A herpetofauna hotspot, the central west coast of Western Australia

2005·5.9 MB·English

by  Brad Maryan

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN
NATURALIST
Vol. 25 30th December 2005 No. 1
A HERPETOFAUNA HOTSPOT, THE CENTRAL
WEST COAST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
By BRAD MARYAN
169 Egina Street, Mount Hawthorn 20
ABSTRACT
The herpetofauna of the Geraldton region was first
described in detail by Storr et ai (1983) in one of several
papers dealing with the herpetofauna of the west coast of
Western Australia. Twenty years on, additional information
shows the coastal and hinterland areas of the central west
coast of Western Australia south of the Kalbarri National
Park to Leeman (an area of only ca 1620 km2) supports an
incredibly rich herpetofauna comprising 115 terrestrial and
marine species and subspecies of frogs, turtles, lizards and
snakes. This represents the highest herpetofaunal diversity
than that recorded from other areas on the west coast
between Shark Bay and Onslow. Aspects of regional
composition, biogeography and conservation are discussed
in the context of new species recorded and discovered for
the area. These recent discoveries underline how much
more work is required before a complete understanding of
biodiversity and distribution is attained. Attention is drawn
to the biogeographical significance of Kalbarri National
Park and the necessity to conduct a systematic biological
survey of the area.
INTRODUCTION AND
pressures since European
BACKGROUND
settlement and, similar to other
The coastal areas of the south¬ areas, the central west coast in
west of Western Australia have recent times has become the
been subject to increasing focus of major developments for
agriculture, mining and tourism of certain species and an
(How et al 1987). This economic increased level of opportunistic
importance and continual sampling by field herpetologists
environmental pressures exacer¬ has also highlighted the need for
bates the fragmentation of the an inventory that reinforces the
unique landforms and biota of true richness of the central west
the region. Thus a revised coast.
evaluation of this 'herpetological The region's diversity of 109
hotspot' is warranted in light of terrestrial and six marine species
this anthropogenic disturbance (Table 1) is exceptional when
as the only detailed assessment of comparisons are made with
the herpetofauna of the region detailed inventories and
was done over 20 years ago (Storr literature from other regions.
et al 1983). Taxonomic revisions The diverse herpetofauna of the
Table 1. Herpetofauna species list for the Central West Coast. Those species that
are unlikely to occur naturally in the area are marked with * (see section on
Herpetofaunal Introductions and Dubious Records for further comments).
Myobatrachidae - Ground Frogs Crenadactylus ocellatus ocellatus
Crinia pseudinsigtiifera Diplodactylus alboguttatus
Heleioporus albopunctatus Diplodactylus granariensis granariensis
Heleioporus eyrei Diplodactylus ornatus
Heleioporus psammophilus Diplodactylus polyophthalmus
Limnodynastes dorsalis Diplodactylus pulcher
Myobatrachus gouldii Diplodactylus squarrosus
Neobatrachus kunapalari Gehyra punctata *
Neobatrachus pelobatoides Gehyra variegata
Neobatrachus sutor Heteronotia binoei
Neobatrachus wilsmorei Nephrurus levis occidentals
Pseudophryne guentheri Strophurus michaelseni
Strophurus spinigerus spinigerus
Hylidae - Tree Frogs Strophurus strophurus
Litoria adelaidensis Underwoodisaurus milii
Litoria moorei
Litoria rubella * Pygopodidae - Legless Lizards
Aprasia sp. nov. aff. ‘fusca’
Cheloniidae - Sea Turtles Aprasia repens
Caretta caretta Delma australis
Chelonia mydas Delrna butleri
Eretmochelys imbricata bissa Delma concinna concinna
Delma fraseri
Cheluidae - Freshwater Turtles Delma grayii
Chelodina oblonga * Delma tincta
Chelodina steindachneri Lialis burton is
Pletholax gracilis gracilis
Gekkonidae - Geckos Pygopus lepidopodus
Christinus marmoratus Pygopus nigriceps
2
Table 1. (cont.)
