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REPTILES AND MAMMALS OF FITZROYISLAND, QUEENSLAND ROBERTGEORGE SPRACKLAND,TERI SPRACKLANDAND DANIELDIESSNER Sprackland, R.G, Sprackland, T. & Diessner, D. 2004 06 30: Reptiles and mammals of FitzroyIsland,Queensland.MemoirsoftheQueenslandMuseum49(2):733-739.Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835. The terrestrial fauna ofFitzroy Island National Park has not hitheno been the focus ofa biodiversitysurvey.During1999,2000and2003anextensivefaunalsurveywasconducted, increasingthenumberofconfirmedtaxafromonetoeighteenreptilesandfromonetofour mammals. The herpetofaunal andmammalian composition ofthe island is now knownto includethree gekkonids, onevaranid, tenscincids, onepython, two colubrids, twobats, a macropod and a rat. Despite extensive searches, no amphibians were found. Reptiles, mammals, islandbiogeography, biodiversity, FitzroyIsland. Robert GeorgeSprackland* (e-mail: [email protected]), TeriSpracklandandDaniel Diessner, VirtualMuseum ofNaturalHistoiy, POBox326, Mukilteo, Washington 98275, USA;22August2003. *Presentaddress: OregonMuseumofScience&IndusOy, 1945SE WaterAvenue, PortlandOregon 97214-3354, USA. Fitzroy Island is one ofthe largestcontinental THE ISLAND ENVIRONMENT islands along Australia’s eastern coast. Located 29km SE ofCairns, Fitzroy Island is separated Fitzroy Island is part of a granitic mountain from the nearest mainland, Cape Grafton chain thatruns in apredominantlyN-S direction peninsula, by a 5km wide channel. Though the along coastal Queensland. At the end ofthe last Ice Age some 6,OOOBP, the low-lying grassy island is anational park within the Great Barrier Reef, it has not hitherto been the subject of a plainbetween Fitzroy’s4peaksandwhat isnow biodiversitysurvey. Becauseofthe island’ssize, the mainland was flooded by sea. Remaining distancefromthemainlandandgeologicalhistory, abovethewaterline is Little FitzroyIslandatthe it has remained a comparatively pristine fareastofthechainandthe3 contiguouspeaksof environment, spared serious invasive species larger Fitzroy Island. The main island peaks suchascanetoads. Astheendofalongmountain reach 189, 211 and 269m in height. The larger chain,Fitzroyhasthreepeaksinexcessof180m, ilselnagntdh iosfs3o,m7e503m39ahnadiwnidatrheaowfit2h,0m00amx.imTuhme giving it a considerable terrestrial surface area. These features make Fitzroy Island an attractive islandisanationalpark,butsmallportionsofthe northern coast house a commercial prawn laboratory forstudiesoncontinentalbiogeography thatwouldcomplementtheconsiderablevolume hatchery and a resort. Queensland Parks and ofstudies ofoceanic island systems. Wildlife Sei*vice has a ranger base of several buildings on the easternmost peak (129m) and a In 1999theseniorauthorbeganasurveyofthe concreteaccess road from the resort to the base. terrestrial fauna of Fitzroy Island, focusing QPWSalsohasseveralwalkingpathsaroundthe primarily on the reptiles, but including insects, park, though the majority of the island is centipedesandmammals. Publishedinformation inaccessible due to vegetation. A fringing reef onFitzroyIsland’sfaunaincludesMalone(2001) surroundsboth islands. and Sprackland (2000, 2001a, 2001b, 2001c). The north-facing slopes ofthe island are lush tThheisisplaapnedr(Tparebsleent1)s.tAhedehteaiipleetdofdaeusjcirailptcioonnteonftthoef wsleotpreasinafroreesdtr.ieHrigshcerrueblefvoarteisotnswiatnhdsionuttehr-mfiatctienngt (v1e9g9e7t)a.tioncommunitiesisprovidedinLeCussan copoemnpohseeadtho(fmapiannldyanounshiplallsmidse,s)maanndgrtohveeesasatnids MATERIALS AND METHODS casuarinas. Annual average temperatures are 28°C (day) and22.5^C (night). Animalswere observedinsitu duringOctober REPTILES OBSERVED 1999, August 2000 and June-August and photographed. Identifications were made on site GEKKONIDAE. uSswianng (C1o9g9g5e).r (1999), Couper et al. (2000) and tGheehbyurialddiinigbisao(fMtahcelreaanyg,er18b7a7s)e.