Aspidites ramsayi (Boidae) in the Brigalow Biogeographic Region of Queensland: occurrence, conservation status and possible bilby associations

4 Pages·1996·1.7 MB·

by  J A Covacevich

ASPIDITESRAMSAYI(BOIDAE) IN THE BRIGALOW BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION OF
QUEENSLAND: OCCURRENCE, CONSERVATION STATUS
AND POSSIBLEBILBY ASSOCIATIONS
COVACEVICH AND COUPER
J.A. P.J.
Covacevich, J.A. & Couper, PJ. 1996 07 20: Aspiditesramsayi (Boidae) in the Brigalow
Biogeographic Region ofQueensland: occurrence, conservation status, and possible Bilby
associations. Memoirs ofthe QueenslandMuseum 39(2): 243-246. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-
8835.
Aspiditesramsayiis widespread incentral, northwestern,southwestern andpartsofeastern
Australia. In southwestern Western Australia, an isolated population in what is now
'Wheatbelt' is 'endangered' and A. ramsayi is 'specially protected' understate legislation.
In western New South Wales,A. ramsayi is 'endangered' at the state level. In the southern
Brigalow Biogeographic Region (BBR) of Queensland, it now occurs as an apparently
isolated population. Because brigalow habitats are poorly protected in reserves, because
much ofthe habitatofA. ramsayiin the BBR is grazed and farmed and because the area is
likely tobe subjectedtofurthermodification, prospects forA. ramsayiin the area are poor.
Despite the factthatA. ramsayi is not accorded special conservation status in Queensland,
wecontend that this species in the BBRis 'vulnerable'.
Thecommonname'BilbySnake'isusedforA. ramsayiintheYuleba-SuratareaoftheBBR.
This may point to a former close association there between A. ramsayi and the Bilby,
D
Macrotislagotis,anendangeredspecies. Aspidites,Bilby, vulnerablespecies,endangered
species, Brigalow.
J.A. Covacevich & P.J. Couper, Queensland Museum, Box 3300, South Brisbane,
Queensland4101, Australia; received2 February J996.
Aspidites ramsayi (Madeay, 1882) is processes causing the decline. ... (This is) ... a
widespread in arid and semi-arid Australia. It is wide- ranging species so habitat fragmentation
known from an isolated population in south- from clearing andheavygrazing could adversely
western WA, and from the Broome area, WA, in affect (it).' ... (Sadlier & Pressey, 1993; Sadlier,
abroadbandacrossWA, thesouthern NT, north- 1994).
ern SA to southwestern and southern Qld, and In Queensland, A. ramsayi occurs in the dry
western NSW (museum records; Wilson & subtropics,betweentheQld-NTandQld-SAbor-
Knowles, 1988; Cogger, 1992; Cogger et al., ders, and the Yuleba-St.George areas in south
1993;Pearson, 1993;Sadlier, 1994).TheisWolAated centralQld(Fig.1).Inthewesternpartofitsrange
population ofA. ramsayi in southwestern is (near Bedourie-Birdsville-Thargomindah), A.
endangered, and is *close to extinction'... (Cog- ramsayiisassociatedwithdesertandsemi-desert
ger et al., 1993). Its range *... now largely coin- grasslandsandchenopodwoodlandsonredsandy
cideswiththenortheastern wheatbeltofWestern soils and stony downs of the Channel Country
Australia* (Coggeretal., 1993).There havebeen Complex (Sattler, 1986). Astheseareasarespar-
tworecent(1992, 1996)recordsfromthewestern sely grazed and as there are no firm plans to
edge of the Nullabor Plain (D. Pearson, pers. intensifythislanduse, nothreatstothecontinued
comm.). Probable reasons for the decline ofthis survival ofA. ramsayi in this partofits rangeare
population are identified as '... a combination of evident. In the eastern part of its range (Roma-
factors,includingclearanceofhabitatforagricul- Yuleba-Surat-St. George),A. ramsayi occurs on
ture and grazing, and crop production.' ... (Cog- black soils and in stony ridge country, in
ger et al., 1993). Pearson (1993) suggested that Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland and
predation by foxes and cats may promote the grasslands, of the Brigalow Biogeographic
decline also. In western NSW, A. ramsayi is Region (Sattler, 1986), and just west of this
endangered at the state level and is apparently region. These populations now appearto be iso-
iost' from grazing areas; ... 'the most recent lated from that in the far west of the state,
sightings ... are from within reserves, so land presumablyasaresultofEuropeanlanduseinthe
reservation could have a mitigating effect on the Mitchell Grasslands and Mulga Lands ofthe in-
244 MEMOIRS OFTHEQUEENSLAND MUSEUM
BBR
sidered virtually confined to the southern
andextremeeastern portion ofthe Mulga Lands.
