Diet of the Striped Legless impar (: ) in a western (basalt) plains grassland, Victoria

A. S. Kuttl.', G. Coubonland J. Wainer' 'Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052 'F'resent address: Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811 'Invertebrate Survey Section, Museum of Victoria, 71 Victoria Crescent, Ahhotsford, Victoria 3067

ABSTRACT This study examined diet composition and specialisation of the Striped Delma hpar, a of conservation significance in southeastern . A small sample of 25 Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/30/4/412/1475324/az_1998_007.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 faecal Dellets was coliected owortunisticalk durina the course of fauna survws in the Derrimut

~rassiands~ ~~~ ~ ~~ Reserve. ~~~ ~~. victoria: ~ ~ ~ Their contents-~ were. examined and the~ - invertebrate~ remains ldentifled to the love1 of order. lmertebrete prey availabllty was estimated using samples collected from pitfall traps and dielary specialization was calculated using Levins (1968) slandardizw measure 01 niche oreadth A low measure was recorded (0.05-0.07) and mainly cricket. spider and noctuid moth were fcurd in the faecal pellets. This suggests that the Striped Legless Liiard is probably a specialized arthropod feeder. However. the smdl faecal pellet sample size, potential biases in the measurement of prey availability and possible uneven prey availability due to palatability constaints, may have dikrentlally Influenced this result. Seasonal prey shifts and a flexible foraging strategy are also suggested by the results, though more dotailed work is required on the feeding ecologl of threatened species.

INTRODUCTION 1991: Banks 1992: Kutt 1992: Mills 1992: The Delm impar is ~ebsteret ol. 1992;.Kutt 1993; Hadden 1995) a member of the endemic Australasian family and the ACT (Kukolic 1992, 1993, 1994; of , the Pygopodidae, or flap-footed Kukolic et al. 1994; Osmond 1994; Dorrough lizards. It has the southern-most distribution 1995; Nunan 1995). of all pygopodids and is found in disjunct Though members of the Delm were populations throughout lowland tussock thought to be generalist invertebrate feeders grasslands in the extreme south-east of South (Bustard 1970; Patchell and Shine 1986), the Australia including: south-central and western specific diet of the Striped Legless Lizard Victoria; the Australian Capital Territory was unknown. Coulson (1990) undertook a (ACT); and south-east preliminary examination of diet composition (NSW), west of the Great Dividing Range using faecal pellet analysis, while more (Coulson 1990; Osborne et al. 1993; Shea recently Nunan (1995) completed a detailed 1993). study of the diet and feeding ecology of the Prior to 1990, very little biological infor- Striped Legless Lizard in the ACT. During mation was available for the Striped Legless the course of surveys of its distribution and Lizard, apart from its taxonomic relationship habitat preferences in the Derrimut Grassland to other pygopodids (Kluge 1974) and Reserve on the outskirts of Melbourne (Kutt general observations of habitat (Jenkins and 1991, 1992), some faecal pellets were Banell 1980; Cogger 1992), reproductive collected and their contents examined. This period and diet (Patchell and Shine 1986) paper reports the results of the diet analysis and activity period (Martin 1972). In a review and discusses them in the context of the of the ecolow and habitat reauirements of detailed work of Nunan (1995) in the ACT. the ~tri~ed"'~e~lessLizard 'in Victoria, Coulson (1990) highlighted its uncertain METHODS status and pooriy-known biology. Since this preliminary work, and the subsequent Study sites recognition of the conservation significance of The survey sites were located in and this species, there has been an increase in adjacent to the 154 ha Derrimut Grasslands studies examining the distribution, habitat Reserve, approximately 20 km west of the city and behavioural ecology of the Striped of Melbourne, Victoria. The vegetation con- Legless Lizard in Victoria (Moro 1990; Kutt sists mainly of native grasslands dominated by Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra and behaviour using potential prey availability grassy wetlands of high botanical significance against prey consumption and is calculated (Craigie and Stuwe 1992). from the equation: B = 11 (No. possible food categories) p: fj = l....n), where B = Levins napping and pellet collection measure of niche breadth, p, = proportion of the food items that are in the category j. Striped Legless Lizards were trapped using This measure is then standardized to a 0-1 a combination of pitfall trap grids (consisting scale by: B, = B-1111-1, where, B, = Levin's of 50 traps) and lines of 10 pitfall traps. The standardized measure of niche breadth, surveys were conducted during the spring and B = Levin's measure of niche breadth, n = summer of 1990-91 and 1991-92, the results number of possible food categories. A value of which are reported in Kutt (1991, 1992, close to one indicates a diet generalist, while 1993). Any Striped Legless Lizards trapped a value close to zero indicates a diet was kept overnight for measurement and specialist. the collection of faecal pellets. To facilitate

