Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

The book includes a discussion of venomous snakes, information on first-aid for snakebites, and hints for snake prevention around the house.

SNAKES, LIZARDS AND FROGS of the

VICTORIAN MALLEE

MICHAEL SWAN & SIMON WATHAROW

Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee represents the first comprehensive publication on the herpetofauna of the region. It covers 56 species that inhabit the area as well as a further 24 species occurring in fringe riverine and woodland systems. The reader is able to identify species by means of a photograph supported by a distribution map, a diagnostic features key and descriptive species accounts.

SNAKES, LIZARDS AND FROGS of the VICTORIAN MALLEE

The Victorian Mallee region encompasses the Little Desert, the Big Desert, the Sunset Country and the Hattah-Kulkyne. Each area is unique and with different topography, vegetation, and fauna. The region experiences consistently higher temperatures, lower rainfall and contains a greater diversity of reptiles than any other part of the state.

MICHAEL SWAN & SIMON WATHAROW

SNAKES, LIZARDS AND FROGS of the

VICTORIAN MALLEE

SNAKES, LIZARDS AND FROGS of the

VICTORIAN MALLEE

Michael Swan and Simon Watharow Illustrations by Rachael Hammond

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

© Michael Swan and Simon Watharow 2005 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Contact CSIRO PUBLISHING for all permission requests. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Swan, Michael, 1956– . Snakes, lizards and frogs of the Victorian mallee. Bibliography. ISBN 0 643 09134 3. 1. Mallee lands – Victoria. 2. Reptiles – Victoria – Identification. 3. Snakes – Victoria – Identification. 4. Frogs - Victoria – Identification. 5. Lizards - Victoria – Identification. I. Watharow, Simon, 1967– . II. Title. 597.909945 Available from CSIRO PUBLISHING 150 Oxford Street (PO Box 1139) Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia Telephone: Local call: Fax: Email: Web site:

+61 3 9662 7666 1300 788 000 (Australia only) +61 3 9662 7555 [email protected] www.publish.csiro.au

Front cover Coral Snake, P. Robertson; Mallee habitat, P. Robertson; Common Spadefoot Toad, M.G. Swan; and Sand Goanna, P. Robertson. Back cover Mitchell’s Short-tailed Snake, N. Clemann; Painted Dragon, M.G. Swan; Mallee Spadefoot Toad, N. Clemann. Set in Minion 9.5/11 Cover and text design by James Kelly Typeset by James Kelly Printed in Australia by Impact Printing

Foreword The Victorian Mallee is situated between the cooler, damper south-eastern areas of Australia – known as the Bassian zoogeographic region – and warmer, drier inland areas – known as the Eyrean zoogeographic region. Intruding into this area is the MurrayDarling river system, and this tends to introduce subtropical or Torresian species. Because the Mallee lies in such a transitional zone between zoogeographic regions, it contains by far the most diverse herpetological fauna of any area within our state, with some 60 per cent of the known Victorian reptile species being found within the Mallee. On the other hand, because of its relatively arid climate, only about 33 per cent of the amphibian species recorded from Victoria occur within the confines of the Mallee. In fact only 11 per cent, or three species, of these are recorded away from the river and lake systems. This confluence of zoogeographic regions not only contributes to the faunal richness of the region, but also defines the limits of many species’ distributions. Many reach the extreme south-eastern limits of their distributions within the Mallee, some not even extending south of the Sunset Country. Others reach the north-western limits of their distribution in the Little Desert. All of these factors make the Mallee an exciting place for those interested in reptiles. Both authors of this book demonstrate considerable passion for their subject, and the book benefits from their many self-funded excursions to the Mallee to document, photograph and research the herpetofauna and habitats of the area. As a young man, Mike Swan was a member of the Hawthorn Junior Field Naturalists Club, and it was during this time that he cultivated an interest in the Victorian Mallee. He has been a keen student of the herpetology of this area since, and is to be congratulated on being the senior author in the production of this book. He is currently employed in the herpetology department of the Melbourne Zoo. Simon Watharow is a registered snake catcher, who is also involved in herpetological education. He is an ardent student of the parasites and diseases of reptiles. He is currently the president of the Victorian Herpetological Society and a keen helper of young reptile keepers. I am sure that this book will be of great assistance to those amateur herpetologists interested in the reptiles of the region, as well as to the staff of the National Parks and other government and semi-government agencies that work within the Mallee.

John Coventry Curator of Herpetology, Emeritus, Museum Victoria.

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Western Blue-tongued Lizard, a typical mallee species, from Frederick McCoy’s Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria, 1878–1890.

Preface This guide to the unique herpetofauna of the Victorian Mallee has been produced to allow readers to identify the snakes, lizards and frogs of the region with the help of photographs and maps, supported by a diagnostic features key and descriptive species accounts. The book encompasses the main Victorian Mallee blocks: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country and Hattah-Kulkyne National Parks. Each area is unique and varies in topography, vegetation, and fauna. North-western Victoria experiences consistently higher temperatures, lower rainfall and contains a greater diversity of reptiles than any other part of the state. Fifty-six species are considered true ‘mallee’ inhabitants. This is defined as, ‘inhabiting mallee plant communities’, although they may not be restricted to these communities. Peripheral species that do not truly inhabit mallee vegetation are included with separate, limited information at the back of this guide. The species accounts provide descriptions of morphological features of each animal and include notes on their habitat, habits, diet, reproduction, and Victorian conservation status. Each species account is accompanied by a photograph and distribution map. Dichotomous keys are not provided and comprehensive keys to Australian reptiles and frogs can be found in Hal Cogger’s Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (2000). The taxonomic names of reptiles used in the guide follow Steve Wilson and Gerry Swan’s A Complete Guide To Reptiles of Australia (2003), and for frogs follow Hal Cogger’s Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (2000). Common names (except for tortoise, where we have used turtle) follow those used by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.

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Sand Goanna

About the authors Mike Swan cannot remember a time when he has not been interested in reptiles and amphibians. He joined the Hawthorn Junior Field Naturalists Club at the age of 14 and formed many friendships with fellow naturalists. It was with this group of young enthusiasts that he travelled by train from Melbourne on the first field trips to the Victorian Mallee. These expeditions sparked a life long interest in the diverse herpetofauna of this unique environment. Mike has also travelled throughout Australia and other parts of the world studying and photographing reptiles and frogs. He has authored numerous articles on herpetology and currently works in the Herpetofauna Department of the Melbourne Zoo. Simon Watharow has enjoyed a lifelong interest in herpetology, and is actively involved in raising community awareness of reptiles. He teaches courses on captive husbandry, snake-handling, removing problem snakes and also manages a home for displaced reptiles. His main passion is field research, with a particular interest in reptile parasites. Simon has conducted numerous herpetological surveys in the Victorian Mallee and authored many articles on herpetology. He is also the current president of the Victorian Herpetological Society.

Acknowledgements Mike Swan would like to thank his wife Stephanie and sons Daniel and Timothy for their continued support. Thanks also to his brother Peter, Steve Wilson and Greg Parker for sharing a lifetime of herpetological exploration. Simon Watharow would like to thank all those who assisted on Mallee field trips, including Steve Cook, Paul Fisher, Sean and Stacey McCarthy, Daniel Edney and Michael Alexander. Thanks also to his partner Angela Reid for sharing his passion, as well as Patrick and Myra Watharow for their immeasurable support. Publishing of the guide was made possible with financial support from the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (MCMA), Parks Victoria (PV), and Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). The authors are both particularly thankful to the following people: Geoffrey Allan, DSE Mildura, assisted with funding. Nick Alexander, CSIRO Publishing. Marion Anstis provided tadpole photographs. Ian Ballantyne CEO, MCMA, assisted with funding. Chris Banks, Melbourne Zoo reviewed the final draft and made editorial comments. John Cann provided photographs of the freshwater turtles. Nick Clemann, Arthur Rylah Institute, provided photographs, species information, reviewed drafts and organised permission for use of Department of Sustainability and Environment maps. We gratefully acknowledge the use of the DSE Atlas of Victorian Wildlife maps. Glen Gaikhorst, Perth Zoo provided photographs. Damian Goodall, Melbourne Zoo reproduced the distribution maps. Allen Greer, Australian Museum, for permission to reproduce four gecko feet illustrations. Rachael Hammond produced the line drawings. Rob and Lois Issacson at Duffholme Cabins, for use of the homestead. Lorraine Ludewigs, PV Mallee, assisted with the community grant application. Jane Melville and Museum Vic staff assisted with access to specimens. Greg Parker, Ballarat Wildlife Park, provided species information, photographs and historic print of Western Blue-tongued lizard. Peter Robertson, Wildlife Profiles, provided photographs, species information, and text on Big Desert and Sunset Country introductions and reviewed drafts. Donna Tidey, MCMA, assisted with applications for funding. Steve Wilson, Queensland Museum, provided photographs, species information, line drawings (three skinks eyes in detail) and reviewed drafts. Dr Ken Winkel, Melbourne University, assisted with the first aid for snakebite section and provided information on snake anti-venom availability in regional Victoria. All fieldwork was conducted under permit and we thank Sue Hadden and Michele McHugh from the Department of Sustainability and Environment for their assistance with research permits.

Contents Preface

vii

About the authors

ix

Acknowledgements

x

Introduction to the Victorian Mallee

1

Southern Frogs

9

Geckos

13

Flap-footed Lizards

22

Skinks

30

Dragons

49

Monitor Lizards

57

Blind Snakes

60

Venomous Land Snakes

63

Victorian Mallee fringe-dwellers

73

Checklist of Victorian Mallee species

80

Victorian flora and fauna and conservation categories

83

Surveying Mallee frogs and reptiles

84

Glossary

85

References

86

Further information

87

Snakebite and first aid

88

Snake prevention around the house

90

Index

91

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The extent of Mallee vegetation in Australia, pre-European settlement.

Sunset Country

Hattah-Kulkyne Mildura Big Desert Little Desert

Kerang

The main Mallee vegetation areas in Victoria.

Introduction to the Victorian Mallee

The Mallee region of north-western Victoria comprises almost one-fifth of the area of the state. This region is bounded to the north by the Murray River, to the west, by the South Australian border, extends south to between the 36th and 37th parallel and east to the Loddon River. The area is a vast semi-arid plain that slopes gradually from an altitude of about 100 metres in the south to less than 50 metres in the north, with low relief

throughout. There is little variation in the local climate, with hot summers and mild winters. Annual rainfall decreases gradually from about 400 mm in the south to 250 mm in the north, with little seasonal variation. Soil types vary from sand to clay and are often calcareous and sometimes saline. The native vegetation consists of low, multi-stemmed mallee eucalypts, which gives the area its name. Other plant communities occur throughout such as heath, grassland and saltbush plains, with fringe areas of River Red Gums and Black Box woodlands. Of the total area of 4.3 million hectares, public land occupies approximately 37 per cent, most of which is reserved in national parks.

History Around three million years ago the Victorian Mallee was a shallow sea. Evidence of this is the large tracts of salt in the soil of the region and the remnant salt lakes. The area has a long history of occupation by Indigenous Australians, mostly along the watercourses and fringe areas, however they occupied the more arid areas infrequently. When European settlers arrived in Australia, smallpox affected large communities of these people including those in the Mallee region. Typical Mallee habitat. M.G. Swan

In 1830 the explorer Charles Sturt traversed the northern boundary of

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Victoria’s Mallee. Fifteen years later white settlers arrived with some leaseholds and, under very harsh conditions, farmed sheep in large numbers with only limited success. However the loss of livestock, drought conditions and limited support forced many to abandon farming in the area. In 1883 the Victorian Government passed the Mallee Pastoral Leases Act, which provided stringent guidelines on leased land, to prevent degradation of the Mallee. However a real change to rural practices came when managers shifted their focus of productivity to wheat. To this day wheat is the main source of income for the Mallee rural community. After the First World War, returned soldiers were offered leaseholds under various schemes in the Mallee and this stimulated one of the last strong growth periods for the region. The continuing hardships combined with drought, falling wheat prices and the depression of the 1930s, sent many farmers broke. Incorrect fallowing techniques resulted in topsoil being blown into massive dust storms across the Melbourne skyline during the 1930s and 1940s. Interestingly the depression of the 1930s assisted in the preservation of mallee habitat as it reduced the development of further leaseholds for stock grazing and expansion of wheat crops. In 1977 the Land Council Committee recommended 77 000 hectares of the Mallee be reserved, while approval for 35 000 hectares were made available for limited use. Unfortunately illegal clearing and subsequent damage of leased areas has occurred. Although around 50 per cent of the Mallee has been converted to extensive farmlands, The Victorian Mallee is still the largest wilderness area in Victoria and is one of the largest regions of mallee vegetation in Australia.

Threats to mallee habitats Livestock Sheep have a significant impact on mallee habitats through compaction of soil and foraging on native vegetation leading to soil degradation and erosion. Mallee habitats are also disturbed through water being channelled to livestock, which then also increases macropod populations. The Sunset Country has numerous colonies of goats, which are declared noxious vermin, though the area receives limited pest control.

Vermin Rabbits represent a potential threat to mallee habitats, especially those that border developed areas. They feed on many plant species, spread weeds through seeds in their fur and they also ring-bark trees. The abundance of this pest animal cannot be overstated. Poison baits used to control foxes may pose a threat to foraging varanids like Rosenberg’s Goanna and the Sand Goanna. Populations of feral cats occur in all parks and while rabbits, native birds and mammals constitute a large part of their diet, they also prey upon reptiles.

Broombush harvesting The commercial harvesting of broombush, Melaleuca uncinate, began in 1972, and the majority of harvested material was sent to South Australia for use as fencing. During this process, four-wheel drive vehicles and trucks damaged tracks and vegetation in the Big Desert. There was also disturbance and potential threats to the surrounding areas via introduced weeds and habitat loss to environmentally sensitive animals such as the Pygmy Possum, Mallee Fowl and the Black Eared Miner. In 1990 the Land Conservation Council stopped the broombush industry from operating in the region. The industry was financially troubled and the harvesting considered environmentally unsound.

Introduction

Wildfire

Other threats

Fire is a natural feature of the Australia landscape and the Mallee region is often subjected to large-scale fires. However excessively frequent wildfires, both deliberately lit and natural occurring, severely threaten remnant populations of native fauna and flora. Many plant species rely on fire for regeneration, such as the Grass Tree, Xanthorrhea australis, and Spinifex Grass, Triodia irritans. However the loss of suitable habitat presents a threat to fauna – especially since they are preyed upon more easily in a cleared landscape.

Widespread removal of mallee roots and stumps for firewood has reduced habitat availability for some species. The use of areas of the Mallee for large-scale military exercises, commercial apiculture, salt production, gypsum mining and diversion of water, may pose threats to Mallee habitat, but are yet to be fully documented. The gene pools of fauna and flora may be constricted by fragmentation and alienation of remaining habitats within the mallee.

The aftermath of fire in the Little Desert National Park. Some plants, such as the Grass Tree, rely on fire for regeneration. S. Watharow

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Little Desert National Park The Little Desert National Park is situated at the southern end of the Mallee region and is divided into three blocks, with a total area of 132 000 hectares. While not a desert in the true sense, it has nevertheless retained the title. There are several distinct vegetation types in the region, notably heathland, yellow gum woodland, mallee with spinifex understory and broombush. The adjacent Wimmera River is flanked by river red gum forest. Annual rainfall is between 400 and 600 mm and apart from the herpetofauna, there are 670 species of plants, 220 species of birds and approximately 30 species of mammals recorded for the area. This region is popular with tourists, particularly in early spring, when many plant species are flowering, making it an ideal time for photography.

