A Record of Spencer's Skink 'Pseudemoia spenceri' from the Victorian Volcanic Plain

2011·1.5 MB·English

by  Peter Homan

Contributions
A
record ofSpencer’s SkinkPseudemoia spenceri from
the Victorian Volcanic Plain
PeterHoman
SchoolofLife&PhysicalSciences,RMITUniversity,GPOBox2476V,Melbourne,Victoria3001.
Email:[email protected]
Abstract
DuringasurveyofvertebratefaunaatasiteinYanYean,northofMelbourneontheVictorianVolcanicPlain,
asmall population ofSpencer’s SkinkPseudemoia spenceriwas found inhabiting aheritage drystone fence.
SpencersSkinkisnormallyfoundinwetschlerophyllforestandcooltemperateenvironments,andthespecies
isnotconsideredagrasslandinhabitant.TherearenootherrecordsofSpencersSkinkoccurringinanypartof
theVictorianVolcanicPlain.(TheVictorianNaturalist128(3)2011, 106-110)
Keywords: Spencer’s SkinkPseudemoiaspenceri Volcanic Plain,grasslands,drystonefences.
,
Introduction
The Growling Frog Golf Course (GFGC) is the dry stone fences as habitat. These include
situated on theVictorianVolcanic Plain inYan Large Striped Skink Ctenotus robustus Bou-
Yean (37°33'S, 145°04'E),approximately33km gainville’s Skink Lerista bougainvillii Lo,wland
,
north-north-east of the Melbourne Central Copperhead Austrelaps superbus. Little Whip
Business District. The course was established Snake Parasuta flagellum, Southern Bullfrog
in 2005 by the City ofWhittlesea under strict Limnodynastes dumerilii and Spotted Marsh
environmental conditions that required the FrogLimnodynastes tasmaniensis.
preservation of important natural and herit-
RecordofSpencer’sSkinkPseudemoiaspen-
age features. These included protection of
ceriinhabitingdrystonefence
stony knolls, ephemeral wetlands and an area On 26 March 2010, staffand students fromthe
oRfivPelraiRnesdGrGausmsysWEouocdallyapntdu;spcraemsaelrdvualteinosnisofanaldl SUncihvoeorlsitoyf,LviifseiteadntdhePGhyFsiGcCaltoSceixeanmceisn,eRaMhaIbT-
several rareplant species; andretention ofher-
itage dry stone fences. Dry stone fences exist itat enhancement program near the dry stone
fenceon thewesternboundaryoftheproperty.
alongmostoftheeastern andwesternbounda-
During surveys commissioned by the City of
riesofthegolfcourse (Fig. 1). Whittlesea,studentsobservedtwosmallskinks
Surveys of vertebrate fauna have been con-
ducted at the property since 2007 (P Homan baskingon the fence, but were unable to make
positive identification ofthe specimens at that
bunepeunblt.o daastsae)s.sTchoensperuvraptoisoenowfotrhkessaunrvdeytso hdae-s wstaasgev.iOsintetdhebymotrhneianugthoofr29toMacrocmhm2e0n1c0e,tahefsoiutre
termine which species of mammals, reptiles, day vertebrate survey (Homan 2010a). Heavy
aAmpkheiybiaainmshaansdbbeierndstwoedreeteinrhmaibnietiwnhgitchhevsietre-. rain had fallen across the property overnight,
but by early morning the rain had ceased and
tebrate species were using dry stone fences as
by mid morning the western boundary stone
habitat. During these surveys a wide range of
fence was bathed in brilliant sunshine. With-
vertebrates have been recorded, including sev-
in a short time several small skinks emerged
eral species listed as threatened (DSE 2007). from the rocks to bask. On this occasion close
TheseincludeGrowlingGrassFrogLitoriarani-
examination was possible and the specimens
formis HardheadAythyaaustralis,Australasian
, were identified as Spencer’s Skink Pseudemoia
Shoveler Anas rhynchotis, White-bellied Sea-
spenceri (Fig. 2). Each specimen displayed
Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster and Glossy Grass
Skink Pseudemoia rawlinsoni. A number of prominent broad, cream dorsolateral stripes, a
diagnosticfeatureofthisspecies(Cogger2000;
herpetofaunaspecieshavebeenrecordedusing
WilsonandSwan2008).Overthenexthourap-
106 TheVictorianNaturalist
Contributions
Fig. 1.HeritagedrystonefenceatGrowlingFrogGolfCourse,YanYean.
proximately 12 specimensofvarioussizeswere climber. In February 2010, one specimen was
detected along a 50 m section ofthe western observed approximately 15mabovegroundon
boundaryfence.Thepropertywasvisitedagain a dead section ofa Southern Blue Gum Euca-
on the morning of3 May 2010, when several lyptusglobulus, nearLomeintheOtwayRanges
more Spencers Skinks were seen on the west- (PHomanpers. obs.). Thespeciesalsoinhabits
ern fence. On this occasion, one specimen was rockyhabitat, where large numbers can some-
observed to catchasmallgrasshopperthathad timesbefoundunderexfoliations(PRobertson
landedon thefence. pers.comm., 18 April2010).
