Tiliqua adelaidensis (Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard)

[Melanie]

The Pygmy Bluetonge lizard - endangered grasslands dweller

The pygmy bluetongue (Tiliqua adelaidensis) was thought to be extinct until rediscovered in native grassland near Burra in 1992. Until this time it was thought to be Australia's first extinct reptile since white settlement. It is has been found in ten native grassland areas of varying quality ranging from just south of Burra to Peterborough. The current population estimate is approximately 5000 adult lizards.

Pygmy bluetongues use spider holes as retreats, basking sites and ambush points. During active months (September- April), they bask at the burrow entrance, feeding mainly on medium sized insects along with some vegetation. During other months, burrows are used to overwinter. This reliance on spider burrows is one of the main reasons for the low number of pygmy bluetongues. Any profound ground disturbance (eg ploughing) leaves lizards isolated from their burrows.

Being relatively smail (less than 11cm body length), soft skinned and slow, they are at the mercy of predators such as the brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), and various raptors. They can run, but they cannot hide!

Pygmy bluetongues are only known from sites that are, at least in part, unploughed. Unfortunately unploughed native grasslands in South Australia's Mid-North are rare. To maintain current levels of pygmy bluetongues, it is of vital importance that these grassland remnants are correctly managed. Obviously, preventing cultivation is the primary concern, but the spread of non grassland species in native grassland may also effect its suitabiiity as pygmy biuetongue habitat. It is for this reason that trials are currently being initiated to test the effect of different land use practices (eg grazing levels) on pygmy bluetongues and their grassland habitat.

[Melanie]

www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2014/s4100697.htm

[surroundx]

Interactions between pygmy bluetongue lizards and co-existing species

Abstract

This article describes observations of interactions between endangered pygmy bluetongue lizards (Tiliquaadelaidensis) and other species that co-occur in their native grassland habitat in the mid-north region of South Australia. The lizard lives in spider burrows, and rarely moves away from the burrow entrance. We viewed over 16,000 h of video recording of occupied pygmy bluetongue lizard burrows, taken over five 10-day periods throughout one complete lizard activity season, and documented all cases in which these endangered lizards interacted with co-existing species. We found that these interactions were infrequent. We observed potential competition over burrow resources with lycosid spiders (Lycosaspp), centipedes, and a house mouse, and potential competition over invertebrate prey with a predatory wasp. We also observed unsuccessful predation attempts on lizards in burrows by ravens and brown snakes. We suggest that conservation management might have proceeded effectively without this information, but that it provides useful background information for informed decision making.

Source:

Ebrahimi, Mehregan, Godfrey, Stephanie S., Fenner, Aaron L. and Bull, C. Michael. (2015). Interactions between pygmy bluetongue lizards and co-existing species. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. DOI:10.1080/03721426.2015.1051644 [Abstract]

[surroundx]

Clarke, Sylvia. (2000). Management of the Pygmy Bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis) on private grazing properties, Mid-North SA, pp. 70-72. In: Barlow, Tim and Thorburn, Roberta (eds.). Balancing Conservation and Production in Grassy Landscapes. Proceedings of the Bushcare Grassy Landscapes Conference, 19-21 August 1999, Clare, South Australia. Canberra: Environment Australia.

[surroundx]

Cogger, Hal G., Cameron, E. E., Sadlier, R. A. and Eggler, P. (1993). The action plan for Australian reptiles, Familiy Scincidae. The Director of National Parks and Wildlife Australian Nature Conservation Agency.

[surroundx]

Ebrahimi, Mehregan, Schofield, J. A., and Bull, C. M. (2012). Getting your feet wet: Responses of the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis) to rain induced burrow flooding. Herpetology Notes 5: 297-301.

[surroundx]

Aaron L. Fenner, Stephanie S. Godfrey, C. Michael Bull. (2011). Using social networks to deduce whether residents or dispersers spread parasites in a lizard population. Journal of Animal Ecology 80(4): 835-843.

[surroundx]

Milne, T., Bull, C. M., and Hutchinson, M. N. (2002). Characteristics of litters and juvenile dispersal in the endangered Australian skink Tiliqua adelaidensis. Journal of Herpetology 36(1): 110-112.

[surroundx]

Pettigrew, Melissa and Bull, C. Michael. (2014). Prey capture behaviour by pygmy bluetongue lizards with simulated grazing. New Zealand Journal of Ecology (2014) 38(1): [pagination?].

[Melanie]

Conservationists hope to breed threatened pygmy blue-tongue lizard in captivity in SA

www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-04/pygmy-blue-tongue-lizard-breeding-program/6826110

[surroundx]

Pygmy blue-tongue lizards, once thought extinct, bred in SA's Monarto Zoo

Australia's pygmy blue-tongue lizards are so rare they were once believed to be extinct, but 14 of the little creatures have been born in South Australia.

Monarto Zoo successfully bred the lizards in captivity in what they have hailed a conservation world first.

The babies — about 10 centimetres in length and, contrary to the name, bearing distinctive pink tongues — were born to five different females at the zoo last month.

The lizards have started exploring the burrows in their enclosure, emerging only to feed and bask in the sun.

Zoos SA conservation programs manager Phil Ainsley said the birth of 14 pygmy blue-tongue lizards would help protect the species from extinction.

"Over the last few weeks, the little lizards have become more active, venturing out of their burrows where they have been seen eating crickets," he said.

"The pygmy blue-tongue is one of the rarest reptiles in the country and we need to do everything we can to ensure the survival of this species.

"Zoos SA has been involved in the conservation of this species since its rediscovery back in 1992, so this is an amazing success story and a resounding endorsement for our purpose-built breeding facility that has only been in use for just over 18 months."

The pygmy blue-tongue had not been seen in its natural habitat for more than 30 years, but in 1992 a herpetologist found the body inside the stomach contents of a roadkill snake he was examining.

Nowadays, the little reptile is only found in South Australia's mid-north region between Kapunda and Peterborough.

Source: www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-24/monarto-zoos-pygmy-blue-tongue-lizard-breeding-success/7195136

[surroundx]

Souter, N. J. (2006). Habitat Requirements and Conservation of the Endangered Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard Tiliqua Adelaidensis: Ph. D. Summary. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 130(1): 186.

[surroundx]

www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/wild-journey/2017/02/fishing-for-pygmy-bluetongue-lizards?adbsc=social_20170220_70203046&adbid=10154359964463339&adbpl=fb&adbpr=100614418338

[surroundx]

Derne, Bonnie T. et al. (2018). Parasite in peril? A new species of mite in the genus Ophiomegistus Banks (Parasitiformes: Paramegistidae) on an endangered host, the pygmy bluetongue lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis (Peters) (Squamata: Scincidae). Austral Ecology. doi.org/10.1111/aec.12692 [Abstract]

[koeiyabe]

www.iucnredlist.org/species/21902/101743579

[surroundx]

Extinction threat against pygmy blue-tongue lizard lands Flinders researchers $400k grant

www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-26/pygmy-blue-tongue-lizard-relocation-and-400k-research-grant/11893192