(Ceolemvmatoinona1r2o9umn)d 734 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM W and the large VIP buildings of the resort occurring in June and July. Active from dusk (elevation 10m). Differs very slightly from untilmidnightandmaybeseenhuntingalongthe mainlandspecimensinthebroadrostralhavinga road to the ranger’s base up to an elevation of partial median cleft, nearly dividing the scale in about 80m. Unlike Gehyra this species is two. Toes with round tips. Subdigital lamellae generallynotactiveonrainyevenings. Ifalready strongly notched into 2 rows; first lamella of active, thegeckos immediately seek coverwhen fourth toe triangular, second and third strongly rain starts. On cooler or overcast days these V-shaped, fourth through eighth strongly geckoswilltakeadvantageofmiddaysuntobask notched and ninth straight. First digit tiny and on tree trunks. When so basking they are more clawless. Mental pentagonal; 6 large post- waryanddonotallowanobservertoapproachas mentals, the firstin contactwithmental and first closely as at night. This species and Gehyra are inffalabial.Dorsalsgranular,subequal.Tail carrot activeatmuch lowertemperaturesthantheother shaped,slightlydepressed.Colourvariable,from islandreptiles, observedat alowof 17°C. nearly translucent pink to gray with darker Nactus cheverti (Boulenger, 1885). This is a symmetrical spots on either side ofthevertebral padless, primarily ground-dwelling gecko with column. Adult SVL 63-68mm; tail 60-63mm. an elongated body and tail, pebbled skin and Egg laying and hatching occurred in June and extremely thin, clawed digits. Found widely on July. Males have enlarged postanal sacs. Active theislandinmostlocalitiesandelevationsexcept from dusk until dawn and often seen hunting in shrub heath, under debris, rocks and fallen alongtrailsontheground,evenonrainyevenings. logs. Mayclimbonshrubsandbasesoftrees,but Foundnearthecolonies ofHemidactylus onlyat primarily a ground dweller. Body dark brown the westernmost buildings of the resort, 285m with scattered tiny white specks. Coloration from the closest observedHemidactylus, butthe varies with exposureto lightortemperature and 2 species haveneverbeen seen in association. maybelightbrownintheevening.Theheadmay Hemidactylusfrenatus Dumeril & Bibron, 1836. bepaleyellowifthe lizardisexposedduringthe Acommon waifspecies foundthroughoutmuch day (Couper et al., 2000; Sprackland, 2000, ofthetropical andsubtropical world. OnFitzroy 2001a, 2001b). Unbroken tail longer than SVL. Island this species is found among the resort’s SVL41-50mm; tail 58-63mm. Once includedas buildings and adjacent areas at lower elevations Nactuspelagicus butrevisedby Zug (1997). andtheforestuptoabout 150melevations.They Egg laying is in late July-August. Active at are active on walls andceilings ofbuildingsand night amongplants and debris, but rarely in the hunt on the ground further afield. Geckos open. Ifcrossingapaththeymakeasuddendash crossing the road on rainy evenings, though to cover the open distance and then hide in the rarely seen, resemble