Drystonefencesareacommonfeatureofrural
Discussion
landscapesthroughouttheworld,atsiteswhere
SpencersSkinkisasmall,arboreallizardwhich loose surface rock is available for their con-
is usually found in wet sclerophyll forests and struction. Severalstudieshaverecordednumer-
cool environments (Cogger 2000; Wilson and
ous species of reptiles using these man-made
Swan 2008). The range ofthe species extends
from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales structuresashabitat(Madsen 1984;Hutchinson
through much ofthe Great Dividing Range in 2a0n1d0;RaGwliPnestoenrs1o9n95u;npAuhbelr.ndeattaa;l. P199R8o;beTrutrsnoenr
Victoria as farwest as the Grampians (Cogger unpubl. data). Many herpetofauna studies have
2000; Wilson andSwan 2008). Spencers Skink
beenconductedinvarious sectionsofVictorias
is also found near the coast, especially in East Volcanic Plain, including sites with dry stone
Gippsland,WilsonsPromontoryandtheOtway
fences, especially on the outskirts of metro-
Ranges (Fig. 3). Throughout its range, it is not politan Melbourne (Beardsell 1997; Ahern et
clhaaonsndssiwed(leWlrielddseovtnoelaboenpdeadSswplaeicnmibe2ss00at8hn)ad.tSiipsnehnaacnbeirte’sxscgeSrlkalisensnk-t a22l00.00471;;99T8Hu;orCnmelarenm20a20n07n0;4H;20o0Cm3a;arrnHee2at0r1ad0l.ba;2n0Pd0e6tR;eorbsHeoorntmasanonnd
Vol 128 (3) 2011 107
Contributions
Fig.2.SpencersSkinkPseudemoiaspencerionheritagestonefence.
Rohr2010; P Robertsonunpubl. data). Noneof 2010). It is highly unlikely that individuals of
thesestudieshavedetectedpopulationsofSpen- this species reached the GFGC by natural dis-
cersSkink,andnootherrecordsareavailablefor persal ormigration from that area. The GFGC
thisspeciesonanypartoftheVictorianVolcanic is also several kilometres from human habita-
Plain (Victorian BiodiversityAtlas). A detailed tion, so it is unlikely that the species was de-
study ofthe area now occupied by the GFGC liberately released at the site. Most likely the
was conducted over several years from 1988 to population that now inhabits the stone fence
1991 (Beardsell 1997). During that studystony on the property reached the site by accident.
knollsand stone fencesweresystematicallyand Thespeciesmayhavereachedthislocationonly
carefullysearchedon numerousoccasions.Sev- in recent times. During the vertebrate surveys
eral species ofgrassland reptileswere recorded; conducted since 2007, the stone fences have
however, no records of Spencers Skink were been examined closely many times for bask-
reported. ing reptiles; however, Spencers Skink had not
It is not unusual for species ofherpetofauna been seen before March 2010. The last occa-
to be deliberately or accidentally moved be- sion, priorto the currentsurvey, on which the
tween locations. When this occurs, specimens fenceswereexaminedwasMarch 2009. Several
may escape or be released into local environ- past and currentstaffofthe CityofWhittlesea
ments (Pescott 1976; Gillespie and Clemann and contractors whohave carriedout works at
2000; Clemann 2005). The nearest records for the site, using various types of earth-moving
Spencers Skink are from Mountain Ash Euca- equipment,liveinareasintheKinglakeRanges
lyptus regnansforestin the MtDisappointment and Yarra Ranges where Spencer’s Skink has
area approximately 18 km north-north-east of been recorded. The most likely explanation is
the GFGC (P. Robertson pers comm., 18 April thatthespeciesreachedtheGFGCbyaccident,
108 TheVictorianNaturalist
Contributions
Fig. 3. Victorian distribution map forSpencersSkinkPseudemoiaspenceri(Victorian BiodiverityAtlas, De-
partmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment).