The Little Desert National Park, a desert in name only. S. Watharow

In the Little Desert National Park, some mallee species of herpetofauna are at the southern limit of their distribution – for example, the Western Blue-tongued Lizard, Norris’s Dragon, Painted Dragon, and Bardick. The Park plays an important role as an area of protection for these species. There are other woodland, grassland and riverine species that have part of their distribution in and along the fringes of the Little Desert. Examples of these include the Growling Grass Frog, Common Froglet, Bibron’s Toadlet, Spotted Marsh Frog, Common Long-necked Turtle, Olive Legless lizard, Delicate Skink (northern limit of distribution), and Tree Goanna.

Big Desert Wilderness This region covers 659 070 hectares of bushland and includes the Big Desert Wilderness Park (142 000 ha), Big Desert State Park Forest (155 000 ha) and Wyperfeld National Park (361 770 ha). This extremely large area appears relatively undisturbed by humans. However, fire regimes have changed markedly since European settlement, profoundly affecting the ecology of the region. There have also been some exploitative activities in the past, such as broombush harvesting and bee-keeping. The numerous wells scattered throughout the area are testament to the various aborted attempts at settlement or stock grazing. Nevertheless, the Big Desert remains a treasure trove of diversity for flora and fauna, offering a marvellous opportunity to observe and understand how natural systems operate. The reptiles are amongst the most obvious members of the fauna of this region, and their diversity is remarkable. One factor contributing to this diversity is the variety of habitats

Introduction

present. Although at first the mallee vegetation may seem fairly low and uniform, closer examination reveals patterns of vegetation responding to a suite of environmental variables, such as soil type, underlying geology, position on dune, rainfall gradient, fire, and frost history. The ‘jumbled’ dune systems of the Big Desert supports heathlands similar to the Little Desert, inter-mixed with sandy mallee and spinifex grass, similar to that found in the south of the Sunset Country. Another factor contributing to the diversity of reptiles is the presence of the hummock-forming grass Triodia, often termed ‘spinifex’. This grass provides complex shelter from predators, supports a wealth of prey species, and within the

hummocks the extremes of weather may be avoided. Many desert reptiles also burrow to avoid extremes, sheltering during the hot summer days to emerge only at night. Reptile species typical of the Big Desert include the Mallee Dragon, and Butler’s Legless Lizard, both spinifex specialists; the ecologically similar Nobbi, and Norris’s Dragons, the former utilising mallee areas in the north and being replaced by the latter in the more heathy habitats of the south; Rosenberg’s goanna, and Heath Skink, which have been discovered in Victoria only in the last 20 years; and the nocturnal species such as the Beaded Gecko and Wood Geckos; and Mitchell’s Short-tailed Snake.

Although much of the vegetation of the Big Desert appears low and uniform, there are many subtle variations and a diversity of habitats. S. Watharow

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Murray-Sunset National Park The vast Murray-Sunset National Park covers 633 000 hectares and stretches from the South Australian border in the west to the Calder highway in the east, and incorporates Pink Lakes in the south. Open Mallee habitats of this reserve stretch virtually to the Murray River in the north-west. Generally drier and more open than the Big Desert, this region has ‘jumbled’ dune systems in the south, and parallel east–west dune systems in the north, each supporting a suite of different vegetation communities. Also present are open grassland plains, pine/belah woodlands, samphire flats around salt lakes and extensive gypseous areas (known as ‘the Raak’).

The ‘Sunset Country’ has a long history of grazing by domestic stock, with some areas only removed from grazing access in the last 15 years. The many dams and tanks, now being progressively closed, are evidence of this past use of the land. Gypsum and salt are still ‘mined’ in some areas, and the stumps of native pine and belah in the north are signs of past timber harvesting. Like the Big Desert, the ‘Sunset Country’ supports a wealth of reptiles, with some species not being found further south, such as the Yellow-faced Whipsnake, Millewa Skink, and Bynoe’s Gecko.

The vast Murray-Sunset National Park covers an area of 633 000 hectares. P. Robertson

Introduction

l

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park In 1980 the Kulkyne State Park was added to the Hattah Lakes National Park and is known now as the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. It has been designated a world biosphere reserve and protects an area of 48 000 hectares. It is adjoined by the Murray-Kulkyne Regional Park. The Park contains dunes of reddishyellow and pale sands with mallee vegetation and Slender Cypress Pine woodlands. There is a connecting series of lakes lying on the floodplain of the Murray River that fill during periods of high river flow. Water flows into them through Chalka Creek, an anabranch of the Murray River. In recent times parts of Chalka Creek have been deepened to permit more water to flow into the lakes.

Carpet Python. S. Wilson

The lakes are valuable fish and water bird habitat, and the River Red Gum floodplain provides an opportunity for species like the Tree Goanna, Carpet Python, Broadshelled Turtle and Peron’s Tree Frog, to enter an otherwise dry habitat area of mallee vegetation.

The Hattah-Kulkyne National Park has been designated a world biosphere reserve. P. Robertson

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Frogs, lizards and snakes of the mallee Australia is home to a great diversity of frog species from five families: Tree Frogs (Hylidae), Southern Frogs (Myobatrachidae), Narrow-mouthed Frogs (Microhylidae), True Frogs (Ranidae) and the introduced Cane Toad (Bufonidae). However, the only family that truly penetrates the dry mallee of north-western Victoria is the Myobatrachidae – the Southern Frogs. Australia also has a great diversity of lizard species and some desert areas of the continent are considered to contain the highest concentration of species anywhere in the world. There are five families, some of which can be found through all major habitats across Australia: Geckos (Gekkonidae), Flap-footed Lizards (Pygopodidae), Skinks (Scincidae), Dragons (Agamidae) and Monitor Lizards–Goannas (Varanidae). Four of these families also occur in other parts of the world, but Flap-footed lizards (Pygopodidae) are endemic to Australasia. The Victorian Mallee has representatives venomous snakes blind snakes

Common Scaly-foot.

N. Clemann

from each of these families and they occupy a wide range of habitats. Australia is well known for its snakes, many of which are venomous. Apart from the front-fanged venomous land snakes (Elapidae, sub-family, Elapinae), the other families are Blind Snakes (Typhlopidae), Pythons (Pythonidae), File Snakes (Achrochordidae), Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae) and Sea Snakes (Elapidae, sub-family Hydrophiinae). Most snakes in the Victorian Mallee are venomous land snakes, though only a few are dangerously venomous. There are also two species of Blind Snakes, often only seen above ground after rain, and one species of python restricted to the Murray River Flood Plain. A total of 56 species of frogs, lizards and snakes are considered true ‘mallee’ inhabitants. This is defined as, ‘inhabiting mallee plant communities’, although they may not be restricted to these communities.

monitors dragons skinks legless lizards geckos frogs 0

5

10

15

Total of species of frogs, lizards and snakes in the Victorian mallee

20

The species accounts which follow provide descriptions of morphological features of each animal and include their habitat, observations of their habits, diet, reproductive information, conservation status and are accompanied by a colour photograph and distribution map.

Southern frogs Family: Myobatrachidae This is the only family of frogs found in the dry mallee of north-western Victoria and is represented by two genera containing three species. All three species are burrowing frogs, equipped with well-developed, shovel-shaped metatarsal tubercles.These frogs are most often seen following summer rainstorms, when they emerge to breed in temporary pools of water.

Tibial gland Glandular stripe

Southern Bullfrog (adult)

Toe webbing

Metatarsal tubercle

Tail fin

Southern Bullfrog (tadpole)

Spiracle

Difference in metatarsal tubercle shapes on the hind feet of burrowing frogs: Southern Bullfrog (left); Mallee Spadefoot Toad (right).

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Southern Bull Frog Limnodynastes dumerilii dumerilii Peters, 1863 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

N. Clemann

Ballarat, Vic

Description: A large globular shaped frog with a pale glandular stripe from below the eye to the base of the forelimb. Dorsum grey or brown with darker, irregular markings and smooth or with low rounded warts. Usually pale below with darker mottling. A noticeably enlarged tibial gland and a large shovelshaped metatarsal tubercle. Toe webbing to 25%. Pupil horizontal. Size 70 mm. Habitat: Occurs through mallee heathland, but absent from more arid, spinifex and sand dune areas. Habits: A burrowing frog, usually only seen above ground after rain periods to breed in available water. May be encountered at night around claypans, Diagnostic features Large, globular body. Prominent tibial gland. Pupil horizontal. Pale glandular stripe from below the eye to the base of the forelimb. Toes one-quarter webbed. Call: A musical banjo-like ‘bonk’. Tadpole: Dorsal tail fin arched and densely mottled with gold clusters over dark brown background.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

small ponds or crossing roads during rainy periods. Occasionally found slightly buried under debris. Insectivorous. Its call is like the single string of a banjo being plucked – a loud ‘bonk’. Up to 4000 eggs are deposited in a foamy, raft nest produced through the ‘puddling’ action of the female trapping air bubbles during amplexus. Tadpole: Total length to 63 mm. Body length to 22 mm. Dorsum and sides uniform dark brown overlain with dense, fine gold pigment. Iris mostly gold with a fine dark concentrate ring around pupil. Tail fins obviously arched. Considered to be largely bottom dwellers feeding on sediment and vegetation. Larval development can take up to 6 months. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Southern Bull Frog Tadpole.

M. Anstis

Southern frogs

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Mallee Spadefoot Toad Neobatrachus pictus Peters, 1863 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

N. Clemann

Little Desert National Park, Vic

Description: A medium to large globular frog with a prominent eye and a distinctive vertical pupil. Generally olive coloured above with black mottling and may have a faint vertebral stripe. The tympanum is not visible; fingers are short and lack fringes and webbing, while the toes are extensively webbed. The metatarsal tubercle is black. Size 50 mm Habitat: Found through most habitats in arid and semi-arid mallee. Habits: A burrowing frog seen usually only after rain. Often large numbers can be observed in places like Big Billy Bore where water may be present for longer periods. Insectivorous. Call described as a trilling noise, lasting a few seconds-’ Craaw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-awaw-awk’. Eggs are pigmented in jelly clumps and laid in still water, which includes ponds, dams and clay-pans. Tadpole: Total length to 78 mm. Body length to 34 mm. Dorsum and sides grey with fine melanophores and scattered brown spots. Tail fairly short and dorsal tail fin not obviously arched. Considered to be bottom dwellers with sedentary habits. Larval development can vary from 4–7 months.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Mallee Spadefoot Tadpole.

M. Anstis

Diagnostic features Moderate, globular body. Tibial gland absent. Pupil vertical. Loose skin on side of body does not extend to knee. Toes fully webbed. Call: A long musical trill. Tadpole: Dorsal tail fin lacking distinct arch and with large fine clusters of melanophores.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Common Spadefoot Toad Neobatrachus sudelli (Lamb, 1911) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Melton, Vic

Description: A medium-sized globular frog with a prominent eye and a distinctive vertical pupil. Dorsum is olive or pale green on a background of dark brown or tan with a pale mid-dorsal stripe. Metatarsal tubercle is black. There is a membrane of skin between the knee and the side of the body giving this species the appearance of ‘baggy pants’. Size 40 mm. Habitat: Occurs through woodland, shrubland, open and disturbed areas bordering the Mallee, but appears not to have penetrated the drier, inner areas.

141°E

142°E

143°E

Call: Males call while floating in open water, a short, slow trill ‘Craa-aw-aw-awaw-aw-aw-awk’. Pigmented eggs are contained in long jelly strings, generally wrapped around submerged vegetation. Tadpole: Similar in most respects to N. pictus and the larval stage of these two species are difficult to positively identify. Locations: Little Desert, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Habits: A burrowing frog that becomes active after rain and can be found wandering on moist nights. Insectivorous. Common Spadefoot Tadpole. Diagnostic features Moderate, globular body. Tibial gland absent. Pupil vertical. Loose skin on side of body extending to knee. Toes fully webbed. Call: A short musical trill. Tadpole: Dorsal tail fin lacking distinct arch with fine or dense clusters of melanophores.

144°E

M. Anstis

Geckos Family: Gekkonidae Seven genera containing eight species of geckos occur through the Victorian Mallee. All are nocturnal and most are terrestrial, with the exception of a few, which venture into low bushes or under the bark of larger trees. Like many lizards, geckos practice tail autotomy when seized by a predator or handled too firmly. Some species inhabit spinifex tussocks, while others occupy burrows or can be found beneath fallen trees, logs or rocks. Some, like the Marbled Gecko, Christinus marmoratus, are commonly found under loose bark all year round, though species such as the Beaded Gecko, Diplodactylus damaeus are apparently seasonal in their activities, emerging from burrows only during optimal conditions.

Eye with clear transparent disc

Nostril Thick-tailed gecko

Labial scales

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Marbled Gecko Christinus marmoratus (Gray, 1845) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Boundary Bend, Vic

Description: The body is usually grey to grey brown. Black lines, zig-zags and marbling, with a series of red-brown to orange blotches on the body and along the tail. Belly surface pink-grey to white. Digits flattened and expanded to form pads. Snout–vent length: 70 mm. Habitat: Occurs in many habitats including heathland, woodland (especially River Red Gums), disturbed areas and also in housing. Often found under exfoliating bark, at the base of trees, in leaf litter under rocks, logs, and rubbish and also at night, crossing roads. Habits: As the most southern species of gecko in Australia, it is particularly suited to cooler conditions and often active even on very cool nights. Like most geckos these lizards can drop their tail if handled

Diagnostic features Body slender and slightly depressed. Long fleshy tail. Head and back with irregular marbling, often with reddish brown to bright orange blotches. Digits flattened and expanded to form pads with small retractable claws.

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roughly (autotomy). A regenerated tail is less colourful and shorter than the original. Marbled Geckos are voracious predators, tackling flies, moths, spiders, crickets and other invertebrates. Recorded as laying two eggs to a clutch. In the wild they are known to use a communal nest site with up to 20 eggs. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Geckos

Beaded Gecko Diplodactylus damaeus (Lucas & Frost, 1896) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Millewa, Vic

Description: Body pale reddish brown to pinkish. Broad darker edged white stripe (or series of close blotches) mid-dorsally. Narrow dark line extends from nostril to eye. Rim of upper eyelid, white. Broad dark line extends from one eye to the other in a gentle curve. Lower body and belly white. Snout–vent length: 55 mm Habitat: Prefers sandy soils, which support Triodia grasses, but found throughout Mallee woodlands. Habits: Shelters in abandoned lizard, spider or insect burrows, but also digs its own. Males are territorial, with fighting (includes biting) and vocalization or tail waving encounters. Often seen moving about early in the evening and they display a short spirited sprint when threatened. Feeds on small invertebrates Diagnostic features Body slender. Long slender tail. Dorsum pale reddish brown, with pale vertebral stripe. Narrow line from snout to eye, broadening behind eye and meeting at back of head. All digits clawed with no expanded pads.

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like spiders, cockroaches and crickets. Produces clutches of two parchmentshelled eggs, with young emerging in late February. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Wood Gecko Diplodactylus vittatus Gray, 1832 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Big Desert, Vic

Description: Body is usually grey or light brown, with a short thick tail. A prominent zig-zagging vertebral stripe runs down the back. The stripe breaks down near the tail where it becomes a series of spots or blotches. Also known as the Stone Gecko. Snout–vent length: 50 mm. Habitat: Occupies habitats from sclerophyll forest to arid regions, in all the Victorian Mallee areas. Habits: Nocturnal and retreats during the day into a burrow, which may be situated under a well-embedded rock or log. Recorded from spider burrows beneath spinifex. Often seen at night around tracks and roads, or perched on rocks or small branches. Feeds upon small invertebrates such as spiders, crickets and cockroaches. Diagnostic features Body robust. Moderately short, thick tail. Dorsum with zig-zagging or straight pale vertebral stripe. Pale coloured head merging with dorsal stripe. All digits clawed and padded.