frogs, making short quick foliage.MostcommoninlateJune-earlyAugust. hopping movements. The senior author first SCINCIDAE. noticed this behaviour when he stopped his vehicle to photograph what he believed was his Carlia laevis (Oudemans, 1894). This species firstrecord foran amphibian on the island. This wastheonlyreptilerecordedforFitzroyIslandin hopping behaviour, apparently not recorded printpriorto 1999(Macleay, 1878). Thelizardis elsewhere, was consistent when geckos were widespreadinallareasthatprovideleaflitter,but observed on rainy nights, but not seen when the because the lizards tend to forage under the lizards were not actually in the rain. They are leaves they are seldom seen. On Fitzroy Island, entirely absent from the ranger base and the heads of both sexes and all age groups are lighthouse area. Toes elongated, oval, with 4 generally reddish brown, contrasting with the pairs of distinctly divided subdigital lamellae dullgray-brownbody. Maleshavebrightreddish underthefourthtoe. Firstdigittiny,withafeeble tails. Body generally a flatbrown, notshiny and claw. Rostral large, broader than high. Dorsals withoutmarkings. SVL35-39mm. granular, intermixed with small conical scales. Diurnal,foundinleaflitterindappledsunlight. Unbrokentailslightlydepressed,withprotruding Moves in shortbursts. Pairs and trios often seen softspinesthatform annulations. Colourgrayish foraging together. Males are territorial and to pink above, with marbled pattern of faint aggressivelychaseothermalesaway,buttolerate darker dorsolateral stripes in which are lighter femalesandjuveniles.Oftenfoundinassociation spots. SVL49-51mm; tail 62-65mm. with Carlia longipes. The foraging Carlia may Apparently parthenogenic, only egg-bearing climb overand evenbaskupona Carlia without females observed. Egg laying and hatching eliciting aresponse from the largerskink. Feeds FITZROYISLAND HERPETOFAUNA 735 on small insects including black ants, small Cryptoblepharus virgatus (Garman, 1901). beetles and bees. Skinks may take position Lackingmovableeyelids,itiswidelydistributed outsideabeeorantnestandfeeduponinsectsas but highly secretive. The body is strongly they emerge. Also seen to attack tiny bits ofdry depressed, with apointedhead. Limbs large and leaves dangling and moving in the wind. overlap when adpressed. Dorsum dark brown Distinguished from Saproscincus in having withtwocream-coloureddorsolateralstripes from reddishheadandbrownbody.Thoughsympatric eyestohips.Tailwithcharacteristiczigzagpattern with the higher elevation Saproscincus, the from hipsto abouthalfwaydown its length. microhabitat usage is distinct: the latter forages An extremely wary species found across the throughgrassesandoverlogs,whileCarlianever islandatall elevationsinwinter, butrestrictedto moves away from leaf litter. Not found above coolerlocationsintherainforestduringsummer. about 140m. Found mainly on boulders and tree limbs, Carlia longipes (Macleay, 1877). Extremely baskinginbrightsun.Theywillclimbtalltreesin tceotmramdoacntyalndfrownitdeslpimrbesa,d,wchhiatrea-cftleercikzeedd bbylacitks csaesatrschaolfmoisntsecntoprsehya.dTohweeevxetnreminelvyetrhyinbrbiogdhyt rsehdouflladnekrs.mOabrskeirnvgesdaantdallreldocdailsihtiebsraonwdnelteovabtriiognhst osunnleixgphot,sehdelbpoiunlgdtehresluirzfaarcdesr.emSaViLni3n8c-o4n0spmimc;uotauisl on the island. Dorsal scales smooth and shiny. 