Four-toed Mulch Skink - Hemiergis peronii peronii

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Four-toed Mulch Skink - Hemiergis peronii peronii

Each autumn I slash walking tracks around my property, which often leaves a heap of cut vegetation to one side, thereby providing very good cover for frogs and small lizards. Whilst looking for a particular frog in a moist spot under this vegetation, I came across this little guy. It was very cooperative and just sat on my hand whilst I got my camera out, but quickly disappeared once I returned it to the slashed material.

This Mulch Skink grows to around 200 mm total length (8"), so the one in the photo is a juvenile and will probably become lighter in color when it matures. The four toes can be clearly seen and separates it from the similar looking Five-toed Mulch Skink, which also occurs in the Esperance region. They both have the spotted flanks that is a feature of these species.

Red-legged Ctenotus - Ctenotus labillardieri

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Red-legged Ctenotus - Ctenotus labillardieri

I was quietly sitting on this granite outcrop, when this skink popped out from under a rock to see what I was doing. Apparently rocky outcrops are its preferred habitat. You can see in the photos above why they call it red-legged and that feature separates it from other skinks, although its markings can vary considerably. Another consistent feature of this lizard is the continuos line separating the back from the flanks. It grows to around 8 inches (200 mm) in length.

Reptiles - An Overview

Markings and coloration of reptiles can vary considerably and these visual features can at times be misleading. So please bear that in mind (particularly with skinks) when trying to identify them. I have noted the most consistent features of each photographed species, so rely on these rather than overall appearance. Habitat type is also usually important, so try to take that into consideration too.

Some reptiles can be very difficult to find as they live amongst leaf litter and seldom venture out to be seen. These need to be either trapped or raked out and in my opinion this would interfere with other flora and fauna, so I do not do it. Instead I rely on accidental encounters, but naturally this has severe limitations and many species are missed altogether.

The reptiles in the Esperance region are faring (with a few exceptions) reasonably well. However I suggest without feral cats and foxes they would be better, even if the reptiles that fall victim to them were ignored. The problem as I see it is the lack of suitable habitat where these animals can hide and overwinter, this exposes several species, particularly the larger lizards, to higher predation. The lack of retreat habitat I believe, also interferes with population levels of species not targeted by cats and foxes, such as the larger snakes.

So what has changed over the last 100 years to cause this habitat scarcity. Well for one, many reptiles would have had less need to find a safe retreat, as the then native predators would not have been so relentless. The reptiles would have been able to be more active without falling prey to these numerous, determined and persistent introduced predators.

Also of concern is the loss of suitable reptile and bird habitat to other introduced animals like the feral honeybee. Introduced bees are a serious problem for native species that require hollows in order to live and reproduce. These hollows exist on granite and limestone outcrops, in trees including grasstrees and burrows dug by other animals. Any current occupiers are evicted and the hollow taken over by the bees. Once this takeover occurs the hollow is rarely available for native species again, so another scarce retreat or nesting site is permanently lost to native species.

Probably of greatest concern is the drastic reduction of newly created habitat that reptiles can use. These were made largely by the mammals that have been lost or greatly reduced by cat and fox predation. Mammals such as the Bush Rat is a good example. These rats build extensive burrows that are ideal for the larger reptiles to use and overwinter. Although bush rats still survive in the area, their numbers are relatively small and are kept that way because of the predation by these introduced predators. Even when the now locally extinct mammals did not dig burrows, they did other things like restricting weedy growth, ate insect pests and generally scratched around that in turn encouraged regrowth of certain species, which then encouraged greater flora and fauna diversity for the prey of reptiles to eat and prosper. So the environmental conditions have changed, which means not only less habitat for reptiles, but also less food for them to eat. This results in smaller and more vulnerable animal populations all round.

Below is a list of retiles that I have not encountered or photographed. It must be borne in mind that I regard the Esperance region, as between 150 and 200 km radius of Esperance, so a very large area with many habitats and consequently the possibility of sheltering a very wide range of reptiles that are not necessarily spread throughout the district. Most of these are relatively small animals that can also easily remain hidden. Most of the common names are quite descriptive, so if you have seen a reptile that does not match the photos in the blog, check out the common name features to narrow the search.

Crenadactylus ocellatus ocellatus - Clawless Gecko.
Diplodactylus granariensis granariensis - Western Stone Gecko.
Underwoodisaurus milii - Barking Gecko.