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Produces clutches of two eggs and also uses a communal nest site with up to 20 eggs being recorded. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Geckos

Tree Dtella Gehyra variegata (Dumeril & Bibron, 1836) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

S. Watharow

Rocket Lake, Vic

Description: Body usually pale brown to grey with bands of white flecks. Side of head with two or three narrow lines laterally to neck. Ventral colour pink. All digits clawed, except inner one of each foot. Snout–vent length: 54 mm. Habitat: Associated mostly with trees in more arid habitat throughout the Sunset country, Hattah/Kulkyne and northwards. Habits: An arboreal species most commonly found beneath loose bark of trees in more arid regions of Australia. Shelter sites about one metre from the ground are preferred. Like other arboreal geckos these lizards may be active around the tree during the day, shuttling beneath bark to maximize thermoregulation. Also found in exfoliating rocks. Feeds upon

Diagnostic features Body moderately slender, slightly depressed. Long fleshy tail. Dorsum mottled, with scattered white spots. Head coloured as per dorsum, with faint lateral lines. Digits flat with large semi-circular pads, all except the inner one on each foot prominently clawed.

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invertebrates such as beetles, spiders and termites. Oviparous, with one hard shelled egg laid beneath bark or logs twice in a season from November to December. Communal egglaying also recorded. Locations: Sunset Country, HattahKulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Bynoe’s Gecko Heteronotia binoei (Gray, 1845) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Redcliffs, Vic

Description: A small, extremely variable species throughout its geographic range, and varies considerably even within populations. Body colour ranges from yellow-brown, red-brown to grey-brown. Bands, both broad and, thin may extend over the entire body, and usually with speckled spots or flecks. A stripe extends from the mouth through the eye to the neck. Covered with small spine-like keels in the scales which also give this gecko its other common name, the Prickly Gecko. Each digit clawed. Snout–vent length: 54 mm. Habitat: Occupies numerous habitat types Australia wide, through semi-arid and arid regions. Most common in woodlands, grasslands and disturbed habitats. Utilizes almost any type of cover, such as stumps, fallen trees, dead vegetation, termite Diagnostic features Body small and slender. Long slender tail. Dorsum brown, with tubercles arranged in scattered or irregular longitudinal rows. Head coloured as per dorsum. Digits all prominently clawed with no expanded pads.

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mounds and human-created rubbish. In Victoria, only found in the Sunset Country and northwards, where it is abundant. Habits: Females from some populations are known to be parthenogenic. Feeds upon a wide range of invertebrates. Oviparous with clutches of two eggs, recorded under rocks, inside logs and burrows, from October to January. Locations: Sunset Country. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Geckos

Beaked Gecko Rhynchoedura ornata Gunther, 1867 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Meringur, Vic

Description: Body colour pale pink-brown, brown or red-brown, with light and dark mottling.White to cream blotches and spots of various sizes along body, head, legs and tail. All digits are clawed. A prominent ‘beak like’ snout. Similar to Beaded Gecko (D. damaeus) which may occur sympatrically. Distinguished from D. damaeus by its ‘beak-like’ snout. Snout–vent length: 54 mm. Habitat: Occurs through sand ridges and spinifex grasslands to belah woodland. Microhabitats can be disused vertical spider burrows such as those of Wolf Spiders Lycosidae spp. In Victoria this species is known from only three sites north of the Sunset Country. Widespread in Australia, however the three discrete Victorian sites represent the extreme southern end of its distribution. Diagnostic features Body slender. Long fleshy tail. Dorsum reddish brown, with many variable sized blotches. Head with sharp pointed ‘beak-like’ snout and eye prominently pale-rimmed. Digits all clawed with no expanded pads.

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Habits: Forages between vegetation. A particularly alert gecko that quickly flees when disturbed. A termite and ant specialist. Produces clutches of two eggs. Locations: Northern Sunset Country. Victorian conservation status: Critically endangered.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Southern Spiny-tailed Gecko Strophurus intermedius (Ogilby, 1892) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

S. Watharow

Big Desert, Vic

Description: Body colour typically grey. Underside dark grey and speckled with dark spots. Low cone-shaped spines over eye, two rows of tubercles along the body. Two rows of orange coloured larger tubercles along the tail. The eye is spectacularly orange to red with complex striations. Snout–vent length: 64 mm. Habitat: Usually associated with mallee woodlands with hummock grass Triodia spp. Also occurs in shrublands and woodlands. Habits: An arboreal species generally found sheltering beneath bark of standing or fallen trees. May also be observed active on roads after dusk, particularly on warm nights after rain. Also recorded from within spinifex and exposed on plant branches during daylight hours. Diagnostic features Body slender. Tail long, slender and spiny. Dorsum with two continuous parallel lines of large orange-brown tubercles. Iris with complex pattern and rimmed with orange to maroon. Digits, long, wide, depressed and clawed.

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Insectivorous, feeding on a wide range of small insects and arachnids. This species has been recorded with two eggs in November and February. Eggs take 45–50 days to hatch. Maturity is reached in about two years. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian Conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Geckos

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Thick-tailed Gecko Underwoodisaurus milii (Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1825) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

S. Watharow

Ouyen, Vic

Description: Distinctive large gecko with carrot-shaped tail and bulbous head. Body colour variable: either dark purplishbrown, pinkish or reddish-brown. Heavily speckled or mottled with white spots that form irregular rows across the back and tail. Belly colour white. All digits clawed. Snout–vent length: 96 mm. Habitat: Widespread in eastern Australia, occurring in dry sclerophyll forest with granite outcrops to mallee woodlands and heathlands. Habits: Terrestrial and nocturnal. This gecko excavates a shallow burrow, and may be solitary or found in large groups in rocky regions outside the Mallee (up to 16 recorded under one rock). Juveniles are frequently observed with the parent lizards. When threatened or handled this Diagnostic features Body plump with slender limbs. Head bulbous with large eyes. Tail distinctively carrot-shaped and plump. Dorsum pink to dark purplish brown, with many light spots each centered on a tubercle. Digits short, clawed and without pads.

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species can vocalise with a soft ‘bark’; and will raise its body high off the ground on all four legs. Recorded as eating a wide variety of arthropods and insects as well as small lizards. Produces two eggs in summer, often laid in soil under a log or rock. Communal laying recorded. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian Conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Flap-footed Lizards Family: Pygopodidae The Pygopodidae is Australasia’s only endemic lizard family, of which four genera and seven species are found in the Victorian Mallee. Some, like members of Aprasia are worm-like burrowers that inhabit leaf litter below ground debris or ant and termite nests. Others are either nocturnal or partly diurnal, such as the Delma species, while The Common Scaly-foot, Pygopus lepidopodus, can be found basking in full sunlight. Like geckos, legless lizards are able to perform facial cleaning with their long tongues and also practice tail autotomy. Most of the mallee species shelter in spinifex tussocks, in particular Burtons Snake-lizard, the Southern Legless Lizard, and Butler’s Legless Lizard.

Striped Worm-lizard

Southern Legless Lizard

Pre-anal pores Burton’s Snake Lizard

Hind flap-foot Hind flap-foot Ventral scale Cloacal region of the Common scaly-foot Common Scaly-foot

Flap-footed Lizards

Mallee Worm-lizard Aprasia aurita Kluge, 1974 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Wathe Reserve, Vic

Description: Pale brown dorsally, each scale marked to give an appearance of dark lines above. White ventrally. Body slender. Tail shorter than body. Ear opening partly obscured but apparent. Poorly developed hind limb flaps. Scales usually in 14 rows at mid-body. Snout–vent length: 110 mm. Habitat: Preference for sandy substrates in mallee regions of Victoria. Known from a few sites at eastern edge of the Big Desert. Habits: A burrowing, thigmothermic lizard recorded as being diurnal. Sometimes found under embedded mallee roots. More often observed in the spring, as it retreats into cracks in the soil or ant holes during summer. Diet consists primarily of ants. Oviparous, with clutches of two eggs laid in November. Diagnostic features Body superficially similar to snake, with poorly developed hind limb flaps. Snout moderately protrusive. Tail blunt and shorter than body, flushed with pale pink. External ear opening present, but almost entirely covered by a notched scale. Scales smooth, usually in 14 rows at mid-body.

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Locations: Recorded only from Ouyen, Woomelang, Wathe Reserve and more recently from a couple of localities in the Big Desert, north-western Victoria. Victorian conservation status: Lower risk – near threatened. A slightly larger distribution then previously thought but still centred around the Big Desert. Some traditional habitat has been changed by agriculture.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Pink-nosed Worm-lizard Aprasia inaurita Kluge, 1974 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

G. Gaikhorst

Ceduna, SA

Description: Pale olive-brown to greybrown dorsally. Head and neck redbrown. Tail end flushed with bright red-orange. White ventrally. Tail shorter than body. Lacks an obvious external ear opening. Poorly developed hind limb flaps. Scales usually in 14 rows at midbody. Snout–vent length: 136 mm. Habitat: Preference for sandy substrates, and found mainly in mallee habitats of north-western Victoria. Habits: This lizard is a thigmothermic , burrowing species which is active by day. Habits are poorly known. When threatened will present its coloured tail to deter predation. Insectivorous, feeding predominantly on ant eggs (Aphaenogastor spp.). Oviparous. Probably breeds in spring, with two eggs observed in October. Diagnostic features Body superficially similar to snake, with poorly developed hind limb flaps. Snout weakly protrusive. Tail blunt and shorter than body, bright reddish-orange terminally. External ear opening absent. Scales smooth, usually in 14 rows at mid-body.

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Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Flap-footed Lizards

Striped Worm-lizard Aprasia striolata Lutken, 1863 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

N. Clemann

Little Desert National Park, Vic

Description: Olive-brown to pale brown above. Side of head and neck usually with a series of narrow, dark stripes less apparent along neck. Dorso-lateral and lateral lines persist along the length of body to tail tip. Ventral colour grey, yellowwhite. Tail shorter than body. Differs from A. inaurita in absence of a bright orange flush on the tail. Also bears distinctive stripes. Scales usually in 12 rows at midbody. Females appear to grow larger than males. Snout–vent length: 130mm. Habitat: Usually recorded in sandy loam soils, with deep leaf litter within mallee, open woodlands and heathlands, mainly in the Little Desert. Found also in Western and South Australia, but in Victoria restricted to the south-west. Former habitat south of the Little Desert changed through agriculture and pine plantations, Diagnostic features Body superficially similar to snake, with poorly developed hind limb flaps. Snout slightly protrusive. Tail blunt and shorter than body, body and tail prominently striped with black. External ear openings absent. Scales smooth usually in 12 rows at mid-body.

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though Little Desert populations are probably secure. Habits: A thigmothermic. burrowing species which is usually found only under loose rocks, inside ant nests, or within fixed leaf litter. Believed to be diurnal but also may be active on warm evenings. Diet consists predominantly of ant eggs and their larvae. Oviparous. Locations: Little Desert. Victorian conservation status: Lower risk-near threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Southern Legless Lizard Delma australis Kluge, 1974 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Lake Becking, Vic

Description: Body brownish to rich brown above. Strong dark variegations or narrow bars on head, nape and forebody. The side of head and neck has a series of dark vertical bars. Conspicuous external ear openings, well-developed hind limb flaps. Scales usually in 18 rows at midbody. Snout–vent length: 88 mm. Habitat: Mallee habitats of north-western Victoria. Particularly common in or under spinifex, ground creepers, tussock grass and leaf litter. Though not recorded recently in the Little Desert, there are some historic records for the area. Habits: As is typical for the genus, this species, when disturbed, may thrust its body upright in forward ‘leaps’ while Diagnostic features Body superficially similar to snake, with well developed hind limb flaps. Short, rounded snout. Strong dark variegations or narrow bars on head, nape and forebody only. Tail longer than body. Conspicuous external ear openings. Scales smooth, shiny and usually 18 rows at mid-body.

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producing audible squeaks. Usually diurnal, though may also be active on warm nights. Its presence in spinifex tussocks is often betrayed by the numerous sloughed skins. Diet consists of invertebrates, mostly spiders and cockroaches. Produces two eggs in November–December which hatch after about 70 days. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Flap-footed Lizards

Butler’s Legless Lizard Delma butleri Storr, 1987 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Sunset Tank, Vic

Description: Uniformly olive-grey to olive-brown with dark edged scales. Pattern usually absent. Ventral surface a soft yellow. The tail is approximately three times the snout–vent length. Conspicuous external ear openings. Well-developed hind limb flaps. A mid-body scale count of usually 16 rows. Snout–vent length: 96 mm. Habitat: A mallee endemic occurring on sandy substrates dominated by spinifex grass (Triodia spp.). Habits: Found exclusively in spinifex grass and when disturbed may ‘forward leap’ to escape. Breeding probably occurs August to September, as eggs have been recorded in a female in November. Feeds on a Diagnostic features Body superficially similar to snake, with well developed hind limb flaps. Moderate, rounded snout. Head and body uniform colour, with fine reticulate pattern. Tail longer than body. Conspicuous external ear openings. Scales smooth, shiny and usually 16 rows at mid-body.

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variety of insects associated with Triodia communities. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Burton’s Snake-lizard Lialis burtonis Gray, 1835 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

141°E

Lake Becking, Vic

Description: A very distinctive legless lizard, with a sharp snout. Generally plain grey or light brown. Colour may vary within populations with plain and striped individuals. Sexually dimorphic with adult females noticeably larger than males. A dark lateral line often present from eye region along the fore body. Poorly developed hind limb flaps. Scales usually in 18 rows at mid-body. Snout–vent length: 290 mm. Habitat: A widespread lizard that occurs through many habitat types including mallee, chenopod shrubland, heathland and grassland (Triodia spp.). May also be found under sheets of iron and other human rubbish, fallen branches or low growing bushes. Often observed crossing roads at night.

Diagnostic features Body superficially similar to snake, with poorly developed hind limb flaps. Prominent wedge-shaped snout. Tail longer than body. Conspicuous external ear openings. Scales smooth, usually 18 rows or more at mid-body.

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Habits: A lizard specialist, preying upon skinks, geckos, dragons and legless lizards. Gravid lizards may be found from September to February with eggs possibly laid more than once in a season. Communal nests have been documented. It is not unusual to find more than one specimen (up to four recorded) in a single clump of spinifex, particularly in spring. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

P. Robertson

Rockhole Bore, Vic

Flap-footed Lizards

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Common Scaly-foot Pygopus lepidopodus (Lacepede, 1804) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

N. Clemann

Little Desert National Park, Vic

Description: Two colour forms exist and both can be found in the same areas. One is a plain grey to light brown along the body that turns to grey around the head. The other is a ‘heathland’ form that is grey-brown with a series of three longitudinal lines of dark dashes/blotches. Well-developed hind-limb flaps, scales strongly keeled and usually in 21 rows at mid-body. Females recorded as being slightly heavier than males. Snout–vent length: 274 mm.

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Spiders and scorpions are the main diet and are recorded entering burrows to prey on these. Usually two eggs are laid in October to December, with communal laying recorded. Eggs hatch after 70 days (in captivity). Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Habitat: Predominantly heathland, mallee with spinifex grass, chenopod habitats and grassland. Habits: Moves about during the day, especially sunny mornings in spring and early summer. Predominantly diurnal, however also active on warm nights. Diagnostic features Body superficially similar to snake, with well developed hind limb flaps. Rounded snout. Tail longer than body. Conspicuous external ear openings. Scales strongly keeled, usually 21 rows or more at mid-body.

