Lerista allanae (Scincidae: Lygosominae): 60 years from exhibition to extinction?

10 Pages·1996·3.9 MB·

by  J A Covacevich

LERISTAALLANAE(SCINCIDAE: LYGOSOMINAE):
60 YEARS FROM EXHIBITIONTO EXTINCTION?
J.A.COVACEVICH, P.J.COUPER ANDK.R. MCDONALD
Covacevich, J.A., Couper, P.J. & McDonald, K.R. 1996 07 20: Lerista allanae (Scin-
cidae:Lygosominae): 60 years from exhibition to extinction? Memoirs ofthe Queensland
Museum39(2): 247-256. Brisbane. ISSN0079-8835.
Leristaallanae(Longman, 1937) isknownfrom 12specimenscollectedbetween 1929and
1960, from 3 localities (Retro, Logan Downs and Clermont), in a small section of
Queensland'scentralBrigalowBiogeographicRegion.Thespeciesis/wasconfinedto'black
soil' downs.TheareafromwhichLallanaeisknown hasundergonedramaticchangesince
firstsettlement;itisnowfarmedorgrazed,solittlenaturalvegetationremains.Manysearches
byspecialistshavefailedtoFindLallanae.WeconcludethatLallanaemaybeextinct,while
acknowledging that this is impossible to prove. If it is not extinct, Lallanae is critically
endangered. Despite its 'obscurity', the possibleextinction/endangered status ofLallanae
isamatterofconcern, notwithstandingtheextremelyhigheconomicvalueofagriculturein
the Brigalow Biogeographic Region. The apparentdemise ofLallanaemay herald loss of
otherreptilespecies.
We recommend seeking the co-operation of land holders to protect remnants of natural
vegetationinitsrange;recognisingthevitalimportanceofremainingnaturalgrasslandslike
Gemini National Park; implementing a pit-trapping programme to increase the chance of
re-locating the species; and examining the need to protect, at least, the type localities of
BrigalowBiogeographicRegionspecieswheretheystilloccur.OLeristaallanae,extinction,
endangeredspecies, BrigalowBiogeographicRegion.
J.A. Covacevich & P.J. Couper, Queensland Museum, P.O. Box 3300, South Brisbane,
Queensland4101,Australia;K.R.McDonald, QueenslandDepartmentofEnvironment, Box
834, Atherton, Queensland4883, Australia; received4April 1996.
Lerista allanae (Longman, 1937) is a burrow- Retro Station 22°5r53"S 147°53'43"E\ Aug.
ingskJnkfromasmallareaofQueensland'sblack 1929+, J.R. Slevin, (AMR13819); 6 Aug. 1929,
soil downs in the Central Brigalow Biogeo- J.R. Slevin, (CAS77101, 'missing' 14 Feb,
graphic Region. It is known only totaxonomists, 1988); 12 Dec, 1936, J.R. Slevin, (CAS77099);
and has been collected by, at most, a handful of 13 Aug, 1929, J.R. Slevin (CAS77100); Retro
people,between 1929and 1960. Nophotographs Station, Sept, 1936-Nov 1937,Maida(MrsPercy
are known ofLallanaein life. C.) Allan, (QMJ6180 holotype, QMJ6040,
Thirteen museumspecimenscomprisethetotal QMJ6179 paratypes, QMJ6238, QMJ6308,
knowledgebaseofthisspecies,oneofII species QMJ6429, QMJ6430); Logan Downs approx.
ofAustralianreptilesrecognisedas 'endangered* 22°25'S 147°55'E, 16 Nov, 1948+, H.Wom-
(Coggeretal 1993). ersley, (SAMR2823); Clermont 22°50'S
,
147°38'E, Jan, 1960+, C.Vallis (QMJ12232),
^SPPbECClIMMhElNN HHI1SMTUOKRYY (^Co^upejr &^Ingram, 1992; Cogger et al., 1993;
Covacevich & Couper ,994. j y
Vindum, pers. comm).