Aprasia repens - Sand-plain Worm-lizard.
Aprasia striolata - Striated Worm-lizard (seen in coastal alkaline regions).

Delma australis - Marble-faced Delma (Legless Lizard).
Liatis burtonis - Burton's Legless Lizard.

Cryptoblepharus virgatus clarus - Cream-striped Fence Skink.

Ctenotus catenifer - Chain-striped Heath Cenotus (Skink).
Ctenotus impar - Odd-striped Ctenotus (Skink).
Ctenotus schomburgkii - Barred Wedge-snout Ctenotus (Skink).

Egernia napoleonis - Southwestern Crevice Skink.
Egernia multiscutata - Bull-headed Skink.
Egernia richardi - Woodland Crevice Skink.

Hemiergis initialis initialis - Southern Five-toed Mulch Skink.

Lerista dorsalis - Southern Four-toed Lerista (Sandswimming Skink).
Lerista microtis intermedia - South Coast Five-toed Lerista (Sandswimming Skink).
Lerista microtis microtis - Southwestern Five-toed Lerista (Sandswimming Skink).

Menetia greyii - Common Dwarf Skink.

Morethia butleri - Woodland Dark-flecked Morethia (Flecked Skink).
Morethia obscura - Shrubland Pale-flecked Morethia (Flecked Skink).

Amphibolurus norrisi - Mallee Lashtail Dragon.
Ctenophorus maculatus griseus - Wheatbelt Spotted Sand Dragon.
Ctenophorus ornatus - Ornate Crevice Dragon.
Ctenophorus salinarum - Saltpan Ground Dragon.
Rankinia adelaidensis chapmani - Eastern Heath Dragon.

Ramphotyphlops australis - Southern Blind Snake.
Ramphotyphlops bicolor - Dark-spined Blind Snake.
Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus - Prong-snouted Blind Snake.

Acanthophis antarcticus - Southern Death Adder.

Drysdalia mastersii - Master's Snake.

Parasuta nigriceps - Black-backed Hooded Snake.
Parasuta spectabilis bushi - Esperance Hooded Snake (confined to the Scaddan area).

Rhinoplocephalus bicolor - Square-nosed Snake.

Marbled Gecko - Christinus marmoratus

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Marbled Gecko - Christinus marmoratus

A common gecko in the Esperance region and often found in and around human habitation, although any crack or small hole elsewhere will suffice. A very good climber, scaling vertical glass and polished surfaces with ease, particularly while hunting moths attracted to a light. Like most geckos they will also eat soft-bodied insects and spiders.

Growing between 4-5 inches (140 mm total length), they are very agile and can be found in sheltered positions at anytime of the year, although more commonly in warmer weather. The body color varies from a dark marbled brown to an almost transparent pale pink. Some males also have red bars on the tail although not all do, and only those with an original undamaged tail. These small soft-bodied lizards commonly drop their tails to escape predators and the regrown ones usually have a noticeable junction between the original and the new tail, the latter often with a different pattern or color.
 
For further details see: http://natureitems.blogspot.com/2007/01/17-esperance-geckos-one-agile-one-not.html

Soft Spiny-tailed Gecko - Strophurus spinigerus inornatus

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Soft Spiny-tailed Gecko - Strophurus spinigerus inornatus

A small lizard with very attractive gold speckled and orange rimmed eyes, and is the only species in the Esperance region with two rows of black (soft) spines either side of the tail. Between 4-5 inches (130 mm in total length), it is commonly found on or near the ground, although it will also climb into shrubs or sedge/grass tussocks. It seldom enters houses, preferring to remain outside, sheltering under bark or in small hollows. Not as common as the Marbled Gecko, although usually only seen at night during spring and early summer.

I have never seen this gecko species without a tail although they are capable of dropping it if required. In self-defence they prefer to squirt a sticky, quick drying fluid from glands within the tail, but will only do so in dire emergencies. For more details see: http://natureitems.blogspot.com/2007/01/17-esperance-geckos-one-agile-one-not.html

King's Skink - Egernia kingii

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King's Skink - Egernia kingii

The largest skink in the Esperance region, growing to well over half a metre in length and unlike the other two large skinks (Shingleback and Western Blue-tongue), these guys are very fast moving and even where common you can miss seeing any, although you will hear their noisy retreat as they disappear into dense vegetation. Yet these are rare in the Esperance region, although common elsewhere like the offshore islands and rocky outcrops further to the west. Again I put this scarcity down to predation from cats and foxes, plus limited habitat suitable for their retreat. The latter is most important as these large lizards are very sociable and will stay together as family units for several years, much of which is spent around the home site.