There are parallels between the populations of
A. ramsayiinandonthemarginsofQueensland's
BBR and southwestern WA. Both appear to be
isolates. Both occur in areas prized for agricul-
ture/grazing. Although much of the natural
WA
habitat ofA. ramsayi in southwestern has
been cleared, large areas suitable for the species
persist in the northern Wheatbelt, and from the
eastern edge of the Wheatbelt to the Nullabor
Region and the goldfields (D. Pearson pers.
comm.) The natural habitat of the south central
Qld (i.e. 'eastern') populationsofA. ramsayistill
is subject to grazing and some agriculture, but
what appear to be a healthy populations of A.
ramsayioccurs in the area. Notwithstanding this
apparent, current security, there are no grounds
forcomplacencyaboutthestatusofthesepopula-
tions. Theirhabitatisnotprotectedinanynation-
alparks,althoughStateForests328 (Yuleba)and
75, 41, 60 and 48 (in the St George area) are
important potential refuges for the species,
FIG. 1.QueenslandshowingBrigalow Biogeographic should plans to expand agriculture in the area
Regionanddistributionofthe Woma/'Bilby Snake', proceed.
ATsrpiiadnigtleess=rarmelsiaaybile Ssiqguhatrreesco=rdsm.useum specimens. deSceavdeeraoln atuhethpolrisghhtaovfeBcBoRmmpelannttecdomimnuntihteielass.t
All agree that the area has been overcleared and
terveningarea. Six specimensofA. ramsayihave thatrepresentationof&habitatdiversityinreserves
been recorded from the interfaceofthe 'western' is very poor (Sattler Webster, 1984; Gasteen,
and 'eastern' populations: 1915, QMJ944 Avon- 1985;Sattler, 1986, 1993;Davieetal., 1994).The
dale Station 23°36'S 143°16'E; 1922, remaining woodland of the Morven-Roma-
SAMR01101 Minnie Downs 25°02* 145°52'; Yuleba-Surat-St. George area ofthe BBR where
1949, QMJ 7454 Jundah 24°05' 143°04'; 1987, the 'eastern' populations ofA. ramsayi occur is
sight only, Mariala N.P. 26°05' 145°04' (P.Mc- good grazing land. Much of it has potential for
Crae, pers. comm.); 1995, sight only Morven - agriculture. Ifpatternsofdevelopmentelsewhere
Augathella road 26°06'S, 147°14*E, (C.Dollery, in the BBR ensue, barring implementation of
pers. comm.); 1 April, 1996, sight only, 20km N clearing restrictions currently being discussed
Charleville on Augathella road 26°17'146°17' (e.g. Central Queensland News 28.04.95), it
(C. Dollery, pers. comm.). Examination of all seemsreasonabletosuggests, ramsayishouldbe
Queensland records ofA. ramsayi suggests that considered 'at risk' in the region. The potential
present 'western' and 'eastern' populationswere, threat is emphasised by the apparent fate of
WA
but are no longer, continuous. populations in south-western and western
NSW.
Specimens from western and eastern localities
are biochemically indistinct (S. Donellan pers. Our data suggest thatA. ramsayi in and on the
comm.). Three of these records are between 40 western margins of the BBR of Queensland
and 80 years old. The remainder are recent, but should be recognized as a 'vulnerable' species
&
from very close to the BBR. It seems reasonable (Ingram Raven, 1991). That is, A. ramsayi
to suggest A. ramsayi no longer occurs in the there is ... 'not presently endangered but at risk
500km stretch between the Betoota (25°42' over a longer period of time through continued
140°50') area in the west, and Charleville-Mor- depletion ... largely occur (s) on sites likely to
ven-Augathella (26o25,S,147°07'E-25°48,S, experience changes in land use which would
146°35'E) to the east. For conservation, the threaten the survival of the species in the wild'.
