Recent biodiversity surveys of the Barrier Ranges in far western New South Wales resulted in the discovery of an undescribed vegetation community dominated by spinifex grass growing on rocky ranges. Reptile surveys within this vegetation community revealed the presence of three reptile species not known to, or predicted to occur in the Broken Hill Complex Bioregion. These were the Spinifex Snake-lizard Delma butleri, Marble-headed Snake-lizard Delma australis and Southern Spinifex Slender Blue-tongue Cyclodomorphus melanops elongatus. The conservation value of these populations is regarded as regionally significant. All three species were detected by hand-searches of the spinifex grass highlighting the need to use experienced herpetologists when conducting reptile surveys in complex microhabitats. Their presence in the study area on a rocky substrate provides additional information on their habitat requirements in New South Wales.
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Research Article|
October 20 2011
Disjunct populations of spinifex-obligate reptiles revealed in a newly described vegetation community near Broken Hill, far-western New South Wales
Steve Sass;
Steve Sass
1
EnviroKey, PO Box 7231, Tathra, NSW 2550
2
Ecology and Biodiversity Group, Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Thurgoona, NSW 2640
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Gerry Swan;
Gerry Swan
3
Cygnet Surveys & Consultancy, 2 Acron Rd, St. Ives, NSW 2075
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Brooke Marshall;
Brooke Marshall
4
nghenvironmental, P.O.Box 470, Bega, NSW 2550
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Tim Browne;
Tim Browne
5
Umwelt Environmental Consultants, P.O.Box 838, Toronto, NSW 2283
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Nick Graham-Higgs
Nick Graham-Higgs
4
nghenvironmental, P.O.Box 470, Bega, NSW 2550
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Australian Zoologist (2011) 35 (3): 781–787.
Citation
Steve Sass, Gerry Swan, Brooke Marshall, Tim Browne, Nick Graham-Higgs; Disjunct populations of spinifex-obligate reptiles revealed in a newly described vegetation community near Broken Hill, far-western New South Wales. Australian Zoologist 1 January 2011; 35 (3): 781–787. doi: https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2011.030
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