safer handling, each llzard was partially Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/30/4/412/1475324/az_1998_007.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 immobilized by cooling it for a short period RESULTS (3-4 minutes) in a refrigerator (approximate temperature 4%). If an was cooled for Invertebrate species from 10 orders were a slightly longer period of 5-10 minutes, collected from the pitfall traps in 1990-91 individuals could regularly be induced to and 14 orders in 1991-92. Of these, six deposit a faecal pellet. This technique was orders were recorded as prey items in the scat found to work consistently with no apparent analyses in 1990-91 and three orders as ill-effect to the . prey items in 1991-92 (Figs 1 and 2). In 1990-91, 28 prey items were recorded in 15 Twenty-five faecal pellets were collected for scats (mean = 1.86 items per scat) while in analysis, air dried and preserved in small 1991-92, 16 items were recorded in 10 plastic bags. They were later immersed in scats (1.60 per scat). In both the 1990-91 70% ethanol, then teased apart for inspection and 1991-92 sample, crickets (Order and identification of the constituent food Orthoptera, Gryllidae) and moth larvae items using a binocular dissecting microscope. (Order Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) represented Invertebrates were identified as far as the greatest proportion of total prey practicable, usually to the level of family or items found within the scats, with spiders order, and counted. (Aranae) being the third most frequent (Table 1). Pwq availability A comparison of the availability of prey In order to estimate the availability of prey, items in each invertebrate order (mean per- invertebrate samples were collected from the centage frequency of invertebrates collected trap sites in February 1991 and February in each pitfall trap) with the consumption of 1992. The first sample was obtained by prey (percentage frequency of prey items as collecting all invertebrates that fell into the a proportion of the total number of scats) for large pitfall traps over a period of one week. each sampling period indicates that the These were then preserved in 70% ethanol. pattern of invertebrate orders over these two The second collection was made using insect measures are widely disparate (Figs 1 and 2). pitfall traps: small plastic cups, with a mouth Levins standardized measure of niche breadth diameter of 70 mm, set flush with the soil was low for both sample sets (0.07 and 0.05), surface and left open for a one week period. indicating a degree of specialization in the Each contained about 1 cm depth of 70% diet. ethanol as an invertebrate preservative. One hundred pitfall traps were set 1 m from the Seasonality of D. impar diet was assessed fence-line of the pit-fall traps set to capture by examining the proportion of each prey the Striped Legless Lizards. In both cases, item in faecal pellets on a monthly basis. As invertebrates were sorted and identified as far the sample size was small for each season, as practicable. results were pooled to achieve a spread from November to February. There was a trend for Measure of degree of diet spe&alization high proportions of lepidopteran prey in November to January with an increasing The degree of specialization within the diet number of orthopteran prey from December of Striped Legless Lizard at the study area to February (Fig. 3). though a chi-square was examined using Levins (1968) contingency table did not indicate any standardized measure of niche breadth. This significant differences in diet between each provides an index of a species feeding month (cP= 14.631. df = 15, p = 0.478).

Aurhdian Zoologist 30(4) 413 80

70 6 % occunenceof in\ertebrate ordersin pithlltraps 199G1991 r 96occunence of in\,Ertebratesin 60 scats199G1991

50

I c o =q4 o g IF 30

20 Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/30/4/412/1475324/az_1998_007.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021

10 0 tEHsrgrsgFEc$gsE - F tnveftebrate ord"r"

Figm 1. Percentage lrequency of invertebrate orders within Striped Legless Lizard scats and pitfall traps summer 1990-1991.

g)

I % occunenceofimertebrate 70 ordercin pithll tnps 1S1-19S2 I % occunence of invedebratesin d) scats 1S1-192

50 a, tr o e40 E *30

20

10

0 E fr$E5EgE€$E€E€$$ { E# FgEgF$FEE.g$g fvf I lnvertebrab orders

Figure 2. Percentage lrequency of invertebrate orders within Striped Legless Lizard scatsand pitfall traps summer l99l-1992.