144°E

S. Watharow

Little Desert National Park, Vic

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Skinks Family: Scincidae The Scincidae is Australia’s largest family of lizards and is well represented in the Victorian Mallee with nine genera with 18 species. They range from small, cryptic, elongated burrowers such as the Spotted Burrowing skink to the large, very familiar Western Blue-tongued Lizard and ubiquitous Stumpy-tailed Lizard. Habitat utilization is diverse and includes sheltering in and beneath spinifex tussocks, ground debris, low vegetation and burrows. Most species are capable of tail autotomy with regrown tails lacking the original colouration. The Mallee species are almost entirely diurnal and often observed throughout the warmer part of the year. Vertebral stripe

Dorsal stripe

Mid-lateral stripe

Latero-dorsal stripe

Para-vertebral stripe

Dorso-lateral stripe

Regal Striped Skink, showing typical body stripes

Stumpy-tailed Lizard, with large rugose scalation

Regal Striped Skink: lower eyelid scaly

Carnaby’s Wall Skink: lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle

Delicate Skink: lower eyelid enclosing a transparent window

Skinks

Carnaby’s Wall Skink Cryptoblepharus carnabyi Storr, 1976 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

S. Watharow

Mitre, Vic

Description: A small species, dorsally depressed and with long limbs. Greybrown above, with a pale white line from eye along the body to the tailbase. This dorso-lateral line is bordered with a series of flecks and dashes that are scattered over the entire body and tail. Eyes are large and round with the lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Snout–vent length: 40 mm. Habitat: A semi-arboreal skink that is usually seen around small trees, fallen logs, and branches, throughout woodlands. Habits: Apart from trees, often seen basking along older wooden fences. Commonly lives inside the cracks and gaps within fence posts. Diet consists mainly of arthropods and other Diagnostic features Body dorsally depressed with smooth scales. Dorsum copper to greyish-brown with heavy dark flecks. Head pointed with large circular eyes. Lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Upper eyelid with 3-4 scales much larger than granules surrounding eye. Five slender digits on four long limbs.

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invertebrates. Recorded with clutches of (typically) two eggs. Locations: Little Desert, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Murray Striped Skink Ctenotus brachyonyx Storr, 1971 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

S. Watharow

Rocket Lake, Vic

Description: A robust skink with a long tail and well developed limbs. A broad black vertebral stripe, without paler edges, terminates at the tail-base. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Dark grey upper flanks with an indistinct pale mid-lateral stripe. Pale ventral surface. Snout–vent length: 83mm. Habitat: Occurs through semi-arid, sandy areas, with mallee/spinifex associations. Habits: A diurnal species that usually shelters in burrows under spinifex tussocks and other low ground vegetation. Insectivorous, feeding upon a variety of invertebrates. Oviparous, as for genus.

Diagnostic features Body with smooth scales and longitudinal stripes. Ear openings with anterior lobules. Dorsum with broad black vertebral stripe to base of tail, lacking pale edge. No pale spots on upper flanks. Pale mid-lateral stripe extends forward to lips. Lower eyelids movable lacking a transparent disc. Five digits on well developed limbs.

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Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Skinks

Brooks’s Striped Skink Ctenotus brooksi iridis Storr, (1981) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Big Billy Bore, Vic

Description: A slender-bodied skink with smooth scales. It is very distinctive when compared to other Ctenotus species of the Victorian Mallee. Dorsum pinkish brown with five sharp, straight, black stripes. Flanks black enclosing white spots and a white mid-lateral stripe. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Pale ventral surface. Snout–vent length: 50 mm. Habitat: Occurs through mallee areas with spinifex grass, on sand especially along sand ridges. Less common on harder packed soils. Habits: Digs a short burrow under low ground vegetation. Usually forages only within range of the burrow. Insectivorous and recorded as feeding upon insect Diagnostic features Body with smooth scales and longitudinal stripes. Ear openings with anterior lobules. Dorsum pinkish brown with five sharp, straight, black stripes. Black flanks enclosing white spots and white midlateral stripe. Lower eyelid movable lacking a transparent disc.

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pupae and eggs, spiders, beetles and bugs. Oviparous, with between one and three (usually two) eggs laid in summer. Locations: Big Desert, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Eastern Striped Skink Ctenotus orientalis Storr, (1971) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

G. Gaikhorst

Big Desert, Vic

Description: A slender-bodied skink with a pointed head, smooth scales and prominent, pale edged, black vertebral stripe. Flanks black, enclosing 2–4 irregular series of pale spots. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Pale ventral surface. Snout–vent length: 82 mm. Habitat: Occurs through low open shrubland, especially on sandy/harder compact sand/soil. Habits: A widespread mallee species, usually observed shuttling quickly between low ground vegetation. Shelters in burrows beneath low ground vegetation. Recorded as feeding upon insects, centipedes, spiders and small Diagnostic features Body with smooth scales and longitudinal stripes. Ear openings with anterior lobules. Dorsum with prominent pale-edged, black vertebral stripe and a row of small pale spots along outer edge. Black flanks enclosing 2-4 irregular series of pale spots. Lower eyelid movable lacking a transparent disc.

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amounts of vegetation. Oviparous, with eggs being laid in late spring. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Skinks

Regal Striped Skink Ctenotus regius Storr, 1971 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

G. Parker

Mildura, Vic

Description: A slender-bodied skink with smooth scales and a brown dorsum with thin, dark vertebral and prominent pale para-vertebral stripes. A prominent continuous, white mid-lateral stripe extending forward beyond the forelimbs. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Pale ventral surface. Snout–vent length: 73 mm. Habitat: Occurs in the northern Mallee, through open woodlands and shrublands on sandy reddish soils in association with spinifex. Habits: Usually observed actively foraging around ground vegetation. Shelters in burrows beneath ground debris or at the base of low-lying vegetation. Diagnostic features Body with smooth scales and longitudinal stripes. Ear openings with anterior lobules. Dorsum brown with thin, dark vertebral and prominent pale para-vertebral stripes. Prominent pale upper-lateral spots and unbroken white mid-lateral stripe extending forward beyond forelimbs. Lower eyelid movable lacking a transparent disc.

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Recorded feeding upon insects, centipedes, spiders and vegetation, including leaves and berries. Oviparous, with clutches of two to four eggs, laid in spring. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Large Striped Skink Ctenotus robustus Storr, 1970 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Big Desert, Vic

Description: A large, robust species of Ctenotus with a pointed head and smooth scales. Dorsum olive-brown with a prominent black-edged vertebral stripe. Flanks black and enclosing one or two series of pale, upper-lateral blotches. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Pale ventral surface. Snout–vent length: 123 mm. Habitat: Occupies most habitats and may be observed throughout open woodland/grassland, shrubland, sand with spinifex and rock outcrops. Appears to be only distributed through the southern Mallee, including the Big Desert area and Little Desert National Park. Diagnostic features Body with smooth scales and longitudinal stripes Ear openings with anterior lobules. Dorsum olive-brown with prominent, paleedged, black vertebral stripe. Dark olive flanks enclosing one or two series of pale, upper-lateral blotches. Pale mid-lateral stripe extends forward to beneath the eye. Lower eyelid movable lacking a transparent disc.

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Habits: A terrestrial, diurnal skink usually observed foraging between ground cover. It is a common prey item for the Eastern Brown Snake, Pseudonaja textilis. Recorded as feeding upon a wide range of insects, spiders and vegetation, including leaves and berries. Oviparous, producing between 3–7 eggs in late spring that are buried beneath the soil. Young emerge in late January to early February. Sexual maturity can be attained within 12 months. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Southern Sunset Country Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Skinks

Desert Skink Egernia inornata Rosen, 1905 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Big Billy Bore, Vic

Description: Short, stout with a round blunt head and smooth scales. Dorsum plain brown to red-brown, with dark spots or dashes forming irregular longitudinal lines. Ventral surface white. Eyelids yellow, with lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Ventral surface pale and may be flushed with pink. Snout–vent length: 84 mm. Habitat: Occurs throughout mallee vegetation, especially along ridges or dunes. Favours areas of hard-packed sand and spinifex. Excavates a multi-entranced tunnel complex, usually about 500–700 mm long, with an escape burrow dug almost to the surface. Burrows are often along roadside verges and beneath shrubs and ground vegetation. Widespread in the Diagnostic features Body robust, with smooth scales. Deep, blunt head with yellow eyelids and anterior lobule on ear opening. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Dorsum plain yellow-brown with longitudinal black spots. Five digits on well developed limbs (4th toe much longer than 3rd).

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northern Big Desert, Sunset Country and Hattah-Kulkyne, but infrequently encountered during surveys. Specimens tend not to venture far from their burrow systems so data may be deficient. Habits: Predominantly crepuscular, favouring early morning foraging and late afternoon basking. Sometimes observed moving around in the first few hours of darkness; otherwise usually located only by the presence of its burrows. Insectivorous, with prey items consisting mainly of arthropods and other invertebrates. Viviparous, recorded as producing up to four live young. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Lower risk-near threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Heath Skink Egernia multiscutata Mitchell & Behrndt, 1949 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Big Desert, Vic

Description: Short, stout with a round blunt head and smooth scales. Dorsum grey-brown with black stripes enclosing one or two series of pale spots. Eyelids yellow and lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Ventral surfaces white and may be flushed with orange. Snout–vent length: 96 mm. Habitat: Restricted to well-drained, sandy, heathland areas of the Big Desert. Excavates a multi-entranced tunnel complex, usually beneath shrubs and ground vegetation. Occurs in Western and South Australia, but in Victoria known only from three localities on extremely large dunes. Frequent wildfires appear to have played a part in the reduction in numbers of this species in the Victorian Mallee. Diagnostic features Body robust, with smooth scales. Dorsum grey-brown with two black stripes enclosing one or two series of pale spots. Deep, blunt head, with yellow eyelids and anterior lobule on ear opening. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Five digits on well developed limbs (4th toe much longer than 3rd).

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Habits: A diurnal species, mostly foraging in early morning. Otherwise secretive, usually located only by its burrow. Insectivorous, with prey items consisting mainly of arthropods and other invertebrates. Viviparous. Locations: Big Desert. Victorian conservation status: Critically endangered.

Skinks

Millewa Skink Hemiergis millewae Coventry, 1976 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Sunset Country, Vic

Description: A small, slender-bodied skink with smooth, glossy scales and five digits on each well developed limb. Body and tail greyish with a burnt orange dorso-lateral stripe, from above the ear to the hind limb. Chin and throat white, but rest of ventral surface is pale yellow. Tail distinctly marked with spots arranged in lines. Snout–vent length: 58 mm. Habitat: Appears to be restricted to small populations in the western Sunset country, where it shelters in spinifex, within mallee woodlands. Dependent on large spinifex clumps with a litter build up. Because of small populations it is vulnerable to severe wildfire.

Diagnostic features Body slender with smooth, glossy scales. Dorsum dark olive with burnt orange dorsolateral stripe. Pointed head, ear depression visible, sometimes exposing a tympanum. Lower eyelid movable, enclosing a transparent disc. Five fingers and five toes on very short, widely spaced limbs.

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Habits: Insectivorous, with diet consisting mainly of invertebrates that reside in spinifex. Viviparous, with one or two live young born in late summer. Locations: Sunset Country. Victorian conservation status: Critically endangered.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Delicate Skink Lampropholis delicata (De Vis, 1888) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

N. Clemann

Little Desert National Park, Vic

Description: A small, slender-bodied skink with a slightly pointed coppercoloured head and small ear openings. Dorsum and tail greyish, with scattered dark and light flecks. Five digits on each of four well developed limbs. Dorso-lateral lines present. Ventral surface cream. Lower eyelid movable enclosing a transparent disc. Snout–vent length: 51 mm. Habitat: Occurs through forests, woodlands, heathlands and disturbed areas throughout eastern Australia. A common, suburban garden skink. The Little Desert population inhabits mallee vegetation and has a distribution that is disjunct from populations on the east coast of Australia.

Diagnostic features Body slender with smooth scales. Dorsum greyish with dark and pale flecks continuing along tail. Slightly pointed copper-coloured head, with small ear openings. Lower eyelid movable enclosing a transparent disc. Five digits on each of four well developed limbs.

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Habits: A relatively fast-moving diurnal skink, often seen foraging in leaf litter at the base of trees. Insectivorous. Oviparous, with communal egg laying recorded. Locations: Little Desert. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Skinks

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Bougainville’s Skink Lerista bougainvillii (Gray, 1839) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Lake Tyrell, Vic

Description: Small, elongated body with smooth, glossy scales. Dorsum silvery-grey to pale brown, with four lines consisting of a series of dashes. A broad, black stripe extends laterally from the eye to the tailbase. Five digits on four well-developed limbs. Ventral surface pale and tail underside flushed with yellow or red. Lower eyelid movable with transparent disc. Snout–vent length: 70 mm. Habitat: Widespread in the Mallee, usually favouring areas of loose, sandy soil but also inhabits rock outcrops with loose soil. Habits: A terrestrial burrower found sheltering just below the surface, beneath rocks, logs and in leaf litter. Often a little wave of soil betrays its presence. Diagnostic features Body elongated with smooth glossy scales. Dorsum with four lines of dark dashes and tail flushed with yellow or red. Broad, black upper-lateral zone. Pointed head, coloured as dorsum, with minute ear openings. Lower eyelid movable, enclosing a transparent disc. Five digits on each of four short, widely spaced limbs.

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Commonly encountered beneath ground debris and rubbish in disturbed areas. Insectivorous. Oviparous. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Spotted Burrowing Skink Lerista punctatovittata (Gunther, 1867) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Kooloonong, Vic

Description: Small, elongated body with smooth glossy scales. The very short forelimbs have one digit and the hind limbs have two. Body colour pinkish brown and each scale has a dark mark that forms a longitudinal rows of spots. Pale ventrally and lips with dark bars. Lower eyelid movable enclosing a transparent disc. Snout–vent length: 100 mm. Habitat: Usually observed amongst leaf litter, beneath vegetation, mallee roots and other ground debris, throughout mallee woodlands with spinifex. Also found under sheets of iron and other rubbish in disturbed areas. Habits: Insectivorous, feeding upon a variety of invertebrates. Oviparous, with clutches of typically two eggs, produced in late spring or early summer. Diagnostic features Body elongated with smooth, glossy scales. Pointed head with flattened snout and minute ear openings. Lower eyelid movable, enclosing a transparent disc. Limbs very short and widely spaced with one digit on forelimbs and two on hind limbs.

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Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Skinks

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Grey’s Skink Menetia greyii Gray, 1845 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Lake Becking, Vic

Description: Victoria’s smallest lizard. It has a slender body, with a pointed head and smooth scales. Dorsum dark brown to pale brown-grey. A broad dark upperlateral stripe and a white mid-lateral stripe. Ventral surface white, but may be yellow in breeding males. Lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Snout–vent length: 38 mm. Habitat: Found throughout semi-arid woodlands, heathlands, grasslands, mallee woodlands with spinifex, and disturbed habitats. Habits: A diurnal, though cryptic species that remains close to vegetation while foraging. Insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates. Oviparous.

Diagnostic features Very small (less than 50 mm total length). Body slender with smooth scales. Lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Four fingers and five toes on well developed limbs.

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Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Samphire Skink Morethia adelaidensis Peters, 1874 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Kerang, Vic

Description: Body slender with smooth scales and typically grey, olive-grey to brown. Scattered flecks form two broken lines along the dorsum. A broad, dark, upper-lateral stripe, enclosing pale flecks, runs from eye to base of tail. Ventral surface white, breeding males have a distinctive reddish-orange colour around the chin, chest, limbs and part of tail. Lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Snout–vent length: 53 mm. Habitat: Most records in the Victorian Mallee are from the Hattah-Kulkyne area and in the southeast. Occurs in samphire and chenopod shrublands, heathland and disturbed areas and farmlands. Distribution in Victoria is limited as it is largely dependent upon samphire and

Diagnostic features Body with smooth scales. Head and dorsum grey to brown with dark flecks. Broad dark brown upper-lateral stripe enclosing scattered, pale flecks. Lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Five fingers and five toes on well developed limbs.