inT3helo1c3alsiptieecsi,mealnlsionfLcalolsleanpareoxwiemrietycoltloecotneed H__eb_er Longman descri-b,e_d.R„h»o.dona al»lanae,
another, in the undulating downs (= gently un- naminS * for*e collectorofthe first specimens
dulating plains formed on Tertiary basalt, Per- f"l * h,m- However, nearly a decade earlier
mian shales, sandstone and unconsolidated £•*• Slevin from the California Academy of
sediments of the Oxford Land System) of the Sciences,hadcollectedspecimensofthisspecies,
W
central Brigalow BiogeographicWRegion (J. Mc- This material, from '20 miles of Capella'
Coskerpers. comm.): l20 miles ofCapella' = (=Retro Station) was not included by Longman
*(Latitudeand longitudecalculatedat Retrohomestead, intheabsenceofprecisedataoncollectionlocality/ies.
+Dateofregistration,unlessidentifiedasadateofcollection.Registrationoccurssoonaftercollection,generally.
248 MEMOIRSOFTHEQUEENSLANDMUSEUM
in his type series. Longman's types (Covacevich socks of grass' and being found 'down a few
& Couper, 1994) were sent to him by Mrs Percy inches in black soil' are all that is known. That
(Maida)Allan,wifeofthemanagerofRetro.The fourspecimensofthe 1 knownfromRetrocame
correspondence between Longman and Mrs from 'one patch', that only 12 have been lodged
Allan(QueenslandMuseumArchives) isalively in museums, and that both Longman and Mrs
record of his excitement at 'the find' on Retro, Allan allude to its 'scarcity' suggest that Lal-
and her keen interest in natural history. It also lanae may have been always both 'rare* and
sheds some light on the colour of Lallanae and highly-localized in the black soil downs of the
on its habitat preferences, (e.g. '...an elongated, Capella-Clermont area. These data also suggest
grey, dark - spottedskink\.. in litt., H. Longman that the species was difficult to find. The exact
to Mrs P.C. Allan, 20 May, 1936; 'This is a very collection site for these specimens was not
rare and interesting lizard, and I hope that other referredtoinLongman'sdescriptionofLallanae
specimens can be obtained and forwarded. It is (1937), and exact collection sites for the
the first of this particular kind to be obtained in specimensfromLoganDownsandClermontalso
Queensland, and it is probably new to science... are imprecise and devoid ofhabitat notes.
in litt., Longman-Allan 10 Sept., 1936; '...In this Slevin's collections in 1929 and 1936 suggest
lotoflizards there is averygood specimen ofthe that L allanae may have been scarce always.
elongated one, the 'Retro* lizard, they are not Slevin was a skilfull collector. California
easy tofind, but have asked the man who brings Academy of Science records show he collected
in new soil for garden to keep a lookout as they 1200 reptile specimens of33 species on his two
seem tobedownafewinches in blacksoilunder field trips to Retro. Only three specimens of the
tussocksofgrassandsofarwehavehadfourfrom then undescribed L allanae were collected.
that one patch. ...' in litt., M. Allan to Heber Reductioninsizeandintensificationoflanduse
Longman, 18 June, 1937; '... I was particularly onRetrohavegone 'handinhand',sincetheearly
pleased to have two additional specimens ofthe 1920's. This pattern, now being implemented
elongatedgrey, dark-spottedskinklizards. These more quickly than ever on the central downs of
will probably be described as new in the next the Brigalow Biogeographic Region, is not new
numberofourMemoirs. They are allied in some for rich black soil downs in Qld. In southeastern
respects to a North Queensland species named Qld, similar pressures to increase farm produc-
afterSirHubertWilkins,andtoaWestAustralian tion have resulted in dramatic changes in ver-
species. Congratulationson this discovery. ...* in tebrate andplant species diversity on the Darling
litt., Longman to Allan 20 May, 1937). Downs(Covacevich unpubl.data; Fenshampers.
Longman was keen to exhibit the new reptile. comm.).
