A survey for threatened herpetofauna of the south-west slopes of New South Wales

Abstract

Timber production forests and adjacent lands of the south-west slopes of New South Wales were surveyed for frogs and reptiles over three periods during 1994/95. Hand and aural surveys targeted the habitats of eight endangered species known from or considered likely to occur within the region. Eleven species of frog and eighteen species of reptile were located during the survey, but only one of these was a listed threatened species (with another being recorded incidentally after the survey period). However, the presence of suitable habitat indicated that four other threatened species could be present in the area. It is suggested that continued habitat alteration through grazing and agricultural practices may be having the greatest impact on the herpetofauna of the area and that a suitable reserve system is required incorporating known or likely sites for each species. It is recommended that grazing should be phased out of some state forest areas and burning regimes modified to provide a diversity of habitats.