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chenopod shrubland, and habitats have been changed through agriculture. Habits: Fast-moving, terrestrial and diurnal. Usually observed shuttling between bushes, or found under ground debris. Insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates. Oviparous, with one to six eggs produced in late spring or early summer. Males can be observed with brighter, breeding colours throughout this period (red flushes). Locations: Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Endangered.

Skinks

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Boulenger’s Skink Morethia boulengeri (Ogilby, 1890) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Lake Becking, Vic

Description: Body slender with smooth scales. Dorsum grey to coppery-brown with dark flecks. A mid-lateral white stripe, with broad, black upper stripe and thin, black lower stripe from snout to tailbase. Ventral surface white. Breeding males have a distinctive red-orange patch around the chin and throat. Lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Snout–vent length: 50 mm. Habitat: Widespread, found in woodlands, mallee and spinifex, also in disturbed habitats on farmland, mainly on harder soils. Habits: Fast moving, terrestrial and diurnal. Usually observed shuttling between bushes or found under ground debris. Insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates. Oviparous with one to six Diagnostic features Body slender with smooth scales. Head and dorsum grey to coppery brown with dark flecks. Midlateral white stripe with broad, black upper stripe and thin, black lower stripe. Lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Five fingers and five toes on well developed limbs.

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eggs produced in late spring or early summer. Males can be observed with brighter breeding colours during this period (red flushes). Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Obscure Skink Morethia obscura Storr, 1972 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

N. Clemann

Little Desert National Park, Vic

Description: Body slender with smooth scales. Dorsum olive-grey, scattered with small white flecks. Mid-lateral plain or with weak, pale stripe. Ventral surface white, breeding males have a distinctive reddish-orange chin and throat. Lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Snout–vent length: 56 mm. Habitat: Widespread through woodlands, heathlands and shrublands, mainly on sandy soils. Habits: Fast moving, terrestrial and diurnal. Usually observed shuttling between bushes, or found under ground debris. Insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates. Oviparous with one to five eggs produced in late spring or early summer. Males can be observed with brighter breeding colours during this period (red flushes). Diagnostic features Body with smooth scales. Head and dorsum olive-grey, scattered with small white flecks. Mid-lateral plain or with weak pale stripe. Lower eyelid fused to form a fixed spectacle. Five fingers and five toes on well-developed limbs.

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Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Skinks

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Western Blue-tongued Lizard Tiliqua occipitalis (Peters, 1863) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

G. Parker

Big Desert, Vic

Description: A large, slender-bodied lizard with a broad, triangular head and smooth scales. The dorsum is yellow-brown with four to six broad, distinct, dark bands of which three or four form complete rings on the tail. A distinctive, dark stripe runs from the eye to the ear. Ventral surface pale. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Broad, fleshy blue tongue. Snout–vent length: 320 mm. Habitat: Associated with open sandy areas in mallee woodlands, heathlands and sometimes in disturbed habitats. Widespread in the Victorian Mallee though infrequently encountered. Data on this species is somewhat deficient.

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Habits: Usually seen foraging along tracks or basking during the morning on sunny days. Also shelters in burrows and beneath spinifex. Threat display consists of opening the mouth widely, hissing and extending the fleshy, blue tongue. Omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of plant material and invertebrates. Viviparous, with an average of five large young being produced in mid-summer. Recorded litter sizes from four to 10. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Data deficient.

Diagnostic features Very large with smooth scales. Broad triangular head. Long, slender tail. Flat, blue tongue. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Broad yellow and tan bands.

144°E

S. Watharow

Wyperfeld National Park, Vic

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Stumpy-tailed Lizard Tiliqua rugosa aspera Gray, (1845) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

S. Watharow

Big Desert, Vic

Description: Large-bodied, robust with large, irregular, rugose scales. Distinctive triangular head and short, stout tail. Dorsum varies from mostly dark brown to grey or black, irregularly spotted/flecked, or with faint bands of paler colours. Ventral surface cream or white with dark markings. Lower eyelid movable, lacking a transparent disc. Broad, fleshy blue tongue. Snout–vent length: 310 mm. Habitat: Associated with disturbed habitats, farmlands, roadside verges, open woodlands, mallee and heathland. Habits: Known also as the Shingleback, it is the most easily recognized and familiar lizard of the Mallee region. Often seen crossing roads in early spring and a common visitor to rural back yards. Also observed foraging along tracks

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through mallee vegetation. Threat display consists of hissing and lurching forward with open mouth and dark blue tongue extended. Often carries a heavy burden of ticks, Aponomma hydrosauri, which appear to cause little harm. Omnivorous, feeding upon vegetation, particularly flowers and invertebrates. Mating occurs in spring and specimens often pair yearly with the same partner. Males guard their partners jealously from other males for days and weeks. One to four live young born late summer or early autumn. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Diagnostic features Body robust, with extremely large, rugose scales. Broad, triangular head. Short, blunt tail. Flat, blue tongue. Lower eyelid movable lacking a transparent disc.

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S. Watharow

Big Desert, Vic

Dragons Family: Agamidae A familiar family of diurnal,heliothermic lizards,with most species occurring throughout drier regions of Australia. The Victorian Mallee has four genera and seven species that range from the small, brightly-coloured Mallee Dragon to the very well known large, Eastern Bearded Dragon and Central Bearded Dragon. Most species are observed ‘perching’either on mounds or in small bushes and tree branches.Some,like the Painted Dragon, excavate a small burrow into which they quickly retreat when disturbed.

Nuchal crest

Nostril

Tympanum

Norris’s Dragon

Spines at rear of head form a backwardcurving arc.

Spines at rear of head in a line.

Dorsal view of head of Eastern Bearded Dragon Dorsal view of head of Central Bearded Dragon

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Nobbi Dragon Amphibolurus nobbi coggeri Witten, (1972) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

Male

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P. Robertson, Lake Albacutya, Vic

Description: Moderately well-developed nuchal and vertabral crest with raised scales forming a ridge along tail and middle of body. Overall colour typically pale to dark grey. Series of dark angular blotches along the body, forming an obscure to distinct pattern. Two white or yellow dorso-lateral stripes. Ventral surface white to light grey. Breeding males develop pink to red flushes on sides of tail and body stripes become bright yellow. Upper body flanks and throat may be black. Mouth lining pink. Snout–vent length: 84 mm. Habitat: Mallee woodland, especially with areas of fallen timber and spinifex in northern Big Desert and Sunset Country. Habits: A sun-loving and semi-arboreal dragon that can be observed in vegetation, basking on logs or in shrubs and small Diagnostic features Body with dorsolateral spinose scales. Five crests with moderately developed vertebral and nuchal crests. Interior of mouth flushed with pink. Exposed ear openings. A pair of narrow yellow stripes.

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trees. Insectivorous, feeding predominantly on termites, grasshoppers and other invertebrates. Oviparous, producing clutches of six to eight eggs. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Data deficient.

Female

M. G. Swan, Hattah, Vic

Dragons

Norris’s Dragon Amphibolurus norrisi Witten and Coventry, 1984 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

141°E

Big Desert, Vic

Description: Body colour grey to brown, with broad lozenge-shaped patterns running the length of body. Dark streak from snout through eye to ear. Mouth lining yellow. Bands along length of tail. Females larger than males. Snout–vent length: 115 mm. Habitat: Mallee woodland, heathland and semi-arid heathland. Particularly common in areas of Cypress Pine. In Victoria, largely restricted to southern Big Desert and Little Desert National Park. Habits: Semi-arboreal, often seen basking on its perch along tracks or roadsides. Home or basking sites can be fallen timber, small trees and shrubs. Mostly shy and retreats when approached too closely, often climbing a tree or shrub. Feeds on ants, grasshoppers, beetles, other insects and berries. Adults recorded eating flowers and skinks. Males engage in ritual combat, Diagnostic features Body with dorsolateral spinose scales. Five crests with well-developed vertebral and nuchal crests. Interior of mouth bright yellow. Exposed ear openings.

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mating in early spring. Three to eight eggs are laid in November, usually buried in a chamber in the soil and concealed with leaf litter. Young hatch after 80 days and take approximately 12 months to mature. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

N. Clemann

Little Desert National Park, Vic

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Mallee Dragon Ctenophorus fordi (Storr, 1965) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

Male

141°E

M.G. Swan, Big Desert, Vic

Description: A small dragon with a redbrown to grey-brown body, spotted with black or white, with prominent dorsolateral and lateral stripes. Series of small dark blotches extend from nape to back legs. Male throat region typically has dark bars or patterns. Ventral region white. Snout–vent length: 58 mm.

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times in a season. The eggs hatch after 50–70 days. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Habitat: Associated with spinifex, throughout areas with sand dunes, ridges and plains. Habits: Usually observed basking on sandy tracks or shuttling quickly between ground vegetation and is active even on very hot days. Lifespan is short at around 12–18 months. Emerges from dormancy during August with males appearing about four weeks earlier than females. Insectivorous, feeding predominantly on ants. Males are territorial and mating occurs in spring. Multiple clutches of two or three eggs are deposited up to three Diagnostic features Body without spines or crests. Short head. Adpressed hind limb reaches beyond snout. Exposed ear openings.

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Female

M.G. Swan, Hattah, Vic

Dragons

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Painted Dragon Ctenophorus pictus (Peters, 1866) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

Male

141°E

M.G. Swan, Big Desert, Vic

Description: These lizards have a small nuchal crest and a ridge of scales along the back. Sexually mature males and females are notably different, with males being predominantly blue. Body colour typically brown, blue-grey or yellow and brown. Stripe running down the back usually grey-blue, with regular dark or light blotches and bars. Light and dark spots or blotches also occur irregularly along the body. Head colour orange to brown. Ventral surface white, with a thin, black, triangular shape on throat. Breeding specimes are beautifully coloured, with a bright blue body hue, punctuated with bright red, yellow and white flushes. Females lack bright colours but have essentially similar markings to males. Snout–vent length: 65 mm.

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Habitat: Common in areas of salt lakes and white sand dominated by mallee heathland. Widespread, occurring in most areas of the Victorian Mallee. Habits: Diurnal and heliothermic, often seen in large numbers, perched on mounds or low branches within the vicinity of a short burrow, into which they retreat quickly when disturbed. Overwinter in a sealed burrow. Insectivorous, feeding primarily on ants. Suspected of breeding only once or twice in their lifetime, with two to five eggs laid in summer. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Diagnostic features Body without dorso-lateral spinose scales. Short, deep head. Low nuchal crest. Adpressed hind limb reaches to between eye and ear. Exposed ear openings.

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Female

P. Robertson, Annuello, Vic

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Eastern Bearded Dragon Pogona barbata (Cuvier, 1829) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Kerang, Vic

Description: A well-known lizard, having loose rows of spines extending across the throat to form a ‘beard’. Body usually grey but may be yellow-brown. Mouth lining bright yellow. Patterns well defined on juveniles, but fade gradually with age to become obscure or absent in adults. Tail marked with faint bands. Ventral surface white, often with dark streaks. Snout–vent length: 250 mm. Distinguished from the Central Bearded Dragon in having a more slender build and an arc-shaped row of spines on the back of the head. Habitat: Common in mallee, chenopod woodland habitats, heathland and roadside verges. This species occurs in the Little Desert and recorded as far north as Yanac and surrounds. It is replaced by the

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Central Bearded Dragon in the Big Desert, Sunset Country and Hattah/Kulkyne Parks. Habits: A commonly seen semi-arboreal lizard, typically observed basking in the early morning sunshine on fence posts and logs. Like the Central Bearded Dragon, it may often be observed moving across roads, especially in early spring. Feeds predominantly on vegetation and insects. Oviparous, with clutch sizes recorded from 7–50 eggs, laid from October to December, with young hatching 50–79 days later. Locations: Little Desert extending northwards to about Yanac (outside the southern end of the Big Desert). Victorian conservation status: Data deficient.

Diagnostic features Body dorsally depressed and spiny. Moderately broad triangular head. Spines at rear edge of lower jaw extending across throat to form a ‘beard’. Spines at rear of head form a backward curving arc (see illustration, page 49). Conspicuous external ear openings. Yellow mouth lining.

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Dragons

Central Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps (Ahl, 1926) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Big Desert, Vic

Description: Distinctive large robust lizard with a loose rows of spines extending across the throat to form a ‘beard’. Body colour is grey to rich orange. Juveniles have distinctive patterns which fade with age. Side of head often tinged with orange or yellow around the eye. Ventral surface pale to dark grey, with dark-edged white spots. Beard may be black in breeding males. Central Bearded Dragons have a broad, large head with a straight row of spines along the back. Mouth interior pink. Snout–vent length: 250 mm. Habitat: Common in mallee, chenopod woodland habitats and heathland, with many populations along roadside verges. Found in the Big Desert, Sunset Country and Hattah areas with the southern limit

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of distribution slightly north of Yanac. This species is not found in the Little Desert National Park. Habits: Often seen basking on fence posts and logs. Central Bearded Dragons in the Big Desert do not attain the large size of specimens in other Australian states which is considered to be due to environmental conditions. Feeds primarily on vegetation and insects. Oviparous, with clutches of 7–50 eggs recorded, laid from October to December. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Diagnostic features Body dorsally depressed and spiny. Very broad triangular head. Spines at rear edge of lower jaw extending across throat to form a ‘beard’. Spines at rear of head form a straight line (see illustration, page 49). Conspicuous external ear openings. Pink mouth lining.

144°E

S. Watharow

Big Desert, Vic

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Lined Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis lineata Peters, 1863 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

S. Watharow

Nowingi, Vic

Description: Body colour is grey-brown, yellow-brown or red-brown. Five dark, broad bands extend along the body sides. Top of head marked with bars, stripes or patterns. Dorsum has pale longitudinal lines and scattered with varying spinose scales. Tympanum concealed by skin. Snout–vent length: 58 mm. Habitat: A widespread species throughout Australia but only occasionally encountered in Victoria, known only from Chinaman’s Well, Lake Tyrell and Nowingi areas. An inhabitant of mallee woodlands with spinifex, open grasslands and samphire. Habits: Usually observed perching on fallen timber, low ridges or mounds. Habits are poorly known, with specimens collected only from a few locations in Victoria. Insectivorous, feeding on ants

Diagnostic features Body squat with enlarged spinose scales. Short, blunt head with thick indistinct neck. Pale bar usually between anterior corners of the eyes. External ear openings absent.

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and other invertebrates. Oviparous, with up to four eggs per clutch. Locations: Big Desert, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Endangered.

Monitor Lizards (Goannas) Family: Varanidae Varanids are mostly medium to large, powerfully built lizards – the family contains the largest lizard species in the world. Australia has the world’s greatest diversity of Varanids with two species of one genus, Varanus, occurring in the Victorian Mallee. The Sand Goanna, V. gouldii, has a much broader range than Rosenberg’s Goanna, V. rosenbergi, which in Victoria is found only in the Little Desert and Big Desert areas. Both species make use of burrows and are mainly observed during the summer months, often along sandy tracks. Transverse dark bands

Tympanum

Strongly clawed digits

Nostril

Tympanum

Rosenberg’s Goanna

Strongly clawed digits

Sand Goanna

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Sand Goanna Varanus gouldii (Gray, 1838) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

141°E

Big Desert, Vic

Description: Large body with long neck and loose-fitting granular scales. Dorsum light yellow to darker brown, spotted or flecked with red, brown, yellow or white. These patterns form distinct bands across the body. A distinctive stripe extends from the eye to neck. Tail has narrow pale bands and a yellow tip. Ventral surface yellowwhite, usually with darker markings. Size up to 1.6 m (total length). Habitat: Observed mostly in mallee, heathland and grasslands. Also associated with disturbed habitats on farmland.

142°E

143°E

Recorded feeding upon a variety of lizards, snakes, frogs, invertebrates, small mammals and birds. Will rapidly flee if approached too closely. Oviparous, with 3–10 eggs laid in a chamber dug by the female. Eggs take from 169–265 days to hatch (in captivity). Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Habits: Forages widely, while investigating holes, crevices and logs for prey items. Digs a tunnel system that often extends into the burrows of other animals. Diagnostic features Large body with long neck and loose-fitting granular scales. Head long with narrow snout. Neck without transverse dark bands. Tail long and laterally compressed with yellow tip. Tongue deeply forked. Five strongly clawed digits on well developed limbs.

144°E

Juvenile

S. Watharow, Sunset Country, Vic

Monitor Lizards (Goannas)

Rosenberg’s Goanna Varanus rosenbergi Mertens, 1957 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

141°E

Ravensthorpe, WA

Description: Large body with long neck and loose-fitting granular scales. Body dark grey to black, peppered or spotted with yellow or grey. These patterns form indistinct bands along the body (usually around 12). This pattern varies in intensity from bright in juveniles to obscure in some adults. Tail yellow with dark bands and a banded tip. This dark colouration presumably maximises radiation absorption, especially in southern populations where cloudy days are frequent and sunshine unpredictable. Size up to 1.3 m (total length). Habitat: Associated with mallee woodlands and grasslands interspersed with heath. Isolated populations occur

142°E

143°E

144°E

in Little Desert, Big Desert and Mount Arapiles State Park (including Gymbowen). Rosenberg’s Goanna has a patchy distribution in southern Australia and is rarely encountered in Victoria. It is possibly out-competed ecologically by the more successful Sand Goanna. Habits: Forages widely within an established home range. Excavates a lengthy burrow (recorded as L-shaped) near or under low ground vegetation. Recorded feeding upon lizards, snakes, rodents and invertebrates. Oviparous. Mating takes place from November to December, with 6–12 eggs laid in a termite mound. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert. Victorian conservation status: Vulnerable.

Diagnostic features Large body with long neck and loose-fitting granular scales. Head long with narrow snout. Neck with transverse dark bands. Tail long and laterally-compressed, terminally-banded or dark. Tongue deeply-forked. Five strongly clawed digits on well developed limbs.

M.G. Swan

Ravensthorpe, WA

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Blind Snakes Family: Typhlopidae A family of burrowing, worm-like snakes occurring throughout the warmer regions of the world. Australia has 41 recognised species, all belonging to a single genus. They are secretive snakes with poorly known habits. The Victorian Mallee has two species which are generally only seen above ground after summer rainstorms, or may be encountered in ant nests or beneath surface debris such as mallee roots. Blind snakes are non-venomous and completely harmless, though they are capable of emitting a foul-smelling substance from their cloacal glands when handled.

Rounded snout

Dark-spined Blind Snake (dorsal view of head)

Tri-lobed snout

Peter’s Blind Snake (dorsal view of head)

Blind snakes

Dark-spined Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops bicolor (Peters, 1857) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Lasceiles, Vic

Description: Snout bluntly rounded (when viewed from above) and body uniform in thickness, ending in a short, conical, heavily pigmented tail-spine. Scales uniform in size around body (i.e. no broad ventrals). Dark pink to black with a white ventral surface. Nonvenomous and completely harmless. Size 417 mm (total length). Habitat: Occurs in a variety of habitats throughout the Mallee, including ant nests and termite mounds, and also beneath stones, mallee roots and rotting logs. Habits: Although a burrowing snake, this species can be encountered moving on the surface on warm, humid nights. Insectivorous, feeding primarily upon termites and their eggs and larvae. Oviparous, producing clutches of 2–7 eggs. Diagnostic features Body uniform in thickness with blunt head and tail. Snout rounded when viewed from above. Eyes greatly reduced, covered by transparent scale. Glossy, close-fitting uniform scalation – ventrals not enlarged. 22 mid-body scale rows.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened. This species has been recently resurrected and separated from the West Australian Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops australis.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Peter’s Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus (Peters, 1863) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

M.G. Swan

Big Desert, Vic

Description: Snout strongly tri-lobed (when viewed from above) and body uniform in thickness, ending in a short conical spine. Scales uniform in size around the body (i.e. no broad ventral scales). Brown to pink above, with a white or pinkish-white ventral surface. Nonvenomous and completely harmless. Size 450 mm (total length). Habitat: Occurs in a variety of habitats throughout the Mallee, including ant nests and termite mounds, and also beneath stones, mallee roots and rotting logs. Habits: One of the few blind snakes readily identified by the tri-lobed snout. Generally only seen above ground on warm humid nights, especially after rain.

Diagnostic features Body uniform in thickness with blunt head and tail. Snout strongly tri-lobed when viewed from above. Eyes greatly reduced, covered by transparent scale. Glossy close-fitting uniform scalation – ventrals not enlarged. 20 mid-body scale rows.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

Insectivorous, feeding primarily upon termites and their eggs and larvae. Oviparous (presumably). Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Venomous Land Snakes Family: Elapidae (Sub-family: Elapinae) A family of venomous snakes with enlarged fangs at the front of the mouth. Australia is home to most of the world’s species. The Victorian Mallee has nine species in seven genera, ranging from the small, harmless burrowing Coral Snake to the dangerously venomous Eastern Brown Snake. Between these extremes are a number of small snakes, such as Mitchell’s Short-tailed Snake and Bardick, that should be treated with caution. The larger elapids are mostly fast moving, diurnal species, while the smaller species tend to be nocturnal and cryptic.

Rostral scale

Nasal scale

Labial scales Eastern Brown Snake

1

16

2

Ventral scales

17

15

3 4

Tongue deeply forked

Divided anal scale

14 13

5 12 11

6

Ventral scales

7 10

8

Ventral scales

Single subcaudal scales

9 8 7 6

Divided subcaudal scales

5 4 3 2 1

Diagonal counts for snake mid-body scalation

Posterior ventral scalation

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Coral Snake Brachyurophis australis (Krefft, 1864) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Meringur, Vic

Description: Red-brown to brick red above, with numerous, irregular, narrow, dark brown and yellow-flecked crossbands. A dark band on the collar and across the head enclosing the eyes. Ventral surface white. Rostral scale with an upturned, projecting edge. Size 340 mm (total length). Habitat: Occurs through sandy, mallee/spinifex habitat of the north-west Mallee. Habits: A burrowing snake that is strictly nocturnal. Usually only seen above ground on warm nights, especially after rain. Venomous, though considered completely harmless. Recorded as feeding only on lizard eggs. Oviparous, with clutch sizes of four to six eggs recorded.

Diagnostic features Body moderately robust and banded. Shovel-nosed snout, with broad, dark band across head and neck. Eyes small with dark iris. Scales smooth and glossy. 17 mid-body scale rows. Anal and sub-caudal scales divided.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Lower risk – near threatened.

Venomous Land Snakes

Yellow-faced Whip Snake Demansia psammophis (Schlegal, 1837) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Hattah, Vic

Description: A slender snake, extremely variable in colour throughout its range. Usually pale brown with a conspicuous comma-shaped mark below the eye, extending backward. Also with a dark, paler-edged line from nostril to nostril. Ventral surface grey-green to yellow. Size up to 1 m (total length). Habitat: Occurs through the most northern areas of the Mallee in the Sunset Country and Hattah-Kulkyne. Widespread through Australia but in Victoria restricted to the extreme north-west. Infrequently encountered. Populations may be effected by inappropriate fire regimes.

141°E

142°E

143°E

May be seen basking during the day or foraging for skinks around vegetation. Recorded as preying upon diurnal lizards such as Striped Skinks(Ctenotus species). Oviparous, producing five to six eggs. Communal egg laying recorded. Locations: Sunset Country, HattahKulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Lower risk – near threatened.

Habits: A fast moving diurnal species. Venomous and, while not regarded as life threatening, a bite may cause local pain. P. Robertson

Diagnostic features Diagnostic features Body very slender with long tail. Dark comma-shaped marking below eye. Large prominent eyes, with round pale irises. Scales smooth and matt textured. 15 midbody scale rows. Anal and subcaudal scales divided.

144°E

Hattah, Vic

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Master’s Snake Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft, 1866) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Murrayville South, Vic

Description: A small snake, grey-brown above with scales often tinged with red. Head dark, with a yellow or orange broken collar. Pale yellow ventrally, with darker flecks along the outer edge. Labial scaless white with darker flecking. Size 330 mm (total length). Habitat: Occurs through mallee, heath and spinifex grass communities. In Victoria Master’s Snake is restricted to the Big Desert and presently not listed as threatened. Habits: A diurnal snake that may be observed basking in and foraging around spinifex, or found sheltering beneath fallen vegetation. Venomous, though not regarded as dangerous. Considered to specialise in feeding upon small lizards. Diagnostic features Body moderately robust. Dark head and yellow band across neck. Large eyes with round pupils. Iris dark brown-grey below, with distinct golden upper part. Scales smooth and matt textured. 15 mid-body scale rows. Anal and sub-caudal scales single.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

Viviparous, with two or three live young recorded. Locations: Big Desert. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Venomous Land Snakes

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Bardick Echiopsis curta (Schlegal, 1837) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

N. Clemann

Little Desert National Park, Vic

Description: Dark grey above, sometimes darker on the distinctly wide head. Lateral scales edged in pale red. Anterior ventral surface, including the throat, speckled in white and brown. Labials often speckled with white. Size 710 mm (total length). Habitat: Occurs through a variety of mallee habitats associated with sandy or loamy soils and recorded crossing sandy tracks, usually late at night on warm evenings. Widespread in the Victorian Mallee, though infrequently observed. Populations susceptible to inappropriate fire regimes. Habits: An essentially nocturnal species, usually found sheltering beneath ground debris, though also recorded basking in spinifex. Venomous, and while generally regarded as not life threatening, the Diagnostic features Body short and stout. Head broad and distinct from neck. Moderately large eyes with vertically elliptic pupil. Iris pale brown with yellow upper part. Scales smooth and matt textured. 17–21 (usually 19) mid-body scale rows. Anal and sub-caudal scales single.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

properties of the venom are yet to be fully researched and serious complications could arise from a bite. This snake can be highly defensive when disturbed. Prey items recorded include lizards, frogs, birds and mammals. Viviparous, producing between 3–14 live young. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country Victorian conservation status: Vulnerable.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Mitchell’s Short-tailed Snake Parasuta nigriceps (Gunther, 1863) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

N. Clemann

Little Desert National Park, Vic

Description: Body brown with a black head and neck. A dark mid-dorsal zone extends continuously along the body. Paler coloured labial scales. Ventral surface white. Size 590 mm (total length). Habitat: Occurs primarily through mallee woodlands. Habits: A small nocturnal snake that is usually found sheltering beneath logs and stones. Often observed moving across tracks and roads at night. Venomous and a bite may cause local pain and discomfort. Considered to prey mainly on small lizards, although small elapid and blind snakes are recorded as prey items. Viviparous, producing from 1–7 live young.

Diagnostic features Body moderately robust, with black head blotch from snout to nape continuing with prominent dark vertebral stripe to tip of tail. Head slightly depressed. Moderately small eyes with dark irises. Scales smooth and glossy. 15 mid-body scale rows. Anal and sub-caudal scales single.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Venomous Land Snakes

Port Lincoln Snake Parasuta spectabilis (Krefft, 1869) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Big Desert, Vic

Description: Brown or grey-brown above, with a darker basal scale colouring which forms a reticulated pattern. The black head patch is broken with a paler bar between the nostrils and the eyes. Ventral surface white. Size 400 mm (total length). Habitat: Occurs through mallee woodlands/heathland with spinifex grass understorey. Known only from a few locations in the Big Desert, representing the extreme eastern edge of its small Australian distribution. Habits: A nocturnal snake, usually found sheltering beneath logs, rocks, leaf litter and in abandoned burrows of insects and lizards. Venomous – a bite may cause local pain and discomfort. Considered to Diagnostic features Body moderately robust, with black head blotch broken by pale bar across snout. Dark-edged scales forming reticulated pattern on body. Head slightly depressed. Moderately small eyes with dark irises. Scales smooth and glossy. 15 mid-body scale rows. Anal and sub-caudal scales single.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

specialise in feeding upon small lizards. Viviparous, producing from two to five live young in late summer. Locations: Big Desert. Victorian conservation status: Vulnerable.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Western Brown Snake Pseudonaja nuchalis Gunther, 1858 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

Millewa, Vic

Description: A species with highly variable colouration across Australia. In Victoria, specimens tend to be light to darker brown with dark flecks on the neck and a dark head. Ventral surface yellow with red-brown blotches. Rostral scale enlarged and sub-caudals divided. Size up to 1.6 m (total length). Habitat: Occurs throughout a variety of Mallee habitats. Known mainly from the Sunset Country and Hattah-Kulkyne, but recorded as far south as Big Billy Bore in the Big Desert.

Diagnostic features Body long and slender, usually with scattered black scales on nape. Ventral region yellow with red-brown spots. Juveniles have dark blotch on head and broad band across neck.. Head with large ‘strap like’ rostral scale and mouth lining blackish. Moderately large eyes with red iris forming a broken circle. 17 mid-body scale rows. Scales smooth and weakly glossed. Anal and sub-caudal scales divided.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

Habits: A fast moving, diurnal species that often retreats into holes in the ground. Generally not inclined to present a threat display as easily as the closely related Eastern Brown Snake. This species is, however, dangerously venomous though infrequently encountered. Preys upon a variety of small lizards and mammals. Oviparous, with 20–40 eggs being recorded. Locations: Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Data deficient.

Venomous Land Snakes

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Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis (Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

P. Robertson

141°E

Kooloonong, Vic

Description: Generally uniform dark brown above. Ventral surface pale, splattered with numerous red-brown spots. Juveniles have a prominent black head which fades as snakes gain size, usually disappearing after two years (around 600–800 mm in length). Size up to 2 m (total length). Habitat: Prefers dry environments and occurs throughout the Mallee region. Common also in agricultural and other disturbed habitats. Habits: A fast-moving diurnal species, commonly seen during the hotter parts of the day, often in spring and summer along Diagnostic features Body long and slender, usually plain brown. Ventral region yellow with red-brown spots. Juveniles have dark blotch on head, broad band across neck and sometimes narrow dark bands across body. Head with moderate-sized rostral scale; mouth lining pinkish. Moderately large eyes with pale brown iris. 17 mid-body scale rows Scales smooth and weakly glossed Anal and sub-caudal scales divided (sometimes several anterior sub-caudal scales are single)

142°E

143°E

144°E

roadsides and tracks. Shelters beneath ground debris and in holes in the ground. Extremely defensive if provoked. When confronted, threat display consists of the front part of the body raised in a double ‘S‘ shape, with mouth open and tongue flicking rapidly. Dangerously venomous. A wide variety of vertebrates are preyed upon, like skinks, (including Stumpytailed Lizards) snakes, frogs and mammals. Commonly encountered around rural properties, seeking house mice. Known to overwinter in burrows of other animals, particularly rabbits. Appears to be relatively unaffected by human-made environmental changes. Oviparous, with 10–35 eggs, usually deposited in a burrow. Locations: Little Desert, Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Juvenile

P. Robertson, Copi Plains, Vic

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Bandy Bandy Vermicella annulata (Gray, 1841) 34°S Mildura

35°S

Kerang

36°S

G. Parker

Locality unknown

Description: Body long and uniform in thickness with a short, blunt tail. A distinctive pattern of black and white rings alternate along the entire length of the body and extend onto and across the ventral surface. Females reach a larger size than males. Size 760 mm (total length). Habitat: Occurs in grassy woodland, mallee and spinifex-covered sandhills. Widespread through eastern Australia and northern Victoria, but infrequently encountered. Distributed in conjunction with that of blind snakes. Habits: A nocturnal, burrowing snake, immediately identifiable by the alternate black and white bands around the body. When alarmed it is able to hold its body in one or two loops off the ground. Usually encountered only on warm nights after Diagnostic features Body long with black and white rings and short blunt tail. Head with rounded snout. Small dark eyes. 15 mid-body scale rows. Scales smooth and glossy. Anal and sub-caudal scales divided.