This large lizard can be mistaken for a goanna if only seen for a fleeting moment, but the speedy retreat, shorter legs and lower level that the head is held will easily distinguish it. Like the other large skinks it has a wide ranging diet, eating vegetation, invertebrates, small vertebrates and even carrion. The King's Skinks I have seen in the Esperance area were all heavily mottled with lighter spots on a darker background, but in other areas that coloration is restricted to young animals and the adults can be very dark with no mottling.

For more information about the sociable nature of these lizards see here:

http://natureitems.blogspot.com/search/label/39.%20%20King%27s%20Skink

Western Blue-tongue Lizard - Tiliqua occipitalis

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Western Blue-tongue Lizard - Tiliqua occipitalis

Of similar size to the Shingleback Lizard, but nowhere as common in the Esperance region and mainly found on or around granite outcrops. This is strange because a similar lizard in the eastern States is quite common, even within built up areas. I strongly suspect the fox and feral cats are to blame along with limited habitat for them to safely retreat.

When confronted these blue-tongued skinks really put on a show by standing their ground and flattening their bodies to make them look bigger, plus hiss and open their substantially wide mouths to show their flashing blue tongue. However this is all bluff and only effective if they spot the predator before they pounce. I would think these lizards would be more palatable than the more common and related shingleback lizard and would be liable to higher predation.

The Western Blue-tongue Lizard is not likely to be confused with any other lizard along the south coast of WA. The combination of a flat blue tongue, large size, plus several pale/dark bands around the body are unmistakable. They are very adaptable as to what they eat and will consume almost anything that will fit into their cavernous mouths; this includes flowers, fruit, invertebrates and small vertebrates. They have very strong jaws, so keep fingers away from their mouths as they can easily crush snail shells. For more information about this lizard and comparison with the eastern species, go here:

http://natureitems.blogspot.com/search/label/34.%20%20Western%20Blue-tongued%20Lizard

Shingleback Lizard - Tiliqua rugosa

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Shingleback Lizard - Tiliqua rugosa

These lizards are actually skinks, and there are three large skinks in the Esperance region with the Shingleback being by far the most common. Known over much of southern Australia, the Shingleback is called by several names, of which Stumpy-tail and Bobtail are also commonly used.

Growing to around 16" (over 400 mm in total length), with a large head and a thick scaly back, it can look quite scary, but when it suddenly lifts its head, with a big mouth agape, hissing loudly and showing a broad blue tongue, it is. But they are relatively harmless with a great show of bluff. However, they have very strong jaws that can damage fingers.

Despite being very slow their appearance has obviously deterred predators like cats and foxes. They must smell a little as dogs can locate them with ease, plus they might not taste too good either. However in autumn when food for foxes is scarce, these lizards are attacked and the lower portions of some are eaten. Nevertheless, they are still very common in the district, evidenced by the numbers that are killed annually on the roads when slowly crossing. It makes me wonder how long it can continue without serious loss.

Socially these are very interesting animals and if you want to find out more, go here:

http://natureitems.blogspot.com/search/label/10.%20%20Stumpy-tail%20Lizard

Dwarf Bearded Dragon - Pogona minor

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Dwarf Bearded Dragon - Pogona minor

Often seen in spring and early summer atop elevated positions in order to sunbake and overlook their territory to spot potential mates or competitors. They grow to a little over 15" (380 mm overall length) and if approached slowly and quietly, will often remain motionless, hoping you can't see them due to their camouflage. But make a sudden movement and they will disappear in a flash, being very quick off the mark and able to rapidly sprint for cover.

The female dwarf bearded dragon is often found digging an extensive hole during the Christmas/New Year period, in order to lay her eggs that are covered with sand when finished. These lizards will eat a wide range of items from vertebrates and invertebrates to foliage, fruit and flowers, so they rarely go hungry.

To id this dragon lizard from others (as several have similar markings and coloration), note the single line of spines running down its flanks, other dragons either have two or more rows, or none at all. For more information about this lizard see:

http://natureitems.blogspot.com/search/label/35.%20%20Western%20Bearded%20Dragon

Western Crowned Snake - Elapognathus coronatus

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Western Crowned Snake - Elapognathus coronatus

A common snake (less than 2' 6" or 690 mm), so slightly smaller than the Bardick Snake and not so stocky. Coloration is often similar to the Bardick, although more an olive grey to olive brown, but could be confused with it unless the head region is slighted. This is quite distinctive being a bluish grey with a broad dark band across the neck that extends around through the eye to the snout. This dark band is underlined by a prominent white one in the area of the mouth.

