchison Region". to 2 m) and Canthium latifolium F. Muell. over ExplanatoryNotes to Sheet6 of VegetationSurvey of Western thick spinifex including Triodia pungens R.Br. Australia: Murchison. (University of W.A. Press,Nedlands.) "The The campsite was on this drainage line. Beard, J. S. and Webb, M. J. (1974). vegetation survey of Western Australia-its aims, objects and methods". Part I The country immediately nofth of Charlies Knob is of Explanatory Notes to Sheet 2 of Vegetation SuNey of similar to that south of it. WesternAustralia: Great SandyDeseat. University of W.A. Press.Nedlands. 4.8 North of Charlies Knob the vegetation is mulga "Conserv- Conservation Through ReseryesCommittee (1974). low open-woodland with scattered Gidgee (2 6 m) ation Reservesin Western Australia". Report to the En- over occasional Acacia shrubs and spinifex hum- vironmentalProtectionAuthority. Cyclostyled. "Conservation ocks on bare clayey sand with rock lragmenrs. Environmental Protection Authority (1975). Re- (including servesfor Western Australia, as reconmended by the En- 4.9 Interspersed are ateas of spinifex vironmental Protection Authority". Systems4, 8, 9, 10, 11, Triodia') htmmock grassland on sandplain with 12. Cyclostyled. gravel. A few weak sand dunes occur. ceological Survey of Westem Australia (1974). "Geology of Westem Australia". West Australian Geol. Survey Mem. 2, 541p. Jackson, M. J. (1976). "Browne, W. A. 1:250000 Geological ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Series". Bur. Miner. Resour. Aust. explan. Notes SG/51 8 (Bur. Miner. Resour. Geology and Geophysics,Canberra). We thank the Curator and Staff of the WesternAus- "Vegetation". plant Specht,R. L. (1970). In The Austrulian E viton- tralian Herbariumwho identified collectionsmade ment 4th Ed. (Ed. G. W. Leeper), pp. 44-67. (CSIRO- at the existingand proposedNature Reserves. Melbourne University Press,Melbourne.) "Conserv- Specht,R. L., Roe,t. M. and Boughton,V. H. (1974). alion of Major Planl Communiliesin Australiaand Prpua New Guinea". Aust. J. Bot. Suppl. Ser.No, 7. REFERENCES "Wari, Van de craaf, W. J. E. 0974). W. A. 1:250000 Geo- Anon. (1965). "National Parks and Natule Reservesin Westetn logical Series". Bur. Miner. Resour. Aust. explan. Notes Australia" ReDort of the WesternAustralian Sub-Committee SC/51 4. (Bur. Miner. Resour. Ceology and Geophysics, Academy of ScienceCommittee on Naiional Canberra). of the Australian "Neale, Parks. (Aust, Acad. Sc.-National Parks Boald of W.A., Van de Graaf, W. J. E. and Bunting, J. A. (1975). W.A. Perth). 1:250000 Ceological Series". Bur. Miner. Resour. Aust. "The Beard, J. S. (1969). Natural Regionsof Lhe Deserlsof explan. Notes SH/51-4. (Bur. Miner. Resour. Geology and Wesler[Auslralia". J. Lcol. 57,677 -7 ll. Ceophysics,Canbera).

TABLE 1 RAINFALL (mm) FROM THREE LOCALITIES RELEVANT TO SURVEY AREAS

WARBURTON

26 28 12 l1 4 l0 l7 2t4 Median..-. l0 9 3 4 3 I 4 9 l5 168 (t940-t9't3) + 1973 136 0 60 5l 5 7 405 1974 't- :u 24 102 28 1975 0 it 1916

GILES

30 l6 18 251 Median .... t9 15 6 238 (195s-1975) 1973 122 169 34 4 521+ 19',74 121 312 100 3 783 1975 37 6 I I 304 1976 6 4

CLENAYLE

Mean 34 3l 20 27 13 7 3 2 9 22 229 Median .... 8 6 7 20 8 3 0 0 9 203 (19s0 1974) t9'73 t19 0 14s 45 16 47 )4 0 0 0 136 565 t9'74 153 8 7 24 28 7 2',7 25 4 7 l) 359 1975 t0 38 0 4 5 3 0 40 94 305 1976(Era- 0 46

....No data. * Incompletetotal. t Eraheedyis 60 km south-westoI Glenayle.

-tJ TABLE 2 CARNARVON RANGE AREA. }tsGETATION Calculatedfrom BeardOn441974b)

Beard-Webb Formula Equivalent Specht Formation (Beard and Webb 1974) (Specht1970) Area (ha) Per cent

TaIf open-shrubland(A?dcid spp.\ over opeu-hummock gr^sslandlTriodia 158000 61.2 arLi Low woodland (Acacia dneura) 28 000 109 t,Hi Oped-hummock grassland (Triodia basedotrii).... 31000 t20 arlp. t,Hi Lorr/ op_en-woodland(l cacia aneura) ovet open-hummock grassland (?rrbdr'd 24 000 9.3 alLP Low open-woodland(Acacia aneura) .. 16000 arSi Talf shrubland(,4aacra dh?ura) .... I 000 o.4

258000 100.0

TABLE 3 LAKE DISAPPOINTMENT AREA. I'EGETATION Calculatedfrom Beard(1974a)

Beard-Webb Formula Equivalent Spe.ht Formation (Beard and Webb 1974) (Specht 1970) (ha) Per cent

(,4c4cri? a-Sr.pt lli betweensandhills Tall open-shrubland spp.) over open-hummock gassland of T/rodr'a 169000 pugehs and.Plecttachne schintii a3hsrt,Hi Tall open-shfubland of Acacia coriqcea ar.d, Hakea over open-hummock 31000 8.5 $assland of Triodia basedowii riHitiHi Open-hummock grassland,of Ttiodia pungens and. T. wiseana 18000 4.9 SaltLake .... 49 000

Totals 367000 100.0

TABLE 4 l'EO LAKE AREA. I'ECETATION Calculatedfrom Beard(1974b)

Beard-webb Formula Equivalent Specht Formation (Beard and Webb 1974) (Specht1970) errlr. e!osr.t!Hi .... Low open-woodland (Eucauptus gongylocarpa)over tall shrubland (E. 168000 50.9 youngiana) over open-hunrmock gJassland (Triodia basedowiil alLi Low woodfand (Acociaaneura) ...... 100000 30.3 Salt l-akes .... 39000 11.8 xci.... Low opeD-shrubland(saltbush and samphire) .... t3 000 4.0 eSi.... Tall sbrublard (mallee) ...... 10000 3.0

330000 100.0

t4 TABLE 5 GIBSON DESERT NATTJRERESER}'E, ITGETATION Calculatedfrom Beard(1974b)

Beard-WebbFormula Equivalent Specht Formation Area (Beardand Webb 19?4) (Sp€cht 1970) (ha) Per cent alsp. t,Hi .... Tall open-shrubland (l cacia atuwO oret ope -hummock $assland (Trrbdrh 1 130000 @.8 basedowii'l arsi.... Tafl shrubfaDd(Acacia anurc\ ...... 384m0 m.7 CrMp. t,Hi W oodland, (Casuarina .lecaisaana) ov et open-}rummock grassland (Tdodia 126000 6.8 basedowii\ a"Sr. trHi between sandhills Tall open-shrubland(laa.ia spp.) over open-hummockgrassland (f. ,ase- 92 m0 4.9 aolttr I oetwe€n sandmlls a" Sr. t'Hi .... Tall opeo-shrublaod (lcacia spp.) over open-hummock gasslatrd (r. 6ar?- 23 000 t.2 el' Mi. xci Woodla]nd (Eucalyptus microtheca) oyer mixed grasses 74 000 4'O xci .... t"*::*-'.yo'TlG"'lll'o"li'"Y'*)... 12000 0.6 Salt Lakes .... :::: ...... :. 18000 1.0

Totals I 859m0 [email protected]

15 PART III MAMMALS by N. L. McKENZIEI, W. K. YOUNGSONI, A. A. BURBIDGEI and A. CHAPMAN'.

INTRODUCTION Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Hairs identified in dingo scats. This paper is based on information collectedduring Rangeswith mulga (l.l); breakawaysand stony hills visits to four areas in arid Western Australia (see with mulga(3.5). McKenzie, this publication). All mammals collected have been lodged in the WesternAustralian Museum with accessionnumbers: M14384-14425(November Petrogale sp. 1975collection), M14618 14676(March 1976collection). Lake DisappointmentArea-Old scats in the Durba Techniquesof mammal survev were similar to those Hills. listed in Burbidgeet al. (1976)'althonghonly four types of trap were used: Large Elliott, Medium Elliott, Break-back and Dug Pit. Approximately 800 trap- FAMILY DASYURIDAE nights were effectedin each of the four areasvisited. Antechinus (Spencer) Within each area, trapping effort was approximately macdonnellensis Red-earerlAnte- chinus equally divided between the following habitats (see Burbidgeand McKenzie,this publication):l.l-1.6, Gibson Desert Nature Reserve 2 (1J, 1!); cranial 2.1.-2.6,3.13.10 (except 3.3 and3.7),4.14.7. fragmentsin owl pellets. (Todd Range;25"45'5, Bats were collectedby meansof a floodlighting tech- 12612'E-l?) nique (Youngson and McKenzie 1977), mist nets, Breakawayswith mulga (4.5). foraging in caves,shooting at dusk, and spotlight One female(M146701' 24 March 1976)had much larger shootingafter dark. uterinehorns than the other (M14669i 22 March 1976) In the annotatedspecies list, data are presentedin the and comparatively enlarged teats. Additional com- following order: paralive material needsto be examined. 1. Number of male and femalespecimens collected at Caughtby hand. Trapped. each site. Sitesoutside the proposed/ex isti ng re- servesare given in brackets. The Todd Range specimencame from similar habitat. 2. Description of habitats in which the specieswas collected. Thesehave been indexed into the area Ningauiridei Archer Ride'sNingaui (Colour Plate) descriptions (Burbidge and McKenzie, this pub- CarnarvonRange Area-l9. lication). Gibson DesertNature Reserve-19. 3. Female breeding information. For rodents and (12kmNNW of Mount Beadell;25'28'5,125'13'E-16.) bats this is summarizedin Table L Sandplainswith spinifex(1.4); plains and slopeswith 4. Method of capture. mulgaand spinifex(4. 8). 5. Notes on behaviour and ecolosv. The specimenfrom the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve (M14674;March 1976)is a sub-adultfemale. Neither the pouch nor the teats of the adult female from the ANNOTATED SPECIESLIST CarnarvonRange (M14673; 29 March 1976)are visibly FAMILY MACROPODIDAE developedand its uterinehorns are not visibly enlarged. Specimensof pregnant N. ridei zre not availablefor Megaleia ruy'a(Desmarest) RerI Kangaroo comparrson. CarnarvonRange Area-Reported by Agriculture Pro- Caughtby handin daytime;burnt from spinifextussocks tection Board Staf. (One seen15 km south of the at night. proposedreserve; 25'28'S, 120'37'E). The Yeo Lake Area-Many seen;16 (7J, Mt Beadell male was collectedin a low open- 9Q)recorded during bummockgrassland one 18 km daytimetansect. One craniumcollected. of spinifexwith sparseshrubl of Cork-wood (Eakea lorea) and Gidgee (Acaciapruino- Saltbush and bluebush plains (3.2); samphire flats carpa)on red sandplainwith a superficialcover of fine (3.3); sandplainwith spinifex(3.9); sanddunes with gravel (this country was similar to 4.1). The "Cunbarrel speci- shrubs(3. l0). men wasfirst seencrossing the Highway" Individuals,pairs and groups ol five or six. at 1230hrs on 23 March 1976. Macrcpusrobustus Gould Euro CarnarvonRange Area-Two seen,many scatsin range. FAMILY MURIDAE Yeo Lake Area-One seen at Stonv Point. scats in Leporillus sp. breakaways. Remainsof old sticknestswere found in a breakawav near Knob (4.5) 1 Charlies in the Gibson DesertNaturl WesterdAustalian Wildlife ResearchCentre- P.O. Box 51. Wan- Reserve.in cavesin the CarnarvonRange (1.2), neroo,W.A.6065. Area 2 Department of l,Iammals, Westem Austmlian Museum, Ftancis and near Point Sundayand Stony Point in the Yeo St., Perth, W.A, 6000, LakeArea (3.5). 16 A. M. Douglas (pers. comm.) identifled Leporillus Tulpesvulpes (Linnaeus) EuropeanFox apicalis bone matedal from similar concretions in Lake Disappointment Area Tracks thought to be WesternAustralia. thoseof the EurooeanFox. Yeo Lake Area-Tracks thought to be those of the Notomys alexis Thomas Spinifex Hopping-Mouse EurooeanFox. GibsonDesert Nature Reserve-oneseen. CarnarvonRange Area-5 (19, 4t). Lake DisappointmentArea-2 (1j, 1Q). Sandplainswith spinifex (3.9); sandplainswith gravel Yeo Lake Area-1?. and spinilex (4. 1); sand-duneswith shrubs(2.5). Gibson DesertNature Reserve-lQ. Sandplainswith spinifex(1 .4); sanddunes with shrubs FAMILY CAMELIDAE (1..6, 2.s, 2.10,4.2). Camelusdromedan'asLinnaeus Camel Trapped. Caught by hand while spotlighting. CarnarvonRange Area-Tracks. Lake DisaooointmentArea-Tracks. Pseudomyshermannsburgansis (Waite) Sandy Mouse Yeo Lake Area-Nine seen. CarnarvonRange Area--4 (3J, 1t). Samphire flats (3.3); sandplainswith spinifex (1.4, Lake DisappointmentArea-l (damaged). 2.6). Yeo Lake Area-3 (2d, 19). Seenin groupsof 4 and 5 individuals. Gibson DesertNature Reserve-5 (lil, 4?). Samphireflats (3.6); plains and slopeswith mulga and FAMILY TACHYGLOSSIDAE (1.4, spinifex (1.5); sandplainswith spinifex 3.8); Tachyglossusaculeatas(Shaw) Echidna sandplainswith gravel and spinifex (4.1); sand dunes with shrubs(1.6, 2. 5, 4.2). CarnarvonRange-Characteristic scats. Yeo Lake Area-Characteristic scats and an Echidna Trapped. quill. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Characteristic scats. Mus musculusLrnnaeus House Mouse Rangeswith mulga (1.1); stony hills and breakaways CarnarvonRange Area-ld. with mulga(3 .5, 4.4, 4.5), Yeo Lake Area-3$. Butler (1971)records "fresh Echidna trails" from the Gibson Desert Nature Reserye-Cranial fragmentsin Durba Hills (Lake Disappointment Area, 2. l) in owl pellets. August1971. Saltbushand bluebushplains (3.4); mulga woodlands (3.1); sandplainswith spinifex (3.9); ranges with FAMILY EMBALLONURIDAE mulga(1. 1). Taphozousgeorgianw Thomas Common Sheath-tailerl Trapped. Bat Lake DisappointmentArea-l2 (4J, 8!). GibsonDeseri Nature Reserve-2?. FAMILY LEPORIDAE (Todd Range;25"45'5, 126"12'8 19.) Oryctolagus cuniculus(Linnaers) Euopean Rabbit Rangesand breakawayswith mulga (2.2, 4.4, 4.5); watercourseswith river gums(2.4). Yeo Lake Area-Characteristicwarrens and moundsof rabbit scat. Collectedby hand in caves,shot at night in floodlights (1930-2100hrs). Samphire flats (3.3); sandplainswith spinifex (3.8). A single female was taken in a mist net set acrossa scat Rabbit fur was identified from a dingo collected at cave entranceon the mesaformface of the Todd Ranse the Todd Range. in a similarsituation to habitat4.5.