50-55mm.YoungappearinJulyandearlyAugust. Bodybrown or bronze dorsally, with or without Egerniafrerei Gunther, 1897. Fitzroy Island’s verytinywhitespeckling. Black mark,withtiny second largest lizard, the major skink is found white flecks, extends from behind ear to primarilyaroundtheresortandalongboulderson shoulder. Red marking meets black flash and the walking paths on the western half of the extends to mid body or groin; much more pro- island. Notyet observed on the ranger’s road or nouncedduringbreedingseason.SVL55-65mm. the eastern portion ofthe island, oratelevations Matingtakes place in September-October and above 180m. Alarge(SVL 180-195mm),robust, smooth-scaled lizard with strong but widely yteomupnegraetmuerregseexicneMeady2-J1u°nC;e.noAtcftiovuendalwlhdeanywoinncde separated limbs. Itis more oftenheard thanseen is strong. They run across open spaces in 3-4m aBsoditydlaisghhtesbrtohwrnouwgihthlefaafinltitdtaerrkteorfdionrdsoslhaetletrearl. spurts,aftereachofwhichtheyoftenwrigglethe stripesextendingfromtheearalongthelengthof tfaoilunadnidntahsesnocidaatsihonagwaiitnh.CTahrilsiaslpaeecviiessainsdomftaeyn thhaevetayile.llVoewn.trally cream, but some individuals bocecoabslsiivoinosustthoe tsheenisomrallaeurthloirzarhdas.s Ownitsneevsesreadl MatingoccursinOctober-November,atwhich Carlia closely approach and even climb upon time the lizards loose much oftheir shyness of Carlia withoutany response fromthe latter. ptiemoepsl.e,Acatlilvoewiongn cwlaosremr daapypsrooancchethtaenmpaetraottuhreer QPWS (2001) recorded Carlia storri on the exceeds24°C. Oftenfoundinsideguestroomsat island, butoursurveys didnot. theresort. Eulamprus brachysoma (Lonnberg & Cryptoblepharus litoralis (Mertens, 1958). Small,flattened,withround,lidlesseyes.Similar Andersson, 1915). Also widespread across the tionChrayvipntgobalpeaplheaymeslvliorwgiastihis(vfsr.oomrwanhgiec)hhitedaidf,fenros aenltsiorefiosulnadnd,inthiasvbalraicektyanodfghoalbditmaatrs,blferdosmkirnakini-s blackdorsolateralstripesandslightlylargerSVL forest,beachedges, heathandopenareasaround (50-55mmvs 36-42mm). the ranger’sbase. Until recently, £. brachysoma A large colony lives among the large rounded welaosngcaotnes,idweirtehdaacustuebshpeeacdi.esScoaflEe.stsenmuoios.thBoadnyd boulders adjacent to Nudey Beach, where they shiny. Dorsal colouringblack mottledwith gold occupypositionsnearthesplashlinewiththesea. andlipsconspicuouslybarredwithpalegrayand Theyforagealongrocksandthebeach,butrarely white. Tail longer than SVL, cylindrical. SVL enterthewater. Theyare sympatric with both C. 67-82mm; tail 84-90mm. virgatiis and the largerEulampms brachysoma, Thisisaviviparousskinkandjuvenilesappear but each species stays in exclusive abutting inJuneandJuly. Thisisaveryalertspeciesquick territories: onhigherrocks, C. virgatus totakeshelterifapproached.Theyareterrestrial, on rocks near the tree line and away from the seen around boulders, fallen trees, in rocks, in water. gardens, on stairs and tree trunks, but also 736 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM regularly enter buildings, where they may take infralabials. Prefrontals in broad contact. residence within walls and under furniture. The Postfrontal not in contact with first preocular. largestobservedcolony,numbering31 specimens Adpressed limbs meet. Golden brown dorsally rangingfromsubaduitstoadults,livesamongthe with scattered light spots. Neck and sides with hugeboulders onthefarthestnorthwestemtipof irregular, broken black band that extends to the island, at thenorthern limitofNudey Beach. groin. Lips light with pale gray bars. Limbs Individual lizards were identifiable