...'As the type and two paratypes should be
preserved downstairs to avoid fading, as far as LALLANAEVS L COLLIVERI
possible,Ihopethatyou will beabletofindother
specimens for exhibition and for exchange with The recent separation ofL colliveriCouper&
one ortwoothermuseums.' ... (in litt., Longman Ingram, 1992fromL allanaewasbasedon what
to Allan, 18 June, 1937). Specimen QMJ6238, could be regarded as minorexternal differences.
registered 28 June, 1937, was placed on display Lerista colliveri was described from 37 spec-
in the galleries of the Queensland Museum, imens which had been identified as L allanae.
presumably soon after registration. It was These specimens account for distribution maps
removedfromexhibition, faded,butotherwisein (Cogger, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1986, 1992;Ehmann,
good condition, on 18 Aug., 1954. 1992; Wilson & Knowles, 1988) which suggest
Data from the registers, correspondence and that L allanae occurs beyond the Capella-Cler-
literature on the habitat of Lallanae are scant. mont area to the vicinity of Hughenden and the
Slevin's (1955) description of Retro, from his Townsvillearea.
visit there in 1929 and 1936, *... open grasslands With Couper & Ingram's (1992) separation of
and scattered gum trees with moderately heavy L colliveri, L allanae is again a narrowly-
groves of tea tree and an occasional bottle tree. restrictedspecies, whichhas notbeenreportedor
Both black and red soil are in evidence. Though collected since 1960, despite many searches.
thesurroundingcountrydidnotlookattractiveas Comparison ofthe recent redescription ofL al-
acollectinggrounditprovedtobeexcellent, with lanaefrom the type specimensandofL colliveri
a large number of species.1 ...; and Mrs Allan's (Couper&Ingram, 1992)andtheobservationsof
description of the skink's association with 'tus- Shea (1993) shows they differ in colour pattern
LERISTAALLANAE 249
and in the number of long toe lamellae. In L of conservation practice' (Daugherty et al.,
colliveri the forelimb varies from a nubbin to a 1990b).
style. L allanae has no forelimb.
With thesedata in mind, we recognise that the RETRO: SIZE AND LAND USE
differences between L. allanae and L. colliveri
could be seen as too minor to warrant species Retro was established in or about 1861, from
recognition. Ifthis wereso,L. colliveriwouldbe the amalgamation of a series of 'runs' in the
treatedas ajuniorsynonym ofL. allanae and, as Leichhardt Pastoral District. Initially, Retro in-
colliveriwerecollectedrelativelyrecently(1977- cludedcloseto400km?(QueenslandDepartment
w1o98u5l)d,absaotmee. of the concern about L. allanae fofroLmantdhse,Ca18p6e6l)l.a-BCyletrhmeon1t88r0osad,itaenxdtesntdreadddNleEd
However, separation ofspecies within Lerista RetroCkanditstributaries, (QueenslandDepart-
from only slight or even without external dif- ment ofLands, 1884) (Fig.l). Through partition
ferences, has well established precedence. Char- and sales, both as a result ofgovernment policy
acters used by Greer et al. (1983) to separate L. and marketvagaries, Retro's sizehas diminished
cinerea,L. storriandL vittatafromoneotherare dramatically. By about 1920, a major section of
alsosubtle. RetrohadbeenexcisedneartheClermont-Capel-
In separating L. emmoui from L punctatovit- la road (Queensland Department of Lands, ca.
tata Ingram et al., (1993) identified only one 1920); by the 1940s further excisions on the SE
characterasdiagnostic, adidactyle forelimb vs a boundary nearAborCkand on theNEboundary
monodactyle forelimb or monostylus. Estimates had been made (Queensland Department of
of genetic distance derived from allozyme Lands, circa 1940s a,b); by 1951, Retrohadbeen
electrophoresisshowedthatthetwo 'forms' war- reduced to c.72,000 acres (Queensland Depart-
rantedrecognition asdistinctspecies, despite the ment ofLands, 1951). Retro is now a holding of
fact that development of the toes in degenerate- 2208.774 ha. Former 'Retro Station' now forms
limbed skinks is highly variable. In othergenera part of Dakota, Carramah, Meelia, Hazeldene,
also, subtlemorphological differenceshavebeen Weimby Downs, Mt Oscar, Salt Springs,
usedtosupport speciesdelineationsbasedessen- Amatunga, Penaddi, and Grenada holdings
tiallyonallozymevariation(e.g.Daughertyetal., (Alick, 1995, map 3).