Agamidae - Dragons Morethia obscura
Ctenophorus maculatus maculatus Tiliqua occipitalis
Ctenophorus nuchcilis Tiliqua rugosa rugosa
Ctenophorus reticulatus
Lophognathus longirostris Varanidae - Monitors
Moloch horridus Varanus brevicauda *
Pogona minor minima Varanus caudolineatus
Pogona minor minor Varanus eremius
Rankinia adelaidensis adelaidensis Varanus giganteus
Rankinia parviceps butleri Varanus gouldii
Tympanocryptis cephalus * Varanus panoptes rubidus *
Varanus tristis tristis
Scincidae -Skinks
Cryptoblepharus carnabyi Typhlopidae - Blind Snakes
Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus Ramphotyphlops australis
Ctenotus alleni Ramphotyphlops hamatus
Ctenotus australis Ramphotyphlops leptosoma
Ctenotus fallens Ramphotyphlops waitii
Ctenotus impar
Ctenotus mimetes Boidae - Pythons
Ctenotus pantherinus pantherinus Antaresia stimsoni stimsoni
Ctenotus schomburgkii Aspidites ramsayi
Ctenotus severus Morelia spilota imbricata
Ctenotus uber uber
Cyclodomorphus branchialis Elapidac - Front Fanged Snakes
Cyclodomorphus celatus (Terrestrial Forms)
Egernia kingii Acanthophis antarcticus *
Egernia multiscutata Drachyurophis fasciolata fasciolata
Egernia stokesii badia Brachyurophis semifasciata
Egernia stokesii stokesii Demansia psammophis reticulata
Eremiascincus richardsonii Echiopsis curta
Hemiergis quadrilineata Elapognathus coronatus *
Lerista axillaris Neelaps bimaculatus
Lerista christinae Neelaps calonotos
Lerista distinguenda Parasuta gouldii
Lerista elegans Parasuta monachus
Lerista gerrardii Pseudechis australis
Lerista kendricki Pseudonaja modesta
Lerista lineopunctulata Pseudonaja nuchalis
Lerista macropisthopus galea Simoselaps bertholdi
Lerista muelleri Simoselaps littoralis
Lerista planiventralis decora Suta fasciata
Lerista praepedita
Lerista yuna Elapidae - Front Fanged Snakes
M enetia greyii (Marine Forms)
Menetia surda cresswelli Disteira major
Morethia butleri Hydrophis elegans
Morethia lineoocellata Pelamis platura
3
Perth region (Bush et al. 1995) is significant Kalbarri National
significant by Australian stand¬ Park. Apart from unpublished
ards with 86 species. Further studies by Bannister et al. (1969),
south, and reflecting the more this area is yet to be syste¬
southerly location with cooler matically surveyed (Table 2). As
temperatures, only 59 are highlighted by Storr et al. (1983)
recorded from coastal areas much of the published
between Busselton and Albany information on the herpeto¬
(How etal. 1987). fauna of the central west coast
The first detailed inventories of covered only the Houtman
the west coast of Western Abrolhos. Herpetological field¬
Australia (including the area work on these islands has been
discussed here) were carried out limited and of an opportunistic
between 1976 and 1983 in which nature without any systematic
the biogeographical relationships surveys. However the species
and habitat preferences of the compositions of some island
herpetofauna were documented. groups (Table 3) have been
These inventories detailed 103 slightly changed with more
species from Shark Bay (Storr and recent visits (How et al. 2004).
Harold 1978, 1990); 83 from During the past twenty years our
Zuytdorp coast and hinterland knowledge and understanding
(Storr and Harold 1980); 89 from of the regional herpetofauna has
Exmouth (Storr and Hanlon been greatly improved by the
1980; Kendrick 1993); 98 from many naturalists exploring the
Lake MacLeod (Storr and Harold sandplain, wetlands, coastal
1984) and 81 from Onslow (Storr dunes and other habitats on the
and Harold 1985). To emphasise central west coast. In particular,
the high diversity of the current the efforts of long-term
project area, the more recent Geraldton residents, S. Heriot and
systematic survey of a much A. Desmond, have contributed
bigger area, the southern substantially in this area by
Carnarvon Basin recorded 133 conducting pit trapping pro¬
terrestrial species from a 75 000 grams at Spalding Park and
km2 study area (McKenzie et al. Wicherina, and collecting many
2000). additional specimens that have
The only detailed systematic included significant distri¬
surveys conducted in areas on butional records and even
the central west coast to date unnamed taxa awaiting formal
consist of the Cockleshell Gully description. Taxonomic revisions
Reserve (Dell and Chapman 1977) have also enhanced the richness
and Wandana, East Yuna and of the central west coast with
Bindoo Hill Nature Reserves near recent descriptions of the
Yuna (Burbidge et al 1978; Dell et following species: Cyclodomorphus
al. 1981). To the immediate north¬ branchialis (Shea and Miller 1995),
west of these lies the regionally Lerista axillaris, L. kcndricki, L. yuna
4
Table 2. Herpetofauna species list for the Kalbarri National Park (including
Kalbarri townsite) based on Western Australian Museum records *, field
observations by naturalists + and unpublished studies by Bannister et al. (1969) #.
