Reptiles of the NSW Murray catchment : a guide to their identification, ecology, and conservation

This is an easy-to-use field guide to identifying the 80 reptile species currently known to occur in the Murray catchment area of New South Wales.Illustrated with high quality color photographs, the book describes the key distinguishing features of each reptile and includes details on habitats and conservation status. Uniquely, it has a detailed chapter on how to conserve reptiles and manage key habitats, providing landholders and natural resource agencies with the knowledge to help conserve reptiles in agricultural farming landscapes. The up-to-date distribution maps are based on 10 years of extensive surveys and research on reptiles in the Murray catchment. The final chapter includes a section on similar looking species to further enable readers to accurately and quickly identify difficult species.Reptiles of the NSW Murray Catchment promotes a broad appreciation of reptiles in the region, and is a must-have for natural history enthusiasts.Key features• A complete account of all reptile species known to occur in the Murray catchment• New information on how to identify each species, where they occur in the Murray catchment and what habitats they use• Up-to-date distribution maps for each species Cover ......Page 1 Contents......Page 4 Preface......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 7 1 Australia – the land of reptiles......Page 8 Australia’s remarkable reptile diversity......Page 9 Reptile facts and myths......Page 10 Scope of the book......Page 11 Reptiles in the food chain......Page 14 Reptiles in human medical research......Page 15 Threats to reptiles......Page 16 Management themes and actions......Page 18 4 The NSW Murray catchment......Page 28 Reptiles in the Murray catchment......Page 29 Vegetation types of the NSW Murray catchment: from the mountains tothe mallee......Page 32 Definitions......Page 40 Side-necked freshwater turtles – Family Cheluidae......Page 44 Geckos – Family Gekkonidae......Page 52 Legless lizards – Family Pygopodidae......Page 72 Goannas/Monitors – Family Varanidae......Page 82 Dragons – Family Agamidae......Page 90 Skinks – Family Scincidae......Page 102 Blind snakes – Family Typhlopidae......Page 180 Pythons – Family Pythonidae......Page 190 Venomous land snakes – Family Elapidae 187......Page 194 Ctenotus species (fast-moving ‘striped skinks’)......Page 222 Liopholis species (medium-sized, smooth-bodied skinks)......Page 223 Eulamprus species (medium-bodied water skinks)......Page 224 Pseudemoia species (High Country skinks)......Page 225 Appendix 1 Reptiles of the Murray catchment and their associatedvegetation types......Page 228 Appendix 2 Common and scientific names of other animals and plantsmentioned......Page 232 Reptile studies in the Murray catchment......Page 237 Bibliography and further reading......Page 239 Index – scientific names......Page 242 Index – common names......Page 244 This is an easy to use field guide for identifying the 80 reptile species currently known to occur in the Murray catchment area of New South Wales. Illustrated with high quality colour photographs, the book describes the key distinguishing features of each reptile and includes details on habitats and conservation status. Uniquely, it has a detailed chapter on how to conserve reptiles and manage key habitats, providing landholders and natural resource agencies with the knowledge to help conserve reptiles in agricultural farming landscapes. The up-to-date distribution maps are based on 10 years of extensive surveys and research on reptiles in the Murray catchment. The final chapter includes a section on similar looking species to further enable readers to accurately and quickly identify difficult species. Reptiles of the NSW Murray Catchment promotes a broad appreciation of reptiles in the region, and is a must-have for natural history enthusiasts. "This is an easy to use field guide for identifying the 80 reptile species currently known to occur in the Murray catchment area of NSW. Illustrated with high quality photographs, the book describes the key distinguishing features of each reptile and includes details on habitats and conservation status." BOOK JACKET