FAMILY CANIDAE Canisfamiliaris dingo Meyer Dingo CarnarvonRange Area-Tracks. Yeo Lake Area-Scats. Gibson Desert Nature Reserue-One seen,scats and tracksrecorded. Mulga woodlands(3. l); sandplainswith spinifex(l .4); sandplainswith gravel and spinifex (4.I); sand dunes with shrubs(4.2); breakawayswith mulga (4.5). Scats from Yeo Lakes contained Megaleia rufa bone and hair material; scatsfrom the GibsonDesert Nature Reserve (Young Range) contained Macropus robustus hair material and thosefrom the Todd Range(25"45'5, 126'12'E)contained Rabbit and Mauopus robustushair material. Fiture l-Taphozousflaviyentris from the Durba Hills. t7 Taphozousflavhentris Petels Yellow-bellied Sheath- DISCUSSION tailedBat (Figure 1) CarnarvonRange Area-1t. The distribulions of mammals in the deserts of Western Lake DisappointmentArea-4 (3d, 19). Australia (as defined by Beard 1969) are poorly docu- (Karri Karri Pool; 25"29'S,120"37,E-ld.) mented. Early specimens(1931 and before) were mostly collected along the only two Watercourseswith river gams(1 .2, 2.4). accessroutes available- the Canning Stock Route and the road between Layerton Shot at night in floodlights(1915 hrs-2205 hrs). and Warburton-or from aboriginal missions and The Karri Karri Pool specimenwas collectedafter dark pastoral stations situated around the frinses of the on 19 November 1975. It was flying along- a water- de(efls. These specimensoften have impre-cirecollec- coursefringed with Eucalyptusmicrothbca. tion localities and no habitat data. By the time the (1958) and Gary FAMILY MOLOSSIDAE Highway (1963) had penetrated the Gibson Deseft and the Rawlinna-Warburton Road (1961) had crossed the Tadari^dqaustralis (Gray) White-stripedBat Creat Victoria Desert.thereby improring access.many CarnarvonRange Area lt. mammals indigenous to these deserts had apparently Watercourseswith river gums(1.2). disappeared. Shot at night in floodlights(2150 hrg. Modern mammal records from these areas are still restricted to the main accessroutes and, with the ex- Tadarida sp. ception of a few rodent and bat species,are still relatively few. Information published here and in a previous CatnarvonRange (4d, Area-l4 109). publication in this series (Burbidge et Lake DisappointmentArea-l al. 19'76)has rm- ?. proved knowledge of the habitats and distributions of Watercourseswith river gtms (1.2, 2.4). many desefi mammals and, in addition, increased the Shot in floodlightsbetween 1945 hrs and 2100hrs. number of mammal species known to live in these qeserts. A total of sixteen extant speciesof native mammal were FAMILY VESPERTILIONI DAE recorded during the November 1975 and March 1976 surveys (see Table 2). Field observations and trapping Nyctophilusgeofroyi Leach LesserLong-eared Bat "plague" success indicate that the of rodent species CarnarvonRange Area-lJ. recorded in the Great Victoria Desert and the southern Watercourseswith river gums(l .2) Gibson Desert in March 1975 (Burbidge et al. 1976) Shotin floodlightsat 1930hrs. did not exist at the areas reported on here during Nov- ember 1975and March 1976. Eptesicuspumilis (Gray) Little BrownBat Megaleia rufa, Ningaui ridei and Antechinus macdonnell- CarnarvonRange Area--4 (1i1,3?). ensl,r(as distinct from A. bilarni) are largely restricted Lake DisappointmentArea-3?. to the arid zone. Pseudomys hermannsburgensis and Yeo Lake Area-lJ. Notomys alexis are also desert species although their Gibson Desert Nature Reserve 4 (3d, 1?). distributions extend into peripheral areas of the South (Todd Range; 25"45'5,126"12'E 6 (5d, 1?).) West Land Division of Western Australia (W.A.M. Ranges,breakaways and stonyhills wirh mulga(1.1. M4397,Kalbarri National Park, 1972;W.A.M. M10597, 2.2-3.5,4.5): warercourses uirh rirer gums (1.2, 2.4): 50 km north of Beacon, 1973). The other specieshave Caughtby hand and mist nettedin caves;shot at dusk wider distributions in W.A.: Taphozousgeorgianus and and in floodlightsat night (1940-2020hrs). Taphozousfatit'entris are known from both the arid zone and northern W.A., and Nycticeius grq), (W.A.M. The Todd Rangespecimens were mist nettedafter dark in the mouth of a cave. The habitatof the Todd Range M15184; 30'51'S, ll6'22'E: 1971) and Macropus specimenswas similar to 4.5. robustus are also known from the South-West Land Divrslon. Tadarida au;tralis ar'd N)'ctophilus geofrq'i Threewere seen huddled together in a smailfissure on are known from both the arid zone and southern W.A. the wall of a screecave in the Durba Hills. Theywere ca. 4 m from the entrance. Canis familiar is, Tachyglossus aculeatus, Eptesicus pumil is and Chalinolobusgouldii have been recorded throughout the State. Chalinolobusgouldii (Gray) Goulil,s Wattled Bat CarnarvonRange Area-lo (9d, 1?). Ningaui ridei is apparently widespread in these deserts although it has been recorded only in spinifex form- Watercourses gums with river (1.2). ations on sandplains and sand dunes. The four pre- Shot in floodlights(1825-2200 hrs). vious specimenswere all collected in the Great Victoria Desert (Archer 1975; Burbidge et al. 1976) althoLrgh Nycticeiusgreyi (Gould) Little Broad-nosedBat Burbidge ef a/. found skeletal fragments in owl pellet Lake DisappointmentArea-2 (lj, 1 damaged). material from the Gibson Desert. Our records show that N. ridei is extant in the Gibson Watercourseswith river gums (2.4). Desert and also occurs in the Little Sandy Desert. A partial skeleton Shot in floodlights(1935-2000 hrs). of a.Ningaui (W.A.M. Ml3857) was found in the Great

18 Plate l.- Tall open-shrubland of ,4.d.]id a/,erla on carnarvon Range (l.l); low open-woodlandof Eucalyplus setosa (1 3) in foreground.

Plate 2.- Low open-woodlandof Eucal,,ptts sp. aver Acacia sp. and Thryp tame ne maisonnewii on sanddunes (1.6). Carnarvon Range in background

Piate 3.- Low open-woodland;many areas of bare sandstone on lop of the Durba Hills (2.1) Plate 4.- Low open-woodlandof mulga and Eucalyplus oleosa over a tussockgrassland of E/aglortrr eiopoda (1.1).Yeo Lake Area.

PIat€ 5.- Durba Sp.ings.tucdllptrd camal&rlens is ; saldstoneclifl (2.4).