Arenophryne rotunda * + C. plagiocephalus * + *
Crinia pseudinsignifera * Ctenotus australis * *
Heleioporus albopunctatus * + C. fallens * + *
H. psammophilus * C. p. pantherinus *
Limnodynastes dorsalis * C. schomburgkii * *
Myobatrachus gouldii * C. severus *
Neobatrachus kunapalari * + Cyclodomorphus celatus *
N. pelobatoides * + Eremiascincus richardsonii * *
N. wilsmorei + Lerista connivens * + *
Pseudophryne guentheri * + L. elegans * + *
Litoria moorei * L. kendricki *
Chelodina steindachneri * # L. lineopunctulata * + *
Crenadactylus ocellatus subsp. * + L. macropisthopus galea * *
Diplodactylus alboguttatus * + # L. muelleri * *
D. ornatus + # L. planiventralis decora * *
Gehyra variegata * + # L. praepedita * +
Heteronotia binoei * + # Menetm greyii * + *
Nephrurus levis occidentalis * + # M. surda cresswelli *
Strophurus s. spinigerus * + # Morethia butleri * *
Underwoodisaurus milii * # M. lineoocellata * + *
Aprasia aff. Jusca* Tiliqua occipitalis * + *
A. smithi * T. r. rugosa * + *
Delma fraseri # Varanus eremius *
D. grayii * V. gouldii * + *
Lialis burtonis* + # V. t. rrtstts * *
Pletholax gracilis edelensis * Ramphotyphlops leptosoma * + *
Pygopus lepidopodus * + # Antaresia s. stimsoni * *
P. nigriceps * Brachyurophis f. fasciolata *
Ctenophorus m. maculatus * + # B. semifasciata * +
C. nuchalis * + # Demansia psammophis reticulata * + *
C. reticulatus * + # Echiopsis curta *
C. scutulatus* + # Parasuta gouldii *
Lophognathus longirostris * + # P. monachus * *
Moloch horridus * + # Pseudechis australis * *
Pogona m. minor * + * Pseudonaja modest a* *
Rankinia a. adelaidensis * # Pseudonaja nuchalis * + *
Cryptoblepharus carnabyi * + Simoselaps littoralis * + *
(Storr 1991a,b) and Menetia surda located on the west coast of
cresswelli (Aplin and Adams 1998). Western Australia approximately
between latitudes 28° and 30°
south and extends inland to
STUDY AREA
about Galena, Ajana, Yuna,
The study area (ca 1620 km2) is Mullewa, Three Springs and
5
Table 3. Distribution of the reptiles on the Houtman Abrolhos by island groups.
SPECIES NORTH WALLABI EASTER PELSAERT
Chelonia myclas X X
Christinus marmoratus X X X X
Crenadactylus o. ocellatus X X X
Diplodactylus ornatus X
Gehyra variegata X X
Heteronotia binoei X X
Strophurus s. spinigerus X
Underwoodisaurus milii X X
Delma australis X X
D.grayii X
Lialis burtonis X
Pogona minor minima X X
Cryptoblepharus carnabyi X X X
Ctenotus fallens X X X X
Egernia kingii X X X
E. s. stokesii X X X
Lerista distinguenda X
L. elegans X X X
L. lineopunctulata X X X
L. praepedita X X X
Menetia greyii X X X X
Morethia lineoocellata X X
M. obscura X
Ramphotyphlops australis X
Morelia spilota imbricata X
Simoselaps littoralis X
TOTAL 11 23 8 14
Coorow, and includes the HERPETOFAUNAL
Houtman Abrolhos islands COMPOSITION
(Figure 1). The study area is
The 57 genera and 115 species and
located in the northern
subspecies of naturally occurring
Geraldton Sandplains Bioregion
amphibians and reptiles are
that extends from Shark Bay
distributed in 12 families (Table
south to the vicinity of Jurien
1). Of the 115 species and
and Badgingarra (Beard 1990).
subspecies of frogs and reptiles
Beard (1976) has reviewed the
known to occur on the central
physiography, soils and
west coast, 30 (26%) are endemic
vegetation of this area and Storr
to southwestern Australia.
et al. (1983) also provide a
Complementing this compara¬
summary description of the
tively high proportion of
environment.
