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Publications

Refugia for Biological Diversity in Arid and Semi-arid Australia

Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 4
Biodiversity Unit

S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker
with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce


10.6. Reference Number WA6

Refuge area Smaller islands of Shark Bay

Biogeographic region Carnarvon

Type of refuge Islands

Lat./Long. 26o 31' S / 113o 39' E; 26o 32' S /
113o 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)

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