Refugia for biological diversity in arid and semi-arid Australia
Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 4
S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker, with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce
Biodiversity Unit
Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, 1995
10. Refugia in Western Australia (continued)
10.6. Reference number WA6
Refuge area: Smaller islands of Shark Bay
Biogeographic region: Carnarvon
Type of refuge: Islands
Lat./Long. 26°31’S / 113°39’E; 26°32’S / 113°46’E
Quality of refuge: Highly significant (4)
Area (km²): <100
Chief refuge value
Isolated islands free of introduced predators and land-use changes.
General description
Small islands of 160 ha (Salutation) and 19 ha (Baudin).
ANZECC-listed species
Mammals: Greater stick-nest rat Leporillus conditor (E) reintroduced to Salutation Island in July 19904, 5.
Reptiles: Baudin Island Spiny-tailed skink Egernia stokesii aethiops (V) (Baudin Island).
Regional endemics
Baudin Island Spiny-tailed skink Egernia stokesii aethiops (Baudin Island).
Relict species
Egernia kingii (confined to Three Bays Island in Freycinet Estuary), 200 km north of nearest mainland population5.
Other significant species
Breeding and roosting areas for many birds, both seabirds and terrestrial species5.
Key threats
Introduced species, particularly predators. House mice are present on some islands. Increased competition from other reptiles and/or accelerating weathering from climatic change may threaten the skinks on Baudin Island3.
Land tenure
Both Baudin and Salutation Islands are Nature Reserves.
Key references
1. Storr and Harold (1990)
2. Maxted (1990/1991)
3. Cogger et al. (1993)
4. Copley (1994)
5. Morris et al. (1991/2)