Wetland Fauna

Brixton Street Wetlands contain a rich diversity of fauna including invertebrates, such as dragonflies and aquatic beetles, waterbirds, fish and frogs. Reptiles such as snakes and lizards are commonly found in upland vegetation adjacent to wetlands, as are the southern brown bandicoot. This diverse vertebrate fauna depends on different aspects of the vegetation and surface water to provide essential resources for shelter, food and breeding. Many of the species (especially birds) are present seasonally. There are approximately 66 terrestrial vertebrates in the vegetation associated with the wetlands.

Native Mammals

The Quenda (Isoodon obesulus) is recorded from the Wetlands. The Quenda is:

– relatively abundant, nocturnal
– requires dense vegetation for shelter and nest material
– daytime shelter nests are built under dense shrubbery
– move seasonally, occupy low seasonally inundated areas in summer and move to
– higher ground in winter when these areas are inundated
– can move considerable distances from nest sites (in Lesmurdie, males can move up to 800 metres per night, females up to 295 metres per night)
– are an endangered species because of habitat reduction

No other native mammals, apart from bats, are known to be present in the Reserve.

Birds

41 species are known from the Reserve. Features of the species expected to be found at the site are:

– most are non­resident and would occupy the area seasonally
­- majority of the species are:
(a)  insectivorous and would feed in the air above the vegetation (birds of prey, swallow, martins)
(b)  insectivorous/nectivorous and feed from  the vegetation
(c)  waterbirds

In addition, a number of other waterbirds and wading birds are likely to use the Reserve seasonally for feeding. Other species of migratory birds (such as cuckoos), birds of prey (such as songlarks) and species present on other parts of the coastal plain (such as honeyeaters) are likely to periodically visit the Reserve.

Frogs (5 species)

All of the frogs that are know to occur are winter/spring breeders that occupy temporary water.The Moaning Frog and Banjo Frog would be expected to aestivate in the Marri Woodland in summer.
– Ranidella insignifera, a common tiny frog  that breeds in winter ponds is common in the Reserve.
– Crawling Frog (Pseudophryne guentheri) lays  eggs on the damp margins of the water and lives under fatten vegetation when not active.
– Banjo Frog (Linmodynastes dorsalis) lays its eggs in a floating mass attached to vegetation. This frog  can move long distances from water.
– Moaning Frog (Heleioporus eyrei) breeds in burrows in damp sand around the margins of the wetland and occupies  dry land when feeding.
– Quacking Frogs (Crinia georgiana).  This frog  is relatively common in the eastern part  of Yule Brook Reserve but is uncommon in Brixton Street Wetlands.  It breeds in the shallow margins
of the wetland.

Gecko (1 species)

Spiny-­tailed Gecko (Diplodactylus spinigerus) is known from Yule Brook reserve.  It is an arboreal gecko that is easily destroyed  by fire.

Legless Lizards (5 species)

A high diversity.  This group is characteristically well represented in lowland sites. Pletholax gracilis,  Aprasia pulchella, A. repens, Lialis burionis  and Delma grayii are all known from Yule Brook.  It is likely that fires  have impacted severely on these species.

Dragons (2 species)

Tympanocryptis adelaidensis and Pogona minor (Western Bearded Dragon) are both known from  Yule Brook and would have been present in Brixton Street Wetlands  before the fires.

Skink Lizards

Eight species are known from  Yule Brook and probably also occur in Brixton Street Wetlands. The species are: Striped Stinks Ctenotus fallens, C.  lesueurii, Fence Skink Cryptoblepharus
plagiocephalus. Swamp Skink  Bassiana trilneaia, Lerista elegans; Menetia greyii, Morethia obscura and the Bobtail Tiliqua rugosa.

Goannas (2 species)

Rosenberg’s Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi) and Gould’s Goanna (V. gouldii) are both present.

Snake (1 species)

The Dugite (Psevdonaja affinis) is the only snake recorded in the Brixton Street Wetlands.