&
1990a;Patterson Daugherty, 1990).Regarding Intensification and simplification have charac-
the Oligosomanigriplantare species complex of terized land use on Retro. It was a sheep station
NewZealand,Daughertyetal. (1990a)observed: originally. In 1891, 71000 sheep were shorn on
'A clear pattern of genetic and specific diver- the station (L.Vagg pers. comm.). On Retro, and
gence is overlain by a highly variable pattern of on mostother sheepholdings in the Capella area
color and morphological variation, often inde- of the black soil central downs, sheep-grazing
pendent of species boundaries. .„' and that this changed natural pastures to such an extent that
frustrated traditional taxonomic methods. 'new' grasses and weeds bearing seeds contam-
AnotherrecentNew Zealand example highlights inated 'theclip' beyonduse.Thisforcedachange
the importance ofexamining the distinctness of from sheep to cattle grazing in the area (J. Mc-
L. allanae and L. colliveri. Daugherty et al. Cosker, pers. comm.). Cattle grazing progres-
(1990b) analysed the conservation implications sively gave way to mixed cattle and grain
of recognising three taxa of tuatara, where only production, with the availability of machines to
one had been known. hastenclearingandimprovedgrainmarketsinthe
AsL.allanaehasnotbeencollectedsince 1960, 1940s-1950s. In 1951, Retro was held by The
the possibility that genetic distance from L. col- Queensland British Food Corporation, and was
liveri can be determined from allozyme used primarily for grain production. In 1996,
electrophoresis seems remote. However, given Retro is 'broadscale' farmed, with some irriga-
patterns elsewhere; that there are morphological tion,toproducesunflowerseeds,mungbeansand
differences between L. allanae and L. colliveri; sorghum.
and that the two are geographically isolated, we Therearenodataonearly vegetationon Retro,
considerL. allanaedistinctfrom L. colliveri. We but from the early 1940s (soon after the Allan
alsorecognisetheneedforwhatmightbetermed collections ofL.allanae), detailed description of
'taxonomic caution' in dealing with potentially Retro's 'natural' vegetation is available. At that
endangered taxa; and that ...Taxonomies are not time, Retro was primarily a cattle station. The
irrelevant abstractions, but essential foundations 'Retro Freehold Lands' map, Queensland
250 MEMOIRSOFTHEQUEENSLANDMUSEUM
23DS
CAPELLA
Fig. 1.Retro Station, the type locality ofLerista allanae, showing progressi—ve size reduction since the 1860s.
(///=approximateextentinthe 1860s; =boundaryduringthe 1940s; =boundary, 1995). Also sho,wn
are sites searched in attempts to locate L. allanae between 1970 and 1996. (hand collecting, 1970-1994
1995-1996 J^; pit-trapping, 1995-1996x).Twopit-trapsandone hand-collectingsitefor 1996arenotshown.
All areon Kevricia, 35kmESEofCapella. lcm=4.8km.
Department of Lands, c. 1940s describes the shrub understorey and open Coolibah (E. or-
country and vegetation from north to south in gadophila) woodlands. Buffle Grass (Cenchrus
detail: 'Scattered timber and Stone, Stony ciliaris), an introduced pasture grass, and the
Coolibah Ridges, Heavy Scrub with Stony Hills, Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus)
Some Slope Gullies and Stone, Plain, Ti-tree, are common in areas not undercrops.
Scrubby and Gravelly Ridges, Plain with lightly
scattered Bauhinia, Black Soil Fairly Heavy SEARCHES FORLALLANAE, 1968-1995
Scrub, Open Tableland Coolibah and Blood-
wood, / Open Plain, inter alia' ... Only one tiny Between 1968 and 1995 there have been many
areanearthehomestead,nowabandoned,butstill attempts to find L.allanae on Retro, the area
standing (Fig.2)wascleared. This isdescribed as formerly part of 'old' Retro, and in 'suitable'
'Old Cultivation'. Retro contains no 'natural' habitats nearby. Other reptile specimens have
vegetation save for islands of Poplar Box been collected during searches aimed at estab-
(Eucalyptus populnea) woodland with sparse lishing if L. allanae still occurs (Fig.l) . These
.