Plate 6.- Ride'sNingaui fffrrgdri rudeiJ Photo by A.G. wells. Sandy Desert in 1975 Q1"42'5, 12212'E; Patelson recordfrom the GreatSandy Desed (W.A.M. M1547-50; Ranges)but it is not knownwhether the specimenbelongs 2233'5, 123'52'E:1930)suggest that this speciesmay Io N. ridei or to the speciesly'. timealeli. also be found in sand dune country within the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve,Yeo Lake Area and the pro- Tadarida sp. has only recently been recognisedfrom posedreserves of the Little SandyDesert. collections made in Western Australia. Our records from the Lake Disappointment and the Carnarvon Sminthopsislongicaudate was recordedin the proposed RangeAreas (Little SandyDesert) are the first from the Baker Lake Nature Reservein 1975 (Burbidge and inland deserts of W.A. Other Western Australian McKenzie1976). The speciesmay occurelsewherein the collectionshave come from the Pilbara (W.A. Museum GibsonDesert because habitats similar to thoserecorded collection). at the collection site are widespreadin th€ region. Burbidgee/ al. (1976)report collectionsof Sminthopsis The Tadaridasp. from the CarnarvonRange and Lake murinaooldea from sanddune and sandplaincountry in DisappointmentArea were comparedwith descriptions the southernand centralGreat Yictoria Desertand on a of Indo-Australianta-\a of the sub-genusMormopterus watercoursein the southernedge of the Gibson Desert. includedin Hill (1961)and Felten (1964). In external Theserecords, with a further specimenfrom the western and cranial appearancethe specimensdiffer from any end of the Great Victoria Desert (W.A.M. M5782: of the describedspecies. Further work on the taxon- 28'03'5, L2I'57'E; 1963) suggestthe presenceof this omic status of theseand other collectionsof Western speciesin countryrepresented in the Yeo Lake Area and Australian Mormopterw is being undertaken. the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve. Taphozousfaviventr's was first recordedin the deserts Pesudomysdesertor is known in W.A. from the Great of WesternAustralia by W. H. Butler who collecteda Sandy Desert (W.A.M. M1448; 20'00'5, 126"30'E;ca specimenin the Durba Hills (Lake Disappointment 1930)and lrom the south edgeof the Gibson Desertin Area) in August 1971 (Butler l97l). Our collections the Baker Lake Area (Burbidge et al. 1976). Habrtats from the Lake Disappointment (Durba Hills) and listed in Burbidgeet al. (ibid), Parker (1973)and watts Carnarvon Range Areas and from Karri Karri Pool (1972) suggestthat this speciesoccurs in the Gibson indicate that the speciesis widespreadin the Little Desert Nature Reserveand the other proposalswhich Sandy Desert and also occursin the CarnegieSalienl incorporatesandplain and sand dune/spinifexcountry. as definedby Beard(1969); specimens from the Pilbara (W.A.M. M6622; 24'00'5, 117"50'E;1965) and the A number of species, known to have inhabited these Northern Tedtory (Parker1973) suggest an evenwider desertsin the past (ca 1930) have not been subsequently arid zonedistribution. reconfed there. For example Lagorchesteshirsutus vtzs recordedin the Little Sandy Desert near Lake Disap- Scatsof a Rock-Wallabywere collectedin the Durba pointmenrin 1931(w.A.M. M1471,M1472;23'30'5, Hills (Lake DisappointmentArea) during our visjt and 122'45'E). It is probablethat the speciesoccurred in W. H. Butler reported sightinga Rock-Wallabyin the similar sorts of country found within the Lake Dis- sameplace in 1971. The taxonomyof Petrogaleis sill appointmentArea. Finlayson (1961) statesthat this uncertain. Ride (1970)recognises two speciesfrom the specieshad its "headquarters. . . in the great spinifex arid zone of Western Australia. Relevant soecimens desertsto the west of the area here considered ." arePetrcgale penicillata (\l.A.M. M3532,t959aW.A.M. vz the Gibson, Great Victoria, Great Sandyand Little M4988, 1961)from the Warburton Regionand a speci- "mode "Petrcgale SandyDeserts. He statesthat the of occurrence men labelled rothschild" (W.A.M. M3884; of this hare wallaby is fluctuating and discontinuous 23"22'5,120"47'E) which wasrecorded from the western and with isolated colonies widely sundered but edgeof the Little SandyDesert in 1959. A return visit there seemsno doubt that a major collapsein its num- is requiredto determinewhich of thesespecies, if either, bers . . . has occurredin the last 25 years". A further is presentin the Durba Hills. specimenwas recorded near Warburton in 1931(W.A.M. MI572; 2609'5, 126"35'E). The speciesstill occursin Other mammal species are known from these desefts. the of the (Parker Many of thesespecies are likely to (or occur to have 1973). occurred) within areas proposed as reservesbecause theseareas were delineatedso that the resultinssvstem Isoodon auratus was recorded in the Gibson Desert of desertreserres would include the rangeof giol,igical (W.A.M. MI574; 26'15'5, 126"30'E; 1931)in country formations, soil surfacesand vegetationalformations very similar to that found in the Gibson DesertNature typical of eachdesert. Reserve. Perameleseremeanq was collectedat Gahnda Rockhole in the Gibson Desert in 1931 (W.A.M. Several species have been recorded recently in these M1575; 26'36'5, 1.25"52'E)and in the Great Sandy deserts, Burbidge and Fuller (in press) discussevi- Desert in 1944(W.A.M. M2629; 2213',5, 125"03',E)in dence that Onychogalealunata occtrrcd recently in the similar country to that found in the Gibson Desert GibsonDesert. Sminthops^crassicaudatq vtas recorded Nature Reserveand the Lake DisaooointmentArea in the proposed Baker Lake Nature Reservein the respectivefy.Extant populations ol Lbporillushate not Gibson Desert as recently as 1967(W.A.M. M10043; been recorded in Western Australia. However, the 2647'5, 125"57'E). Recent specimensof Sminthopsis wide occurrence and relatively good condition of froggotti arc known from t}Ie Little Sandy Desert remnant"stick-nests" in the desertsof WesternAustralia (W.A.M. M8405; 2256'5, lzl"ll'E; 1971)and Great suggesta similar pattern of disappearanceto that des- Victoria Desert (W.A.M. M8862; 27"58'5, 123'45'El' cribed by Frith (1973,p.306) for other parts of Central 1967),the latter record being only 20 km west of the Australia. Yeo Lake Area. A recent specimenof Sminthopsis hirtipes from Djindirana Claypan (W.A.M. M8083; Four species,known from thesedeserts in the past, haye 24'22'5, 125"08'E; 1968)in the cibson Desert along been recorded in peripheral areas more recently and are with recordsof this soeciesfrom reservesin the Great more likely to be extant in the desertsthan the species Victoria Desert (Burbidge et al. 1976)and an older just mentioneil. There are recent records of Maootis

L9 Iagotis from the Warburton region (W.A.M. M7036; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2608'5, 126'35'E;1965). The authorsrecently received a live specimencollected in March 1977 from near We are indebtedto all membersof the exoeditionfor Warburtbn Mission; it is at presenton display in the their assistancein the collectionof mahmals. Dr Perth Zoological Gardens. Specimensare also known D. J. Kitchener of the W.A. Museum determinedthe from the GreatSandy Desert (W.A.M. M1491;22'31'S, Ningaui, provided advice on the reproductive condition 124'24'E: 1930) and from the western edge of the of Tapltozousgeorgianus and examinedthe manuscdpt, Great Victoria Desert (W.A.M. Ml0l0; 26'21'S, He wasalso kind enoughto allow us accessto the records 119"49'Et 1928). A specimen of Lagorchestescon- of the W.A. Museum mammal collection, much of spicillatuswas presentedto the W.A. Museum in 1959 which has recently been reviewedby Mr A. Baynes. fiom the western edge of the Little Sandy Desert Dr M. Archer identifiedthe Antechinusmaterial in owl (W.A.M. M3497; 23"55'5, 12007'E) but there is no pellets. recentevidence to suggestits continuedpresence further We also wish to thank Dr S. J. J. F. Davies of the east in W.A. Finlayson (1961)states tlat this species ". C.S.I.R.O.Division of Wildlife Researchfor comment- had . . essentially. . . an east-westrange to approx. ing on the manuscript. 245. la|. and probably lormerly occupiedall the area north of that Darallel." Dasvcercusuisticauda was last recordedin ihe cibson (W.A.M. M1576; 26"35'5, REFERENCES 12656'E) and Great Sandy (W.A.M. Mls2lt 22'54'5, Archer, M. (1915), "Ninga i, a New Genus of Tiny Das''urids 123"30'E)Deserts in 1930-31. (Marsupialia) and Two New Species,M timealqi a'jd N. ridei Although a specimen from Arid WestemAnsl'Ialia". Mem, Mus.17,237-249. "The Qld. camefrom the Warburton Regionin 1967/68(W.A.M. Beard,J. S. (1969). natural regionsolthe desertsof Westem M7743; 2606'5, 126"40'E)its statusin the desertsof Australia". J. EcoL 57. 617-:71,1. WesternAustralia to-day is unknown. Burbidge, A. A. and Fuller, P. J. (in press). "Mammals of the Warburton Region, Western Australia". Rec, West, Aust. Smith (1966,p.128-129) refers to a specimenof Nolor- Mus. yctes typhlopscollected in 1906by H. S. Trotman on Burbidge,A. A. and McKenzie, N. L. (1976). "A Further Record the Canning Stock Route, betweenKillaguffa Rock- of Sminthopsis longicaudata (Marsupialia, Dasyuridae.)". W.A. Ndt. 13 (6),1M-145. hole (23',14'5, 12229'E) and OnegunyahRock Hole Burbidge, A. A., Mckenzie, N. L., Chapman, A. and Lambefi, "The (23"33'5, 12234'E). She statesthat it was the first P. M. 0976). Wildlife of some Existing atrd Proposed record of Notoryctes typhlops from Westem Australia ReseNes in the Great Victoria and Gibson Deserts, Westem and that it waslodged in the W.A. Museumas specimen Australia". Wildl. Res. Bull. West. Aust. No. 5 (DeDt. Fish, 8815. This specimen wildl.. Penh). number has now been re-catal- Butler, W. H. (1971). "Report on a.o Expedition to the Durba ogued as M16061. Its locality data plac€sit within Range, Canning Stock Route, W.A." Unpublished. the boundariesof the proposedLake Disappointment Calaby, J. H. (197D. 'The Current Statusof Austmlian Macro. Nature Reserve. Unfortunately,the locality listed for podidae". Aast. Zool. 16 (1),11-29. Corbett, L. K. (1975). "Geographical Distribution and Habitat this specimenin the 1907taxidermist's log of the W.A. of the Marsupial Mole, Notorlctes b)phlops," Aust Mamm. I Museum is "Joanna Springs", ca 200 km NNE of (4),37s-j'78. "Zur OnegunyahR.H. and this is the locality included in Felten, H. (1964). Taxonomie indo-australischer Fleder- meuse der Gattvl]g Tadati.la (Mammalia, Chiroptera)". Corbett (1975). Certainly habitat preferencesdis- Senck.Biol. 45. t-13. cussedin Corbett (197t indicate that both localities Finlayson, H. H. (1961). "On Central Australian Mammals: are equally possible. However, as Smith is quoting Part IV-The Distdbution and Status ol Central Australian Trotman's actual descriptionof the events associated Species". -Rec.S, Aust. Mus. 14 O), 141-191. "Joanna Frith, H. J. (1973). Wildlife Conseryation. (Argus and Robert- with tho collection, the Springs" locality is son, Sydney). probably an error. In 1968a specimenof N. typhlops Hill, J. E. (1961). "Indo-Australian Bats of the Ge ts Tddarida-" (W.A.M. M7711 26"08'5,126"35'E) was recordedfrom Mammalia 25 (1), 29-56. ; Marlo$. B. J. (1958), "A Surveyofthe Marsupialsof New South Warburton Mission. Wales'. aS/RO Wildl.Ret. 3, 71-114. Parker, S. A. (1973). An Annotated Checklistof the Native Land While the information collectedduring these surveys, Mammals of the Northem Teritory". Rec. S. Aast- Mus. and an earlier survey reported by Burbidge et al. (19i6), 16, 1-57. has improvedknowledge of the mammalfauna of these Ride, W. D. L. (1910). A Gaide to the Natiye Mammals of Aus- areas, the foregoing discussionsugg€sts that modern t/d/ra. (Oxford University Press, Melbourne). Smith, Eleanor (1966). The Becko ing West-the Story of H. S. mammal collections are incomplete, especiallywith Trotman and the Canning Stock lRo&te. (Angus and Robert- respectto speciesof bandicootsand small wallabies son, Sydney). (seealso Calaby 1971;Marlow 1958). A fufther series WaLr.. C. H. S. (1972). Handbookof South Australidn Rodents and Snall Mar:upials. (field Nalurali5L'sSociery of Sourh of mammalsurveys is essentialif the conservationstatus Australia. Adelaide). of modern populationsof such speciesin thesedeserts, Youngson, W. K. and McKenzie, N. L. (1977). "An Improved and especiallyin the areasdefined for reservation,is to Bat-Collecting Technique". Bull. Aust. Mdmm, Soc.3 (2), be established. 20t1.

