Leopard ctenotus (Ctenotus pantherinus ocellifer) - endangered species listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the Leopard Ctenotus, Ctenotus pantherinusocellifer (Peters 1866), as an ENDANGERED SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 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 Leopard Ctenotus is a grey to olive-brown skink with white or yellow spots, each with a black bar on each side (Cogger 2000). Individuals reach between 180-220mm in length.
2. There are four subspecies of Leopard Ctenotus (Cogger 2000): C. p. ocellifer through arid central Australia, including New South Wales (NSW); C. p. pantherinus in south-western Western Australia; C. p. acripes in arid north-western Queensland and Barrow Island, Western Australia; and C. p. calx through northern Australia from the Kimberleys to north-western Queensland.
3. In NSW, the subspecies C. p. ocellifer is known from a single specimen collected by the Australian Museum in 1982. The specimen was found in spinifex, Triodia mitchelli, habitat on red sand west of Goodooga, near the NSW-Queensland border. Despite extensive surveys in similar habitat in Sturt National Park and Mutawintji National Park, no further records are known. Specific habitat requirements of the Leopard Ctenotus are not known, although the species appears to be reliant on the occurrence of spinifex (Sadlier et al. 1996).
4. Degradation and loss of Leopard Ctenotus habitat occurs in association with land use. Grazing by both livestock and feral species within mallee-spinifex habitat affects the density and structure of spinifex. Cattle, goats and sheep graze spinifex seed heads, and in the process trample the clumps (Maheret al. 1995). Grazing also affects the density of adjacent shrubs and ground cover (which offer shelter for individuals moving between spinifex clumps). Disturbance through trampling by stock degrades the soil structure and facilitates weed invasion.
5. Alteration of natural fire regimes, in association with landuse, directly affects Leopard Ctenotus habitat. Pastoralists utilise fire to reduce the density of spinifex and promote the growth of vegetation that is more palatable to stock (Maheret al. 1995). However, such practises may be too frequent and non-patchy, reducing the amount of habitat and affecting the ability of individuals to recolonise burnt areas (Masters 1996). This species is affected by the Key Threatening Processes of Predation by foxes and feral cats.
In view of the above points the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Leopard Ctenotus,Ctenotus pantherinusocellifer(Peters 1866) is likely to become extinct in nature in NSW unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.Proposed Gazettal date: 01/11/02
Exhibition period: 01/11/02 - 05/12/02
References
Cogger, H.G. (2000). 'Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia.' (Reed Books: Chatswood.)
Maher, M., Norris, D., Ridge, T. and Robinson, M. (1995). 'The Ledknapper Spinifex: Its People, Plants and Animals.' (Land Information Centre: Bathurst.)
Masters, P. (1996). The effects of fire-driven succession on reptiles in spinifex grasslands at Uluru National Park, Northern Territory. Wildlife Research 23, 39-48.
Sadlier, R.A., Pressey, R.L. and Whish, G.L. (1996). Reptiles and amphibians of particular conservation concern in the Western Division of New South Wales: distributions, habitats and conservation status. Occasional Paper 21. (NPWS: Hurstville.)