LERISTAALLANAE 251
Fig. 2.The abandoned homestead Retro Station, a relic ofthe 19th century, where Maida Allan, whocollected
the type specimensofL allanae, lived in the 1930s.
searches,whichhaveintensifiedsince 1992,have Emerald) regarding soil and vegetation types,
notbeenmethodical intermsofeitherseasonalor especially grasslands; using data from maps of
habitat sampling. However, experienced collec- 'old' Retro's boundaries; and bearing the Logan
torshavesearchedtheareain 'good' reptiletimes Downs and Clermont collection localities in
(summer and spring) many times. They have mind,4 sites werechosen forintensiveL.allanae
foundotherburrowing,secretiveorelusive,small searches, both by hand and using pit traps. Pit-
skinks (e.g. Lerista fragilis, Anomalopus trapping is acknowledged widely to be a reliable
hrevicollis, Glaphyromorphus punctulatus, wayofsamplingreptiles, including speciesoften
Menetia greyii and M. timlowi) in the area, but not found by hand- searching (Morton et al.,
L.allanae has not been located. Lerista spp. and 1988). Manytypesoffences,trapsanddesignsof
other burrowing skinks (e.g. Anomalopus spp.) pit-traps have been used, with varying success
are not usually collected by non-specialists. rates. In an arid habitat, it hasbeen shown that .
(Since 1985, 125 Leristaspp. havebeen addedto /A simple straight line of pit-traps and a drift
Queensland Museum reference holdings. Only fence withbucketsapproximately7mapartisthe
seven ofthese, i.e. 6%, were collected by people most effective . . .' (Hobbs et al., 1994). This
other than herpetologists. Numbers for method was adopted.
Anomalopus spp. are similar, i.e. 8/62, 13%). It In Gemini National Park, 2pit-traps lines of 12
is, therefore, not surprising that, despite recent buckets each were set at different times, early
radio and newspaper publicity about L.allanae,
summerand late summer-early autumn. The first
no specimens have been collected 'accidentally'
(22°30,25,,S 147°5r06"E) was set from 15-21
by 'amateurs'
Feb., 1995; the second (22°29,15" 147°52,14"),
The Longman-Mrs Allan correspondence had from 15-20April, 1995. Gemini National Parkis
not been used as a basis for target-searching for one of only three small national parks within
L.allanae prior to 1995. Using Mrs Allan's 100km of Retro. Here, open grasslands, once
descriptions; following consultations with Ms J. extensive in the central Brigalow Biogeographic
McCosker (of Department of Environment, Region, havebeenprotected frominvasionby,or
252 MEMOIRSOFTHEQUEENSLAND MUSEUM
deliberate replacement with, introduced grasses. TABLE 2. Summary ofresults from six pit-trap lines
This is the only such locality in the area. Gemini setin 1995- 1996,atfourlocationsclosetoRetro, in
NationalParksupportsBlueGrass(Dichanthium searchofL. allanae.
sericeum) Downs, with open-groved Bauhinia
Gemini Meelia fCevricia Peak
hookeri, and scattered Eucalyptus spp., on dry, Species NP Downs
ctrraocdkuicnegd, sweelefd-mu(lPcahritngh,enrieudm-blhaycsktesrooilpsh.oTruhse)ini-s Gemmatophora 1 2 i 1 2 1
commononitsmargins,buthasnotinvadedareas nobbi +
Pwahrekrelitesheabnoautitv3e0gkramssNiWsdoefnsteh.eGfoermmienribNoautnidoanrayl Dviitptlaotidtasctylus +
of 'old' Retro. It adjoins Logan Downs, the D. witliamsi +
locality from which the 1948 specimen of L. Geyhracatenata +
allanae was collected. (Surveys for L allanae Heteronohabinoei + +
were not conducted on Logan Downs because
Glaphyromorphus
permission to work there could not beobtained). punctulatus + + +
OlinneMweealsiase,tbaebtowueten8k2m1-S26EAopfritlh,e1o9l9d5,hoampeistt-teraadp Lerisiafragilis + +