20 TABLE I FEMALE BREEDING INFORMATION_RODENTS AND BATS (X:enlargement; -:noedargement)

Number Enlarged Enlarged Species of Adult Location* Date maftrmae Notes Females uterus/i

Notomrsalexis 4 CR, LD 21-30 Nov. 1975 x All with one foetus 3 CR, YL, GD 19-29 Mar. 1976 x (2) x (3) Two lactating Pseudomysheftnaknsburgehsis I CR 22 Nov. 1975 4 YL, GD 19-22 lji,.ar. 1976 Tophozousgeorgianus 6 LD 25-27 Nov. 1975 Thee of the November speci- (1 GD 26 Mat. 19'76 X mens with one foetus, a fourth TR, GD 2+26 Mdr, 19'76 I was suckling a juvenile.

Tapho z o us fl a1tiv e nt r i s I LD 25 Nov. 1975 One foetus, 1 CR 28 Mar. 1976 Taddridaauttralis .... 1 CR 28 Mar, 19'16 Tadaridasp...... t+ CR, LD 21-25 Nov. 1975 X One foetus each. I4 CR 28 Mar, 1976 ; l4 28 Mar. 1976 t Epteticus pumilis 5 CR, LD 20-26 Nov. 1975 Two with two foetuses. 3 CR, TR, GD 22 30 Mar. 1976 ChalinoIo bus go uldii .... I CR 28 Mai 1976 Damaged during collection.

* GD-Gibson Desert Nature Reserye. CR-Carnarvon Radge Aiea. YL*Yeo Lake Area. LD-Lake Disappointment Area. TR-Todd Range. t A thid female specimen was damaged during collection.

.IABLE 2 SPECIES KNOWI\ FROM THE PROPOSED NATURE RESERVES(I975-1N6)

Species Camarvod Range Lake Disappointment Yeo I-ake Gibson Deseit Arca Natue Reserve

Macrcpusrobutlur Megaleiarufa ...... Antechinusmacdonnellensis .... Ningaui rid"i ...... t Notomyt alexis Pse u do m! t h?t makns bu r g en s i s Nyctophilusgeofroyi ...... Eptesicuspumilis X i Chalinolobusgouldii ...... Nyctieius Bre!i Tadatida auslMlis Tdda da sp...... Tdphozousgeorgianus ...... i; Tdphozo$fraviventri, ...... Tachyg lo s s u r acul e a t us X Canis faniliaris X

2r PART IV BIRDS by R. E. JOHNSTONEI, C. P. S. de REBEIR# and L. A. SMITHI.

INTRODUCTION FAMILY ANATIDAE This paper is based mainly on data gatheredduring Anas gibberifrons Miiller Grey Teal biological survey work on four proposed or existing Yeo Lake Area -one on smallpool near Yeo Home- desertnature reservesin WesternAustralia. The work steadin March 1976. was carried out by Departmentol Fisheriesand Wild- life, Western Australian Museum and C.S.I.R.O. Che onetta.iubata(Latham) WoodDuck Wildlife Researchpersonnel. Yeo Lake Area-Flock of about sixty-125"29'Ej in a clavoan full The Lake DisaDDointmentArea was visited lrom 26 of waternear Yeo Hills(28"06'5. in Vay November 1 Dlcember 19'75, the Gibson Desert 1966. Also one flying over Yeo Hills at night in Nature Reservefrom 23-27 March 1976,the Carnarvon May 1966. Range Area from 2V24 November 1975 and from 28-31 March 1976, and Yeo Lake Area from 18-21 March 1976. Descriptionsof areasand itinerariesare FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE given in McKenzie,and Burbidge and McKenzie (this Hamirostramelanosternon (Gould) Black-breastedKite publication). Carnarvon Range Area-One over sandplainat south We are grateful to the following people for allowing us end of rangein March 1976. to use their relevant and unoublished data: W. H. Butler (Lake Disappointmeni Area 11-17 August Accipiter cirrocephalr.rs(Vieillot) Collar€il Spanowhawk 1971), M. (Gibson Desert G7 G. Storr September Carnarvon Range 1966and 25-26 J.tly 1963)and J. R. Ford (Carnarvon Area-Three seen in March 1976, all along a gully in RangeArea 15-16July 1975and Yeo Lake Area 17-19 the range. May 1966). Data collectedin the Gibson Desert on Aquila morphnoidesGould 25 and 26 August 1973by J. R. Ford and R. E. John- Little Eagle stoneis also included. Lake DisappointmentArea-One at Durba Gorge in Abundanceat the time of our surveysis indicated as November1975. scarce,uncommon, moderately common and common. Camarvon RangeArea-One at south end of rangein Habitat notes are given whenever available. Durba November1975. Gorge and Killagurra Gorge refer to the steep sided rocky valleys in which Durba Springsand Killagurra Aquila audax (Latham) Wedge-tailedEagle Springare situated. Lake DisappointmentArea One at Durba Hills in November1975. LIST OF SPECIES Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-One over spinifexflat FAMILY CASUARIIDAE nearMt Everardin March1976. Dromaius novqehollandiae(Latham) E,mt CarnarvonRange Area-One over sandplain,south end Lake DisaDDointmentArea-Scarce in November1975. of rangein March 1976. Another seenin July 1975. A skeletbnand a carcaseat Durba Springs;droppings Yeo Lake Area-Three in March 1976. Seen over and tracks at Killagurra Gorge. samphireflats and breakaways. Gibson DesertNature Reserve-Scarcein March 1976, One on a lush grassy flat 9 km south-eastof Mt FAMILY FALCONIDAE EYerard;tracks at Young Range. Falco peregrinusTunstall PeregrineFalcon RangeArea-Moderately commonin March Carnarvon CarnarvonRange Area*Four circlingbluffin 1976 group 10). Mostly on sandplain at November flargest 1975, one pair of which were displaying. One south €nd of the range. in March 1976and a pair in July 1975. (AIl ar south Yeo Lake Area-Common in March 1976 (nineteen enc ol range.) counted on a 17 km transectfrom Stony Point to Yeo Lake Area-One at SwamperPoint (Yeo Hills) in Yeo Homestead). Mostly on samphireflats. Male, Mav 1966. with sevenchicks about 75 cm high, on Yeo Lake in March 1976. Falcolongipennis Swainson Little Falcon Lake Disappoirtment Area-Two at Durba Gorge in FAMILY ARDEIDAE November1975. Ardea novaehollqndiqeLatham White-faced Heron Yeo Lake Area-One in a malleenear Point Sundayin Yeo Lake Area-Five seen,all at small pools in lake. March 1976. Two singlebirds in May and three in March 1976. Falco berigora Vigors and Horsfield Brown Falcon 1 Department of Vertebntes, Western Australian Museum, Fratrcis Gibson DesertNature Reserye-Several youns Street.Perth. W.A, 6000. seenat 'Division of Wildlifo Research, CSIRO, Fyfe Street, Helena Rangein March1976 and August 1973 and two in a Valley, W.A. 6056. wash area with lush herbageand bloodwoods32 km 22 west of EverardJunction in Aueust 1973. Nest with FAMILY COLUMBIDAE lhreeeggs on top of an old WFite-browed Babbler's GeopeliacLneatq (Latham) DiamondDove nest 6 m up in a Gidgee(Acacia pruinocarpq) near th€ Young Rangein August 1973. The sitting Lake Disappointment Area Common in November was very pale. 1975. Flocks of up to forty drinking at pools at Durba and Killagurra Gorges. Carnarvon Range Area-Single bird over Mulga (Acaciq aneura)flat near the south-westcorner of Gibson Desert Nature Resewe-Only seenin August proposed reserve in March 1976 and another in 1973. Two at Everard Junction and three 25 km November1975. west of Everard Junction. All amons.Acacia and Grevilleaon opengravelly ground. Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common around break- awaysand over samphireflats in March 1976. Carnarvon Range Area-Several pairs at northern end of rangein November1975. Falco cenchroidesYigors and Horsfield NankeenKestrel Yeo Lake Area-a singlebird at Stony Point in March Moderately common on all four Areas. Associated 19'16. with bluffs and clifls. Phaps chalcoptera(Latham) CommonBronzewing CarnarvonRange Area-Three drinking from pools at FAMILY MEGAPODIIDAE dusk at south end of range in March 1976and one Leipoaocellata Gould Mallee Fowl in July 1975. Yeo Lake Area-Old nest found in Mulsa woodland. Yeo Lake Area-About fifteen drinkine from small pools at dusk.

FAMILY TURNICIDAE Ocyphapslophotes (Temmitck) CrestedPigeon Turnix velox(Gould) Little Quail Lake DisappointmentArea-Ones and twos at Durba Lake DisappointmentArea-Three singlebirds in open Gorgein November1975. spinifex at Durba Gorge in November 1975. CarnarvonRange Area-Moderately common. A flock Carnarvon Range Area-One on the track to Mt of twelvein July 1975. Flocks of up to five and one Methwin, west end of range,in November1975. ol fifty in November 1975 and flocks up to twelve and one of twenty-flvein March 1976.

FAMILY RALLIDAE Geophapsplumfera Gould Plumeil Pigeon Gallinula ventrulis Gould Black-tailerl Native Hen Carnarvon Range Area-Two parties (total twelve) at Yeo Lake Area-Six at pool near Yeo Homesteadin Katjera Spring about 5 km east of Mt Methwin on May 1966. 15 May 1975(Reid, 1976).