141°E

142°E

143°E

144°E

rain. Venomous, but not considered harmful. Recorded as preying exclusively on blind snakes, Typhlopidae. Oviparous, with clutches of 2–13 eggs produced in late summer. Locations: Little Desert (?), Big Desert, Sunset Country, Hattah-Kulkyne. Victorian conservation status: Lower risk-near threatened.

Victorian Mallee fringe-dwellers Some species of reptiles and frogs occur very close to the Mallee, but do not penetrate the more arid areas.They are generally encountered either along creek tributaries and flood plains with River Red Gums, or in eucalypt woodlands and grasslands. They are associated more with these plant communities than they are with mallee vegetation.

M.G. Swan

M.G. Swan

Peron’s Tree Frog

Growling Grass Frog

Litoria peronii

Litoria raniformis

A moderate-sized tree frog, often found sheltering beneath bark on trees. Occurs through wet and dry forest woodlands, mostly in association with the Murray River floodplain. The call is described as a ‘maniacal cackle’. Total length 50 mm.

A large, diurnal frog, historically associated with still water bodies in grassy woodland areas along the Murray River floodplain, riverine habitat of the south east and westward to the Little Desert area. Males usually call while floating in open water – a growling ‘crawk-crawkcroc-croc’. Total length 80 mm.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Victorian conservation status: Endangered.

Plains Froglet Crinia parinsignifera

P. Robertson

A small ground-dwelling frog, usually found sheltering beneath debris in woodlands, floodplains, open and disturbed areas along the Murray River floodplain and riverine areas of the south-eastern edge of the Mallee. Males usually call from waterside vegetation – a long harsh squelching ‘eeeeeek’. Total length 20 mm. Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Common Froglet

M.G. Swan

Barking Marsh Frog

M.G. Swan

Crinia signifera

Limnodynastes fletcheri

One of the most common, small grounddwelling Victorian frogs. Found in wet and dry forest and riverine habitats at the south-eastern and southern edge of the Mallee. The call, a long repeated series of ‘crick, crick, crick, crick ‘ can be heard throughout the year. Total length 30 mm.

Known also as the Long-thumbed Frog, this moderate-sized ground dwelling species is largely restricted to the Murray River floodplains. Usually found sheltering beneath ground debris. Males call from floating vegetation, and the sound is described as like a distant, barking dog : ‘whrup’. Total length 50 mm.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Spotted Marsh Frog

Victorian conservation status: Data deficient.

M.G. Swan

Bibron’s Toadlet

M.G. Swan

Limnodynastes tasmaniensis

Pseudophryne bibroni

A common moderate-sized terrestrial species associated with floodplains of the Murray River and wet areas of the southeastern and southern edge of the Mallee. Call consists of three of four distant notes of ‘kuk-kuk-kuk’. Eggs are deposited in a foamy raft. Total length 45 mm.

A squat, terrestrial species usually found sheltering beneath ground debris in wet and dry forest and grasslands of the south-eastern and southern edge of the Mallee. Known for their ability to crawl, rather than hop. Males call from within a nest or burrow, producing a short, harsh ‘cre-ek’. Total length 30 mm.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Victorian conservation status: Endangered.

Victorian Mallee fringe-dwellers

Broad-shelled Turtle

J. Cann

Common Long-necked Turtle

J. Cann

Chelodina expansa

Chelodina longicollis

A large freshwater turtle with a broad carapace, long thick neck and broad head. Restricted to riverine habitats of the Murray River; probably doesn’t occur any further south. This species appears to have the largest carapace of all Australian freshwater turtles. Carapace length: 480 mm.

This familiar species has a posteriorly broadened carapace and long neck, with a moderately depressed head. Occurs along the Murray River and riverine habitats of the south-east and southern edge of the Mallee. Frequently travels overland between water bodies, which may include crossing roads. Carapace length: 254mm.

Victorian conservation status: Endangered.

Murray River Turtle

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened

J. Cann

Tessellated Gecko

P. Robertson

Emydura macquarii

Diplodactylus tessellatus

Victoria’s only short-necked species of freshwater turtle. The head and neck have a light band extending back from the angle of the mouth. Found along the Murray River and riverine habitats of the south-eastern edge of the Mallee. Carapace length: 340 mm.

A robust gecko with a short tail. An inhabitant of cracked alluvial soils, where it shelters in hollow fallen branches, cracks, and insect and spider holes. Known from the Murray River floodplain in the north, but also occurs in the centre of the state, between the 36th and 37th parallels. Snout–vent length: 50 mm.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Victorian conservation status: Lower risk-near threatened.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

S. Wilson

M.G. Swan

Olive Legless Lizard

Hooded Scaley-foot

Delma inornata

Pygopus schraderi

A long, slender legless lizard with smooth, shiny scales and a tail up to four times the length of the body. An inhabitant of grasslands and grassy woodlands on the southern and eastern edges of the Mallee. Snout–vent length: 133 mm.

A large, robust species with dark markings on head and neck, rounded snout and prominent ear openings. Found typically on stony and heavy soils where it shelters in soil cracks and under debris. Known mainly from the south-eastern area but also recorded from Mildura. Snout–vent length: 198 mm.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Victorian conservation status: Critically endangered

S. Wilson

S. Wilson

Tree Skink

Eastern Water Skink

Egernia striolata

Eulamprus quoyii

A large, dorsally-compressed skink that takes refuge beneath the loose bark of trees and in rock crevices in woodlands and rock outcrops along the Murray River floodplain. Snout–vent length: 119mm.

A moderate-sized, glossy-scaled and diurnally active skink. This species may be observed sun-basking in moist, riverine habitats along the Murray River in the far north of the state. Snout–vent length: 95mm.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Victorian conservation status: Lower risk–near threatened.

Victorian Mallee fringe-dwellers

S. Wilson

N. Clemann

Mueller’s Skink

Common Blue-tongued Lizard

Lerista muelleri

Tiliqua scincoides

A small, elongated skink with smooth scales and fused lower eyelid. Terrestrial burrower found beneath surface debris in dry woodland and shrubland communities. Recorded only from a small area around Mildura. Snout–vent length: 50 mm.

A large, familiar, diurnal skink, with a broad blue tongue. Viviparous, producing up to 25 young in a litter. May be encountered in grassy woodland areas along the south-eastern edge of the Mallee. Snout–vent length: 310 mm.

Victorian conservation status: Endangered.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

M.G. Swan

S. Wilson

Tree Dragon

Tree Goanna

Amphibolorus muricatus

Varanus varius

A moderately robust species of dragon with well developed nuchal and vertebral crests. Generally grey in colour with darker blotches. Mouth interior, yellow. Most often associated with the southern dry woodlands but also recorded from mallee habitat that extends into the south-eastern region. Snout–vent length: 120mm.

This is the largest lizard (reaching 2.1 m) inhabiting the Mallee region. A powerfully built species, with strong, clawed feet and a deep, forked tongue. Found in woodlands along the south-eastern edge of the Mallee and the Murray River floodplains. Total length: 2.1 m.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Victorian conservation status: Vulnerable.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

P. Robertson

S. Wilson

Woodland Blind Snake

Carpet Python

Ramphotyphlops proximus

Morelia spilota metcalfei

A robust, burrowing species with a bluntly tri-lobed snout. Generally pinkish brown to grey or brown in colour. Recorded as feeding on eggs, larvae and pupae of bulldog ants. Not usually associated with mallee vegetation, but recorded from mallee habitat that extends into the southeastern region. Total length: 750 mm.

This is the largest snake and only species of python occurring within the Victorian Mallee. Generally referred to as the ‘Murray-Darling’ carpet python and in Victoria mostly restricted to riverine habitats along the Murray River. A nonvenomous, constricting species which preys largely upon mammals. Total length: 3 m.

Victorian conservation status: Lower risk–near threatened.

Victorian conservation status: Endangered.

M.G. Swan

P. Robertson

Common Death Adder

Red-naped Snake

Acanthophis antarcticus

Furina diadema

Known only from one confirmed locality in Victoria, at Lake Boga. This species is easily identified by the broad, triangular head, short body and thin tail. Dangerously venomous. Presumed extinct in Victoria. Total length: 700 mm

A small snake with a conspicuous red- or orange-coloured patch on the back of the head. Restricted to riverine habitat in the extreme north-west of the state. Venomous, but not considered as dangerous. Total length: 400 mm.

Victorian conservation status: Data deficient.

Victorian conservation status: Endangered.

Victorian Mallee fringe-dwellers

S. Wilson

M.G. Swan

Tiger Snake

Small-scaled Snake

Notechis scutatus

Oxyuranus microlepidotus

A well known species that reaches a total adult length exceeding one metre. Individuals may be banded or plain and are found in association with water along the Murray River floodplain. Dangerously venomous. Total length: 1.5 m.

The only known specimens of this large species were collected near the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers in 1857. Dangerously venomous. Presumed extinct in Victoria. Total length: 2 m.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

Victorian conservation status: Regionally extinct.

S. Wilson

P. Robertson

Red-bellied Black Snake

Curl Snake

Pseudechis porphyriacus

Suta suta

A large, familiar and easily recognised species with a shiny black dorsum and bright red underside. Found in association with water in riverine habitats of the south-east. Dangerously venomous. Total length: 2 m.

A short, stout snake with a dark head and distinct orange-coloured iris. Restricted to heavy cracked soil of the Murray River floodplain. Venomous, but not considered as dangerous. Total length: 600 mm.

Victorian conservation status: Not considered as threatened.

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Victorian conservation status: Vulnerable.

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Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee

Checklist of Victorian Mallee species Frogs Check ✓

Common name Peron’s Tree Frog Growling Grass Frog Plains Froglet Common Froglet Southern Bull Frog Barking Marsh Frog Spotted Marsh Frog Mallee Spadefoot Toad Common Spadefoot Toad Bibron’s Toadlet

Scientific name Litoria peronii* Litoria raniformis* Crinia parinsignifera* Crinia signifera* Limnodynastes dumerilii dumerilii Limnodynastes fletcheri* Limnodynastes tasmaniensis* Neobatrachus pictus Neobatrachus sudelli Pseudophryne bibroni*

Freshwater Turtles Check ✓

Common name Broad-shelled Turtle Common Long-necked Turtle Murray River Turtle

Scientific name Chelodina expansa* Chelodina longicollis* Emydura macquarii*

Common name Marbled Gecko Beaded Gecko Tessellated Gecko Wood Gecko Tree Dtella Bynoe’s Gecko Beaked Gecko Southern Spiny-tailed Gecko Thick-tailed Gecko Mallee Worm-Lizard Pink-nosed Worm-Lizard Striped Worm-Lizard Southern Legless Lizard Butler’s Legless Lizard Olive Legless Lizard Burton’s Snake -lizard

Scientific name Christinus marmoratus Diplodactylus damaeus Diplodactylus tessellatus* Diplodactylus vittatus Gehyra variegata Heteronotia binoei Rhyncoedura ornata Strophurus intermedius Underwoodisaurus milii Aprasia aurita Aprasia inaurita Aprasia striolata Delma australis Delma butleri Delma inornata* Lialis burtonis

Lizards Check ✓

Checklist of Victorian Mallee species

Lizards (continued) Check ✓

Common name Common Scaley- foot Hooded Scaley-foot Carnaby’s Wall Skink Murray Striped Skink Brooks’s Striped Skink Eastern Striped Skink Regal Striped Skink Large Striped Skink Desert Skink Heath Skink Tree Skink Eastern Water Skink Millewa Skink Delicate Skink Bougainville’s Skink Mueller’s Skink Spotted Burrowing Skink Grey’s Skink Samphire Skink Boulenger’s Skink Obscure Skink Western Blue-tongued Lizard Stumpy-tailed Lizard Common Blue-tongued Lizard Tree Dragon Nobbi Dragon Norris’s Dragon Mallee Dragon Painted Dragon Eastern Bearded Dragon Central Bearded Dragon Lined Earless Dragon Sand Goanna Rosenberg’s Goanna Tree Goanna

Scientific name Pygopus lepidopodus Pygopus schraderi* Cryptoblepharus carnabyi Ctenotus brachyonyx Ctenotus brooksi iridis Ctenotus orientalis Ctenotus regius Ctenotus robustus Egernia inornata Egernia multiscutata Egernia striolata* Eulamprus quoyii* Hemiergis millewae Lampropholis delicata Lerista bougainvillii Lerista muelleri* Lerista punctatovittata Menetia greyii Morethia adelaidensis Morethia boulengeri Morethia obscura Tiliqua occipitalis Tiliqua rugosa aspera Tiliqua scincoides* Amphibolorus muricatus* Amphibolurus nobbi coggeri Amphibolurus norrisi Ctenophorus fordi Ctenophorus pictus Pogona barbata Pogona vitticeps Tympanocryptis lineata Varanus gouldii Varanus rosenbergi Varanus varius*

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Checklist of Victorian Mallee species Snakes Check ✓

Common name Dark-spined Blind Snake Peter’s Blind Snake Woodland Blind Snake Carpet Python Common Death Adder Coral Snake Yellow-faced Whip Snake Master’s Snake Bardick Red-naped Snake Tiger Snake Small-scaled Snake Mitchell’s Short-tailed Snake Port Lincoln Snake Western Brown Snake Eastern Brown Snake Red-bellied Black Snake Curl Snake Bandy Bandy

Scientific name Ramphotyphlops bicolor Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus Ramphotyphlops proximus* Morelia spilota metcalfei* Acanthophis antarcticus* Brachyurophis australis Demansia psammophis Drysdalia mastersii Echiopsis curta Furina diadema* Notechis scutatus* Oxyuranus microlepidotus* Parasuta nigriceps Parasuta spectabilis Pseudonaja nuchalis Pseudonaja textiles Pseudechis porphyriacus* Suta suta* Vermicella annulata

* Species usually not associated with mallee vegetation but more with woodland, riverine and floodplain fringe habitats.

Victorian flora and fauna conservation categories

Victorian flora and fauna conservation categories The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) maintains lists of threatened flora and fauna in Victoria. These lists are referred to for a variety of reasons, including strategic planning for the establishment of national park management plans, local government planning, catchment strategies and recovery plan actions. DSE produced the Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria (2003) which outlines the following categories of threatened fauna. Threatened:

The collective term used to denote taxa that are Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable.

Critically Endangered: A taxon that is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. Endangered:

A taxon that is not Critically Endangered but is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

Vulnerable:

A taxon that is not Critically Endangered or Endangered, but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.

Extinct:

A taxon is Extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.

Regionally Extinct

As for Extinct but within a defined region that does not encompass the entire geographic range of the taxon.

Data Deficient:

A taxon is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct or indirect assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution or population status.

Note: An additional category, Lower risk – near threatened, is a taxon which is close to qualifying for Vulnerable.