6
Figure 1. Map of the central west coast of Western Australia, showing the study
area outlined with a continuous line.
endemics are a large number of Crinici pseudinsignifera, Heleioporus
species that reach their albopunctatus, H. eyrei, H.
distributional limits, and psammophilus, Limnodynast.es
combined, these highlight the dorsalis, Myobatrachus gouldii and
biogeographical significance of Pseudophryne guentheri.
the study area. The zoogeo¬ Neobatrachus has four species of
graphic relationships of the which N. pelobatoides is endemic
species are briefly discussed in to southwestern Australia while
family sequence. N. kunapalari, N. sutor and N.
wilsmorei are widespread
MYOBATRACHIDAE throughout the semiarid and
arid regions of Western Australia.
Myobatrachid frogs are quite
diverse on the central west coast
with 10 species. One genus, HYLIDAE
Myobatrachus and six species are The two species recorded on the
endemic to southwestern central west coast, Litoria
Australia attaining their adelaidensis and L. moorei, are
northern limit of known distri¬ endemic to southwestern Aus¬
bution in the study area, viz.: tralia attaining their northern
7
limit of known distribution in polyophthalmus attains its north¬
the study area. This family is ern limit of known distribution
poorly represented in south¬ in the study area, while D. pulcher,
western Australia, a pattern that D. squarrosus, Nephrurus levis and
may be attributed to the drier Strophurus strophurus attain their
conditions, as they are more southern distributional limit
diverse in Australia's tropical and here. Those species with
eastern regions (Cogger 2000). primarily west coastal distri¬
butions are Diplodactylus
CHELONIIDAE alboguttatus, D. ornatus and S.
The monotypic genera Carctta, michaelseni (restricted to semiarid
Chelonia and Eretmochelys are all west coast and hinterland).
more or less confined to tropical Diplodactylus granariensis (2 sub¬
and warm temperate seas. species), D. pulcher, D. squarrosus, N.
Although they do occur levis (3 subspecies) and S.
naturally in waters off the strophurus are widespread
central west coast they are not throughout semiarid and arid
often seen. Contrary to the regions of Western Australia.
anecdotal report of Chelonia Crenadactylus ocellatus (4 sub¬
mydas nesting on North Island in species) comprises several
the Houtman Abrolhos (Storr disjunct populations in Western
1960), nesting always occurs on Australia. Christinus marmoratus
tropical to subtropical beaches and Undenuoodisaurus milii are
(Wilson and Swan 2003) to the widespread across southern
north of the study area. Australia. Gehyra variegata and
Hei eronotia binoei are both
CHELUIDAE widespread throughout most of
temperate and arid Australia.
Chelodina steindachneri is endemic
to Western Australia and is a
widespread arid-adapted species PYGOPODIDAE
occurring in watercourses Pygopodids are exceptionally
between the De Grey and Irwin
rich on the central west coast
Rivers. The southern limit of its
with 11 species occurring here.
known distribution is on the One genus, Pletholax, and four
central west coast. species, Aprasia repens, Delma
concinna (2 subspecies), Delma
GEKKONIDAE
grayii and Pletholax gracilis (2
Geckos are prominent on the subspecies), are endemic to
central west coast with 15 species. southwestern Australia. Aprasia
Three of these species are repens and D. grayii attain their
endemic to southwestern northern limit of known
Australia: Diplodactylus distribution in the study area,
polyophthalmus, Strophurus while Delma butleri, D. tincta and
michaelseni and S. spinigerus (2 Pygopus nigriceps attain their
subspecies). Diplodactylus southern distributional limit
8
here. Aprasia repens is a south¬ the central west coast, through¬
western representative of a out the temperate, semiarid and
widespread genus, though arid regions of Western Australia.
mainly in southern Australia,
while the northern repre¬ SCINCIDAE
sentative species, Aprasia fusca, Skinks are the most diverse
has affinities with a currently
group on the central west coast
undescribed taxon on the central
with 37 species. Twelve species
west coast. Delma grayii has a are endemic to southwestern
relatively restricted west coast
Australia: Ctenotus alleni, C.
distribution. The remaining
australis, C. impar, Cyclodomorphus
species are widespread in
branchialis, Egernia kingii,
southwestern Australia and
Hemiergis quadrilineata, Lcrista
throughout arid and tropical
axillaris, L. christinae, L.