FAMILY OTIDAE FAMILY PSITTACIDAE Otis australis Gray Australian Bustfiil Platycercuszonarius (Shaw) Ringneck Parrot Lake DisappointmentArea-One in spinifex near the Lake DisappointmentArea-Uncommon. Ones,twos west side of Durba Hills in November1975. and threes in gullies with eucalyptusat Durba and Killagurra Gorges. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-One on soinifex flat with mulgaand scatteredeucalypls aL Young Range Carnarvon Range Area-Uncommon. Mostly pairs, in March 1976. in mulga and spinifexand gullies in the range with Eucallptus miuotheca aqd Callitris. Carnarvon Range Area-Tracks at north end of rangein November1975. Platycercusvarius (Clark) Mulga Panot Yeo Lake Area-A singlebird, a pair and a group of three on open samphireflats in March 1976. Tracks Gibson DesertNature Reserve-Uncommonto moder- at Yeo Hills in May 1966. ately common. Severalpairs and a flock of six in openrnulga at Young Rangein March 1976. Carnarvon Range Area-Uncommon. Two in River FAMILY CHARADRIIDAE Gums in July 1975and severalsightings ol twos and Vanellustricolor (Yieillot) BanderlPlover threes in thickets in gullies at north end of range in November1975. Yeo Lake Area Flock of forty and a single bird at claypansnear Yeo Homesteadin May 1966. Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common. Mostly in mallee and Mulga woodlands,usually in twos and Chqrqdrius melanopsYieillot Black-fronted Dotterel threes(one flock of eight). Yeo Lake Area-One at a Dool near Yeo Homestead in May 1966. Neophemabourkii (Gould) BourkePanot Gibson DesertNature Reserve Two on stony ground Charadriuscinctus (Gould) Red-kneedDotterel with scatteredmulga near Charlies Knob in March Yeo Lake Area Six at pool near Yeo Homesteadin 1976. May 1966. Yeo Lake Area-Pair at Miller Soak in March 1976. 23 Melopsittacusundulaars (Shaw) Builgerygah FAMILY STRIGIDAE Lake DisappointmentArea-Common to vety common Tyto alba (Scopoli) Barn Owl ai Durba Hills. Large flocks roosting in mulgason Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-A large number o dunesand in eucalyptsalong the creekin Killagurra pelletsfound in a caveat the Young Rangewere Gorge. probablydeposired by a bird of this species. Gibson DesertNature Reserve-Scarcein March L976, CarnarvonRange Area-One chasingbats aroundpools moderatelycommon in August 1973and September at night at south end of rangein March 1976. 1966. Young found in hollows of bloodwoodsand white gums in a wash area about 25 km west of Yeo Lake Area Four, a1l in March 1976. Mostly EverardJunction in August 1973. around samphireflats at night, one at edgeof break- away at Point Sunday. CarnarvonRange Area-Moderately common. Flocks flfteen in July and November 1975. of six to Ninox novaeseelandiae(Gme\n) Boobook Owl Area-Scarce. Twos and threes at Miller Yeo Lake Lake DisappointmentArea-Calling at Durba Gorge and in good standsof mulga in March 1976. Soak in November1975. Nymphicushollandiczs(Kerr) Cockatiel Carnarvon Range Area Calling on two occasionsin March 1976. Lake DisappointmentArea-Two at Durba Gorge in November1975. Yeo Lake Area One at edgeof samphireflat and one roosting in eucalypt on dune, both in March 1976. Cacatuaroseicapilla(Vieillot) Galah Disappointment Area-One on a dune near Lake FAMILY PODARGIDAE Durba Gorgein November1975. Podargusstrigoides (Latham) Tawny Frogmouth Carnarvon RangeArea-Flocks of ten and thirteen at south end of range in March 1976and two pairs at Yeo Lake Area-Five, all in March 1976. Mostly north end of rangein November 1975. around breakawaysand samphireflats at night. Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common in March 1976 and May 1966. Pairs ahd flocks of three,mostly at FAMILY AEGOTHELIDAE water at Point Sunday,Miller Soak and Yeo Hills. Aegothelescristatus (\,lhite) CrestedOwl€t-Nightjar Lake Disappointment Area-One calling at Durba FAMILY CUCULIDAE Gorgein November1975. Cuculuspallidus (Latham) Pallirl Cuckoo Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-One calling at night Lake DisappointmentArea-One at Durba Gorge in at YoungRange in March1976. 1975. November Carnarvon Range Area-One flushed from spout of Gibson Desert Nature Resewe-Several sightingson dead eucalypton a creek bank in November 1975, stony flats with mulga, gidgee and bloodwoodsat one from hollow of Eucab)ptusmiuotheca in the Browneand Young Ranges. rangein March 1976and two on sandplainat night Carnarvon Range Area-Five in November 1975(one in 1owopen-shrubland ol Hakealolea at southend calling at night) and one in July 1975. of range. Yeo Lake Area-Total of five in March 1976 and May Yeo Lake Area-Two in open Mulga at Stony Point 1966, all in well-woodedhabitats. Pair of yellow- and one at Miller Soak. a1lin March 1976. fronted Honeyeatersfeeding a juvenile in a mallee near Point Sundayin March 1976. FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDAE Chrysococcyxosculuts (Gould) Black-eareil Cuckoo Eurostopodusguttatus (yrgors and Horsfield) Spotteil Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-One near Charlies Nightjar Knob in September1966. Gibson DesertNature ReseNe Two at Young Range CarnarvonRange Area-Two in November1975, both in March 1976. at south end of range. CarnarvonRange Area- Two near pool at south end Yeo Lake Area-Two single birds in March 1976 and of range in November 1975, and one calling from severalpairs at Yeo Hills in May 1966. mulgain March 1976. Yeo Lake Area-Two in March 1976,one near a small Chrysococcyx basairs (Horsfield) Horsfield Bronze pool on samphireflat and anotherat Miller Soak. Cuckoo GibsonDesert Nature Reserve-Onein July 1963,three in August1973. ln good standsof mulgaat Young FAMILY ALCEDINIDAE Rangeand mulgaand Eremophilaon slonyflats near Halcyon pyrrhopygra Gould Red-rumpeilKingfisher EverardJunction. Chestnut-tailedThornbillsfeeding a fledglingnear EverardJunction in August 1973. Gibson Desert Nature Resewe-One in a wash area with white gums, bloodwoodsand lush herbage32 Carnarvon Range Area-One in mulga at foot of km west of Everard Junction in August 19'13and rangein March 1976. another at Charlies Knob, Young Range in Septem- Yeo Lake Area-One in March 1976. ber 1966. 24 .Two Ca^rnarvonRange Area in \orember 1975(one CarnarvonRange Area-Moderately common Teeolng grasshoppers), in March on and one in low oDen_ 1976in gullieswith River Gums. One shrubland at the south on sandplainsouth ol rangein March end of the range in November 1975. Nest 1976. with brooding adult on horizontal fork of eucalvot in Yeo Lake Area-Four seenin wooded areas, gully.in 1975. Yeo Lake Area- Moderarelycommon in well wooded habitals. Recordedar Point Sunday,SLony point, FAMILY HIRUNDINIDAE Miller Soakand Yeo Hills.

Cheramoecaleucosterna (GouId) White-backedSwallow Lalage sueurii (Y ieillot) White-wingeilTriller Lake Disappointment Area-Flock of six over pools at Lake Disappointment Area-Recorded at Killasurra head of Durba jn Gorge and t$o over the Goree Corgein AugustI97l andone along dunes at D"urba November1975. Also recordedat DurbaSpri-ng in Hills in November1975. August1971. GibsonDesert Nature Reserve-Uncommon. Onesand CarnarronRange Area-Two at westend of rangein twor.in March,1976. July t96l and August I973. r\ovemDef t9 /). Mostlyon openflats with mulga. -Several Yeo Lake.Area pairsar eastend of proposed Carnarvon Range Area-Uncommon. reserve In flowerins in March 1976- treesand shrubsin November1975. Hirundo ariel (Gould) Fairy Martin FAMILY Lake DisappoinrmentArea-Three hawLinsover nool PACHYCEPHALIDAE and some old nestsunder a rock ledgi at Durba Microeca leucophaea(Latham) Brown Flycatcher Gorgein November1975. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-One GibsoB in mulga at DesertNature Reserye-severalold nestsunder Young Rangein March 1976. a rock overhangin the Young Range. Yeo Lake Area-One in mulga-malleewoodland in Carnarvon RangeArea-Old nestsbelow a rock ledge March 1976. over a pool at south end of range. Yeo Lake Area-Old nestsbelow a rock ledseat Miller PetroicogooLlenovli fVigors and Horsfield; Rerl-capped Soak and_twenty old nestsunder a ledgeit a break- Robin awaysourh-easr of Stony Poin{.. Moderalelycommon at CibsonDesert Nature Reserve. CarnarronRange Area and yeo LakeArea. Mainlv in. well woodedareas of mulgaand mallee,and in FAMILY MOTACILLIDAE InlcKets alons cleeks. Anthusnoyaeseelandiae (Gmelin) Richarrl'spipit Breeding-at -urnaruon-RangeArea in Norember 1975. r\e$ t') m up ln a Kurara () Lake DisappointmentArea-Recorded for Killagurra bush wirh t$o fearherednestlins5. Gorge in August 1971and two on the west side of DurbaHills in Norember 1975. Petroica cucullata(Latham) Hooderl Robin Gibson Desert Nature Reserye-Recorded in Ausust Lake Disappointment Area-Recorded at Killagurra 1973 and September1966. On flats with scattdred Gorge in August 1971. mulga,in washareas and at the young Range. Nest w-ith.threeeggs under a smallEremophila at- Charlies Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Moderately common. Knob in August1973. Mainly open mulga. Pair wirh two ffedslinest iust llying) | I km wesrof EverardJuncrion in A-uguirID7J. CarnarvonRange Area-Scarce. One on a burnt area southend of rangein March 197b,two on sandDlain Carnarvon Range Area-One in sandplain area south so-uthof rangein july 1975and two at north end ol rherange in July 1975and a nother in Norem ber 1975. ol range rn November1975. Yeo Lake Area Moderalely common. Mainlv in Yeo Lake Area-Common on samphireflats and in mulga thickets around baseof hills and breakaways. open mulga savannahin March 1916arrd May 1966. Pachycephala rufi.rentris (Latham) Rufous Whisfler Lake DisappoinLmenrArea-Calling at Killasurra FAMILY CAMPEPHAGIDAE Corge and Durba Hills in Novembir t97.5_ Cibson Desert Nature Coracinqmaxima(Ruppell) GroundCuckoo-shrike Reserve-Common. Mostlv in In.ulgathickets around rangesand along small crieks Yeo l.ake Area-Flock of sevennear yeo Homestead wrth eucalvDts. in March 1976. Carnanon Range, Area-Common. Mainly along gullies and creeks with eucalypts. Coracinanoyaehollandiae (Gmelin') Black-facerlCuckoo_ shrike Yeo Lake Area-Common in all wooded. habitats. Lake Disappoinlment Area-several at Durba Gorgein Colluricincla harmonicq (Latham) Grey November1975. Shrike-thrush Lake Disappointment Area- Gibson Seen and heard dailv Desert Nature Reserye-One near Everard along rhe creeksat Durba and_Killagurra Junctionin March 1976. Corges ii November 1975. Also recordedin August 197i.

2) Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Moderatelycommon Carnarvon Range Area One at edge of creek with Two aroundthe Young Rangein March 1976and flve mulga and spinifexin November 1975. pairsat ChariiesKnob in August1973. Nestwith Yeo Lake Area Moderatelycommon to common on ihree eggsin a mulga at CharliesKnob in August the rock strewn slopes of breakawayswith open 1973. mulga and low Eremophila, Cassia and Scaevola, Carnarvon Range Area-Moderately common along gullies and creeks with thickers of Eucalyptus,Acacia Pomatostomustemporalis (Vigors and Horsfield) Grey- and Callitris. crownedBabbler Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common. Onesand twos Carnarvon Range Area Several old nests found in in malleenear Stony Point and mulga at Yeo Hills. mulgatr€es in July 1975.

FAMILY FALCUNCULIDAE Pomatostomussuperciliosus (Vigors and Horsfleld) White-browedBabbler Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors and Horsfleld) Cresterl Bell bird Lake DisappointmentArea-Several at Durba Gorge in November1975. Gibson Deselt Nature ReseNe-Moderately common. Onesand twos mainly aroundthe Browneand Young Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-moderatelycommol. Rangesin mulga and eucalypts. Mainly in good standsof mulga and eucalyptsalong creeksand around the ranges. Many old nests in Carnarvon Range Area-Uncommon. Two at south mulga and gidgee . Fresh nest in mulga in end of rangein July 1975and one callingalong creek August 1973. at sameplace in November 1975. CarnarvonRange Area-Moderately commonin ranges, Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common. Mainly areas both in well-vegetatedgullies and sparsevegetation of good mulga woodland and mallee woodland on oges. around Point Sunday,Stony Point and Yeo Hills. Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common. Mainly in Psophodescristatus (Goald) Western Wedgebill good stands of eucalyptsand mulga around Yeo Lake, Point Sundayand Yeo Hills. Gibson DesertNature Reserve-Scarcein August 1973. Two in open mulga-spinifex13 km north of Young Rangeand one heard singing12 km west of Everard Junction. FAMILY Aphelocephalaleucopsis (Gould) Southem Whiteface FAMILY MONARCHIDAE Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Ijncommon. Two Rhipidura leucophrys(Latham) Wi[ie Wagtail pairs in gidgeeand Eremophilaat the Young Range in March 1976 and one on an oDenstonv flat with Durba Gorge in Lake DisappointmentArea-Pair in mulga24 km westof EverardJunction in-July 1963. November1975. Yeo Lake Area in well-woodedareas around common' Common Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Moderately breakaways. Mainly aroundlbe Browneand Young Rangesand alongcreeks with thicketso[ mulga. Aphelocephalanigricincta (North) BanrledWhiteface Carnarvon Range Area-Moderately common. Ones Desert Nature Reserve-Moderatelycommon. gullies Gibson and twos along creeksand at the south end of Mainly in open stony areas with scatteredmulga, the range. Hakea, Grcvillea,Eremophila and spinifex. A nest Yeo Lake Area Moderately common. Mainly in with young near the Young Rangein March 1976. mulga and malleewoodland. Gerygonefusca (Gould) WesternFlyeater FAMILY GRALLINIDAE CarnarvonRange Area-Two in eucalyptsalong creek at south end of the rangein November1975. Grallinacyanoleuca(Latham) MagpieJark Carnarvon RangeArea-Single birds on the sandplain Smicrornisbreriroslrur (Gould) Weebill south of the rangein March 1976and July 1975. CarnarvonRange Area-Moderately commonin €ucal- Yeo Lake Area-Recorded for Yeo Lake by Pianka ypts along creeksand gulliesat the range. and Pianka (1910,p.22). Yeo Lake Area-Moderately commonin malleewood- lands. FAMILY ORTHONYCHIDAE Acanthizapusilla (Shaw) Brown Thornbill Cinclosoma cinnamomeum Could Cinnamon Quail- thrush Carnarvon Range Area-Several at the south end of the rangein March 1976. Lake DisappointmentArea-Calling along creekbelow Durba Gorgein November1975. Yeo Lake Area-IJncommon to moderatelycommon. Mainly mallee and mulga woodland. Gibson Desert Natur€ Reserve-Common. Mainly on slopes of the breakawaysvegetated with open the Acqnthizqrobustirostris Milligan Slat€-backedThornbill mtrlgaand low Ercmophila. Pairsand groups of up 10 eight (includingseveral juveniles) at the Young Lake Disappointment Area-Recorded at Killagurra Rangein August 1973. Gorgein August 1971.