on Retro, at 22°57'12"S, 147°54'30"E. Meelia Menetiagreyii + + + + +
lies within the boundary of 'old' Retro Station. M. timlowi +
This site is one of the few, minute remnants of Carliapectoralis + +
unclearedlandremaininginthearea.Thepit-trap
line was set in red-black, cracking clay soil with collections by Queensland Museum staff/col-
open-grovedB. hookeriandsome BlueGrass (D. leagues have been made at the following
sericeum). Much ofMeelia has been cleared for, localities (Fig.l): Gibson Downs (22°49'S,
ormodifiedby, cattlegrazing butthe pit-trapsite 148°12'E);HighlandPlains(22°40'S, 148°08'E);
isgrazedonly intermittently, and supports native 8km from Clermont on Clermont-Mackay road
v21e36g^*e11t49at,"7iE7onbM.Se,tTww1e4oe8n<p5i1t162t,-7r1ar6p,sEFwaeebn.rd,e21s3e9°t916o.4n,TK7he9evMrSfi,ocir1am4e8ar°t ((2222°°4465''SS,, 114487°°0398'E')E;);50G0amyloEnNgE, ovfiaolCdapCeorlrlya
(site 1) was set in a 30m wide strip ofBrigalow turnoff (22°45'S, 148°02'); Glencoe Stn
forest on deep, black, cracking soils. It had not (23°08'S( 148°14'E); 8-10km E of Capella at
been cleared, but was disturbed by cattle and GregoryMineturnoff(22°58'S, 148°03'E);Retro
adjoined a ploughed paddock. The latter (site 2), (22°52'S, 147°54'E);20kmNofCapellaonCler-
an area ofdense Brigalow regrowth, also grazed mont road (22°59'S, 147°5rE); 17km NW of
and trampled by cattle, had been cleared once, in
Capella on Clermont road (23°00'S, 147°54'E);
1981. Kevricia is some 60km from Retro. It was
Gemini NP(22°30'25"S, I47°0r 51"E);Mazep-
cshoomseenoffoRretsraom'pslifnogrmbeercavuegseetaotfioitns asinmdilbaerictayusteo pa NP (22 H'5rS, 147°18'48,,E); Moonda
of the scarcity of such habitats in the area. A Siding (22°59'52MS, 147°53'16ME); Peak Ra. NP
pit-trapwasalso setatPeakDowns (22°56'29MS, (22°30'25'*S, 147°0r51 ME); Huntly Downs
148o04'60"E), 12-16 Feb., 1996. This was set in (22°52,35*'S, 147°07'E); Prairie Stn
cleared,grassed,blacksoiladjoiningboththeold (23°06'46"S, 147°47'36"E); Meelia (22°57'S,
and new homesteads. (Peak Downs was estab- 147°54'); and Peak Downs (22°56'S, 148°04'E).
lished in the same era as Retro and, like Retro
That L. allanae has not been found despite
wmhaincyh sitmaolnlcehoalddjionignse.d,Lihakse bReeetnrodiavlisod,edPienatko recent pit-trapping and many hand-collecting
Downs was a significantearly collecting locality searches by specialists in the last 28 years does
forreptiles (Coggeret al., 1983). not mean it isextinct. However, asotherburrow-
ing species known only to specialists have been
Results of pit-trapping in these sites (Table 2)
indicate that burrowing and cryptic reptile found, and as L. allanae has not, is reason for
species still occur in the area from which L. concern. Itseemsreasonable tosuggestthat, ifL.
allanae is known. allanae survives, the sites on Gemini National
Further,QueenslandMuseumregisterprovides Park ('secure' under legislation); Meelia and
a good record ofincidental reptile collecting un- Kevricia(both freehold)arepotential refuges for
dertaken on and near Retro since 1968. Hand the species.
.
LER1STA ALLANAE 253
L ALLANAE, POSSIBLY EXTINCT? criticalpopulationlevelandhabitatareunknown,
buttheareafrom which itwascollectedhasbeen
Extinction is difficult, if not impossible, to drasticallyaltered.Itmaybeextinctnow,buthas
prove. Thecase ofTiliquaadelaidensis parallels beenseen inthe last50years (lastin 1960). Ithas
thatofL allanaein many ways. Both are known been subject to many searches, including some
from narrowly-restricted localities which have that would be termed methodical, if not
been changed by grazing or farming; both 'thorough*.
