Indicative distribution
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.
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The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Tympanocryptis mccartneyi
Gazetted date:
11 Feb 2022
Profile last updated:
01 Aug 2024
Description
The Grassland Earless Dragon is a small dragon, with a maximum adult head and body length of around 7 cm, and a maximum overall length of 16 cm. It has three thin white lines running from the neck, along the body and down the tail. These lines divide an irregular pattern of light and dark brown or reddish cross-bands on the back. This patchy pattern gives it very good camouflage in its grassland habitat. This species has no external ear openings. Dragon lizards are characterised by rough spiny body scales and an erect stance, clear of the ground.
Tympanocryptis mccartneyi is part of the T. lineata species complex (which includes T. lineata, T. mccartneyi, T. osbornei, and T. pinguicolla), however differs from both T. lineata and T. osbornei in having enlarged tubercular scales scattered on the thighs and keeled rather than smooth throat scales. This species differs from T. pinguicolla from Victoria in having more acutely pointed dorsal tubercles directed more posteriorly than vertically and keeled rather than smooth gular scales (Melville et al. 2019).
Distribution
Tympanocryptis mccartneyi is endemic to New South Wales (NSW), Australia where it is restricted to the grasslands and open country on the alluvial plains around Bathurst in the Central Tablelands of NSW (Melville et al. 2019). The grasslands occur at altitudes up to approximately 1200 m and are naturally treeless or sparsely treed, with native tussock grasses being the dominant vegetation (Melville et al. 2019).
Habitat and ecology
- Tympanocryptis mccartneyi is a grassland specialist, inhabiting treeless plains and
open grasslands. The species has been found along railway tracks, with weedy
Paspalum grass thickets, and in vacant paddocks with tall pasture grass (Melville et
al. 2019).
- Within its habitat, apparently prefers areas with a more open structure, characterised by small patches of bare ground between the grasses and herbs.
- Little is known about habitat requirements of this species, but other species of
grassland earless dragons have been discovered beneath rocks in either burrows,
rock crevices or depressions
- Burrows excavated by wolf
spiders (Lycosidae sp.) associated with partially embedded surface rocks are of
critical importance to T. mccartneyi. These burrows provide shelter sites for
overwintering, refuge from trampling by livestock and predation and as locations
where eggs can be laid
- Fidelity to these burrows is known to increase
with the onset of winter and the species is reported to be torpid
in winter between May and September
- Like the other grassland earless dragons, Tympanocryptis mccartneyi is likely to be a
sit-and-wait predator, feeding mainly on small invertebrates including ants, beetles,
spiders and moths
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Collection of bush rock and rock-removal for pasture management purposes
- Changed fire regimes that result in changes to vegetation structure and composition and also to invertebrate populations that are the food source for this species.
- Invasion of habitat by weeds or escaped pasture species that degrade habitat.
- Heavy grazing and trampling by stock and rabbits, causing habitat degradation through root damage, prevention of seedling establishment and erosion.
- The reduction of vegetation cover as a result of grazing in grassland habitats is likely
to increase the impact of predators such as feral cats, dogs and foxes
- Anthropogenic climate change impacting habitat quality, population resilience and species recruitment. The relatively low fecundity and
short life span of T. mccartneyi makes local populations vulnerable to the effects of
wildfire, drought and other environmental changes on their habitat.
- Limited knowledge of the species' distribution and population sizes
- Lack of community awareness of where the species could be located, its ecology and critical habitat requirements limiting capacity for species' rediscovery
- Lack of knowledge of the species habitat requirements. The species may not be restricted to open grassland, but also other habitat types including open box woodland, and may persist in degraded and fragmented grassland.
- Lack of knowledge regarding optimal grazing regime to maintain Bathurst grassland earless dragons. Changes in grazing regime (i.e., intensity and frequency) impact the persistence of the species, however standard thresholds are unclear.
- Lack of knowledge of genetics, limiting identification of effective population size and connectivity between past and current records.
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|
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