by a brown with darker reticulation. Belly pale combination ofa) size class (juvenile, subadult, yellow. Sixty scales from parietal to hip. SVL adult), b) features of scale damage (most had 80mm. Rightrearleg 19mm. scars or missing scales that were distinct), c) Saproscincus basiliscus (Ingram & Rawlinson, condition oftail (few had fully intact, original 1981). Another small skink with very similar tails)andd)sex(basedonlateralcolour).Athigh habitstoCarliakievis.butalmostalwayssolitary tidethere aretwocrevicesthatfill with seawater when active. Found primarily in open grassy andinwhichtheskinksswimandforageforfood, areas near the ranger’s base and in heath above capturing insects that have fallenintothewater. 100m elevation, but differs from Carlia in Glaphyromorphns crassicaudus (Dumeril & avoidingleaflitterandinbeingfarlesscommon. Bibron, 1851). The QPWS have documented Body shiny, with comparatively large scales Glaphyromorphus cracens from the island, but (larger than in Carlia), a gray-blue sheen and our sur\'eys failed to observe this species. We rounded (vs pointed) snout as seen in profile. include it because avoucher specimen has been SVL36-40mm. obtained. The specimen was reclassified when An active foragerthatismost likelytobe seen registeredinthe Queensland Museum collection inthelawngrassaroundtherangerbase,whereit asG. crassicaudus(PatrickCouper,pers.comm.). will climb felled trees and low concrete Glaphyromorphus fuscicaiidis (Greer, 1979). A structurestobask. SympatricwithCarliaaround singlespecimenwasobserv'edattheeasternedge therangerbase,butpersiststotheeasternslopeof of the campground, adjacent to the prawn the summit(269m). hatchery, on 22 June 2003. Body cylindrical, VARANIDAE. robust, extremely smooth and shiny. Parieials long,incontactposteriorly. Asingleloreal. Lower Varanus panoptes Storr, 1980. The Argus eyelid moveable, opaque. Nasals undivided, monitor, growing to SVL 660mm, is the largest supranasalsabsent. Two largeprefrontals,barely lizardontheislandandoneofthetoppredators.A incontact. Sixsupraiabials,thefourthandfifthin largegroupispresentonLittleFitzroyIslandand contact with the eye. Five infralabials. specimens have been observed on Fitzroy near Postmental in contact with first and second the resort, along the road to the ranger base (in infralabials.Lowerjawcountersunkencompared scrub,notrainforestsites)andattherangerbase, to upperjaw. Foursupraoculars. No ear lobules. all north-facing localities. Monitors are basking Ear almost as large as eye, round. Adpressed intheearlymorningandlateafternoon,atwhich limbs do not meet, separated by less than the timestheyaremostlikelytobeobserved.Byday length of the front limb. Pentadactyl, with 18 they forage widely. Pattern variable, ranging lamellaeunderfourthtoe.Lowerlimbspalepink. from dark brown with large pale spots to dark Dark brown above, with immaculate head. No brown with tiny spots. The tail is patterned like dark lateral stripe. Neck and flanks brown with the dorsum and is conspicuously compressed small darker brown flecks. Head chocolate laterally. reddish-brown. Ventrally cream, pinkish under Likeothermonitors,thisisaheat-lovinganimal tail.Thetailwaslostandbeingregenerated. SVL thatisnotseeniftemperaturesarebelow30°C. It 85mm; rightrear leg25mm. isalsogoingtoremainconcealedifwindsexceed A Glaphyromorphus nigricaudis (Greer, 1979). 