Reptiles and Amphibians of the Bend of Islands

BEND OF ISLANDS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Reptiles and Amphibians of the Bend of Islands

Information is still being gathered about the reptiles and amphibians that occur in the Bend of Islands area. The following notes are taken from my (JMcC) casual observations since 1968.

Frogs

The frequency and intensity of calls heard over the years suggests that the overall frog activity in the area is declining. No species list is available but there is a confirmed record of Limnodynastes dumerili(Pobblebonk or Banjo Frog) in December 1999. The animal was unearthed while digging in a vegetable plot about 100 metres from the nearest permanent water (a dam).

Pobblebonk (Limnodynastes dumerili)

Lizards

Positive identification has been made of the following species

Varnaus varius Lace Monitor
Amphibolurus muricatus Tree Dragon
Tiliqua nigrolutea Southern Bluetongue

Snakes

Positive identification has been made of the following species

Austrelaps superbus Copperhead
Rhinoplocephalus nigrescens Small-eyed Snake
Notechis scutatusTiger Snake

Small-eyed Snake, picture by Ern Mainka

Tortoises

Long-necked Tortoises have been seen in the billabongs along the Yarra in the area currently under development for the Heritage Country Club and associated golf courses. During conversation with the late Peter Rawlinson, he suggested that they were introduced into the Yarra River system and that he believed that the only tortoises native to Victoria were from river systems north of the Great Dividing Range. We do know that Long-necked tortoises have been established in the Yarra system for a long time.