TNC - Fauna

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biodiversity - fauna

The Tarkine Wilderness has an astonishing variety of animal species and sub-species. Slater (1992) identified 267 animal species, of which 193 are vertebrates and 74 invertebrates. The vertebrates include 122 bird species, 27 mammal species, 11 reptile species, 8 amphibian species, and 25 species of fish (13 freshwater and 12 marine).

The invertebrate figures almost entirely neglect insects for which there is a paucity of data. A recent review of insect genera recorded 47 in the Savage River National Park and Regional Reserve - an area representing less than 10% of the total area of the Tarkine Wilderness and almost wholly one particular type of ecosystem (Parks and Wildlife Service 2001).

Twenty-seven species of terrestrial fauna located in the Tarkine Wilderness have been identified as in some way threatened. The area has experienced little permanent human development and settlement. From a conservation perspective its integrity and size makes the Tarkine Wilderness an ideal refuge for threatened species of fauna.

Type	Latin Name	Common Name	Status*

Mammal	Dasyurus maculatus maculatus	Spotted-tailed Quoll	Vulnerable (A)
	Perameles gunnii	Eastern Barred Bandicoot	Vulnerable (A)
	Mastacomys fuscus fuscus	Broad-toothed Rat	Endangered (T)
Bird	Aquila audax fleayi	Tas. Wedge-tailed Eagle	Endangered (A)
	Accipter novehollandiae	Grey Goshawk	Rare (T)
	Diomedea epomophora	Southern Royal Albatross	Vulnerable (A)
	Diomedea exulans	Wandering Albatross	Endangered (T)
	Lathamus discolor	Swift Parrot	Endangered (A)
	Macronectes giganteus	Southern Giant Petrel	Endangered (A)
	Macronectes halli	Northern Giant Petrel	Vulnerable (A)
	Neophema chrysogaster	Orange-bellied Parrot	Endangered (A/T)
	Thinornis rubricollis	Hooded Plover	Vulnerable (A)
Invertebrate	Beddomeia angulata	Freshwater Snail	Rare (T)
	Phrantela annamurrayae	Freshwater Snail	Rare (T)
Amphibian	Littoria raniformis	Southern Bell Frog	Vulnerable (T)
Crustacean	Astacopsis gouldi	Giant Freshwater Crayfish	Vulnerable (A/T)

Threatened Animal Species (*A = Australian status, T = Tasmanian Status)

Bass Strait separates Tasmania from mainland Australia, but a number of bird species seasonally migrate between both islands. These include the Blue-winged and Orange-bellied Parrots (Neophema chrysostoma and N. chrysogaster), and the Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor). The first is uncommon, while the other parrots are endangered and breed only in Tasmania. Their habitat is critical for their continued survival in the wild.

A subspecies of the Wedge-tailed Eagle (found in relative abundance on mainland Australia), the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax fleayi), is the largest eagle in the world. Its estimated population is some 80-100 breeding pairs.

The Giant Freshwater Crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi), or Tayatea as it is known by its Aboriginal name, is the largest freshwater crustacean in the world. It can grow to one metre (3'3"), in length and is believed to live for up to 40 years. Its existence is highly dependent on undisturbed old-growth forest adjacent to its riverine habitat. Its optimum habitat is deep shaded water clear of siltation and sediment, with a suitable water temperature.

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biodiversity - fauna

Type

Latin Name

Common Name

Status*

Mammal

Bird

Invertebrate

Amphibian

Crustacean