were/are known from only very small series of
specimens (20 T. adelaidensis vs 13 L allanae); THE IMPORTANCE OFLALLANAE
for both, many unsuccessful searches by ex-
perienced herpetologists have been undertaken; IfLallanae is extinct, it is the first Australian
and both species are secretive. 7*.adelaidensis reptilespeciestobesosinceEuropeansettlement.
was classed as 'possibly extinct* or 'extinct* by This species is neither visible nor 'appealing*. It
manyauthorities(Ehmann, 1982, 1992;Burtonet has no charismatic quality. It has been seen by
Oal.n, 11498O6c;t.C,o1g9g9e2r,,3319y9e2a;rsHuatftcehrinitshoan,d b1e9e9n2as,ebe).n obnyleyvaenhasnpdefcuialliosftpneaotpulrea,liastnsdaintdishpeoiopretloylokgniostwsn.
last, a specimen of T.adelaidensis was found in It has no special status in the area from which it
the gut of a Brown Snake, Pseudonaja textilis wasdescribed.
&
(Armstrong Reid, 1992). The reasons usually proposed for striving to
The prospect that Lallanae will, like maintainbiodiversityarethat: extinctioncandis-
T.adelaidensis,berediscovered isnotgood. Lal- rupt an ecosystem and cause the demiseofother
lanae was collected/seen last in 1960. The three species; reduced diversity makes the world less
known localities for L.allanae have undergone interesting; the present generation has a respon-
dramatic change, including clearing of forests; sibility to leave a world ofmaximum diversity =
replacement of native grasses with introduced quality, for future generations; we may want
species, someofwhich areaggressive weeds;the properties (e.g. drugs) from species; and species
replacement of grazing with intensive farming; have intrinsic value and a 'right' to exist (Elliot,
and heavy use of pesticides to combat insect 1980).ThepossibleextinctionofLallanaecould
pests, particularly locust. All will have reduced not disrupt the modified central downs of the
the species' chances ofsurvival. Thus itdoes not BrigalowBiogeographicRegionorcausetheex-
seemunreasonabletoregardLallanaeaspossib- tinction ofother species. Its possible loss could
lyextinct.Lallanaeisasecretivespecies, likeall not be said to diminish seriously the lives of
Lerista spp., and is unlikely to be collected by future generations; and its extinction is unlikely
farmers or graziers, and sent to a museum for to result in the loss of some magical compound
identification, ifrecordsforotherLeristaspp. are for the betterment of mankind. The loss ofLal-
any guide; it may have some unusual life habit lanae may, like the canary in a coal mine, be a
that has assisted its survival in the face of what warning.Beingnarrowlyrestricted,rareandfrom
appear to be major assaults on its only known an area now intensely farmed and grazed, it may
habitat; and it is possible that the only known be an indicator that other Brigalow species are
habitat for Lallanae may not be its true stron- about to decline. Many other species eithercon-
ghold. This reviewconfirms that L allanae is, at fined to or occurring mainly in the Brigalow
least, endangered. In any terms it needs urgent Biogeographic Region,arealready recognisedas
conservation attention. L allanae Tits' almost rare and vulnerable (McDonald et al., 1991), and
perfectly the definition of 'endangered' (Cogger the conservation status ofother Brigalow reptile
etal., 1993): '... Taxa indangerofextinction and speciesisofconcern(e.g.Aspiditesramsayiafter
whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors Sadlier, 1994; Sadlier & Pressey, 1994; Cov-
continue tooperate ... whose numbers havebeen acevich & Couper, this memoir).
reduced toa critical level orwhose habitats have Much of Queensland's Brigalow Biogeo-
been so drastically reduced that they are deemed graphic Region is rich grazing and agricultural
to be in immediate danger of extinction. Also land.Muchofithasalreadybeenmodifiedexten-
included are taxa that may now be extinct but sively and few reserves have been set aside for
have definitely been seen in the wild during the theprotectionofBrigalowcommunities(e.g.Sat-
past 50 years and have not been subject to tler & Webster, 1984; Gasteen,1985; Sattler,
thorough searching*... 1986; Davie et al., 1994). It is now well known
So little data are available on Lallanae that its that nothing, not even stringent habitat protec-
254 MEMOIRS OFTHEQUEENSLAND MUSEUM
tion, guarantees species protection (e.g. frogs in small pockets of what may always have been a
high altitude rainforests of Queensland; Ingram narrow range and where these areas still support
& McDonald, 1993). However, the corollary native vegetation,everyeffortshould bemadeto
seems to be true for the Retro-Clermont-Logan protect these areas, at least, from clearing.
