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
12. Refugia in the Northern Territory (continued)
12.8. Reference number NT8
Refuge area: Dulcie Ranges
Biogeographic region: Burt Plain
Type of refuge: Gorges/mountain ranges
Lat./Long. 22°35’S / 135°45’E
Quality of refuge: Highly significant (4)
Area (km²): <10,000
Chief refuge value
Gorges and associated rocky country providing refuge for rare and relict plants.
General description
Rugged and highly dissected ranges on Arapunya Station with steep gorges containing permanent and semi-permanent waterholes. The gorges provide habitat for a significant suite of plant species1.
ANZECC-listed species
None identified.
Regional endemics
The camaenid land-snails Semotrachia jinkana and S. huckittana occur only in the Dulcie Ranges, mostly in moister micro-environments2. These species belong to a group of taxa that appear to be endemic to rocky hills across inland Australia.
Relict species
Where water is permanent, rare and relict plants occur: Fimbristylis sieberana, Imperata cylindrica (otherwise only known from George Gill Range and Palm Valley), Juncus aridicola, J. continuus, Potamogeton tricarinatus, Samolus eremaeus, and Schoenus falcatus (otherwise only known from George Gill Range), Cucumis mel, Hannafordia bisselli, Helichrysum thomsonii, Phyllanthus aff. simplex, Poranthera triandra, Spartothamnella puberula, Veronia cinerea, Vittadinia hispidula and V. virgata1.
Other significant species
Three species of fish (Leipotherapon unicolor, Melanotaenia splendida, Ambassis agrammus agassizii) have been recorded1.
Key threats
None identified.
Land tenure
Pastoral lease.
Key references
1. Latz and Langford (1983)
2. Solem (1993)