5 knots. single specimen of this area endemic was PYTHONIDAE. collected inthelivingroomoftheranger’shouse on the evening of 23 June 2003. Similar to Morelia spilota (Lacepede, 1804). Carpet previous species except as follows: Earopening pythons are common, with numerous sightings oval. Snoutnotas attenuatedordepressed. Head beingrecorded.Oursurveyfoundshedskinanda brown above, with no trace of reddish. Seven skeleton (Sprackland, 2000, 2001a), while supraiabials, fifth and sixth in contact with the QPWS obtained a photograph (QPWS, 2001). eye. Postmentals contact first and second Prawn hatchery staff relate that the snakes are FITZROY ISLAND HERPETOFAUNA 737 commonly seenafterdusknearthehatchery. On offruits and flowers. This species, first reported 20 July 2003 a large specimen was observed fromtheislandbyThomasHenryHuxleyin 1845 when it fell out ofa tree while in the process of whenhewastheassistantsurgeononCapt.Owen HMS eating abat {Pteropus conspicillatus). Stanley’s Rattlesnake, regularly flies across the channel to adjacentCape Grafton. COLUBRIDAE. Boigairregularis(Merrem, 1802).Asingleadult HIPPOSIDERIDAE. was observed crossing the access road at ‘Near Hipposideros ater Templeton, 1848. This Death Curve’ at 2127hr on 26 July. Despite the 40-45mm bat is the most common mammal on day having been cool (22°C) and windy (23-28 Fitzroy Island and is regularly observed at all knots), the evening was calm and the snake elevations andin all habitats fromshortlybefore slowly crossed the road into the northeastern dusk until about midnight. They are most rainforest. Length was approximately 1.2m and typically encountered near lights, where they colourdeep brown with very faint darkercross- strafe footpaths and roads for insect prey. They bands. According to staffattheprawnhatchery, are fast and remarkably agile fliers that some- this species is common across the island. times stray into buildings. We observed one bat Dendrelaphis calligastra (Gunther, 1867). A flyback and forth in the upperconfines ofa Im singlespecimenwascollectedin2000andisnow wideclosetfor15minuteswithouthittingawall. in the Queensland Museum. It is reportedly DISCUSSION common around the resort buildings during the day and is frequently encountered when palm Our survey spanned4 months, during most of trees are trimmed oftheircoconuts, but they are which we could only observe and photograph difficult to observe and our survey did not animalsinsitu.Werecorded 17speciesofreptiles encounterthe snake. and3 mammals,representing 18genera. Though MAMMALS OBSERVED we surveyed the island at different times ofthe year, we accept that sometaxa mayhave eluded MACROPODIDAE. us due to seasonal or collecting limitations. Certainly the difficulty of the terrain makes Macropusgiganteus Shaw, 1790. A single adult likelihood of encountering some potential kangaroo was observed and has long been the inhabitants, such as Antaresia as well as the subjectofsporadicreportsbyvisitorsandrangers confirmed Saproscincus and Boiga, a problem on the island. Our sur\'ey found fresh footprints for surveyors. However, we recorded 4 species and scat with a 40mm maximum width in 2000 fromFitzroyIslandfortheErsttimeduring2003, and 2003. A photograph was obtained of the including Glaphyromorphus fiiscicaudis, G. animal on a path to the SE ofthe rangerbase in nigricaudis and Hipposiderosater. a20n0i3m.alTmhaeyebxeaactpalteaxMoancormoypuissaguinlsiusr(eWeasntdonth&e byANisgheolrtWseusrtvoeny&coJnodeuScatemdbo2-n8oD(e20c0embienrcl2u0d0e0d Krockenbergenpers.comm.).Spoorcollectedby 1) Weston & Sambono inM2000 were identified as