EIGHT THREATENED MAMMALS OF TOMALPIN
Yellow-bellied
Glider - Petaurus australis -
schedule 2 Vulnerable. Being an opportunistic feeder, this
larger glider of Tomalpin is not as reliant on flowering trees as the
Squirrel or Sugar gliders. He lives mainly on the exudents of plants and
insects. His characteristic "V"- shaped incision marks for sap-feeding
have been found in Grey gums on the upper slopes of Mt Tomalpin and in
the forest, as well as in Forest Red gums on the southern side of the
Tomalpin Industrial Zone (HEZ).
1999 - An individual was heard calling within the dry forest south of Tomalpin Hill.
2000 - One individual was recorded at this location. Near the southern boundary of the site.
2002 - Several individuals were heard within the riparian vegetation along a creek line south of Weston. An individual was heard calling within the dry forest south of Tomalpin Hill.
2000 - One individual was recorded near the southern boundary of the site.
2002 - Several individuals were heard within the riparian vegetation along a creek line south of Weston.
2005 - A group of 8 or so was heard during Spotlight walks in September.
Squirrel
Glider - Petaurus norfolcensis - schedule 2 Vulnerable.
This beautiful glider is a very social and active mammal of the Tomalpin
forests. He favours the nectar of Banksia and Acacias species, as well
as the blossom of Spotted gum and Red Bloodwoods.
1993 - An individual animal was recorded in the Pelaw Main area.
2001 - recordings at the base of Mt Tomalpin to the northeast of the hill crest near Hebburn 2 Colliery.
Koala
- Phascolarctos cinereus - Sch 2 Vuln 15/9/00.
Koalas have been recorded on 3 separate occasions south of Weston. The
sightings caused much excitement in the region. The Koala is a foliovore,
feeding primarily on the leaves of specific Eucalypts, with the preferred
species varying from region to region. In Tomalpin, suitable trees would
be Grey gum and Forest Redgum.
Common Bent-wing Bat - Miniopterus schreibersii - schedule 2 Vulnerable. Large or Common Bent-wood bats feed on moths, mosquitoes, cockroaches, grasshoppers and ants in the Tomalpin woods. Foraging usually takes place above the canopy. These bats roost in caves, under rocky over-hangs or dark places in old mining buildings etc.
1998 - A foraging individual was recorded on the ultrasonic detectors over the swamp in the central east of the study area.
16/1/01 - Recorded on an ultrasonic detector, north north-east of Tomalpin Hill.
5/6/01 - Recorded on an ultrasonic detector near Abermain No. 2 Colliery, in the south- west corner of the study area.
Little Bent-wing Bat - Miniopterus australis - schedule 2 Vulnerable. Little Bent-wings share roosts with their larger relatives, the Common Bent-wings. They tend to forage more in the middle strata zone - under the canopy but above the shrub zone. .
2001 - Identified with an ultrasonic detector near Abermain No. 2 Colliery, in the south-west corner of the HEZ.
East Coast Freetail Bat - Mormopterus norfolkensis - schedule 2 Vulnerable. Open-forest bushland of mixed Eucalypt us seems to be the preferred habitat of the Freetail Bat. Red Bloodwood/Angophora with open bodies such as Hebburn Dam make Tomalpin suitable for this bat. Unlike the Bent-wings, it prefers to roost in the hollows or under the bark of mature eucalypts. It forages in open habitats, above the canopy and along water courses. Eats beetles, leaf hoppers and weavils.
Tentatively identified from an ultrasonic detector recording near Abermain No. 2 Colliery, in the south-west corner of the HEZ.
Eastern False Pipistrelle - Falsistrellis tasmaniensis - schedule 2 Vulnerable.
This
bat is thought to prefer habitat of large Eucalyptus trees with hollows
for roosting. Moths, beetles, chafers, weavils, flies and ants make up
its diet. A fast flier, but not as maneuoverable as other bats.
1998 - Foraging individuals of this species were recorded on the static bat detectors within the lowland (riparian) dry forest habitats along Swamp Creek in the central west of the site.
1998 - Calls of this species were recorded on the detectors within the woodland/ heath habitats near the Tomalpin Hill area
1998 - The detectors also recorded the foraging movements of this species through the woodland habitats of the central east of the site.
Greater Broad-nosed Bat - Scoteanax rueppellii - schedule 2 Vulnerable. The Greater Broad-nosed bat likes to forage along tree-lined creeks in a broad range of forest types. Prefers large emergent trees, including dead trees with hollows for roosting. Eats moths, beetles and other slow-flying insects. Has been known to eat smaller bats. It has a direct-flight pattern and is suited to open forest and grassy cleared areas of Tomalpin.
1998 - Calls of this species were detected over the swamp in the central east of the HEZ area.
FROGS
Green-thighed Frog - schedule 2 Vulnerable.
This small frog was recently discovered in the Tomalpin Industrial Site. Not a great deal is known about distribution of this frog. It's been recorded in South-east Queensland and Northern NSW and possibly occurs South as far as Sydney.