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THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Vol. 23 31st January 2002 No. 3 STATUS OF THE WOMA, ASPIDITESRAMSAYI, IN SOUTH-WEST WESTERN AUSTRALIA li'.lw Yh INTRODUCTION (WASAH) to locate individuals and increase public awareness, not much It has been widely publicised that the more is being done For the purpose of south-western population of the Woma this paper the south-western A. ramsayi or Sand Python Aspidites ramsayi is population is that recorded north to critically endangered (Smith. 1981: Yuna (28'20\ 115 00’), south to Barker & Barker, 1994; Bush ec al., Boddington (32*48‘, 116‘28'), inland to 1995; Cogger et al. 1993 and Pearson Menzies (29'42', 12102) and east to 1993). To elaborate further on the the western edge of the Nullarbor Plain south-western Woma's status the (Cogger et al., 1993). It should be following is quoted from Smith (1981) mentioned that the most southerly "About 80% of the Western Australian record (R8263) from Boddington in the Museum's accessions of A. ramsayi are Darling Range was not kept as a between 1925 and 1944. There have specimea Another population inhabits only been two (3% of total A. ramsayi Peron Peninsula (25'56', 113‘4T), accessions for the area) in the last 10 Shark Bay. This population may be years. There seems little doubt that the disjunct from that further south but it is south-western population is close to possible that A. ramsayi may occur in extinction”. suitable habitats in the intervening area between Kalbarri (2743’, 114T0’) and Shark Bay, although it is unconfirmed RECORDS SINCE 1980 from this region (Storr and Harold, In this paper, 1 present a brief overview 1980). The region between Geraldton of recent records in the south-west and and Kalbarri encompasses the northern offer some recommendations. Apart wheatbelt and although there are old from efforts by the Western Australian records, there are no confirmed recent Society of Amateur Herpetologists Inc records (Storr et al. 1983). The only 167 confirmed recent records from the national parks and is additionally listed wheatbelt region are two large adults a World Heritage area, perhaps adding about 2 metres total length. One was to the security of this population. To active in the early morning adjacent to my knowledge, east of the wheatbelt in a railway line during April 1986 at the goldfields region there are no 12km north Marchagee (29'57‘, confirmed A. ramsayi records since 116*04'). It was unfortunately killed due 1980. However 1 have received a very to mistaken identity and lodged at the reliable sight record from an amateur WA Museum (R97089). The other was herpetologist of a snake active at night collected active on a track by a farmer in Triodia plain country just north of northeast of Watheroo (30’18', Bandya homestead (27*44’, 122*11') 116*03') in August 1989, see photos of during October 1992 (M. Herbert, pers. this snake in (Barker and Barker, 1994) comm.) Historically there are few A. and (Bush et ai, 1995). This snake was ramsayi records from the goldfields subsequently released at capture site. region (Smith, 1981), the most recent Confirmation of A. ramsayi from Peron being another sight record of a road kill Peninsula, Shark Bay was only made as south of Menzies (29*42', 121*02') recently as 1981 with a head being made in February 1966. Similar to the lodged at the WA Museum (R73548). more recent records from Shark Bay Since then reliable sightings have there has been two encouraging included an adult active during the day confirmations of A. ramsayi from the on the roadside 2km south of Denham western edge of the Nullarbor Plain, this in April 1993 (M.True, pers. comm.) region apparently being the eastern and a juvenile active at night between extremity of the south-western Denham and Monkey Mia in December population. They were made in 1992 1998 (D. Pearson, pers. comm.). Recent and in February 1996 at Kitchener accessions at the WA Museum from (31*02', 124*11’) on the transline, the Shark Bay include a juvenile from the latter specimen was lodged at the WA Denham townsite in 1996 (R129302) Museum (R137988). The preferred and an adult male from 3km north of habitat of south-western A. ramsayi Denham in 1998 (R132804). Details on appears to be myrtaceous heath on their relative abundance, local sandplain (Smith, 1981). In view of the distribution and habitat preferences are recent records presented here this view unknown at this stage. However it of habitat would seem to be correct, at would appear from these recent records least in the wheatbelt region. The that this population is more secure than habitat on northern Peron Peninsula, their wheatbelt counterpart. It is Shark Bay is floristically different from possible that recent eradication the country further south but generally measures of foxes and cats by CALM the soils are sandy. Both of the recent have benefited the Shark Bay wheatbelt records were on sandy soils. population. However, the effects of The vegetation at the Watheroo capture predation on pythons by introduced site consists of a Banksia dominated predators is unsubstantiated (Pearson, heathland on deep yellow sand 1993), though it seems highly likely containing numerous rabbit warrens. that young snakes would be taken The opposite side of