The Western Crowned Snake is active throughout the day and for most of the year, providing it is not overly hot or cold and are commonly seen sunbaking on flattened sedge/grass or sandy patches. Often they freeze and can be approached, but a sudden movement will send them madly squirming (but making little progress) into nearby vegetation. They hunt frogs around swampy areas and small lizards on higher ground. But they too are hunted by cats who take quite a number, not so much for food (although sometimes they will eat the lower body and tail section), but to play with and when finished, kill them by a bite to their head or neck.

The venom of crown snakes is not known to be dangerous to people, plus they are most unlikely to bite as they are not aggressive and just want to get away. So please let them do so.

Bardick - Echiopsis curta

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Bardick - Echiopsis curta

Very rare in the Eastern States, but reasonably common around Esperance and most active during spring, early summer and if summer rain, during summer and autumn too, although being nocturnal it is not commonly seen. It occasionally comes out on overcast days or in the morning or evening, but night time is its normal period of activity. It is a small stocky snake (to 2' 6" or 710 mm) with a broad head and often showing a raised keel along its back. Commonly grey to rufous brown and sometimes with small darker flecks. Around the mouth and neck there are often noticeable white scales.

It is usually found motionless and waiting in ambush to catch frogs and lizards, although will take any unweary passing vertebrate. If not harassed it will remain immobile for an hour or more and seems to have a particular prey in mind by positioning itself where its potential prey visits on a regular basis. However, if interfered with, it has a ferocious temper and can be very aggressive, striking repeatedly. Although venomous and known to cause unpleasant symptoms if bitten, it is not regarded as deadly and unless you go out of your way to harass this snake, you are very unlikely to be bitten. Like all snakes, treat them with respect and let them get on with their business, because they are not interested in attacking you, but will do so in self-defence.

Dugite - Pseudonaja affinis

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Dugite - Pseudonaja affinis

The largest venomous snake in the Esperance region, growing to 2 metres in length. As the frog eating tiger snake is most common around low-lying swampy areas, the Dugite is more frequently found in elevated sandy areas in search of their favourite prey, ie small mammals. The larger snakes check out the bush rat burrows and will over-winter in them too, the smaller ones are very keen on the introduce house mice and are often attracted to human habitation because of them. Dugites have long slender bodies and a similar diameter head; this allows them to get down the smallest of rodent holes.

Dugites like most snakes will eat other vertebrates like frogs and lizards, but mammals are their speciality. These snakes belong to the Brown Snake Group, many of which are highly venomous and should not be interfered with as they account for over 50% of Australia's snakebite fatalities. However, I have always found the Dugites to be very shy and not at all aggressive, but they are extremely fast and very likely to get a bite in if attacked or handled, so for your own good, leave them alone to go about their business and they will not bother you.

The local color form is a golden to a dark brown with scattered black flecks over the body. I also found one mature animal with a dark chocolate head, but most are as described. In other areas, the coloration can be dark brown to black, with or without darker flecks. Easiest way to identify the Dugite is by the long sleek body and smallish head, plus being very fast with relatively little sideway movement. Around Esperance it is mainly active during the day and is commonly seen during spring and early summer.

Tiger Snake - Notechis scutatus

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Tiger Snake - Notechis scutatus

The most common snake in the region, probably because it is primarily a frog hunter and with all the ephemeral swamps in the district, frogs are usually plentiful. However they will also readily take birds, lizards and small mammals given the opportunity. They will commonly hunt during the day, or at night during summer/autumn when frogs are not so common. Another trick of theirs is they climb trees, particularly the 6-10 metre tall Coastal Paperbark, Melaleuca cuticularis, which they often do in spring in search of birds nests and any fledglings they may contain.

They grow to around 4' 6" (1.4 metres) in length and locally have similar consistent markings, that being a very dark back with an orange to yellow belly, with numerous similar colored bands around the body. However completely black snakes without bands, or with incomplete bands, can be found elsewhere, as can lighter colored tiger snakes but these usually have the body bands.

