Mallee worm-lizard (Aprasia inaurita) - endangered species listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the Mallee Worm-lizard Aprasia inaurita Kluge, 1974 as an ENDANGERED SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act, and as a consequence, to omit reference to the Mallee Worm Lizard Aprasia inaurita Kluge, 1974 from Schedule 2 (Vulnerable species) of the Act. Listing of endangered species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. The Mallee Worm-lizard, Aprasia inaurita, is a burrowing legless-lizard that reaches a total length of approximately 20cm. The forelimbs of the Mallee Worm-lizard are entirely absent and vestigial hindlimbs occur as small scaly flaps near the cloacal vent. Individuals are pale olive-brown or grey-brown above, the head and nape are often reddish-brown and the terminal portion of the tail is bright reddish-orange (Cogger 2000).
2. The Mallee Worm-lizard is distributed in a narrow band from southeast Western Australia, through southern South Australia, the northwest corner of Victoria and southwestern New South Wales (Cogger 2000). In NSW, the species is known from nine locations in two disjunct areas: seven locations clustered between Balranald and Wentworth, and two records from near Rankin Springs. Three of these locations are in conservation areas, Mallee Cliffs National Park and Gubbata and Pulletop Nature Reserves.
3. The Mallee Worm-lizard has been recorded from sandy habitats including mallee, either with a chenopod (Val et al. 2001) or spinifex, Triodia species, understorey (Cheal et al. 1979). The species appears to require mature habitat with a developed layer of surface debris (Sadlier et al. 1996). Individuals are generally found under ground cover, and particularly, in and around termite and ant nests (Greer 1989). Legless-lizards within the genus Aprasia are largely ant-eaters (Kluge 1976) and Mallee Worm-lizards have been reported to feed on the eggs of ants of the genus Aphaenogaster (Swan 1990).
4. The Mallee Worm-lizard is threatened by clearing of native vegetation. Val et al. (2001) reported that almost 23% of mallee with a chenopod understorey had been cleared in the southern portion of the Lower Murray-Darling Catchment, an area that coincides with the greater part of the species' distribution in NSW. The suitability of the species' habitat may be affected by alterations to the natural fire regime (Sadlier et al. 1996). Frequent fires would reduce the availability of surface debris for shelter and foraging, and non-patchy burns would remove potential refugia during and after fires. The key threatening process Removal of dead wood and dead trees would also adversely affect the suitability of Mallee Worm-lizard habitat.
5. The distribution of the Mallee Worm-lizard is severely fragmented such that local populations of the species are vulnerable to extinction via stochastic events. Despite recent records from within Nature Reserves and a National Park, this may not ensure the Mallee Worm-lizard's long-term survival in NSW.
6. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Mallee Worm-lizard Aprasia inaurita Kluge, 1974 is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.
Associate Professor Paul Adam
Chairperson
Scientific Committee
Proposed Gazettal date: 17/09/04
Exhibition period: 17/09/04 - 29/10/04
References:
Cheal PD, Day JC, Meredith CW (1997) 'Fire in the National Parks of north-west Victoria.' National Parks Service Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria.
Cogger HG (2000) 'Reptiles and amphibians of Australia.' (Reed Books: Chatswood).
Greer AE (1989) 'The biology and evolution of Australian lizards.' (Surrey Beatty and Sons: Chipping Norton, NSW).
Kluge AG (1976) Phylogenetic relationships in the lizard family Pygopodidae: an evaluation of theory, methods and data. Miscellaneous Publications of the Museum of Zoology University of Michigan 152, 72.
Sadlier RA, Pressey RL, Whish GL (1996) 'Reptiles and amphibians of particular conservation concern in the western division of New South Wales: distribution, habitats and conservation status.' NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Occasional Paper No. 21, Sydney.
Swan G (1990) 'A field guide to the snakes and lizards of New South Wales.' (Three Sisters Productions: Winmalee).
Val J, Foster E, Le Breton M (2001) 'Biodiversity survey of the Lower Murray Darling.' NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Buronga, NSW.