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Surveying Mallee frogs and reptiles The Victorian Wildlife Act 1975 protects all Australian native terrestrial vertebrates, including all reptiles and amphibians, regardless of whether they occur naturally in Victoria. It is an offence to be in possession of any reptile or amphibian specimen, or biological material of herpetological origin, either dead or alive, or to remove herpetological specimens from the wild without the appropriate authority issued under the Act. However, there is provision in the Act for the issuing of research permits and anyone conducting survey work or other activities that involve the handling of specimens must ensure they have the appropriate permit. Inquiries should be directed to the Wildlife Licensing and Permits Unit of the Department of Sustainability and Environment. In the process of conducting reptile and amphibian survey work, it is essential to take advantage of all available methods. By far the most productive in desert surveys is pit-fall trapping. This involves digging out 400 mm deep holes to fit smooth-walled containers and running a smooth, 500 mm high drift fence from any direction and across the centre of the containers. This channels animals along the fence and into the pit. It is critically important that traps are checked in early morning before the heat of the day and preferably have permanent shade provided over the containers. The traps should be removed and holes filled at the end of the survey period. Other survey methods include, night walking and road cruising with hand held and head torches, (particularly during warm weather), raking leaf litter, and examining loose bark, burrows, ant nests, tussocks and underneath ground debris. Weather conditions, including rainfall and lunar cycles, can have an effect on the variety of species observed. Data collected on reptiles and frogs should be forwarded to the Department of Sustainability and Environment for addition to the Wildlife Atlas.

Glossary

Glossary adpress usually refers to the hind limb pressed forward against the body anterior towards the head arboreal dwelling in trees autotomy spontaneous or reflex separation of the tail cloaca the common chamber into which the reproductive, urinary and intestinal ducts open crepuscular active mostly in the twilight hours, evening and early morning dichotomous divided into two possibilities (key)

mid-body scale rows the number of scales, (usually counted obliquely) around the middle of the body nocturnal active at night oviparous egg laying para-vertebral lying to one side of the vertebral or mid-dorsal line parthenogenic reproduction without fertilisation by a male posterior towards the rear reticulated a network pattern retractile able to be drawn in

digit a finger or toe

rostral scale anterior-most scale on the snout

diurnal active during the day

rugose a wrinkled or uneven surface

dorsal of the back dorso-lateral situated midway between the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the body ectothermic regulation of body temperature, mostly through an external heat source frontal scale large scale on top of the head fossorial living within the soil gular pertaining usually to a fold or the scales of the throat heliothermic active through warmth, directly from the sun keeled scales scales with a raised ridge labial scales scales on the lips metatarsal tubercle one or more tubercles at the base of the underside of the hind foot of frogs

sexual dimorphism noticeable differences in shape, size and/or colour between males and females spectacle the clear scale covering the eye of snakes and lizards without a movable eyelid spinose having spines sub-caudal scales scales under the tail taxonomy a system of classification thigmothermic regulation of body temperature by the use of conduction of heat from the surrounding environment tibial gland an obvious gland on the upper tibia section of the hind limbs of frogs tympanum eardrum ventral of the lower surface or underside vertebral the spine or vertebral column viviparous bearing live young

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References Anstis, M., 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. A Guide with Keys. New Holland. Sydney. Bedford, G., 1992. A different feeding strategy for the Striped Skink, Ctenotus uber orientalis, from South Australia. Herpetofauna 22: 31–32. Bennett, A.F., 1992. Restoring connectivity to fragmented landscapes: Does roadside vegetation have a role? The Victorian Naturalist 109(4): 105–110. Bull, C.M. 1988. Mate fidelity in an Australian lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus. Behavioural Ecology, Sociobiology 23: 45–49. Bull, C.M. 1990. Comparisons of displaced and retained partners in a monogamous Lizard. Australian Wildlife Research 17: 135–40. Bull, C.M. 1995. Population ecology of the Sleepy Lizard, Tiliqua rugosa at Mt Mary, South Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 20: 393–402. Cann, J. 1998. Australian Freshwater Turtles. Beaumont Publishing P/L. Singapore. Clemann, N., Skurrie, D., Dzuris, J. and Long, K. (in press). A trapping survey of small, terrestrial vertebrates in the Little Desert National Park, Victoria. Australian Zoologist. Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. and Cogger, H.M. 1983. Zoological Catalogue of Australia 1. Amphibia and Reptilia. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed New Holland, Sydney. Coventry, A.J. and Robertson, P. 1991. The Snakes Of Victoria, A Guide to their Identification. Department of Conservation and Environment, Melbourne. Coventry, A.J. 1996. Results of Surveys of the Herpetofauna of Several Areas in North Western Victoria. The Victorian Naturalist 113: 289–299. Coventry, A.J. 1996. The Herpetofauna of The Chinaman Well Area of the Big Desert, Victoria. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 108(2): 101–119. Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). 2003. Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria – 2003. Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne, Victoria. Dubas, G. and Bull, C.M. 1991. Diet choice and food availability in the Omnivorous Lizard, Trachydosaurus rugosus. Australian Wildlife Research 18: 147–155. Ehmann, H. 1992. Reptiles. Vol 3. In: Strahan, R. (Ed.) The Encyclopedia of Australian Animals. Australian Museum and Angus and Robertson, Sydney. Greer, A.E. 1989. The Biology and Evolution of Australian Lizards. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney Hadden,S.A. and Westbrooke, M.E. 1996. Habitat relationships of the herpetofauna of the Remnant Buloke Woodlands of the Wimmera Plains, Victoria. Australian Wildlife Research. 25: 263–272.

References

Hero, J-M., Littlejohn, M. and Marantelli, G. 1991. Frogwatch Field Guide to Victorian Frogs. Department of Conservation and Environment, Victoria. Land Conservation Council. 1987. Report on the Mallee Area Review. F.D. Atkinson Government Printer, Melbourne. Norris, N. 1970. Reptile ecology of the Little Desert. Unpublished BSc (Hons)Thesis. Department of Zoology, Latrobe University, Victoria. Rabosky, D.L., Aplin, K.P., Donnellan, S.C. and Hedges, S.B. 2004 Molecular phylogeny of blind snakes (Ramphotyphlops) from western Australia and resurrection of Ramphotyphlops bicolor (Peters, 1857). Australian Journal of Zoology 52: 531–548. Robertson, P. Bennett, A.F., Lumsden, L.F., Silveira, C.E. and Johnson, P.G. 1987. Fauna of the Mallee study area, north-western Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Technical Report, Series No.87. Shine, R. 1989. Constraints, allometry and adaptation : food habits and reproductive biology of Australian Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja: Elapidae). Herpetologica 45: 195–207. Valentic, R. 1993. Big Desert. Monitor, Journal of Victorian Herpetological Society 7(2). Waterman, R. 1989. Mallee future on the line. Habitat Australia 17(4): 16–19. Waterman, R. 1990. Welcome plans for Victoria’s Mallee. Habitat Australia 18(3): 16–19. Watharow, S. 1998. Aspects of the natural history of the Striped Skink, Ctenotus robustus in Organ Pipes National Park, Victoria. Monitor, Journal of Victorian Herpetological Society 9(2): 57–58. Watharow, S. 1998. Dietary and parasite observations of road-killed reptiles from northwestern Victoria. Monitor, Journal of Victorian Herpetological Society 10(1): 51–60. Watharow, S. 1999. Aspects of mortality and natural history in Elapid Snakes from Melbourne, Australia. Monitor, Journal of Victorian Herpetological Society 10(2/3): 46–56. Wilson, S. and Swan, G. 2003. A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. Reed New Holland, Sydney. Wilson, S. and Swan, M. 1972. A study of the reptiles of the Hattah Lakes District. The Junior Naturalist 8(3): 5–11.

Further information The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of The Victorian Herpetological Society. For further information on all aspects of reptiles and amphibians, contact: The Victorian Herpetological Society PO Box 9036 Scoresby, Victoria 3179 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vhs.com.au

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Snakebite and first aid Australian snakes have developed venom glands and fangs, of which two are fixed and some are in reserve. Snake venom, an advanced form of saliva, is a complex mixture of toxic and non-toxic substances, mostly proteins. These proteins have evolved over time to assist snakes in the subduing of prey and aid in the digestion process. Australian snake venoms have neurotoxic, haemolytic, procoagulant, myotoxic and usually weak cytotoxic properties. While venom is used in the process of feeding, snakes may bite in defense if attempts to flee or bluff their tormentor fail. Signs of snakebite may include, scratch marks and one or two puncture wounds followed by smaller puncture marks. However the bite site may be difficult to locate. Snakebite can commonly occur without venom being injected, but first aid must be applied, followed by hospitalisation.

throughout the Victorian Mallee are not considered as dangerous, but all should be treated with care. If a reliable species identification cannot be made following a snakebite, polyvalent snake anti-venom, or the appropriate combination of monovalent anti-venoms can be used. There are several tests which can be used to determine the specific antivenom to be used and it is considered an unnecessary exposure to danger to try and kill the snake for identification. The following northern, regional medical centres carry venom detection kits and stock quantities of Brown Snake and Tiger Snake anti-venom, which covers all the dangerously venomous species of snakes occurring in the Mallee region. Northern Regional Medical Centres Mildura Base Hospital 83 Ontario Avenue Mildura, Victoria 3500 Telephone: (03) 5022 3333

Symptoms of envenomation can include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred vision, slurred speech, collapse and unconsciousness, which may lead to death, if untreated. With modern first aid procedures, quick access to welltrained medical staff, and antivenom, snakebite deaths are very low, being around two per year in Australia.

Wimmera Health Care Group, Horsham 83 Baillie Street Horsham, Victoria 3400 Telephone: (03) 5381 9111

The most widespread and frequently encountered, dangerously venomous snake is the Common or Eastern Brown Snake. However, the Western Brown Snake occurs in the northern Mallee and the Tiger Snake and Red-bellied Black Snake are found in south-eastern riverine habitats. While all these species are dangerously venomous, most of the venomous snake species found

East Grampians Health Service, Ararat Girdlestone Street Ararat, Victoria 3377 Telephone: (03) 5352 9300

Stawell Regional Health Sloane Street Stawell, Victoria 3380 Telephone: (03) 5358 2255

Echuca Regional Health 9–27 Francis Street Echuca, Victoria 3564 Telephone: (03) 5482 2800

Snakebite and first aid

The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria, holds quantities of anti-venom for both native and exotic snake species. Telephone: (03) 93427000

Treatment for snakebite The effectiveness of the pressureimmobilisation method of first aid in the treatment of elapid snake envenomation has been well documented. The movement of venom in the body may be suppressed for several hours by applying this first aid technique. This allows for plenty of time to call for assistance. Always try to bring an ambulance to the patient and treat all snakebites as serious. 1 Apply a broad pressure bandage (or its equivalent) firmly enough to compress tissue, to the entire length of the bitten limb. Do not wash, cut, suck or add anything to the site of the bite. The use of a tourniquet is not recommended. If the bite is not on a limb, apply direct pressure over the site of the bite.

Advice for medical/paramedical staff Doctors, vets and paramedical staff requiring specific information or advice on management of envenomed patients should telephone: The Australian Venom Research Unit Department of Pharmacology University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 Telephone: (03) 8344 7753

Apply a broad compression bandage as firmly as possible along the bitten limb.

2 Immobilise the limb, using a splint. 3 Keep the patient calm and arrange for an ambulance. 4 Hospital staff should remove pressure bandage and administer anti-venom if required.

Ensure that the entire limb is covered.

Remember for effective first aid, you must have PRESSURE and IMMOBILISATION

Using a branch, rolled paper or similar, apply a splint. Use the remainder of the bandage to secure the splint to the limb.

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Snake prevention around the house Snakes can be encountered in all parts of Australia. While it pays to be alert and identify any risks to pets and children, it is also important to react with good judgement. Snakes are protected wildlife and should not be killed while they are passing through private property. With a little understanding and making the appropriate preparations, the potential threat from snakes can be reduced. Identify the reasons that snakes and other reptiles are venturing into your farm, residential or commercial property. It is helpful to know if there are features of your yard or premises that are enticing the unwanted visitors in. The following are tips to help prevent snakes entering your property over the warmer part of the year:

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Control food sources (mice, rats, pest birds and rabbits).

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Remove rubbish (discarded sheets of iron, woodpiles, garden refuse, bricks and rubble)

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Keep the house perimeter clear of creeper plants such as ivy.

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Keep grass around the house short, with particular attention to fence lines.

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Report snake sightings to your local shire or Department of Sustainability and Environment. These organisations usually have a list of licensed snake removalists.

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It is better to call an experienced person rather than take risks interfering with the snake yourself. Many snakebites occur when people are trying to kill the snake.

Common snake fallacies

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Snakes, regardless of their injuries, will only die after sunset.

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Snakes roll down hills with their tails in their mouth.

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Saucers of milk will attract snakes. Snakes are aggressive. Where there are baby snakes, the parents will be around.

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You can tell harmless snakes from venomous by their colour or shape.

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Blue-tongue lizards around the house will keep snakes away.

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Snakes defend their nests. Snakes avenge the death of their mates.

Index

Index Frogs Barking Marsh Frog 74 Bibron’s Toadlet 74 Common Froglet 74 Common Spadefoot Toad 12 Growling Grass Frog 73 Mallee Spadefoot Toad 11 Peron’s Tree Frog 73 Plains Froglet 73 Southern Bull Frog 10 Spotted Marsh Frog 74 Freshwater Turtles Broad-shelled Turtle 75 Common Long-necked Turtle Murray River Turtle 75 Lizards Beaded Gecko 15 Beaked Gecko 19 Bougainville’s Skink 41 Boulenger’s Skink 45 Brooks’s Striped Skink 33 Burton’s Snake-lizard 28 Butler’s Legless Lizard 27 Bynoe’s Gecko 18 Carnaby’s Wall Skink 31 Central Bearded Dragon 55 Common Blue-tongued Lizard Common Scaley-foot 29 Delicate Skink 40 Desert Skink 37 Eastern Bearded Dragon 54 Eastern Striped Skink 34 Eastern Water Skink 76 Grey’s Skink 43 Heath Skink 38 Hooded Scaley-foot 76 Large Striped Skink 36 Lined Earless Dragon 56 Mallee Dragon 52 Mallee Worm-Lizard 23 Marbled Gecko 14 Millewa Skink 39 Mueller’s Skink 77

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Murray Striped Skink 32 Nobbi Dragon 50 Norris’s Dragon 51 Obscure Skink 46 Olive Legless Lizard 76 Painted Dragon 53 Pink-nosed Worm-Lizard 24 Regal Striped Skink 35 Rosenberg’s Goanna 59 Samphire Skink 44 Sand Goanna 58 Southern Legless Lizard 26 Southern Spiny-tailed Gecko 20 Spotted Burrowing Skink 42 Striped Worm-Lizard 25 Stumpy-tailed Lizard 48 Tessellated Gecko 75 Thick-tailed Gecko 21 Tree Dragon 77 Tree Dtella 17 Tree Goanna 77 Tree Skink 76 Western Blue-tongued Lizard 47 Wood Gecko 16 Snakes Bandy Bandy 72 Bardick 67 Carpet Python 78 Common Death Adder 78 Coral Snake 64 Curl Snake 79 Dark-spined Blind Snake 61 Eastern Brown Snake 71 Master’s Snake 66 Mitchell’s Short-tailed Snake 68 Peter’s Blind Snake 62 Port Lincoln Snake 69 Red-bellied Black Snake 79 Red-naped Snake 78 Small-scaled Snake 79 Tiger Snake 79 Western Brown Snake 70 Woodland Blind Snake 78 Yellow-faced Whip Snake 65

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