Ecugceirinlilaatfruesreia,sMoobrseleiravesdpilsotpaecaineds Satnegdontohteuys 'Macropus agilis and giganteus'' by Barbara Tmraiyggsha(vWeesbteoenn, apertsy.pocgormamp.h)ic,ablutertrhoerc(o‘amnmde’nitn QreupeoerntesdllayndlodMguesdesuemvera(lTablilzeard2).taxFarowmiththtehier placeof‘or’). We cannotrule outthe possibility survey,onlyLepidodactyluslugubris,Stegonotus thatbothspeciesoccurintheheavilyforestedand cucullatus and Carlia cf. rostralis were not seen largely impenetrable and unexplored central by our surveys and it is possible the latter was valleysonFitzroyIsland,thoughonlyonespecies misidentified(Goodman, pers. comm.). was obser\'cd. In October 2001 the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Serv'ice conducted a staffworkshop on PTEROPODIDAE. Fitzroy Island and employed a variety of PteropusconspicillatusQo\x\d, 1850. Spectacled sampling techniques (observation, pitfall and flyingfoxesare common on FitzroyIsland, with Elliot trapping) to record 72 observations several roosting locations atop the tallest trees. (Freeman, pers. comm,; QPWS, 2001). The We have observed the roosts above the water collection differs from ours only in recording tanks SE ofthe resort bunkliouses and 50m into Glaphyromorphuscracens(inerror; seeTable 1) theSecretGardenpathattheresort’sSE.Thebats and Carlia storri. Interestingly, none ofthe five becomeactivearoundduskandfeedonavariety surveys recorded a single frog, though a fonner 738 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM TABLVEM1.NRHeptile and mammal species observedby TABLE 2. Herpetological and mammal species the surveys of 1999, 2000 and 2003, reportedforFitzroyIslandinunpublishedreportsor exclusiveofthebirds(forwhichseeMalone,2001), forwhichonlytraceevidence(*)wasobservedbythe oidrefnotrifwiheidcahsaGv.ouccrhaecresnpsecinimaennuexnipsutbsl(i*s).he1d.InQitPiWalSly QVPMWNSHsuunrpvueybsl,isah^edWersetpoonrt&(S2a0m01b)o;noc(2-00Q1P);WbS= report, but diagnosed and catalogued as G. anecdotal reports from rangers (pers. comm.), crassicaudusbytheQueenslandMuseum,wherethe probablyin error. 1. Possiblyamisidentified Carlia singlespecimen hasbeendeposited(PatrickCouper, longipes. pers.comm.). Mammalia a.NativeRat,Melomysburtoni Reptilia *NortheraTreeDtella,Gehyradubia Reptilia a.MourningGecko,Lepidodactyluslugubris AsiaticHouseGecko,Hemidactylusfrenatus a.Skink,Carliacf.roslralis‘ *Yellow-hcadedGroundGecko,Nactuscheverti a.b.Skink,Carliastorri Red-sidedSkink,Carlialongipes c.Cogger'sSkink,Lampropholiscoggeri LitoralSkink.Cryptohlepharusliloralis c.SpottedPython,Antaresiamaculosa Snake-eyedTreeSkink,Cryptohlepharusvirgatus c.AmethystinePython,Moreliaamethistina Majorskink,Egerniafrerei c.WaterPython.Liasismackloti *MarbledSkink,Eulamprusbrachysoma a,b,c,*Slatcy-graySnake,Stegonotuscucullatus *Short-leggcdGroundSkink.Glaphyromorphus crassicaudus Amphibia c.White’sTreeFrog,Litoriacaerulea BronzeGroundSkink,Glaphyromorphus c.White-lippedTreeFrog,Litoriainfrafrenata Juscicaudis Red-headedGroundSkink,Glaphyromorphus nigricaudis 2003),thoughitshomeareaandstatus asaloner *Leaf-lirierSkink,Carlialaevis ShadeSkink.Saproscincushasiliscus orpartofacolonyremainunknown. ArgusMonitor.Varanuspanoptes Though we did not find evidence ofMelomys CBarropwentPTyrteheoSnn.aMkoer,eBloiiagsapiilrorteagularis burtoni,Weston&Sambonocollectedalactating *GreenTreeSnake,Dendrelaphiscalligastra female in heath habitat in 2000 (Weston, pers. Mammalia GrayKangaroo,Macropusgiganteus comm.). DuskyLeaf-nosedBat,Hipposiderosater