RAiD 10.71613/a8b04a41
NESP RL Project 1.8 - Queensland threatened lizard survey

Dates

Start Date
01-Jul-2021
End Date
30-Jun-2026

Titles

Title
NESP RL Project 1.8 - Queensland threatened lizard survey
Title Type
Primary
Title Type:
Primary
 Preferred full description or abstract.
Start Date
01-Jul-2021
End Date
30-Jun-2026
Language
English

Descriptions

Description

The Queensland Threatened Lizard Survey (2021–2026) conducted surveys and fieldwork on the eleven species of threatened squamate (lizard and snake) in Queensland. This resulted in the rediscovery of Lyon’s grassland striped skink, which had not been seen since 1981 (42 years). The surveys also found a new site for the McIlwraith Range leaf-tailed gecko, which was formerly known from a handful of sightings at one site.

Importantly, the surveys for seven other threatened Queensland squamate species resulted in improved knowledge of the distribution of these species and the threats that they face. The survey work did not detect either the Fassifern blind snake (not seen since 1992) or the Gravel-downs Ctenotus (not recorded since 1984). Overall, this project has improved our knowledge of the conservation status of the most imperilled squamate species in Queensland.

The research built on the findings of a comprehensive review of the conservation status of Australian lizards and snakes carried out in 2017, and a project to identify the reptile species most at risk of extinction over the next 20 years. Below is a summary of the survey’s outcomes.
Description Type

Primary
Description Type:

Primary

 Preferred full description or abstract
Language
English
Description

Blind snakes

The Fassifern blind snake (Anilios insperatus) is known only from a single specimen collected in 1992 on a property in south-eastern Queensland used for cattle grazing. The Fassifern blind snake was not recorded during the surveys, and we can make no conclusions concerning its true conservation status.

Skinks

The original specimens of Lyon’s grassland skink (Austroablepharus barrylyoni) were collected from one locality on Springfield Station, north Queensland, between 1979 and 1981. Lyon’s Grassland skink was targeted with pitfall trapping and was found at all three pit-trap sites, for a total of five specimens. These are the first records of the skink since it was first collected in 1981.

The limbless fine-lined slider (Lerista ameles) was first described from a single specimen found under a rock in a shallow, soil-filled depression on a granite outcrop beside the Gulf Developmental Road, about 35 km east of Mount Surprise township in north Queensland, close to Undara Volcanic National Park. During the fieldwork, four specimens of the limbless fine-lined slider were found, but the species was not found within the Undara Volcanic NP. The distribution of the limbless fine-lined slider is substantially smaller than that given in previous reports for the species that included erroneous westerly records.

The Mount Surprise slider (Lerista storri) was originally described from four specimens from two different localities: Springfield Station, approximately halfway between Undara Volcanic NP and Mount Surprise, and from near Chillagoe to the north. Further taxonomic work showed the northern population was a distinct species, named the Chillagoe fine-lined slider (Lerista parameles). This restricted the Mount Surprise Slider to a single locality on Springfield Station. No populations other than the type population are known to exist. During the survey, five specimens of the Mount Surprise fine-lined skink were found, but only within 5 km of the type locality.

The gravel-downs ctenotus (Ctenotus serotinus) is known from two individuals collected in 1984 and 1981 in and adjacent to Diamantina National Park in south-western Queensland. There have been no confirmed observations since. No gravel-downs ctenotus were recorded during the surveys, although several stout ctenotus (Ctenotus hebetior) were recorded.

The retro slider (Lerista allanae) was rediscovered north of Capella in Central Queensland in late 2009, after there had been no records for nearly 50 years. It has since been recorded at a further five sites in the Capella area. The aims of this survey were to confirm the presence of the retro slider at the most southerly of these sites, where it had only been photographed. Two retro sliders were recorded (one captured, and one seen), which confirms the presence of the species at the new site.

Dragons

The Condamine earless dragon (Tympanocryptis condaminensis) has a restricted distribution in south-eastern Queensland. The species is threatened by habitat loss and disturbance, generally from agricultural activities. Nine Condamine earless dragons were caught during survey work in the Darling Downs region, including at a known site as well as a new site.
Description Type

Other
Description Type:

Other

 Any other descriptive information, e.g. a note or similar.
Language
English

Contributors

Contributor
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7720-6280
Leader
Yes
Contact
Yes
Positions
Position
Principal or Chief Investigator
Position:
Principal or Chief Investigator
 Principal investigator refers to the person(s) in charge of a research project
Start Date
01-Jul-2021
End Date
30-Jun-2026
Roles
No Entries
Contributor
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8116-6085
Leader
No
Contact
No
Positions
Position
Co-investigator or Collaborator
Position:
Co-investigator or Collaborator
 A Co-Investigator is a senior or key investigator involved in a research project who does not have the overall responsibility and authority of the Principal Investigator
Start Date
01-Jul-2021
End Date
30-Jun-2026
Roles
No Entries
Contributor
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9176-5161
Leader
No
Contact
No
Positions
Position
Co-investigator or Collaborator
Position:
Co-investigator or Collaborator
 A Co-Investigator is a senior or key investigator involved in a research project who does not have the overall responsibility and authority of the Principal Investigator
Start Date
01-Jul-2021
End Date
30-Jun-2026
Roles
No Entries
Contributor
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9994-6423
Leader
No
Contact
No
Positions
Position
Co-investigator or Collaborator
Position:
Co-investigator or Collaborator
 A Co-Investigator is a senior or key investigator involved in a research project who does not have the overall responsibility and authority of the Principal Investigator
Start Date
01-Jul-2021
End Date
30-Jun-2026
Roles
No Entries

Organisations

Organisation ID
https://ror.org/02bfwt286
Roles
Role
Lead Research Organisation
Role:
Lead Research Organisation
 The research organistion administratively responsible for the project; administering organisation
Start Date
2021-07-01
End Date
2026-06-30

RelatedObjects

No Entries

Alternate Identifier

No Entries

Alternate URLs

Related RAiDs

Title
Resilient Landscapes Hub (10.71821/ffc970c8)
Relation
IsPartOf
Relation:
IsPartOf
 Relates a subproject back to its parent project

Access

Type
Open Access
Type:
Open Access
 Open access refers to a resource that is immediately and permanently online, and free for all on the Web, without financial and technical barriers.The resource is either stored in the repository or referenced to an external journal or trustworthy archive.
Language
Text
Embargo Expiry

Subjects

Subject
Conservation and biodiversity (410401)
Keywords
Text
threatened
Language
eng
Text
threats
Language
eng
Subject
Population ecology (310307)
Keywords
Text
lizards
Language
eng
Subject
Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) (310302)
Keywords
Text
survey
Language
eng

Raw Data

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