Downs Brigalow habitats. Clearing of native
forestscomes close toensuring species loss. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Emerald65kmSofRetro, isthemaincommer-
cialcentreforthecentraldowns.It'...isanticipat- R. Sadlier, Australian Museum, Sydney, J.V.
inganeconomicboomwhichwilltriplethevalue Vindum, California Academy of Sciences, San
of production in the area'... which '...has beef Francisco and A. Edwards, South Australian
cattle, cotton farms, citrus orchards, wheat and Museum,Adelaideprovideddatafromtheirhold-
sorghum ...(and) coalmines. The key is a $235 ings; Bill Kitson, DepartmentofLands, Brisbane
million dam ... on the Comet River to provide located and interpreted old maps of Retro;
1,300,000 megalitresofwaterfornewcoalmines LindsayVagg,theownerofRetro,gaveusaccess
andagriculturalexpansion. "... (italicsours), Hay to and information about Retro; Juliana Mc-
(1995). In the face of such ambitious plans for Cosker and Claire Smith, Queensland Depart-
economic benefits from increased development ment of Environment, Emerald and Charleville,
and clearing in thecentral downs, whetherornot helped us in the field, provided us with data on
L.allanaesurvivescanbeseenastrivial.Thatone possible study sites, and explained the Capella-
costofsuch economic benefits could also be the Clermontarealand systems to us; RodFensham,
extinction of additional reptile (and other) Queensland Herbarium, provided data on clear-
species,can beseen alsoas inevitable andtrivial. ing of Brigalow vegetation in southern
If, however, the pursuit ofan ideal - to maintain Queensland; H. Milne, Peak Downs, Rob
biodiversity - in the Brigalow Biogeographic Donaldson, Meelia, P. and C. Murphy, Kevricia
Region is worthwhile, the current status ofLal- and B. Garside, Hazeldene generously gave us
lanaeis nottrivial. Rather, itbecomesamatterof access to their properties and assisted us in the
concern, necessitating, at least, restriction of field. Fieldwork was funded by the Australian
clearing in the area. Nature Conservation Agency through its En-
dangered Species Program. Our grant was ad-
RECOMMENDATIONS ministered by the Queensland Department of
Environment and Heritage (now Department of
1.Recognisethat,inherently,L.allanaeisworth Environment). Glen Ingram, Queensland
preserving, ifit still exists. Museum and Glen Shea commented on the
2.Consult with landholders in the Retro-Logan manuscript.
Downs area to encourage their co-operation to
LITERATURECITED
protect/preserveremnantstandsofnativevegeta-
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3.RecognisethatGemini N.P. isthebestrefuge ALICK, T.J. 1995. A guideto central Queensland pas-
in which L.allanae may still survive. The par- toral stations. (TerranceAlick MappingServices:
rtieccuolganrisiemdp,oratnadnscpeecoifaltehifsforstmableldipraercktesdhtoouwladrbdes ARMSoGTrfaRctOehmeNeGrAe.d)e.Gl.a3i2&dp.eREPIyDg,mJy. 1B9l92u.e-TthoengrueedisTciolvieqru)'a
itsmanagement(e.g.protection fromParthenium adelaidensis (Peters, 1863). Herpetofauna
hysterophorus, illicit grazing ofcattle, fire). 22(2):3-6.
4.Continue efforts, particularly through pit- BURTON, R., KENNEDY, M. & FRY, I. 1986. The
trapping to locate L. allanae. Whether such ef- threatenedvertebrates. In Kennedy.M. &Burton,
forts should be urgent, major, and involve R. (eds). A threatened species conservation
substantial research money and time, is a matter strategy forAustralia.Policiesforthe future. (Ec-
for consideration by protection authorities (i.e. fund Australia : Manly, Sydney). 58p.
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Biogeographic Region may be altered or (Reed: Sydney). 640p.
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