Blue Mountains Water Skink - profile

Indicative distribution

Loading map...

Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Eulamprus leuraensis

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Profile last updated: 04 Mar 2024

Description

A medium sized lizard that weighs up to 10 g. Adults have a maximum total length of approximately 200 mm, with the distance between the nose and anal opening up to about 80 mm. Its body is much darker than that of the other species of Eulamprus found in the Blue Mountains. The back is very dark brown to black with narrow yellow/bronze to white stripes along its length to the beginning of the tail, and continuing along the tail as a series of spots. This gives the appearance of a distinctive dark dorsal stripe bordered by yellow lines. The legs and sides are dark brown to black with yellow to bronze streaks and small blotches. The head is brown to bronze with black flecks and the underside is cream to golden yellow with small dark blotches. The limbs are well developed and each has five toes.

Distribution

Restricted to the middle and upper Blue Mountains west of Sydney, the Blue Mountains Water Skink is known from approximately 70 threatened highland peat swamps extending from the Newnes Plateau in the north-west to just south of Hazelbrook in the south-east. It is possible that additional locations will be identified, and these may lie outside the currently known distribution. Recent genetic work has established that populations on the Newnes Plateau are genetically and morphologically distinct from populations in the Blue Mountains. Each local population is also genetically distinct, even from populations less than 0.5 km away. Dispersal between populations appears to be very rare and appears to involve mostly males.

Habitat and ecology

The Blue Mountains Water Skink occurs at high elevations between 560 m and 1140 m. Genetic research indicates that individual populations are genetically distinct especially between Newnes Plateau and Blue Mountains populations.
It is restricted to an isolated and naturally fragmented habitat of sedge and shrub swamps that have boggy soils and appear to be permanently wet. The vegetation in these swamps typically takes the form of a sedgeland interspersed with shrubs, but may occur as a dense shrub thicket.
The biology and ecology is poorly understood. Dispersal appears to be male biaised, however gene flow between populations is so low that recolonisation after disturbance is likely to be low or non existent.
The Blue Mountains Water Skink is semi-aquatic and is active on warm, sunny days from September until late April.
It feeds on grasshoppers, flies, moths, weevils and wasps. A small fruit with a seed was found in a lizard dropping at Leura.
Females give birth to live young in late December.
When disturbed, this species has been observed to flee to shelter in dense grass tussocks or down holes.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Loss of groundwater resources (including perched swamp aquifers) and reduced water quality from longwall mining.
Inappropriate fire regime (particularly increased fire frequency) caused by bushfire hazard reduction activities and backburning (during wildfire). More intense fire regimes may directly threaten the species and result in incremental, long-term loss of peat, and contraction and degradation of these mire ecosystems.
Climate change effects such as reduced groundwater, increases in fire frequency and intensity, higher temperatures, and more extreme weather events leading to erosion and degradation of habitat.
Disturbance caused by wildfire and bushfire hazard reduction fire management activities such as construction of access tracks and fuel breaks, slashing, mowing and mechanical hazard reduction.
Agricultural activities (including grazing) resulting in loss of habitat and habitat degradation such as reduced water quality, erosion, sedimentation, drainage, nutrient enrichment, pesticide application, and weed invasion.
Clearing and development of land through urbanisation resulting in loss of habitat and/or habitat degradation such as reduced water quality, erosion, sedimentation, nutrient enrichment and weed invasion.
Groundwater extraction (domestic, agricultural, commercial and public water supply bores).
Increased sedimentation caused by construction, maintenance, and lack of maintenance of unsealed roads and tracks.
Increased stormwater runoff and reduced water quality from impermeable road surfaces entering swamp headwaters leading to erosion and habitat degradation.
Establishment or extension of forestry plantations leading to a reduction in available groundwater during early growth stage.
Walking trails and tracks through swamp habitat and unauthorised use of off-road vehicles, including trail bikes.
Weed invasion causing degradation of habitat, including increased shading from invasive shrubs, climbers and pine wildings.
Inappropriate application of pesticides on, or adjacent to, swamps.
Genetic bottleneck (inbreeding) from a restricted distribution, fragmented and isolated habitat, genetic clustering, and restricted gene flow through limited dispersal.
Predation by cats, foxes, and dogs. This threat is assumed, but the impact on skinks is unknown.
Predation by domestic cats and dogs. This threat is assumed, but the impact on skinks is unknown.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Undertake feral cat control programs. Encourage domestic cat owners to keep pets out of habitat.
Install stormwater control mechanisms to prevent off site impacts from adjacent developments.
Reduce urban runoff, sewerage overflows, illegal stormwater connections and groundwater extraction.
Prevent access to swamp habitat by off-road vehicles, bushwalkers or other trampling agents through signage, fencing or re-routing of tracks.
Undertake weed control as required using bush regeneration methods that will not damage the sensitive swamp habitat.
Manage fire trails and unsealed roads to reduce sedimentation impacts.
Survey potential habitat to establish distribution.

Information sources

Keith, D.A. and Benson, D.H. (1988) The natural vegetation of the Katoomba 1:100 000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 2(1): 107-144
LeBreton, M. (1992) Notes on the Blue Mountains Water Skink, Costinisauria leuraensis (Wells and Wellington) (Lacertilia: Scincidae). Sydney Basin Naturalist 1, 101-103.
LeBreton, M. (1996) Habitat and distribution of the Blue Mountains swamp skink (Eulamprus leuraensis). BSc Honours thesis. University of NSW, Australia.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Blue Mountains Water Skink Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS, Hurstville NSW.
Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. (1985) A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology Supplementary Series No. 1, 1-61.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

South Eastern Highlands	Kanangra	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Burragorang	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Known	None

Images

Blue Mountains Water Skink Image 1 of 3.
View slideshow.

Related information

Get involved

Report a sighting

Nature conservation

Threatened species