La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary

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Reptiles recorded in the Sanctuary

The La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary is home to over 19 species of reptiles. Most of these are in the Scinicidae or Skink Family. The open woodland of the Sanctuary makes it an ideal area for terrestrial reptiles. The Sanctuary is undertaking a programme to construct 'lizard lounges' to increase the amount of shelter and basking sites. Rocks and logs, used for landscaping and firewood, are often one of the first things taken from natural areas as urban areas expand. It is amazing how quickly that reptiles find newly constructed 'lizard lounges'; often within hours.

Not all reptiles which are recorded for this part of Melbournre reside in the Sanctuary. Those that were recorded before the University was built are marked '(A)'.

Types of reptiles found

SCINICIDAE (Skinks) Eastern Three-lined Skink, Bassiana duperreyi Striped Skink, Ctenotus robustus Cunningham's Skink, Ergernia cunninghami White's Skink, E. whitii Water Skink, Eulampus tympanum Delicate Skink, Lampropholis delicata Garden Skink, L. guichenoti  Bouganville's Skink, Lerista bougainvilii No common name, Pseudemoia duperreyi Southern Grass Skink, P. entrecasteauxii Tussock Skink, P. pagenstecheri Weasel Skink, Saproscincus mustelinus Large Striped Skink, Ctenotus robustus Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard, Tiliqua scincoides Blue-tongued Lizard, T. nigrolutea Bloched	SNAKES Common Copperhead, Austrelaps superbus, Small-eyed snake, Cryptophis nigrescens (A) White-lipped Snake, Drysdalia coronoides (A) Tiger Snake, Notechis scutatus Red-bellied Black Snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus (A) Eastern Brown Snake, Pseudonaja textilis (A) Little Whip Snake, Unechis flagellum
	CHELIDA (Tortoises) Long-necked Tortoise, Chelodina
	PHYLLODACTLUS (Gecko) Marbled Gecko, Phyllodactylus marmoratus
	AGAMIDAE (Dragons) Tree Dragon, Amphibolurus muricatus

Useful references

• Cogger, H.G. (1992) Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia 5th Edition. Angus & Robertson.
• Coventry, A.J. & Robertson, P. (1991) The Snakes of Victoria: A Guide to their Identification.
• Gow, G. (1989) Graeme Gow's Complete Guide to Australian Snakes. Angus & Robertson.
• Jenkins, R. & Bartell, R (1980) A Field Guide to the Reptiles of the Australian High Country. Inkata Press, Melbourne
• Longmore, R. (1986) Atlas of Elapids Snakes of Australia. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
• Wilson, S.K. & Knowles (1988) Australia's Reptiles. Collins.