414 Australian Zoologist 30(4) April 1998 1 0.9 0.8 0.7 E Hymenoptera(Formicidae) b o.o EDermaptera tr Ellnsecta(Blattodae) g 0.5 E trArachnida(Araneae) fi 0.4 I Lepidoptera(Noctuidae) 0.3 tr Orthoptera(Gryllidae, Acrididae) 0.2

0.1 Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/30/4/412/1475324/az_1998_007.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021

q) (l) D+ a €a Ea g= ge E'd EE .:;v=L E[ Be ge ,fl- zo Month

Figure 3. Percentage frequency of prey items occurring in Striped Legless Lizard faecal pellets for each month collected.

Tablc l, Diet and niche breadth for Striped Legless Lizard at Derrimut Grasslands Reserve, 1990-1991 and l99l-1992.

Prey taxa 1990-1991 l99l-1992

Total number of Total number of Total prey items faecal pellets in Total prey items faecal pellets in found in all faecal which particulai prey found in all faecal which particular prey Family pellets examined type was found pellets examined type was found Arachnida Araneae 4 4 3 3 Insecta Blattodea I I 0 0 Orthoptera Acrididae 3 3 0 0 Orthoptera Gryllidae I 8 6 t) Dermaptera I I 0 0 Hymenoptera Formicidae I I 0 0 Lepidoptera Noctuidae (larvae) 9 8 , t Lepidoptera Noctuidae (adult) 0 0 I I Total number pellets analysed l5 l0 Total number prey items in scats 28 l6 Levin's standardizedmeasure of niche breadth 0.07 0.05

DISCUSSION Grasslands Reserve and from a total of 15 samples,the remains of crickets(Orthoptera: Diet Gryllidae), spiders (Arachnida: Salticidae, Miturgidae) and mainly larval noctuid moths Members of the pygopodid genus Delrna (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)were identified. By were previously all thought to be generalist contrast, invertebrates collected from the invertebrate feeders, though no specific pitfall lines comprised l6 orders (Coulson referencewas made to the diet of the Striped 1990).In the ACTI Nunan (1995) concluded Legless Lizard Delrna bnpar (Bustard 1970; that the Striped LeglessLizard wasa selective Patchell and Shine 1986). Coulson (1990) arthropod feeder, by both the lack of a presented preliminary indications .that the number of abundant invertebratetyDes 'andin the species was specialized in its diet. He diet of the Striped Legless Lizard on a examined the contents of faecal pellets of calculated niche breadth that was closer to Striped Legless Lizard trapped at the Derrimut the specialistend of the scale.

