Grassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) - endangered species listing (formerly called south-eastern lined earless dragon (Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla)

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act has made a Final Determination to list Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla Mitchell 1948, the South-eastern Lined Earless Dragon as an ENDANGERED SPECIES on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act. The listing of endangered species is provided for by Section 10 of the Act. Any submissions received following advertisement of the Preliminary Determination have been considered by the Scientific Committee.

This Determination has been superseded by the 2022 Final Determinations for Tympanocryptis mccartneyi [see below] and Tympanocryptis osbornei [see below].

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act has made a Final Determination to list Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla Mitchell 1948, the South-eastern Lined Earless Dragon as an ENDANGERED SPECIES on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act. The listing of endangered species is provided for by Section 10 of the Act.

Any submissions received following advertisement of the Preliminary Determination have been considered by the Scientific Committee.

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla Mitchell, 1948, the South-eastern Lined Earless Dragon, has been recorded from the basalt-plains north and west of Melbourne and from the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the A.C.T.

2. Its habitat is naturally treeless grasslands on black clay, brown clay loams and podzolic soils. It appears to prefer grasslands of Themeda, Danthonia and Stipa spp. that have not been grazed or are only lightly grazed.

3. There is evidence for a substantial decline in the geographic range. There are no records of the species from any conservation reserve in NSW.

4. Threats to the survival of the species include habitat clearing, rock removal, irrigation, changed fire regimes and weed invasion.

5. In view of 3 and 4 the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla is in danger of extinction in nature in NSW.

Dr C Dickman
Chairperson
Scientific Committee

Gazetted: 15/11/96