zo Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Moderatelycommon. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Uncommon. Mostlv Mainly in low bushy mulgas around the Young in spinifex on gravelly or sandy ffats. A femald- Range. Nest with two eggsin a mulga on top of plumagedbird was flushedfrom a recently-usednest the Young Range in August 1973. in a low shrubnear EverardJunction in August 1973. Carnarvon Range Area*Several in March 1976. All Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common on samphire in Acqciq sp. on the range. flats with saltbushand Itrrplex. Yeo Lake Area-Common around Yeo Hills in tall Stipiturus rufceps Campbell Rufouscrowneil Emu-wren mulga on stony plateau,but scarcein other areas. GibsonDesert Nature Reserve-Pairwith two fledglings on sandplainnear EverardJunction in August 1973. uropygialis Gould Chestnut-rumpedThornbill Lake Disappointment Area*Recorded at Killagurra Gorgein August1971. FAMILY SYLVIIDAE Gibson Desert Nature Reserve Common. Pairs and Cincloramphusmqthewsi Iredale Rufous Songlark small flocks of up to fifteen on flats with low open GibsonDesert Nature Reserve-Onein a washarea with mulga around the Young Rangein March 1976and Eucalyptsand Acqcia24 km westofEverard Junction August 1973. Pair with fledglingsin mulgaon plateau in August 1973. in August1973. Cincloramphusuuralis (Yigors and Horsfield) Brown CarnarvonRange Area-Moderately common. Mainly Songlark mulgathickets around the baseof the range. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-three sinele-Junction birds in Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common to common. open mulga and spinilexnear Everard in Mainly in mulga-malleewoodland at breakawaysand March 1976. on dunes. Breedingin May 1966. CarnarvonRange Area-One giving display flight and calling north-west Pyrr at end of the range in November holaemusbrunneus Gonld 1975. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Moderatelycommon Yeo Lake in Area-One on an open flat with scattered thicketsof Acqciaso. and bloodwoodsaround the mulga in March Young 1976and anothernear Yeo Home- Range. steadin May 1966. Yeo Lake Area Uncommon. Threein Mav 1966.two a[ StonyPoint in low busbesand one at YeoHills. FAMILY NEOSITTIDAE Calamanthusfuliginosus (Vigors and Horsfield) Fiekl Neositta chrysoptera(Latham) Australian Sittella Wren GibsonDesert Nature Reserve*Moderatelycommon in Yeo Lake Area-One calling on extensivesamphire- flocks of two to fifteen in mulga and eucalyptsat saltbushflat near Turkey Hill in May 1966. Young Range. Carnarvon Range Area-Flock of eight in mulga at south end of rangein July 1975. FAMILY MALURIDAE Amytornisstriatus (Gould) StriatedGrass-wren FAMILY CLIMACTERIDAE Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Uncommonin March Climacteris affinis Blyth White-brow€dTrecueeper 1976. One on flats near the BrowneRange, and two Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Six, including two pairs flushedfrom densespinifex on open sandyflat juvenilesin open mulga 56 km north of the Young 4 km north of ihe Young Range. One of the latter Rangein August 1973. birds was sitting in a nest constructedof soft grass and lined with spinifexseeds, web and spider Climacterisrufa Gould Rufous Tree-creeper egg cases. The nest measured130 mm long and 90 mm wide with an openingnear the top. Yeo Lake Area-A male collectedin mixed malleeand marble gums (E. gongylocarpa)near Yeo Hills in May. 1966. Maluruslamberti Yigors and Horsfield YariegatedWren Lake Disappointment Area-Recorded at Killagurra Gorgein August1971. FAMILY DICAEIDAE Gibson Desert Nature Reserye-Moderatelycommon. Dicqeum hirundinaceum(Shaw) Mistleto€-bird Mainly mulga thickets along creeks and wash areas Lake DisappointmentArea-Recorded at Durba Springs with denseshrubbery. in August l97l and onesand twos in eucalyptsalong Durba Gorgein November1975. Yeo Lake Area-One party of six, including a male in nuptial ,in open Acacia near Point Sunday Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-One in mixed.Acacia in May 1966. and eucalyptsalong a creekin March 1976. CarnarvonRange Area-Ones, twosand threes,mainly Malurus leucopterusDumont White-wingedWren in eucalyptsat south end of the rdnge. Lake DisappointmentArea-Recorded at Durba Springs Yeo Lake Area-One near Point Sunday and another in Augusl1971. at Yeo Hills both in May 1966. 27 FAMILY PARDALOTIDAE Gibson DesertNature Reserve-Threenoted in March 1976. Two in stuntedeucalypts near Everard Junction Pardalotusrubricatus Gould Red-browedPardalote and one in openmulga near the Young Range. Two Gibson Desert Nature Resene Single birds in July on spinifex sandplain with low shrubs in August 1963and SeDtember1966 in a wash area with blood- 1973. woods 24 km west of Everard Junction. CarnarvonRange Area-Moderately commonin March 1976, July 1975 and November 1975. Mainly in Pardalotusstriatus substriatusMathews Red-tippedParal- river gums and Minnerichie (Acacia spp.) flats and alote in mallee ard Grevilleqwickhami on the range. Lake DisappointmentArea-Recorded at Durba Springs in August1971. Meliphaga plumula (Gould) Yellow-fronted Carnarvon Range Area Pair in eucalyptsat south Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common to common. end of rangein March 1976. Ones,twos and flocks of up to fifteen. Mostly in Yeo Lake Area-Moderately commonto common. At sandplain areas with Eucalyptus youngiana, mallee stony Point and Yeo Hills in May 1966,mostly in and marble gums but occasionallyin mulga. Pair mallee but also in mulga-malleewoodland. feeding a juvenile Pallid Cuckoo in a mallee near Point Sundayin March 1976.

FAMILY MELIPHAGIDAE Meliphaga penicillata Gould White-plumeil Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta (Yigors and Horsfield) Brown LakeDisappointment Area-Moderately common. Pairs Honeyeater and small groups in eucalypts at Durba and Killagurra Gorges. Carnaryon Range Area One in March 1976and one in July 1975,both in a gully with eucalypts,Gretillea and Acacia. Phylidonyris albifrons (Gould) White-fronted Honeyeater Lake Disappointment Area-Recorded at Killagurra Certhionyxniger (Gould) Black Honeyeater Gorgein August1971. Lake DisappointmentArea-Recorded at Durba Gorge Gibson Desert Nature Reserve One in mulsa near in August 1971and severalsightings at Durba Gorge EverardJunction jn August1973. and inter-duneadjacent to Durba Hills in November Carnarvon Range Area-several in eucalyptsat the t975. south end of the rangein March 1976. Certhionyx variegatusLesson Pietl Honeyeater Yeo Lake Area-Uncommon in March 1976,common in May 1966. Small groups in stunted mallee on Lake DisappointmentArea-Recorded at Durba and dunesand at Miller Soak in March 1976. In May Killagurra Gorgesin August 1971and one in mulga 1966many birds were attracled to flowertngEremo- and one in interdune thicket near Durba Gorge in phila at Point Sunday, Stony Point and Yeo Hills. November1975. Nest with two eggsin low bush in May 1966. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Single birds in July 1963,August 19'13and September1966. Manorinaflatigula (Gould) Yellow-throatedMiner CarnarvonRange Area-Three malesat the south end Lake DisappointmentArea Moderately common at of the range in November 1975 one in vegetation Durba and Killagurra Gorges. along a creek and two in Hekea lorea, Gibson Desert Nature Reserye-Severalcallins at the Yeo Lake Area-Two pairs in mulga woodland in YoungRange in March1976. May 1966,the malescalling frequently. Carnarvon Range Area Moderately common. Small Meliphagavlresceas(Yieillot) SingingHoneyeater groups of up to eight in eucalyptsat baseof range. Lake DisappointmentArea Uncommon. At Durba Yeo Lake Area-Common. Mainlv small flocks of uo Hills and at Durba and Killagurra Gorges. 10 ten. Mostly in malleewoodiand on sandplaini, mallee-mulgawoodland and in marble gums. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-Moderatelycommon, in March 1976,August 1973 and September1966. Mostly in mulga and eucalyptsalong creeks. Also Acanthagenls rufogularis (Gould) Spiny-cheekealHoney- on well-v€getateddunes. Breeding in September €atel 1966. Lake Disappointment Area-Recorded at Killagurra CarnarvonRange Area-Moderately commonin March Gorgein August1971. 1976, July 1975 and November 1975. Mostly in Gibson DesertNature Reserve I]ncommon in March arcasof Eucalyptusmiuotheca and Gretillea wickhami 1976,August 1973 and September1966. Ones and at south end of range. twos in open mulga on stony flats and in mulga Yeo Lake Area-Uncommon. One in mulga-mallee woodlandaround ranges. in March 1976and severalat Yeo Hills in May 1966. Carnarvon Range Area-Uncommon in March 1976, July 1975 and November 1975. Ones, twos and Meliphaga keartlandl (North) Grey-heailedHoneyeater threesin open v€getationon the range. Lake DisappointmentArea-Recorded at Durba and Yeo Lake Area-Uncommon to moderatelycommon Killagurra Gorgesin August 1971and two at Durba in March 1976 and May 1966. Mainly in mulga- Gorse in November1975. malleewoodland. 28 FAMILY EPTHIANURIDAE Gibson DesertNature Reserve-scarcein March 19?6. Epthinnura (Jardi.rc One at Mt Everard and three around the Young albifrons and Selby) White-fronted Range. Chat Yeo Lake Area-Several pairs near Yeo Homesteadin Carnarvon Range Area-Two birds building nests at May 1966. south end of rangein November 1975. Yeo Lake Area Flock ol eight along breakawaysat aurifrons (Gould) Orange Chat Yeo Hills in May 1966. Yeo Lake Area Common in May 1966. Flock of twelve on extensivesamphire flat near Turkey Hill, two near Yeo Homesteadand a flock of twelve on FAMILY CRACTICIDAE saltbush-samphireflat around claypan full of water at Yeo Hills. Cracticus torquatus(Latham) Grey Butcherbird Ca,rn-arvonRange Area Uncommon in March 19j6, Epthiralura tricolor (Gould\ July 1975 and November 1975. Mainly in thicketi Lake Disappointment Area-Uncommon in August around baseof range. l97l and November 1975. Severaloairs at Durba Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common. In woodlands. and KillagurraGorges. One pajr carryingfood in November1975. Crqcticus nigrogulqris (Gould) Pieif Butcherbird Gibson Desed Nature Reserye-Common, Pairs and Lake DisappointmenrArea Pair wirh youns-feedinsat Durba small flocks of up to seven. Mainly on flats and Corge in Norember 1975. Adult was an duneswith Acacia,Greyillea and Hakea. Nest with Amphibolurusto a nestling. Tbe lizard was we"dsed two young beingfed by a malein a wash area24 km into the splinreredend of a brokenbranch. west of EverardJunction in August 1973. Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-One at young Range CarnarvonRange Area-Uncommon in November1975. in March 1976. Pairs on openspinifex flats and on sandplainat south end of range. Carnarvon Range Area-Moderately common on the range and in eucalyptsalong creeks. Yeo Lake Area-Moderatelycommon in May 1966. Pairsand smallflocks on samphire-salt bush flats. Yeo Lake Area-Moderately common in well-wooded areas,paflicularly mulga-malleeat hills and break- aways.