Tiger Snakes are highly venomous and can become aggressive if provoked (note the flatten neck in one of the photos), so they should be left alone. I have found if you treat these and other snakes with respect and do not threaten or attempt to harm them, then they are very accommodating to you and are not aggressive, even when suddenly happened upon, they simply get out of your way. Australia in a land of reptiles and we should learn to live with them as they are more than prepared to accept our intrusions into their world.

For further details about this snake go here:

http://natureitems.blogspot.com/search/label/05.%20%20Tiger%20Snake

Frogs - An Overview

I have found frogs to be one of the most frustrating of animals to identify and it has taken several years to come to terms with my local species. One of the greatest difficulties is with the huge variation of color and markings that a single species can attain. In most instances here, I have provided several photographs of individual frogs of the same species to illustrate the variations and have also tried to include very young frogs for comparison. However, the variations shown do not represent all varieties that can be easily found, so please read the text carefully and compare with frogs in the links provided, as identification can be a great deal more complicated and confusing than you would think from initial observation.

The easiest method to identify frogs is by their call, which are quite distinctive and many froggy people will just go on these to work out the frogs in a particular area. However, to do this you need a very good ear and a musical memory to recognise the calls of specific species and not be confused with other frog calls. Sounds easy until you try and from my experiences not something quickly mastered. I would suggest you memorise one call at a time until you can recognise it instantly, then move onto the call of another species in your area.

The frogs in the Esperance district do not seem to be affected by the chytrid fungus that is decimating frog species around the globe, although I suspect they are appearing more often in the diet of foxes, particularly during autumn/winter when other foods are less available. There is very little permanent water in the local sandy soils; instead there are many small ephemeral swamps that fill after good rain, then to slowly drain away through the sand that overlie a clay substrate. If it remains dry, or if the rain is insufficient and the swamps dry too quickly, then the frogs cannot successfully breed or their tadpoles survive, so this climatic aspect coupled with fox predation, can swing frog numbers from being numerous to being far less so.

Dingo - Canis familiaris dingo

The dingo is one of the so-called primitive dogs that only breed once a year, whereas domestic dogs breed twice a year. It was introduced to Australia several thousand years ago, there being very good fossil evidence dating to 3000 years, but other fossils would indicate a much longer occupation. Very much favoured by aborigines as a hunting dog for kangaroos, making their capture a much easier process. It is likely that the dingo drove the mainland Australian marsupial dog the Thylacine and the Tasmanian Devil to extinction, as both disappeared from mainland Australia during this period.

Introduced animals usually after causing an initial upset to local ecosystems, can develop a niche for themselves and become part of the ecosystem. This is however dependant on the animal and its requirements, either taking a relatively short time or perhaps never and totally destroying the ecosystem and eventually itself. The dingo it can be said, has adapted reasonably well and except for sheep and other medium sized domestic stock would probably fit in today. It may even be an advantage having them around as it is known that they hunt the introduced cat and fox, and by them reducing the predatory pressure on the highly endangered small animals, many could possibly make a come back.

Around the Esperance region the dingo is definitely outlawed and vigorously hunted down by full-time government paid doggers. So the few that do make it as far south as Esperance and start to worry sheep are soon shoot or baited. I have seen the footprints of dingos in mallee country to the north and northeast of Esperance and have seen animals on and around the Nullarbor, so they are definitely around and could recolonise if permitted, but as long as sheep farming continues in this region, I cannot see this happening.


For photographs and further information go here: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_8278_ENA_HTML.htm

Mitchell's Hopping-mouse - Notomys mitchelli

I have only seen one of these native mice, and that was in the mallee (its preferred habitat) not far from Mt Ridley (approximately 70 km NNE of Esperance). A lucky sighting as I caught it in my headlights when returning home late one evening along a bush track, however its appearance and method of locomotion were unmistakable. As can be imagined I was not only surprised, but delighted to have see it.

It is considerably larger than a house mouse and with a much longer tail, but nearly half the size of the introduced black rat. It commonly stands on its haunches like a miniature kangaroo and has a fast low hopping gait. It eats seeds, insects and herbaceous vegetation. Home is several deep burrows often well separated from each other and shared by related individuals. A photograph can be viewed here: http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/mitclive.htm

Mammals - An Overview

Australia's indigenous mammals without doubt have been the most severely impacted of all wildlife by European settlement and the predators they introduced. There are more locally extinct mammal species in the Esperance area, than the total number that survive today. The animals between the size of a rat and a small kangaroo have been the worst affected, becoming victims largely of the introduced fox. They were too large to effectively hide from them, but too small to move away.

