Publications
S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker
with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce
Refuge area Elizabeth Springs and Edgbaston Springs
Biogeographic region Channel Country and Mitchell Grass Downs
Type of refuge Mound springs
Lat./Long. 23o 21’ S / 140o 35’E and
22o 44’ S / 145o 25’E
Quality of refuge Significant (2)
Area (km2) <100
Chief refuge value
Mound springs containing endemic species.
General description
Neither spring appears to have been well studied, but both are part of the mound springs of the Great Artesian Basin1, and both harbour rare or threatened species. The Elizabeth Springs complex is north of Springvale Station in the west of the State; the Edgbaston spring complex is near Aramac in central Queensland.
ANZECC-listed species
None identified.
Local endemic and relict species
In Elizabeth Springs, the Elizabeth Springs goby Chlamydogobius sp. appears to be endemic2. It is at considered to be at risk.
In Edgbaston Springs, another fish, the red-finned blue-eye Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis, is known only from four springs in the complex. It has recently disappeared from two of the springs2.
The snails of the Queensland springs are notably diverse3.
Other significant species
None identified.
Key threats
Reductions in water tables due to artificial bores; habitat destruction due to trampling by domestic stock; competition from introduced fish Gambusia holbrooki; and perhaps also over-collection2.
Land tenure
Pastoral leases.
Key references
1. Harris (1992)
2. Wager and Jackson (1993)
3. Ponder and Clark (1990), Wilson (1995)