&
'eastern' populationofA. ramsayishouldbecon- ... (Ingram Raven, 1991).
.
STATUS OFASPIDITESRAMSAYIINQLDBRIGALOW BELT 245
BILBYASSOCIATIONS? name. Several recently collected (and released),
orroad-killedspecimensof'Bilby Snakes' in the
A. ramsayi is known widely by the common BBRhavebeenmammalfeeders,containinghare
name 'Woma' (Wilson & Knowles, 1988; Cog- and rabbit remains. (R.Allwood, J.Nixon-Smith
Tgbeehree,n1nk9an9m2o)ew;n'inWfotorhmemaRa*onmyisay-neoaYtruslienabsgate-hnSeeurr'aaBlitluabrsyeeaS,ninaitktheha'iss Mftpehoarersnc.eryidcsoeltaomnompdf.rh)eor.yalbdoWbeniirttscsh,ohmtathvhmeeeodnsreenmipaionksrteterseooddmfuafctieyhndedhimBnaaigvmlebm'yaBbilealsenb.ndy
area(J.Harland,R.Allwoodpers.comm.,March,
Snakes' in and near rabbit warrens recently (C.
1995).
Eddie pers. comm.).
The Bilby, Macrotis lagotis Reid, 1837, is an
endangered species, once widely distributed in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
arid and semi-arid Australia, but now with a
riessotlraitecdt,edsmraalnlgea.reIansQolfdt,heitsiosuctohnwfeisnte(dGtoordaofneewt (QMuereCn.slEadnddie,DeMprarPt.mMecnCtroafeEannvdirMornmCe.nDto)l,leMrry
al., 1990; Southgate, 1990; Department of En-
cwrveioolrumaoltmndimooenbnnetbnuena&trmweeeHmeearn'riBktiatalhbgbeley,efSio1fnr9at9mkh5eee)rr'.erTfwaohenrergeeAus.nsoeortfaoamfsbcaoottyhrhie- TSvHiarmcreieltvsaho)n,,rdMB,MerMertrSs.ToR&..no&M&frPMrMrRir.smsIaBrr.wJyi.AnIl,nBldrwMuoosroturdgWi,h.etsMoI(rrnFwoJir.aneN,nsidtMxSrotenhrJ--e.
species, including the BBR ofQueensland. Dis- Curators of Reptiles of the state museums in
t1r9i9b0u;tiIonngmraapms&(RSaouvtehng,at1e9,911)99fo0r;MG.olradgootnise,taanl.d, oAufstAr.aliraamhsaavyei.assFiisetledduwsotrokmaipntthheeocscouurtrheenrcne
A. ramsayi(Wilson & Knowles, 1988; Ingram& Brigalow Biogeographic Region ofQueensland
Raven 1991; Cogger, 1992) show that these two was funded the Australian Nature Conservation
species at one time occurred widely, often in the Agency through its Endangered Species Pro-
same areas. However, Womas occur in several Qgruaeme.nslOaunrdgDreanptarwtmaesntadomfinEisntveirreodnmbeyntth&e
areas from which Bilbies are not known (e.g. the
Heritage (now DepartmentofEnvironment).
Pilbara, southern Kimberley, the Gibson Desert
west ofthe Clutterbuck Hills to near Shark Bay
LITERATURECITED
inWA, in theareasouthofPerth, and in muchof
SA). A Queensland Museum specimen of M.
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southern BBR. This is a current, but potentially Australia. (Reed Books: Chalswood, Sydney).
775p.
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not know now anything of the Bilby in the tion Agency: Canberra). 254p.
Yuleba-Suratareabeyondthe local name, 'Bilby DAVIE,J.S.,BARRY,S.&MORGAN,G. 1994.Plan-
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