Disjunct population of spinifex-obligate reptiles revealed in a newly described vegetation community near Broken Hill, far-western New South Wales

Recent biodiversity surveys of the Barrier Ranges in far western New South Wales resulted inthe discovery of an undescribed vegetation community dominated by spinifex grass growing onrocky ranges. Reptile surveys within this vegetation community revealed the presence of threereptile species not known to, or predicted to occur in the Broken Hill Complex Bioregion.These were the Spinifex Snake-lizard Delma butleri, Marble-headed Snake-lizard Delmaaustralis and Southern Spinifex Slender Blue-tongue Cyclodomorphus melanops elongatus. Theconservation value of these populations is regarded as regionally significant. All three specieswere detected by hand-searches of the spinifex grass highlighting the need to use experiencedherpetologists when conducting reptile surveys in complex microhabitats. Their presence in thestudy area on a rocky substrate provides additional information on their habitat requirementsin New South Wales.