The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve: Final

Table 7: Number of vertebrate fauna species known to occur in JKCR
28
JKCR
Total no. native fauna species known to occur 235
No. species listed as threatened on TSC Act 35
No. species listed as threatened on EPBC Act 13
No. introduced mammals 11
No. introduced birds 2
A total of 139 fauna species were recorded during the BSP surveys. The BSP surveys resulted in the
addition of approximately 1414 records to the Atlas of NSW Wildlife, more than doubling the number of
records for JKCR.
4.2.1 Amphibians
A total of eleven species of frog are known from
JKCR, including one species that is now
considered locally extinct. This overall count is
fairly typical of tableland environments of NSW
and low compared with coastal areas which may
support upward of 25 species of frog.
Unfortunately conditions during the current
surveys were dry and not ideal for surveying this
group, and it is possible that the species count
might increase slightly with additional surveys.
Frogs detected during the current survey were
the: banjo frog, brown-striped frog, spotted grass
frog, common eastern froglet and Verreaux’s
frog. The brown-striped frog is a very common
Leaf-green tree frog. Photo © M. Schulz
species in the region and was found residing in
the artificial water feature opposite the guides’
office; however it was previously unknown from the reserve. This reflects the minimal effort that has
been directed toward this group in the past. All of the above species, aside from the banjo frog, are
habitat generalists and would be expected to occur throughout the reserve where there is surface
water, including disturbed areas such as farm dams.
Six species have been recorded by previous observers but not during the current survey. This can be
explained by the unsuitable conditions for frog detection during the current survey, and most of these
frogs are expected to still be resident within the reserve and not under threat. However, the Bibron’s
Toadlet and stuttering frog are exceptions and their absence should be flagged. Bibron’s toadlet is
only known from old Australian Museum records from Mt Wiburd (dated 1969) and Camp Creek (dated
1979). The lack of sighting of Bibron’s Toadlet during the current survey or by others in recent times
should be noted as this species has undergone a decline in the region. Nonetheless, this decline is
thought to largely be confined to lowland populations and this frog remains common in the nearby
Kanangra-Boyd NP (DECC 2007). Targeted autumn surveys for Bibron’s toadlet under suitable
conditions will clarify its status within the reserve. The stuttering frog, however, has already been the
focus of targeted surveys (in 1999) that failed to detect any sign of the species. This is the only
threatened frog known from JKCR (a single Australian Museum record from 1974) and it appears to
have been lost from the reserve. This is in line with a dramatic decline experienced across the entire
southern portion of its range. Declines in Australian frogs (including the stuttering frog) have been
linked to infection with frog chytrid fungus, which likely occurs in JKCR. For further information on
chytrid fungus, see the threats section 6.
There are some taxonomic issues regarding the frogs at JKCR. Several species of tree frog have
undergone recent splits where new species have been named and may occur in the reserve. For
instance, the stony creek frog (Litoria lesueurii) has been split into a blue-thighed form (which has kept
the name L. lesueurii) and a yellow-thighed form (now called L. wilcoxi), both of which occur in the
Blue Mountains. Neither species was detected during the current surveys, however examination of
previous records revealed that the observers had noted the colour of the thighs in several instances –
all yellow thighed (L. wilcoxii). This is the species that would now be expected in the southern Blue
Mountains and this is the frog that has been listed in the species inventory. Another recent split,
between the leaf-green tree frogs (Litoria phyllochroa and L. nudidigita) is relevant for JKCR, as both
The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve