Publications
S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker
with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce
Refuge area North-west islands from Exmouth to Karratha
Biogeographic region Carnarvon
Type of refuge Islands
Lat./Long. 21o 41' S / 114o 19' E to
20o 54' S / 116o 02' E
Quality of refuge Highly significant (4)
Area (km2) <1,000
Chief refuge value Refuge for endemic and threatened mammals and reptiles. Isolated from land use changes and feral animals present on adjacent mainland.
General description
Chain of dozens of islands extending from tip of North-West Cape in the south to near Karratha in the north. Larger islands are the Muiron (21o 40' S / 114o 23' E), Thevenard (21o 28' S / 114o 60' E) and Airlie (21o 20' S / 115o 10' E) Islands.
ANZECC-listed species
Airlie Island ctenotus Ctenotus angusticeps (Airlie Island) (V); rookeries for green turtles Chelonia mydas (V), loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta (E), and small numbers of hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata (V) on Muiron Islands.
Regional endemics
Airlie Island ctenotus Ctenotus angusticeps ; Thevenard Island mouse Leggadina lakedownensis (an isolated form2).
Relict species
None identified.
Other significant species
Rattus tunneyi on Weld Island (21o 23' S / 115o 33' E)5. A few flatback turtles Chelonia depressa nest on Thevenard Island3.
Key threats
Feral animals, house mice, oil-field development, tourism and resort development.
Land tenure
At least some islands are Nature Reserves (e.g. Thevenard). Status of other islands not recorded.
Key references
1. Cogger et al. (1993)
2. Morton (1983)
3. Lee (in press)
4. Prince (pers. comm.)
5. Burbidge (1989)
