Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 87(3), September 2004 
wsi 
WS2 
WS3 
WS4 
WS5 
WS6 
-WS10 
- WS8 
I-1-1-1-1-1—i-1-1—i-1—i-1-1—i—|-1—i—i-1—| 
1.00 0.75 0.50 0.25 0.00 
Bray-Curtis 
Figure 2. Similarity of lizard assemblages for the eight major sampling sites on the Abydos Plain during the period March 1988 to 
October 1990. 
nocturnally, although Pseudonaja spp. and Demansia 
psammophis were seen during the day and Aspidites 
melanocephalus was seen shortly after sunrise. 
Amphibians were only captured after summer rain 
and were most abundant in sites near permanent 
watercourses, like WSI, and seasonal drainage lines, like 
WS2. Frogs were also excluded from assessment of 
assemblages in the major sampling sites of the study area 
(Fig 2). 
Habitat Associations 
Although 72 species of herpetofauna are known from 
the Abydos/Woodstock area, variation was apparent in 
the number of species caught in the eight major sampling 
sites with the number of species ranging from 19 to 30 
(Table 2). 
An analysis of the lizard assemblages from the eight 
major sampling sites, using the Bray-Curtis index of 
dissimilarity on abundance data from Table 2 showed 
that marked differences occurred between habitats (Fig 
2). The deeper loams and litter associated with the 
fringing woodlands of Coorong Creek (WSI) has a 
distinctive lizard assemblage, as did the habitat adjacent 
to a rocky breakaway (WS8). The six remaining habitats 
sampled on the deeper sands of the Abydos plain had 
assemblages that had similarity of 50% or greater. 
Eight lizard species were captured only on subsidiary 
sites, however, the majority of the 41 lizard species 
captured on the major sampling sites were also captured 
on subsidiary sites and these captures provide important 
complementary assessments of habitat preferences in 
certain species. Lizards that showed strong preference 
for rocky habitats and were infrequently captured on 
sandy substrates included Ctenophorns caudicinctus, 
Gehyra punctata, G. pilbara, Heteronotia spelea, 
Cryptoblcpharus plagiocephalus, Ctenotus saxatiJis, Egernia 
formosa, £. dcpressa, Varanus acanthurus and V. pilbarensis. 
Species that were generally captured on the extensive 
sandy loams included Ctcnophorus isokpis, Diplodactylus 
conspicillatus , D. stenodactylus, Nephrurus levis, 
Rhynchoedura ornata, Lialis burtonis, Ctenotus duricola , C. 
grandis, C. Helenas, C. pantherinus, C. serventyi, Egernia 
striata, Lerista bipes, Morethia ruficauda, Varanus brevicauda 
and V. eremius. Smaller litter-frequenting lizards such as 
Heteronotia binoei, Carlia rnunda, Lerista muelleri, Menetia 
greyii and Proablepharus regime were captured where litter 
accumulated in depth adjacent to watercourses or under 
larger shrubs. The arboreal species Lophognathus 
longirostris, Pogona minor, Gehyra variegata and Varanus 
tristis were caught at sites where shrubs or short trees 
predominated. 
Effects of Fire on Lizards 
Fire initiated by lightning strikes burnt three of the 
major sampling sites during January 1990. This occurred 
two years after the survey commenced and the effects of 
the fire were followed through for nine months over 
three sampling periods afterwards (Table 4). 
The capture of lizard species and individuals from the 
three major sites that were burnt (WS2, WS3, WS4) and 
three relatively similar [c. 50% similar. Fig 2] sites that 
90 