the track where the (Wilson and Knowles, 1988). The snake was active is cleared farmland. Shark Bay area is also largely The Marchagee record was made near uninhabited, encompasses large areas of the Marchagee Nature Reserve, an area 168 consisting predominantly of heath on Newbery (28*00', 122*54') do not sandplain. This presumed habitat recognize A. ramsayi (Pearson, 1993). preference is further supported by Consequently if the Nullarbor several unconfirmed sightings in areas of population is in fact continuous through extensive sandplain habitat in the to central Australia via the Gibson wheatbelt region. Until further Desert, then perhaps the link lies to the confirmed sightings occur we can only south of Cosmo Newbery. In the north¬ rely on previous information, though I west there is a substantial gap between would not preclude it from occurring Shark Bay and the coastal northern around rocky areas. Overall, it is widely Pilbara with no records of A. ramsayi, believed that A. ramsayi is generally despite there being extensive areas of associated with sandy areas. apparently suitable Triodia sandplain habitat including the North-West Cape peninsula (Storr and Hanlon, 1980) and COMMENTS ON DISTRIBUTION Onslow region (Storr and Harold, 1985). It seems unlikely that A. ramsayi To a large degree the current is found to the north and east of Shark distribution of A. ramsayi is poorly Bay due to the presence of unsuitable known in Western Australia. Due to habitat of heavy soils dominated by their secretive habits and the fact that mulga woodlands (Smith, 1981). This large areas of this State remain large area is primarily degraded pastoral uninhabited or not intensively sampled country and supports minimal biologically (i.e. eastern deserts) it is understorey. The most southerly coastal not definite whether some A. ramsayi Pilbara museum record (R79003) is f rom populations are actually disjunct Most near Mundabullangana Homestead authors however do support the view (20*31', 118*03') with more recent that the south-western population is sightings from near South Hedland indeed isolated from the northern and (pers. obs.). A reliable sighting of an eastern desert populations, this being active snake in Triodia plain near reflected in published distribution maps Karratha (20*44', 116*51’) was made in (Storr et. al, 1986) and (Barker and November 1993 (P. Anyon, pers. Barker, 1994). Until the species has comm.). been reliably confirmed from the intervening areas, its distribution remains rather ambiguous. In my PYTHON AWARENESS opinion the main area of contention is whether the eastern records on the The ‘critically endangered' status of the Nullarbor Plain are continuous south-western A. ramsayi population northwards through the Great Victoria was highlighted in the Australian and Gibson Deserts, eventually Reptile Action Plan (Cogger et. al. connecting with the main central 1993). In addition the Australian Australian population. One could Nature Conservation Agency (ANCA), speculate based on the evidence of now known as Environment Australia aboriginal records (Pearson, 1993) and (EA), includes this population on the the vast areas of suitable sandy habitats, Australian and New Zealand that these populations may not be Environment and Conservation Council isolated at all. It is interesting to note (ANZECC) list of endangered that the aboriginal groups at Cosmo vertebrate fauna. Since the publication 169 of the Action Plan, none of its imbricata The most encouraging records recommended management actions have were the reports of “slow-moving, large been implemented. As A. ramsayi thickset, banded snakes” from the numbers in the wheatbelt have Watheroo-Coorow region. It is dramatically declined, WASAH thought noteworthy that this area retains it necessary to at least initiate two of substantial areas of national parks and the recommended management actions- reserves Despite encouraging dialogue "develop community awareness within with survey respondents, no positive the population’s known range” and confirmation of A. ramsayi was made. make enquiries about the possibility of a These potential sightings all seemed to captive breeding program with the be of adults as were the recent Department of Conservation and Land confirmed records from the wheatbelt Management (CALM) as emphasised by This is of considerable concern as Barker and Barker (1994). Increasing recruitment through reproduction may public awareness of A. ramsayi was be negated by a combination of low perceived as the best way of locating a numbers and predation. 