Australia, viz• : Delma australis, D. distingucnda, L. gerrardii, L.
butleri, D. fraseri and D. tincta. kendricki and L. yuna. From these,
Lialis burtonis is widespread C. branchialis (almost so), L.
throughout the greater part of
axillaris and L. yuna are endemic
Australia. Pygopus lepidopodus and to the central west coast. C. impar,
P. nigriceps have widespread
L. christinae and L. distinguenda
southern and northern distri¬
attain their northern limit of
butions respectively that overlap
known distribution in the study
on the central west coast.
area, while Cryptoblepharus
carnabyi, Ctenotus alleni, C.
AGAMIDAE mimetes, C. schomburgkii, C. sevcrus,
Agamids are represented on the Lerista gerrardii, L. kendricki, L.
central west coast by 9 species muelleri and Morethia butleri
with none endemic to south¬ attain their southern distri¬
butional limit here.
western Australia. Rankinia
adelaidensis (2 subspecies) attains A number of skink species have
its northern limit of known extensive west coastal distri¬
distribution in the study area, butions, viz.: Ctenotus australis, C.
while Cteriophorus nuchalis, C. fallens, Cyclodomorphus celatus, H.
reticulatus, Lophognathus quadrilineata (restricted mostly to
longirostris, Moloch horridus and Swan Coastal Plain), Lerista
Rankinia parviceps (2 subspecies) elegans, L. lineopunctulata, L.
attain their southern distri¬ planiventralis (3 subspecies), L.
butional limit here. Both praepedita and Morethia
Rankinia species share primarily lineoocellata. Egernia stokesii (3
west and south coastal distri¬ subspecies) is comprised of
butions. Ctenophorus maculatus (4 fragmented populations on
subspecies), C. nuchalis, C. Western Australia’s west coast
reticulatus, L. longirostris, M. (mostly islands), semiarid regions
horridus and Pogona minor (3 sub¬ and eastern interior of Australia.
species) are widespread outside The remaining species have
9
wider distributions in Western Morelia spilota (7 subspecies) is
Australia or are widespread widespread throughout temper¬
throughout the greater part of ate and tropical Australia, and
Australia. Antaresia stimsoni (2 subspecies) is
widespread throughout the
VARANIDAE greater part of Australia.
Varanids are represented on the
central west coast by 3 species ELAP1DAE (Terrestrial Forms)
with none endemic to
The terrestrial elapid fauna of
southwestern Australia. Varanus the central west coast is diverse
caudolineatus is endemic to with 14 species. Two species are
Western Australia and is
endemic to southwestern
widespread throughout the
Australia: Neelaps calonotos and
semiarid and arid regions. The
Parasuta gouldii. Suta fasciata is
southern limit of its known
endemic to the semiarid and arid
distribution is on the central
regions of Western Australia.
west coast. Varanus gouldii and V.
Brachyurophis semifasciata,
tristis are widespread throughout Echiopsis curta, N. calonotos and P.
temperate, arid and tropical
gouldii attain their northern limit
Australia.
of known distribution in the
study area, while Parasuta
TYPHLOP1DAE
monachus, Pseudonaja modesta and
Blind snakes are represented on S. fasciata attain their southern
the central west coast by 4 distributional limit here. The
species with none endemic to small fossorial snakes are well
southwestern Australia. represented with Brachyurophis,
Ramphotyphlops hamatus and R. Neelaps and Simoselaps each
leptosorna (restricted to midwest having two species. Neelaps
coast) attain their southern limit calonotos is restricted mostly to
of known distribution in the the Swan Coastal Plain and has
study area. Ramphotyphlops only been recently recorded on
australis, R. hamatus and R. xoaitii the central west coast. Endemic
are widespread throughout the to WA, Simoselaps littoralis has an
temperate, semiarid and arid extensive west coastal distri¬
regions of Western Australia. bution. Brachyurophis fasciolata (2
subspecies), B. semifasciata, Neelaps
BOIDAE bimaculatus and Simoselaps
Pythons are represented on the bertholdi are widespread through¬
central west coast by 3 species out the temperate and arid
with none endemic to regions of Western Australia.
southwestern Australia. Aspidites Echiopsis curta is essentially
ramsayi is widely distributed in coastal in distribution with dis¬
arid Australia, however the junct populations across south¬
populations in Western Australia ern Australia. The remaining
appear disjunct (Maryan 2002). species, Demansia psammophis (3
10