Significant Fauna

In the NAR, 58 birds are protected under the Environmental, Protection, Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act).

Key data stored on Australian rare flora and fauna database (SPRAT database) indicate that 18 birds are under threat, one is listed as Critically Endangered, four Endangered and five listed Vulnerable under the EPBC Act. 18 birds are listed as Schedule 1 under the WC Act.

The majority of the marine and coastal birds are protected, within the NAR 38 birds are protected under an international agreement for migratory birds which provides them with special protection under the WC Act, listed under Schedule 3 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice. These species, as well as a number of nationally-listed migratory species, are listed under International Conventions including: Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA), China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA), and Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention).

Three birds species are protected under the WC Act category of other specifically protected fauna and listed under schedule 4 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice.

Within the NAR 14 birds are also protected under the Department of Parks and Wildlife, three bird species are listed as Priority 2, one as Priority 3 and 11 birds listed as Priority 4.

Freshwater fish species have been recorded within the NAR’s river systems including the Murchison, Hutt, Greenough, Irwin and Chapman Rivers.

Check out Fisheries fish distribution website to see what fish have been collected in your local rivers.

There five native fish species that are not considered to be under threat have been recorded in the region including the Murchison River Hardyhead (recorded in the Greenough, Hutt and Murchison River), the Swan River Goby (recorded in the Irwin and Chapman River), the Southern Black Bream (recorded in the Irwin and Chapman River), the Flat Head Mullet (recorded in the Irwin and Chapman River), the Yellowtail Trumpter and the Golden Gudgeon. Three native fish species which are consider to be under threat have been recorded in the NAR including Western Mud Minnow (Listed Threatened under the WC Act) and Balston’s Pygmy Perch (Listed Threatened under the EPBC Act).

Three introduced freshwater fish species have been recorded in the NAR including the Mosquito Fish, Swordtail and Tilapia.

In the NAR approximately 17 species of invertebrates are under threat including spiders, crickets, crustaceans and moths. One invertebrate species are listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC, the Shielded-back Trapdoor Spider.

The graceful sun moth (Synemon gratiosa) was delisted from the EPBC Act in 2009, however it is now included in a
non-legislative category of P4 (near threatened) on the Western Australian Priority Fauna List.

The NAR hosts a total of 15 mammals which are considered requiring a level of protection. Eight of these mammals are listed Endangered or vulnerable under the EPBC Act including, the Woylie (Brush-tailed Bettong), the Chuditch (Western Quoll), the Bilby, the Dibbler, the Black-flanked Rock Wallaby, the Brush-tailed Phascogale, the Southern Brushtailed Phascogate and the Heath Mouse. The remainder of mammals under threat hold a Department of Parks and Wildlife Status.

Reptiles

In the NAR, a total of 13 reptiles are considered requiring a level of protection. Six reptiles are listed as Endangered and Vulnerable under the EPBC Act including the Lancelin Island Ctenotus, Gilled Slender Blue-tongue Skink, Western Spiny-tailed Skink and Western Swamp Tortoise.

Frogs

In the NAR three species of native tree frogs and 19 species of native southern frogs have been recorded (DSEWPaC, 2011).