Publications
S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker
with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce
Area
99,258 km2.
Primary land-use
Aboriginal use, cattle grazing
National Parks and Nature Reserves
None.
Management problems
Rabbit and fox control (Copley et al. 1989; Pearson 1992).
ANZECC-listed species
Mammals: The black-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis (V) is known from the Region but continues to decline (Copley et al. 1989; Eldridge et al. 1992; Pearson 1992).
Plants: Ricinocarpos gloria-medii (V) (Leigh et al. 1984, p. 199).
Species that are regionally endemic
The agamid lizard Ctenophorus rufescens and the skink Lerista speciosa (Cogger 1992).
Solem (1993) noted the presence of an extensive radiation of camaenid land-snails on the rocky ranges throughout the Region. The following species appear endemic: Pleuroxia everardensis (on the Everard Ranges), P. carmeena (Everard Ranges), P. radiata (Mann Ranges), Sinumelon hullanum (only from Lasseter's Cave, Petermann Ranges), S. musgravei (Musgrave Ranges), S. amatensis (Musgrave Ranges), S. pumilio (Everard Ranges), Basedowena cognata (Petermann Ranges and Schwerin Mural Crescent), B. cottoni (Mann Ranges), B. gigantea (Mann Ranges), B. vulgata (Tomkinson Ranges), B. katjawarana (Mann Ranges), B. papulankutjana (Blackstone Range), Minimelon colmani (widespread), Tatemelon musgum (Musgrave Ranges), T. herberti (Musgrave Ranges), T. inexpectatum (Musgrave Ranges), T. everardensis (Everard Ranges), Eximiorhagada asperrima (Mann Ranges), Montanomelon angatjana (Mann Ranges), Semotrachia minuta (Everard Ranges), S. illbilleeana (Everard Ranges), S. basedowi (Musgrave Ranges), S. mannennsis (Mann Ranges), S. discoidea (Musgrave Ranges), S. plana (Musgrave Ranges), Dirutrachia mersa (Musgrave Ranges), and D. ponderi (Everard Ranges).
Relict populations
One population of brushtail possums Trichosurus vulpecula is known from Irving Creek in the Petermann Ranges (Kerle et al. 1992).
Other significant populations
Many birds use the gullies of the ranges, but none of the species appears confined to the Region (Shurcliff 1980).
Wetland sites
No information.
Refugia
Although there is evidence that land-snails have speciated to a considerable extent on the isolated outcrops of the Central Ranges, the lack of clear evidence from other taxa (especially plants) causes us not to list any refugia pending further investigation.