FAMILY PLOCEIDAE Cracticus tibicen (Lalham) Magpie Poephilagunata (Yieillox) Car_narvonRange Area-One at west side of range in Moderately common at Lake DisappointmentArea; November1975. common at Gibson Desert Nature Reserve.Carnarvon Yeo Lake Area-One near Turkey Hill in March 1976. RangeArea and Yeo Lake area. Breedingat Gibson Desert Nature Reservein March Streperaversicolor (Latham) Grey Currawong 1976and August 1973. Yeo Lake Area- Two in mulga-malleewoodland near StonyPoint in March 1976.

FAMILY ARTAMIDAE FAMILY PARADISAEIDAE Artamuspersonatus(Gould) Maskeil Wood-swallow Ptilonorhynchusm(tculatus (Gould) Gibson Desert Nature Reserye-Common in Ausust Spotted Bowerbirrl 1973;less common in March 1976and July It63. Carnarvon Range Area-One pair along a creek with Mostly areaswith floweringtrees and shrubs. Several Ficus, Eucalyptus, Acacia and Cqllitri at south end nestswith eggsin August1973. of rangein. March 19'76and a pair at sameplace in November1975. CarnarvonRange Area-Pairs and smallflocks at south endof rangein November197-.. Yeo Lake Area-Common, in twos and threesin well- FAMILY CORVIDAE wooded areas. One flock of a hundred over a sam- phire flat. Coryusoru Bonaparte AustralianCrow Lake DisappointmentArea-A crow, probably of this Artamus cinercus(Vieillot) Black-facedWoorl-swallow species,seen at Durba and Killagurra Gorges in November1975. Common at Gibson DesertNature Reserve,Carnaryon Range Area and Yeo Lake area. Ones, twos. threes and small flocks of up to eight in all woodedhabitats. Coryusbennetti North Little Crow Gibson Desert Nature Reserve-severalflying north- Artamusminor (Vieillot) Little Wooit-swallow wardsover campin March 1970. Lake DisappointmentArea-Several nestine in cliffs Yeo Lake Area-Eleven n€ar Stony point in March at Durba and KillagurraGorges in Noveiber 1975. 1976and two in May 1966.

to DISCUSSION Duck, Black-tailed Native Hen, Banded Plover and Red-kneedDotterel, and partly becauseof th€ greater Forty-sixspecies were recorded at Lake Disappointment habitat diyersityof this area,with dunes,mulga-mallee, Area, fifty-eight at Gibson Desert Natue Rese e, Marble Gums, samphire-Atriplexflats and breakaways. sixty-sixat Carnarvon RangeArea and seventy-fiveat The mallee-MarbleGum woodland is not found on the Yeo Lake Area. other three reserves. Ford (1970) indicates that this Most of the residentspecies, such as the BourkeParrot, belt north of the is an imDortantavenue Rufous Whistler, Banded Whiteface, Slate-backed betweenEyre Peninsula and theSouth-West for several Thornbill, Chestnut-rumpedThornbill, Redthroat and speciessuch as the Red-tippedPardalote and the Grey SingingHoneyeater, were recorded from all the proposed Lurrawong. and existing reserves. The majority ol birds in the Little Sandy, Gibson and Great Victoria Desertsare highly nomadicand severalvisits during differ€nt s€asons are requiredto establishtheir status. This group would REFERENCES include the Red-tipped ,Black Honeyeater, Pied Honeyeater, White-fronted Honeyeater,Orange Ford, J. R. (1970). "Distribution and of Southem Birds in the Great Victoria Dese't". Emu 70,27-36. Chat. Crimson Chat and MaskedWood-swallow. "Bird Pianka, H. D. and Pianka, E. R. 0970). Censusesfrom The high number of speciesfrom Yeo Lake Area is Desert Localities in WesternAustralia" . Emu 70, 17-22. "Red partly becauseFord's May 1966visit was immediately Reid, D. 0976). Plumed Pigeonin the Camaryon Range". after rains, which added vagrants such as the Wood W.A.Nat.13. 174.

30 PART V AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES by L. A. SMITH1 and R. E. JOHNSTONE1

INTRODUCTION Diplodactyluselderi Slirling and Zeitz The following list is based on specimenscollected on Collectedat LD, cD, YL and [E,, proposedand existingreser\es at-LakeDisappointment Burnt from Plectrachneand Triodia on various sub- (hereinafterdesignated LD) in the GibsonDisert (GD), strales. Neverseen aclive at night,presumably because at CarnarvonRange 1CR) and at Yeo Lake(yL) bv ol. ,r[) scansonalhabits (it confinesitself to stalking Departmentof Fisheriesand Wildlife. WesrernAus- wrlnrnsplnrtex ctumps). tralian Museum, and CSIRO Wildlife Researchper- sonnel. McKenzie,and Burbidgeand McKenzie(this Diplodactylusstenodactylus Botlenger publication)include details of personnel,irineraries and boundariesol the proporedand existing reserves risited. Collectedat [E]. Relevant data from Weslern Ausiralian Museum cataloguesare included as well as data from pianka Diplodactylusstrophurus (Dumeril and Bibron) (1969). His study areasY and E were respectivelv5 Collectedat GD and YL. ro 7 km fast ofSronyPoint (28.05'5, 124.15,E), which Found in deador sparse is well vrithinYeo Lake proposedreserve, and 8 km shrubs. NE of DungesTable (28"08,5-,123"s5,8) just which is Gehyrattariegata (Dumeril outsidelbe wesern boundaryof Yeo Lakepropo,ed and Bibron) reserve. Recordsfrom the lalter localityare entered Collectedat LD, CR and YL. in squarebrackets. Mostly.intrees (usually mulga). Alsoin leaflitter and Specimenscollected by us are lodgedin the Western underdebrls. AustralianMuseum under numbersR40325 40363, R51863-51945,R53510-53616 and R53620-53682. Gehyra sp. Habitat notesare givenwhere possible. Collectedfrom LD and CR. Lake Disappointment5pecimen from sandstonecliff aDovepool. LIST OF SPECIES ANURA Het er ono tia binoe i (Gray) Collectedat LD and YL. FAMILY LEPTODACTYLIDAE GroundFross Yeo.Lake specimens jumbled point Cyclorana among lateriteat maini'fy7er bundaybreakaway. Collectedat LD, CR and YL. Nephruruslaevissimas Massesof mdpolesin dryingpools jn Yeo Lake on 9 Mertens Ma_rch.Adults in poolsat DurbaSpring 26 November Collectedat CR and YL. and CarnarvonRanee 20 November. On dune crestsat night.

FAMILY HYLIDAE Tree Frogs Nephruruslevis pilburensis Sloft Litoria rubella(Gray) Collectedat CR. Collectedat CR. Threeon sandamong spinifex at night. Adults and juvenilesin samepool as Cycloranamaini Nephrurus ver t ebrqlis Slort but on 28 and 30 March. Collectedat YL. Qne on Atriplex flat and anotheron a sandyinierdune. REPTILIA Oeduramarmorata Gray FAMILYGEKKONIDAE Geckos Collectedat CR. D iplo dac ty lus c/rarr's Boulenger All specimensactive in treesor on sandstoneat night. Collectedat LD, CR, YL and [E]. U! to 2 m above the ground in dead or sparse,open Rhync h o e dur a or na t a G id,ntiner snruos, Collectedat LD, CR, YL and [E], On clayeysoil at night. Diplodactylus conspicillatusLucas and Frost Collectedat CR, YL and [E]. FAMILY PYGOPODIDAE Leglesslizards On sandamong spinifex at night. Delma nasutaKluge Collectedat GD. r Depafiment of Vertebrates, Western Australian Museum, Ftancis Street. Perth- W.A. 6000- Burnt from Plectrqchneon loamy alluvial soil. 31 Lialis burtonis Gray Ctenotusbrooksi brooksl (Loveridge) Collectedat LD and [E]. Collectedat [E]. Py g op us nigr i cep s (F ischer) Ctenotuscalurus Slon Collectedat LD. Collectedat GD, CR and [E]. Gibson Desert specimenrunning among spinifex mid- FAMILY AGAMIDAE DragonLizards mormng. caudicinctuscaudicinctus x mensarutn Amphibolurus Ctenotuscolletti nasul s Storr Collectedat LD and CR. Collectedat [E]. On bare expansesof sandstone. Ctenotusdux Stort Amphibolurus caudicinctus ? subsp. Collectedat CR, YL and [E]. Collectedat GD. "spinifex One juvenile collectedon laterite at Young Range. CarnarvonRange specimen in on dune". grandis Amphibolurusclayi Stotr Ctenotus Storr Collectedat YL and [E]. Collectedat LD, GD, CR and [E], Burnt from spinifexon sandyinterdune. 6 specimenscollected by our party; all from sandysoil.

