Reptiles and mammals of Fitzroy Island, Queensland

2004·2.6 MB·English

by  Robert George Sprackland

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.