April 1998 AustralianZoologist 30(4) 415 The outcomes from the present study in wait) due to the proportion of fast-moving Victoria concur with Coulson (1990) and prey (jumping and wolf spiders, cockroaches Nunan (1995), as a maximum of six inverte- and grasshoppers) in the diet. Observations brate orders from 14 were represented in of captive animals indicated that both faecal pellets and the measured niche breadth foraging strategies were utilized (Osmond of 0.05-0.07 indicates a high degree of 1994). In the Victorian samples, a prey-mix specialization. One limitation that may have of mobile and sedentary prey items was also influenced this result is that pitfall traps may found, supporting this notion of a flexible not adequately sample the available prey strategy. Preliminary movement studies and assemblage. Though pitfall trapping is a recapture records report individuals travelling standard terrestrial invertebrate sampling 20 m in an afternoon and 60 m in two days technique (Allen 1989; Majer 1997). it is (Kutt 1992; Kutt 1993; Kukolic 1994) which likely to be biased towards surface-active further supports the view of an actively species, under-sampling those associated with foraging species. soil, deep litter and vegetation (Majer 1997). Seasonal variation Our study assumed that pitfall trapping Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/30/4/412/1475324/az_1998_007.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 adequately assessed prey availability, and The present study did not find any though this bias may exist, it is obvious that significant differences in diet between each many potential prey taxa were being rejected month, though there was a trend towards a (e.g., Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, diet of noctuid moth larvae in late spring and Dermaptera, Diptera, Figs 1 and 2). In early summer, that shifted to one of addition, a more thorou h invertebrate predominantly crickets in late summer (Fig. sample may have increased ta e proportion of 3). Spiders were eaten consistently over all prey items recorded in the pitfall traps, but months. This trend may correspond to the correspondingly would have been likely to changes in abundance of these species over increase the proportion of other taxa summer due to their life history: the soft (possible food catagories) recorded, thus bodied larvae predominate in early summer, maintaining the low measure of niche then crickets become numerous in late breadth. summer when the noctuid moths have In reality, some insects are likely to be metamorphosed. Nunan (1995) found little unavailable to the Striped Legless Lizard evidence of seasonal variation in diet due to unpalatability from predator-defence selection of the Striped Legless Lizard, but mechanisms (slimy or waxy coverings, indicated that, as in the present study, some urticating hairs, spiny processes, tough observed shifts were possibly due to the exoskeletons, cryptic behaviour, mimicry, seasonal life history of prey types. chemical defences) and different activity periods (Norris 1991). Prey size may also be CONCLUSION an influence on diet choice, however many The examination of Striped Legless Lizard crickets and moths recorded from faecal diet in and adjacent to the Derrimut pellets were up to 40 mm in size (authors' Grasslands Reserve support the conclusion of unpubl. data). This potential for many taxa Nunan (1995) that this species is probably a to be unsuitable prey items for the Striped selective arthropod feeder. In both Victoria Legless Lizard strengthens the view that and the ACT the Striped Legless Lizard specialization rather than generalization is predominantly feeds on spiders, noctuid likely in their diet. However, future studies moth larvae and crickets, though spiders should assess in more detail the level of seem to be more common in the diet in the prey availability and in particular, other ACT. This may be due to the slightly characteristics such as palatability and prey different habitat preferences for this species life history features that may constrain their in each region (Hadden 1995; Dorrough consumption. 1995). Foraging strategy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Striped Legless Lizard has been in- This study acknowledges the assistance, variably described as an ambush predator and advice and comments of the following people: an active arthropod feeder (Bustard 1970; Alan Webster, Department of Conservation Patchell and Shine 1986; Ehmann 1992). and Natural Resources, Victoria; Chris Banks, Nunan (1995) argued that the occurrence of Melbourne Zoo; and all the members of the slow-moving prey (such as lepidopteran Victorian Striped Legless Lizard Working larvae) was indicative of an active, widely Group. Donna Nuuan's excellent study foraging predator, though there was evidence examining the diet and feeding ecology of of switching between strategies (to sit-and- the Striped Legless Lizard in the ACT provided an invaluable background and guide Kukolic, K., 1994. Survey for Ike Striped Laglerr Lizord to the treatment of the data collected in this Delma impar ot fhc Notio~lMurcum of Awrdio rite, Yonomundi nach. Unpublished report to the ACT study. All trapping and handling of the Parks and Conservation Service. Wildlife Research animals was conducted under a Wildlife Act Unit: Canberra. (1975) Research Permit No. RP 91-130 issued by the Department of Conservation and Kukolic, K., McElhinney, N, and Osborne, W. S., 1994. Suwey fw Ihc Sfriptd Lcgcsr Lizard Delma impar in the Environment. proposed davclopmnl area El cmnpriring sites for the All unpublished reports referenced in the Gungnhlin Town Centre and fhe Suburb of Fmdlin. Internal report 9413 to the ACT Parks and text are held by the Striped Legless Lizard Conservation Service Wildlife Research Unit: Working Group. Copies can be obtained by Canberra. request from Chris Banks, the Convener, Striped Legless Lizard Working Group, Kutt. A. S.. 1991. Survey /or thc Sfripcd Lsgh Lizord Delma impar or the Dammuf G~arrlondrRercrva, Vizrorin: Zoological Board of Victoria, PO Box 74, 1990-91. Unpublished report to Melbourne Region, Parkville, Victoria, 3052. Department of Conservation and Environment: Victoria. Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/30/4/412/1475324/az_1998_007.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 REFERENCES Kutt, A. S.. 1992. Microhabifof Selection and Mobility of the Allen, N. T., 1989. A methodology for collecting Stribed Lcrlcss -Lizard Delma imoar of the Denimul standardired biological data for planning and Grkrlonds Rereme, Kcloria. B.L.(Hons) Thesis, monitoring reclamation and rehabilitation pro- Zoology Department. Melbourne University, Parkville, grammes. Pp. 179-205 in Animalr in primor)l Victoria. succession: the role of fauna in ncloimd lnndr ed by J. D. Majer. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. Kutt, A. S., 1993. A preliminary evaluation of the use of Banks. C. B., 1992. The Striped Legless Lizard Working fluorescent pigments to track the movements of Group: an interagency initiative to save Dclw impar the Striped Legless Lizard Dclmo impar (Reptilia: an endangered . Inremot. Zw Barb1 31: 45-49. Pygopodidae). Pp. 17g183 in Harpdtdogg in Awtralia ed by. D. Lunney and D. Ayers. Royal Zoological Bustard, R., 1970. Aufrolian Lizards. Collins: Sydney. Society of New South Wales: Mosman. Coulson, G., 1990. Cmewntion biology o/fhc Striped Lcglcrs Lizard Delma impar: an initiol innertigalion. Technical Levins, R., 1968. Evolution in Changing Enuironmnfr. report series No. 106. Arthur Rylah Institute for Monograph$ in popularion ecology &fume 2. Princeton Environmental Research, Department of Conservation University Press: New Jersey. and Environment: Victoria. Majer, J. D.. 1997. The use of pitfall traps for sampling Cogger, H. G., 1992. Rcptil~rand Amphibians of Awtralin. ants - a critique. Mm. Mur. Kc. 56(2): 323-29. Reed: Sydney. Craigie. V. and Stuwe, J., 1992. Dmimul Grassland Reserve Martin, K., 1972. Captivity observations of some dm# rnanagentcnl plan. Department of Conservation Australian legless lizards. Hcrp*fo/armo 5(3): 5-6. and Environment: Victoria. Mills, D.. 1992. Report of thc Striped Lcglrrs Lizord Delma Dorrough, J., 1995. Port and prcscnl hahitot o/fhc Striped impar suwey, Werribee. Report to the Striped Legless Lcglrss Lizard Delma impar in the Aurtrolian Capitol Lizard Working Group and Deakin University: Tenifory. Report to the ACT Parkr and Conrervation Geelong. Scrvice, Wildlife Research Unit. Canberra. Department of Botany and Zoology, Australian Moro, D., 1990. Survcy for lhc Striped Laglcrr Lizard Delma National University: Canberra. impar in the Dcmmrv Grmslnnd Rcnrvc. Report to the Ehmann. H., 1992. Encyclopedia of Aurtralinn Animals: Striped Legless Lizard Working Group. Department Rcpfilcr. Angus and Robertson: Sydney. OF Conservation and Environment, Victoria. Haddon, S.. 1995. DGfribution, population hahilot arfinrolcx Norris, K. R., 1991. General biology. Pp. 68-103 in Thr and habitat rcpuiramcntr of the Striped Lcgl~ssLirord lnsactr of Australia Volume 1 ed by I. D. Naumann. Delma impar. Report to the Australian Nature Melbourne University Resr: Carlton. Conservation Agency, Canberra. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Melbourne. Nunan, D.. 1995. Die1 and jccding ecology of the Stepcd Lcglcrr Lizard Delma impar wilhin fhc Awfrdion Capitol Jenkins, R. and Bartell, R., 1980. A Field Guide fo thc Repfiles of the Aurtrolian High Cowtty. Inkata Press: Erritory. Report to the ACT Parkr and Conservation Service Wildlife Research Unit, Applied Ecology Melbourne. Research Group, University of Canberra, ACT. Kluge, A. G.. 1974. A taxonomic revision of the lizard family Pygopodidae. Misccllancow Publications of the Osborne, W. S., Kukolic, K. and Williams, K. D., 1993. Mucum of Zoology, University of Michigan 135: 1-59. Conservation of in lowland native grasslands Kukolic, K., 1994. Consarvalion of nationnlly thrtafcnad in the Southern Tablelands OF New South Wale* and repfilm in nafiuc grorrlnnds in thc ACT. implicotionr /or the Australian Capital Territory. Pp. 151-58 in urban rCvaloprncnr propar& in thc draj Tcm'fory Plan. Hcrpchlogy in Aurolia ed by D. Lunney and D. Ayers. Internal report 9214 to the ACT Parkr and Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Conservation Service, Wildlife Research Unit: Mosman. Canberra. Osmond, H.. 1994. Habitat speciolisotion and isolation of Kukolic, K., 1993. Surucy for the Striped Legless Lirord remnant popdotiom of the Striped Lcglcrr Lizard Delma Delma impar in the Gungahlin Town Cenln and Noah impar. Report to the ACT Parks and Conservation Wotson proposed dcvclopmcnf on-. Internal report 931 Service Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Botany I to the ACT Parks and Conrervation Service, and Zoology, Australian National University: Wildlife Research Unit: Canberra. Canberra.