Amphib olu rusfo r di Stort Ctenotushelenae Stort Collectedat YL and [E]. Collectedal LD, CD, YL and[E]. One on dune crest, Two specimenswere burnt from Plectrschneon alluvial soil in watorcours€running out of Young Range(GD). Amphibolurusrlerzr,s (de Yis) Collectedat LD and [E]. Ctenotasleae (Boulenger) Collectedat [E]. Amphibolurusisolepis gulat is Sternfeld Collectedat LD, CR, GD, YL and [E]. Ct enotus leonhardil (Sternfeld) Common on sandYsoil Collectedat LD, GD, and YL. Amphibolurusminor Sternfeld Ctenotuspantherinus ocellfer (Bo,a.lenger) YL and Collectedai LD, [E]' Collectedat LD, GD, CR, YL and [E]. Miller Soak (YL) was perchedon The specimenfrom From spinifex on various substrates(sand, loam and a deadtree. sandstone). et iculatu s (Gr aY) Amphib olur us r Ctenotuspiqnkqi piankai Storr Collectedat LD, GD and YL. Collectedat [E]. One in burrow in hard clayeyfloor of Yeo Lake. Also on barestony ground with mulga. Ctenotusquattuordecimlineatus Sternfeld. Amphibolurusscutulatus Sir\ng and zielz Collectedat GD, YL and [E]. Collectedat YL. Specimenfrom Yeo Lake in interdune vegetatedwith gums and mallee. to heaviersoils with mulga. marble Gibson Desert specimen Confined from sideof poorly vegetateddune. Diporiphorawinneckei Lucas and Frost Ctetlotusafrn. saxatilisStorr. Collectedat LD and [E]. Collectedat LD and CR. Moloch horridus GraY Specimensfrom tanglesof Plectrachneand low shrubs Collectedat LD, YL and [E]. from gulliesin CarnarvonRange and deepcouch grass at edgeof pool, Durba Spring. Yeo Lake specimenon a sandytrack in interdune. chombur gkii Peters Lophognathuslonglroslrus Boulenger Cteno t uss Collectedat LD, CR and [E]. Collectedat YL and [E]. Along watercoursesat Catnatvon Range and Durba Two specimensfrom loamy soil with mulga. Springs(LD). Ctenotusuber uber Slot Collectedat CR. SCINCIDAE Skinks FAMILY One undermulga log. Cryptoblepharusplagio cephalus (Cocteau) Collectedat LD and CR. Egernia depres sa (Giinther) On tree trunks. Collectedat CR. Egernia formosa Fry FAMILY TYPHLOPIDAE Btinil Snakes Collectedat CR. Typ hI ina ni g r ot er minat a (P atker) .5 Under bark of mulga I m aboveground. Collectedat LD. Egernia inomata F.os'n FAMILY BOIDAE Pythons Collectedat YL and [E]. Liasis childr ati (Gr ay) Eger nia str iata Sternfeld, Collectedat LD and YL. Collectedat cD, CR, YL and [E]. Among lateriteboulders at Point Sunday(yL). All three collectedby our party were from break-back traps; two from one burrow complex on clayey soil FAMILY with mulga (YL) and one lrom side of low dunl (CO;. ELAPIDAE Front-fansedSnakes Furina chris t ieana (F ry) Ler ista bipes (Fischer) Collectedat LD. Collectedat GD, YL and [E]. Burnt from spinifex or scoopedfrom top few centi- Pseufu chis australis (Gray) metresof sandon dunes. Collectedat CR and YL. Le r is t a desert o rum (Sternfeld) Onein well at_YeoLake, anotherin Elliott trap in gully in CarnarvonRanse. Collectedat CR and [E]. Menetia greyii Gray DISCUSSION Collectedat cD and [E]. We_collected 52 speciesof herptileon thefour proposed From spinifexon gravellyflat. andexrsLrng reserves: 22 from the LakeDisappbinimenr Area, 18 from Gibson DesertNature Reservq 30 from Morethia butleri Storr CarnarvonRange Area and 27 from yeo Like Area. Wilh the addition Collectedat [E]. of dataderired from previouscollect- ing, 47 speciesare known from yeo Lake. Omolepida branch ialts (Giinther) It is dimcult to comparethe faunas of the individual Collectedat CR. areasbecause we do not know how completethe sDeciss Iistsare. althoughPjanka's (1969) Stonyground at foot of range. rhoioush collLcdns givessome indicarion (44 speciesof lizards.comoared to our 27 herpdles, Sphe nomor p husr ichards oni i (Gny) for the Yeo Lakearea). When we combine Pianka,s yeo Collectedat LD, GD and YL. Lake and Dunses Table lists with our combinedlist for the four areis, Two specimensfrom Yeo Lake dug from burrow in most specieswhich could be expectedin the Littl; moist loamy soil under rubbish. Sandy, Gibson and Great Victori; Desertsare present. The.fewabsentees are mosllyfossorial herpriles such as Tiliqua multifusciala Sternf€ld Neobatrachus,Let.irtq. Tlphlina and Vermicellaspp. Collectedat CR. One of the two Vermicella anomala collected,in tlte In pit trap in red sandplainwith spinifex. EasternDivision of WesternAustralia is from Well 24 (CanningStock Route), about 50 km NE of the Lake Disappointmentarea. Otherimportant specimensfrom FAMILY YARANIDAE Goannas Well 24 are the only EasrernDir ision specimenof Sphenonorphus Varanus s cant hur us Boulenger fasclo/a/a-!and a seriesol I3 Anphibolurus isolepisisolepis x Amphibolurusisolepis gularis h5brids. Collectedat CR. One of only 6 knoun specimenso[ Ctenotusariqdnae At bottom of screeslope with spinifex and Acacie. islrom 96 km eastol DungesTable. only J6 km oulside t]reeastern bounqary of the Yeo Lakepioposed reserve Varanuseremius Lucas and Frost (Storr.1968). This speciesis only known from four Collectedat [E]. locallues. The WesternAustralian Museum Varanus gi ganteus (Gr ay) has Iwo Neobatrachus centrqlisfrom 32 km south of Durba Hills, just outside Collectedat LD, GD and CR. Observedat yL. the Lake DisappointmentArea. Varanusgouldii (Gray) Pianka'sstudy area E is the type localityof Ctenotus colletti qsutusand Ctenotusdux. Collectedat CR, YL and [E]. Yar anus t r ist is (Schlegel) REFERENCES Collectedat LD, cD, YL and ' [E]. Pianka,E. R. (lq69r. Habilalspeci6ciry, specialion, and species Specim^eosfrom Red Bluff (yL) young oensrlyrn Austrajtadesert lizards'.. Lcoloey50,499_5Ol, and Range "The (GD) from unused Storr.c_. M. (1968). gejus Oerolrr Fairy Martin nesrs. Specirienfro'm jn-the . {Laceflilia,Scincjdae) DurbaSpring froir tastem Divisionof westernAusiralia... j. noy. Sii'. 1LD) deadrree. West.Aust.51,91-709. 33 PART VI CONCLUSIONS by A. A. BURBIDGE1 and N. L. McKENZIEI

The Dapersin this Bulletin, when added to the data overlooked rather than that they are absent from the preseirtddby Burbidge et al. (1976), provide a sum- reservesystem; apparently suitable mulga habitat is mationof our knowledgeof eightexisting and proposed present. nature reservesin the Little Sandy,Gibson and Great Table 3 lists the occurrenceof two generaof diurnal Victoria Desertsof WesternAustralia. lizards-Amphiboluras (Agamidae) and Ctenotus (Scin- Two areas in the system of desert conservation reserves cidae). Distribution data given in Storr (1968) and Droposedby the ConservationThrough ReservesCom- Pianka (1969)show thai only one of the speciesknown ?nitiee(1974) still haveto be examinedin detail-the from the GreatYictoria, Gibsonor Little SandyDesefts Rudall'River National Park which includesportions has not beenrecorded from the proposedconservation of the Great Sandy and Little Sandy Deserts,and the reservesystem, i.e. Ctenotusariadnae. Great Victoria Desert Nature Reserve which includes The above data suggestthat the system of conservation Darts of the Great Yictoria Desertand Nullarbor Plain reservesproposed by the ConseryationThrough Reserves lsee Fie. I in McKenzie,this publication). Further- Committee(1974) does include habitats for most verte- more,ai recommendedby the EnvironmentalProtection brate . However,it does not provide inform- Authority(1975). further investigations need to be made ation on the valueof the systemin conservingspecies in the GreatSandy Desert from whichreserves represent- which havedeclined in abundance,are cryptic, or occur ing this desert can be delineated' Thu_s,only in the only in isolatedcolonies. Thus the conservationstatus Gibson Desert have we surveyedall the existing or of all speciesof medium sized mammals,e.E. Lagor- proposedconseNation reserves. chesteshirsutus, Isoodon auratus, Peremeles ercmiana, Table 1 lists the plant formations delineated by Beard- Macrotis Isgotis and Notoryctes typhlops is uncertain (1974)in the Gibson Desert. It includesan estimateof (McKenzie et al., this publication). Burbidge and iheir ielative extent and the area of each included in the Fuller (in press) have recently suggestedthat some of proDosedBaker Lake Nature Reserveand the Gibson thesespecies are extinct in the Warburton Region but besirt Nature Reserve. It can be seenthat the two others still remain at low densities. Further work is areasare quite different although, overall, all the-mapped neededto clarify this situation. formationi excEptone-Acscia pachycarpashrub steppe -are reDresented.This formation is developedin the REFERENCES northern- Gibson Desert and in the Great Sandy Desert "The proposals for the Beard, J. S. (1974a). vegetatiotr of the Great sandy Desert and should be included in rcserve area". Paft II of Explanatory Notes to Sheet 2 of Vegetation latter. Survey of Westem Australia: Great Sandy Desert. (Uni- of the reserveswith res- versity of W.A. Press, Nedlands). When reviewinsthe adequacy Beaid, J. S. (1974b). 'The vegetation of the Great Victoria Dectto vertebraieanimals, we havechosen groups which Desert area". Explanatory notes to Sheet 3 of Vegetation ire reasonablyabundant in good seasons,relatively easy Survey of Westem Australia: Great Victo a Desert, (Uni- to collect, well known taxonomically and rich in versity of W.A. Press, Nedlands). Burbidge,A. A., McKenzie, N. L., Chapman, A. and Lambert, P. species. (1976). "The Wildlife of someexisting and ptoposedreserves Table 2 showsthe distribution of small dasyuridmar- in the Great Victoria and Gibson Deserts, Western Austmlia. rodents in seven of the eight areas wildl. Res. Bull. West. Aust. No, 5. (Dept. Fish. wildl., suoials and native Perth.) "Mammals sd far examined-the Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve Burbidge, A. A. and Fuller, P. J. (in press). of the is omittedb€cause Burbidge er a/. (1976)worked mainly warburton rcgion, Western Australia". Rec. West. Aust. Mus. "Conserv- in the Nullarbor Plain plant formationsof that reserve' Conseryation Through Reserves Committee (1974). It can be seen that eleven specieshave been recorded, ation Reseryesin Western Australia". Report to the Environ- mental Protection Authodty. Cyclostyled. from individual areas ranging from two to "Conservation numbers Environmental Protection Autho ty (1975). Re- nine. Two speciesknown to be extant in the region serves in Western Australia, as recommended by the Environ- have not been collected-l ntechinomys laniger and mental Protectioq Authority". Systems4, 8, 9, 10, ll, t2. Cyclostyled. Available habitat data for desert "Habitat Sminthopsisfroggatli. Pianka, B. R. (1969). specificity, speciation and species populations of these speciessuggest that they have been density in Australian desert lizards. Ecology 50,498 502. "The Storr, G. M. (1968). genus Clenolrs (Lacertilia, Scincidae) 1 Westem Austlalian Wildlife Research Cantre, P.O' Box 51, Wan' in the Eastern Division of Westem Australia". J. Ro!. Soc. neroo, W.A, 6065. West.Autt.5l.97-109.

34 TABLE 1. GIBSON DESERT PLANT FORMATIONS IN EXISTING AND PROPOSED NATURE RESERVES From Beard(1974a, 1974b), Bubidge er .?t (1976),Burbidge and McKenzie(this publication)

VegetationType Beard/Webb Description Extent Baker Gibson Formula Lake Desert Naturc Total Reselve

Low Woodland all-i Inulgalow $oodland moderate t 56l 1561 aLLi mulgalo\a \aoodland berweerr sandhills moderate 852 852 Shrubland a,Si mulga5crub on sLonyhills n,)oderate i d+o 3 840 Savannah euMi.xcc Coolabah.mixed grassec and spinife\ ... moderate 740 140 Tre€ Steppe -... crMp.t,Hi gro'"eso[ DesertOak bet\e€n sandhills moderate I 260 | 260 Shrub Steppe.. . a.Sr.t,Hi mi\ed ,4cac4?shrub steppe on sandplain small 230 230 a,,Sr.trHi mi\ed ,{cdcrd5hrub 5teppe on sandplainbetween sand- moderate i er: 9m 2 533 hllls atSr/eSi.tlHi rnul$ and malleebet\^een sandhills small 1710 1710 a6Sr.t,Hi Acacia pachJcarpa and spinifex on Iaterite nloderate SteppeParkland arSp.tgHi mulgaparkland on lalerilicplains large iiiur I i loo ri irr SucculentSteppe xCi sallbushon samphire small 'i+s 120 120 Salt Lake smail 180 328

Totals t8 590 28345

TABLE 2. RODENT AND SMALL DASI'TJRID SPECIESRECORDED IN EXISTING AND PROPOSED RESERVES Data from Burbidge et al (1976), McKenzie er dl (this publication)

GREAT VICTORIA DESERT CIBSON DESERT LITTLE SANDY DESERT SPECIES QVSNR NJNR YLA BLA GDNR CRA LDA

Dasycerc us c rist icauda A ntechinus macdonne lle nsis Ningaui ridei .... Smttthopsis lotlgicdudata .... Sminthopsiscrcssicaudqta ...- Sminthopsishirtipes ...... XX Sminthopsisooldea -...... XX t Notomysmilchellii ...... Notomys dlexis XX .;; P seudomy s her mannsb urg ensi s XX Pseudomysdesertor .., ,--.

Key--QVSNR: Que€n Victoria Spdng Nature Reserve. NJNR: Nealc Junction Naturc Reserve, YLA: Yeo Lake Area, BLA: Baker Lake Area. GDNR: Gibson Desert Naturc Reserve. CRA: Carnarvon Ranse Area. LDA: Lake Disappointment

35 TABLE 3. AMPEIBOLURUS AND CZENOTUSSPECIES RECORDED IN EXISTING AND PROPOSED RESER\'ES Data from Storr (1968),Piankr (1969),Burbidge et a/. (1970 and Smith and Johnstone(this publication)

GREAT VICTORIA DESERT QVSNR* NJNR YLA

X

X

Ctenotus- dtlas .''. .:; brooksi.... calurus ...- i colletti .... dux XX ':-'' grandis .... XX helehae -... XX X leae i XX leonhardii i pdnther.inus x XX x pM kar .... quattuordecimlinedtus.... .,.. X x affin, saxatilis ...... :; scho burgkii ...... i uber :..

* Abbreviationsas in Table 2,

80957/t | /78-t M WILLIAM C. BROWN, Gov€rnn.nt Printor, w€ttern Ausfr.li.