SpectacledFlyingFox,Pteropusconspicillatus ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS rangerclaimsheobserved twospeciesofLitoria WethankPatrickCouperandJeanetteCovacevich, on the island. His notes included Antaresia QueenslandMuseumandRossSadlier,Australian Museum, for work space for the senior author. maculosa, ^Morelia kinghornV, Liasis mackloti Lucy Karger, Gary Luchi and Brendan Malone, andthefrogsLitoriacaeruleaandL. mfrafrenata, QueenslandParksandWildlifeService,provided though we found no evidence for these species valuable information about the island and and these reports are unconfinned by photo- graphs orvoucherspecimens (QPWS, 2001). tahcecpoemrmmoidtaptrioocnesast.tWheeraarnegeerspbeacsiealalnydgerxapteefduiltetdo Thecombinedsurveyssampledislandfaunain Ranger Karger for numerous courtesies that themonthsofJune,July,August,October(twice) greatly aided our research. Aaron Bauer, and December. A significant limitation of the Villanova University and George Zug, U.S. asraemapslionng aolnrleyadyabpoeurtfo1r2me-d15i%s thoaft titherepirselsaenndt’ss NgaetcikoonaildenMtuisfiecuatmi,on.prBorveitdtedGoiondfmoramna,tiJonameosn surface.Muchofthesouthandcentralareashave Cook University, shared his research on skinks. NigelWeston,JamesCookUniversity,sharedthe yoeptetnobqueeesxtpiolno,redfoardeeqxuaamtpelley,,iwfhatetalhl.erItiosrstniloltana AdlaatsathaieranFrdeJeomeanS,amQbPoWnSo,coslhleacrteedduinnp2u0b0l0isahnedd standing pond and surrounding grassland exists inthesteepvalleyabout800m SSEoftheranger sfoulrlvoewywupasssuurpvpeoyrdtaetdabfyrtohmeOVcirttoubaelrM2u0s01e.umThoef base. If present (pond side grasses replace Natural History Research Fundandagrantfrom shrubbyheathas observed fromsummitvantage the Shoestring Foundation. points),thehabitatcouldharborfrogs,additional lizards and perhaps be home to the elusive LITERATURE CITED macropods. Kangaroos were largely removed COGGER, H.G 1999. Reptiles and amphibians of from the island around 1985-1986 because they Australia. (RalphCurtisBooks: Florida). were a perceived threat to tourists at the new COUPER, COVACEVICH, JANETZKI, H.& P, J., resort. Spoor, footprints, videotape and aphoto- MCDONALD, K. 2000. Lizards. In, Wildlife of graph have all been obtained of at least one tropical north Queensland. (Queensland VMNH animal(allbutthevideobythe surveyin Museum: Brisbane). FITZROY ISLAND HERPETOFAUNA 739 Le CUSSAN, L 1997. Fitzroy Island National Park; 2001b. Reptiles of Fitzroy Island. Reptilia 15: description ofvegetation with recommendations 56-60. MACLfEorAYfi,remWa.na1g8e7m8e.ntT.he(QlPizWaSrd:sBorfistbhaene“)C.hevert” 200M1ucs.eTuhmeofreNpattiulreasloHifstFoirtyzrEoxypedIisltainodn.ReViprotruta2l MALOeSNxopcEei,deittyLi.oofn20N(0ep1a.wrtCS2ho)eu.ctkPhlriWosacteloeedfsit2nh:ges9b7oi-rf1d0ts4h.oefLFiintnzeraony SWANa,twGww.1c9u9r5a.tAor.pohrogt.ographic guide to snakes and Island.ZoologicaNovaatwww.curator.org. otherreptiles ofAustralia. (Ralph Curtis Books: QUEENSLANDPARKSANDWILDLIFESERVICE Florida). 2001. Herpetological records for Fitzroy Island WESTON, N. & SAMBONO, J. 2001. Fitzroy National Park. (Unpubk). samplingnotes.(QPWS:Brisbane)(Unpubl.). SPRACKLAND, R.G 2000. The reptiles of Fitzroy ZUG, G. 1997. Australian populations ofthe Nactus Island. Virtual Museum of Natural History pelagicus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). ExpeditionReport 1 atwww.curator.org. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 42(2): 2001a. Lizardsinparadise. Reptiles9(9): 11-16. 613-626.