April 1998 Australian Zoologist 30(4) 417 Patchell. F. C. and Shine. R.. 1986. Food habits, habitats Webster, A,, Fallau, R. and Preece, K.. 1992. Striped and reproductive biology of the Australian Legless Lcglcsr Lizard Dclma impar. Flora and Fauna Lizards (Pygopodidae). Ccpeia 1986: 3ILS9. Guarantee Action Statement No. 17, Department of Conservation and Environment: Victoria. Shca, G., 1993. A mwlj dirrouend old record a/ the andongarsd Striped Legless Lirnrd Delma impar. Herpltofauw 2% 1L14.

BOOK REVIEWS -- BOOK REVIEWS

" in Question. The Smithsonian Answer included information on some of the topics which Book" by Carl H. Ernst and George R. Zug, ~isnedmv interest. For example, I was unable to 1996. koh any'mention in the fisted references in CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Victoria support of the statement that ". . .the folding-fang 203 pp. ISBN 0 643 05951 4. mechanism [of death adders] is very similar in

appearance and operation to that of the vipers and Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/30/4/412/1475324/az_1998_007.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 There are only a handful of animal groups that pitvipers." From the morphology of its supporting engender widespread curiosity and fear in the bone, I am sceptical that the death adder fang can general public, and therefore spark a rush of rotate (to a fornard ~ointingposition) to the questions. Spiders, sharks, and snakes are such extent that it can in vipers when the mouth is groups. In ''Snakes in Queslim", the second in the opened. Maybe I have overlooked the relevant "Smithsonian Answer Book" series (after Sharks), paper in the literature. But until I stumble across two eminent North American herpetologists set it, I live on in ignorance and douht. out to answer virtually all the questions that two such herpetologists are likely to have encountered There are not too many questions that do not in their long careers. get explicit coverage. The only two substantive ones, from my experience, that seemed to be The format of the book is straightforward. missing are: "Can venomous snakes envenomate Questions are grouped in major sections, and themselves?", and 'How can some snakes digest within each of the sections questions generally such big meals so quickly after fasting for so long follow a logical sequence. The answers to the between meals?" Perhaps the detailed work in questions are often supplemented by line drawings these two areas was too uncertain or new at the and photographs, both black and white and time of publication to he included. colour. Because the "bites" are small and easily digestible, the hook not only makes an authorita- One question was bafiling for its inclusion: "Do tive reference but also an interesting distraction snakes get cancer?" I have been fielding for an idle moment. The major sections are snake questions for a number of years, bur I have never biology, folk tales, giant snakes, snake bite, and heard this one asked. Perhaps it reflects a partic- snakes and humans. Something for everybody. ular concern of the North American audience. The two most admirable features of the hook are The book is highly reliable in its information. its sound commonsense approach to snakes - no The only item I picked up on was the statement pandering to the sensational or adolescent, and its that "any snake encountered in Australia is solid evolutiona~y underpinning. The reader is probably a venomous one". Considering that nearly enlightened and entertained both with fascinating 42% of the terrestrial snake facts of snake biology and lore, and with good consists of nonvenomous species, this may be a bit examples of the power of thinking in phylogenetic over the top, especially as many of the non- terms. An example of good sound advice is the venomous species, such as pythons and some of directive concerning the release of a temporarily the colubrids, are frequently encountered. captive snake: ". . . it must be released at the exact locality where it was captured." And this on A final question that might he asked of the hook itself is how the CSIRO came to he involved as the creationism: ". . . [ it] does not qualify as science because it is not based on . ..[the] test-and-modify Australian publisher. Perhaps they were handed principle." Amen. the book on a plate, and it was too good a potential money spinner to let go. But if their Considering the background of the two authors, costs approximated what an entirely "new" work and no douht the primary market, the hook draws would have entailed, one might ask why they did largely on North American examples. There are not spend the money for a locally authored relatively few Australian examples, and they tend production. And let the North Americans read to involve the better known species. This is dis- mostly about our snakes! appointing, but understandable. This book will make a great present for your There are no references in the body of the text snake-mad kid. Or alternatively, if you want to - no doubt to avoid putting off the non- look good, get it yourself, read up on the sly, and academically inclined. However, this makes it amaze her the next time she asks. difficult to follow up particular topics that catch one's fancy. There are a few references in the hack Allen E. Greer of the book arranged under the individual Herpetology Section questions themselves, but I did not find these The Australian Museum

4 18 Australian Zoologist 3M4) April 1998