perhaps as a stow-awayin someform ofindus- Nick Clemann, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environ-
trial equipment or vehicle or in material, such mentalResearch;GeoffHeard,MelbourneUniversity
andGaryPeterson,DepartmentofSustainabilityand
astimber,brought tothegolfcourse. Environment for comments on Spencer’s Skink and
Nevertheless, the dry stone fences on the relevantstudies.Tim ConnelloftheCityofWhittle-
propertyprovideexcellenthabitat forSpencer’s seaprovidedmuchappreciatedadviceandassistance,
Skink,withmanyfeedingandbaskingopportu- especially during visits by RMIT students. Proce-
dures by RMIT students were conducted under the
nities and quickescaperoutes from anypreda- termsofResearchPermitNo. 10005041 issuedbythe
torintothemazeofrocks. Thenumberofindi- DepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment, and
vidual skinksobserved,includingseveralsmall Approval No. 0920oftheAnimalEthics Committee
specimenswhichappearedtobejuveniles,sug- ofRMIT University. The distribution map ofSpen-
cers Skink (Fig. 3) was provided by the Victorian
geststhatthespeciesisbreedingatthislocation. BiodiversityAtlas, DepartmentofSustainability and
Further monitoring will determine whether or Environment (accessedviathe‘Victorian FaunaDa-
notSpencersSkinkcan survive onalong-term tabase’ May2010-ViridansBiologicalDatabases).
basisinagrasslandenvironment.
References
Acknowledgements AhernLD,FroodDandRobertsonP(1998)FloraandFauna
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under the terms of Research Permit No. 10005276 Beardsell C (1997) The NEROC Report: Sites of Faunal
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Vol 128 (3) 2011 109
1
Contributions
ClHeambaitnantNAss(e2s0s0m3e)nCtr.aiAgritehbuurrnRyGlraahssIlnasntdistut-eFfaournEanvViarloune-s HuSttcrheeitn,sEopnpiMngN.aUnndpuRbalwilsihnesdonrePpoArt(1t9o9C5i)tTyhoefWWhaittetrleSskeian.ks
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CColrsgeiugamb.euarrnbnH.NT(h2(e0200V00i)5c)tRoAerpitraionlaeNdsa-tkauinrladlleidAsmetpx1oht2ii2bci,s2an1na2sk-e2o1fi3nA.uastMreallbiao,ur6nteh MPeaesudcrssoneteoStnfwTerTdaed((ni11o.9978tC64ro))apceBMkiyoeadvFe1gim9reeal8sdn4st,ass7n,0nd7ah-kL7eoa1smn3e(e.N.art(arNniegxeptnsau,itnzreeixaP)nridensshs:aobuBitethla--t
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Onehundred andoneyearsago
THEGENUINEAND THE SPURIOUS LOCUST FUNGUS.
By.D.McAlpine,GovernmentVegetablePathologist
(From‘TheRomanceofplantpathology’(ReadbeforetheFieldNaturalists ClubofVictoria,
8thAugust, 1910)
This is an instance of a scientific blunder which led to various complications, and some ofthese are
sufficientlyamusingtobeworthyofrecordhere.
Thelocustplague,insomeseasons,isverydestructiveinAustralia,aswellasinotherpartsoftheworld,
andvariousattemptshavebeen made tocopewithit. Itwasfoundin SouthAfricathataparasiticfungus
attacked anddestroyed themwholesale, and ifthis fungus could be used for infectingthemartificiallyit
wouldbe avaluablediscovery. Accordingly,culturesweremadeat theCapeandsentoutin tubesasthe
"SouthAfrican LocustFungus." Severalofthesetubesreachedme inOctober, 1899,fromthe Directorof
the Bacteriological InstituteattheCape,accompaniedbythefollowingnote:- "I maymention thatmany
thousandsoftubeshavebeenusedinthiscolonywithunfailingsuccessinwetweather,ifproperlyapplied.
In dryweather the fungus is notso certainin itsresults: but even thenithas beenextremelysatisfactory
in the hands ofthe locust experts sent out bytheGovernment,who are practised in its use. The fungus
has been despatched to Cyprus, Algeria, Palestine, South America, and manyother parts ofthe world."
Accompaniedbysuchastrongrecommendation,itisnowonderthatthecultureswereusedbyMr.French,
theGovernmentEntomologist,andothers.
Myinterest in the fungus consisted in determining itssystematic position, in orderto knowits nature
andwhetheritwaslikelytoaffectotherformsoflife.ItwasdeterminedtobeaMucor,oneofthecommon
bread-moulds,andthiswasafterwardssupportedbyMassee,ofKew.Theinterestofthisdeterminationlies
inthefactthatthetruelocustfungusisnotaMucoratall,andthewrongonewassentoutbymistake.How
itcameaboutwasthis:TheparasiticfunguswhichkilledthelocustswasEmpusagrylli,butMucorwasalso
presenton thedeadlocusts, andso, byan unfortunatemistake, thelocustfungus,which was sentout in
tubeswith gelatine, was aspeciesofMucor, or amouldwhich is not aparasite. Thelocustdestroyerwill
onlygrowonthelivingtissuesofthelocust,andhasneverbeencultivatedondeadsubstances.Itisclosely
related tothe parasiteon thecommonhouse-fly(Empusamuscce).Everyoneisfamiliarwith thedeadfly
stucktothewindow-paneandawhitehalosurroundingitsbody.
From The VictorianNaturalistXXVII,pp. 132-133,November 10, 1910
110 TheVictorianNaturalist