1 submitted a population. The chance of finding license application to CALM for the pythons during irregular visits to purpose of field-work combined with favourable sites by amateur maintaining and breeding south-western herpetologists is very slim considering A. ramsayi in captivity on 31 July 19%. the apparent scarcity of the species. A reply on 6 November 1998 stated that WASAH produced a ‘Wanted’ sheet for "In view of the current state of this python population with brief details knowledge on the species CALM does and colour illustrations that was widely not consider it appropriate to issue any circulated to shops (displayed in licenses to take this species for breeding windows), farmers and resident study purposes”. To date no decision has naturalists in the wheatbelt region, been made to address WASAH's captive though primarily in the Eneabba- breeding proposal for this population. Badgingarra and Moora-Coorow areas To my knowledge, in W.A. the only Additionally an awareness story was successful captive breeding of this published in both State and regional species has occurred at the Perth Zoo, newspapers. In 1997 WASAH that maintains animals from the submitted to CALM a detailed captive northern desert population (R. Browne- breeding program proposal for south¬ Cooper pers. comm.). western A. ramsayi with an emphasis on establishing trial breeding techniques, using A. ramsayi from the more common RECOMMENDATIONS desert population. The response to the circulation of information, combined In view of the recent positive public with discussions with interested parties responses to the awareness program, it (i.e. tourist operators), has been very seems encouraging that south-western encouraging. Several potential sightings A. ramsayi populations may still persist, of A. ramsayi were received from as far though in low numbers. Based on north as the Northampton-Kalbarri current knowledge of distribution which area, to locations within 100km radius is poor for many areas, I make the of Perth, though it is probable that following recommendations: As the these southerly sightings are based on south-western population is likely to be Southern Carpet Pythons Morelia spilota geographically isolated it is imperative 170 that its taxonomic status be established Browne-Cooper and Brian Bush for their Several herpetologists have remarked on comments on this manuscript Thanks the morphological and colour also to those WASAH members who differences between this population and assisted in ‘wanted’ sheet circulation others (Barker and Barker, 1994). and field-work, and survey respondents Similarly, in Queensland specimens who interest was very encouraging. from western and eastern localities are biochemically indistinct from each REFERENCES other (Covacevich and Couper, 1996). A similar situation of conservation BARKER, D.G. and BARKER, T.M. status and reasons for decline to south¬ 1994. Pythons of the World Volume western Australia has been highlighted 1,Australia. Advanced Vivarium for A. ramsayi in eastern Queensland Systems Inc., California USA 171pp. (Covacevich and Couper, 1996). That CALM concur with Cogger, et al. BUSH, B., MARYAN, B., COOPER- (1993) and Environment Australia in BROWNE, R. and ROBINSON, D. recognising south-western A. ramsayi as 1995. A Guide to the Reptiles and Frogs of a distinct population and elevate it to the Perth Region. University of W.A. Schedule 1 as “fauna that is rare or Press. 226pp. likely to become extinct". The COGGER, H.G., CAMERON, E.E., endangered status of this population is SADL1ER, R.A. and EGGLER, P. 1993. exacerbated by the lack of formal The Action Plan for Australian Reptiles. recognition of its probable divergence. Australian Nature Conservation The Shark Bay population should be Agency. 254pp. used for a trial radio-telemetry study to gather information on ecology and local COVACEVICH, J.A. and COUPER, distributioa This can be then applied P.J. 1996. Aspidites ramsayi (Boidae) In to the wheatbelt if an individual or even the Brigalow Biogeographic Region of better, a viable population is located. If Queensland: occurrence, conservation this scenario ever eventuated measures status and possible bilby associations. would have to be taken to eradicate Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 39: introduced predators in the area That 243-246. CALM recognise the urgency of the PEARSON, D.J. 1993. Distribution, need to improve the conservation status status and conservation of pythons in of south-western A. ramsayi, as one of Western Australia Pp 383-95 in the world's rarest pythons They should Herpetology in Australia - a Diverse endorse the recommended management Discipline, ed by D. Lunney and D. actions of Cogger et.al. (1993) and Ayers. Royal Zoological Society of acquire the appropriate funds to NSW: Surrey Beatty & Sons. undertake these actions In the interim WASAH will continue with searches, SMITH, L.A. 1981. A revision of the public awareness and communications python genera Aspidites and Python with CALM in this regard. (Serpentes: Boidae) in Western Australia. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. 9: 211-226. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS STORR, G.M. and HAROLD, G. 1980. 1 thank John Dell, Greg Harold, Robert Herpetofauna of the Zuytdorp Coast and 171 Hinterland, Western Australia. Rec. STORR, G.M. and HAROLD, G. 1985. West.Aust.Mus. 8:359-375. Herpetofauna of the Onslow Region, Western Australia. Rec. West. Aust. STORR, G.M. and HANLON, T.M.S. Mus. 12: 277-291.13 1980. Herpetofauna of the Exmouth Region, Western Australia Rec. West. STORR, G.M.. SMITH, L.A. and Aust. Mus. 8:423-439. JOHNSTONE, R.E. 1986. Snakes of STORR, G.M., HANLON, T.M.S. and Western Australia. WA. Museum. Perth DUNLOP, J.N. 1983. Herpetofauna of 187pp. the Geraldton Region, Western WILSON, S.K. and KNOWLES, D.G. Australia. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. 10: 1988. Australia's Reptiles: a Photographic 215-234. Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia. Collins, Sydney 447pp. 172