According to old time locals, the fox arrived in the Esperance region along with the rabbit around or during the First World War. Up until that time the local native fauna had been reasonably intact, but those listed below have since become locally extinct, with some now only surviving on a few WA islands:

Marsupials
Brush-tailed Bettong - Bettongia penicillata (Australian Museum Records)
Burrowing Bettong - Bettongia lesueur (Australian Museum Records)
Banded Hare-wallaby - Lagostrophus fasciatus (Australian Museum Records)
Black-footed Rock-wallaby - Petrogale lateralis (Now only on south coast islands)
Tammar Wallaby - Macropus eugenii (from local knowledge)
Western Quoll - Dasyurus geoffroii (Australian Museum records)
Dibber - Parantechinus apicalis (Bones collected from cave, id by WA Museum)
Numbat - Myrmecobius fasciatus (Australian Museum Records)
Western Barred Bandicoot - Perameles bougainville (Australian Museum Records)
Bilby - Macrotis lagotis (Australian Museum Records)
Common Ringtailed Possum - Pseudocheirus peregrinus (Recorded by Eyre at Mt. Ragged)

Placental Mammals
Heath Rat - Pseudomys shortridgei (Bones collected from cave, id by WA Museum)

Above are twelve indigenous mammal species that have gone locally extinct within the past 100 years. Predation by the fox is very likely the main cause, particularly of the larger species, but cats have also, and still do take a dreadful toll on the wildlife. Other contributing factors include land clearing, although large areas of bush still remain intact. Also inappropriate land management, ie the change from aboriginal fire management whereby a mosaic patchwork of burnt and unburnt vegetation is created that is required by many of the above animals. The aboriginal mosaic burns would have also reduced the frequency of large destructive wildfires, yet another destructive influence.

So a very poor environmental record for the Esperance and for that matter, the entire South Coast and hinterland region, which from my observations is not improving. However, relatively small areas that are being baited for foxes are reducing predator numbers and resulting in increased populations of native species. From my experience with fox baiting, it is a very short-term solution as their numbers are quickly replaced, so baiting must be regarded as an annual activity, not to be relaxed for a single season. A drawback though to fox eradication, is it permits cat numbers to increase, as they are much harder to bait and readily fill any predator gaps. These two predators to some degree tend to avoid each other, maybe this is due to competition for similar prey, or perhaps the fox targets the cat's kittens.

A major problem local mammal species have is suitable habitat in which to safely hide from these introduced predators. With the exception of the granite outcrops there are few environments with fallen logs and tree hollows to offer a retreat, as most trees in this district are small trunked and don't form sizeable hollows. The mallee further inland does have larger trees and some even have suitable hollows, but this environment is disadvantaged by the lack of regenerating fires that are so important for regeneration of small herbaceous flora, which in turn attract insects.

Suitable coastal limestone outcrops where animals can seek shelter are also limited by being few in number and small in size. So unless the animals can dig a deep hole, or find one of the few hollows in limestone or granite outcrops (currently not occupied by feral honey bees), they must nest on the ground to be eventually discovered by the numerous fox and cat predators.

I have not investigated marine mammals so offer no opinion regarding their welfare; the same applies to the microbats (Fruit-bats do not occur in southern WA). There are also several small mammals recorded for the district that I have not mentioned. These like the bats need to be trapped in order to locate and positively identify them, and as I am a private individual I lack the authority or the equipment to do so, so will not comment on them either. Even the small mammals I have encountered were more often a stroke of luck than any intention on my part. So unless you actually live in the area where these nocturnal animals occur, you are most unlikely to encounter them.

These small mammals are as follows:
MarsupialsCommon Dunnart - Sminthopsis murina
Fat-tailed Dunnart - Sminthopsis crassicaudata

Placental Mammals
Ash-grey Mouse - Pseudomys albocinerces
The non-native and feral placental mammals in this region I have personally encountered are as follows:

Black Rat - Rattus rattus (Common in suitable habitat, but generally sparse in bush areas).
House Mouse - Mus musculus (Common).
Rabbit - Oryctolagus cuniculus (Sparse in bush areas, preferring vegetated locations abutting cleared farming zones, but probably kept in check by feral cats and foxes).
Fox - Vulpes vulpes (Very common).
Feral Cats - Felis catus (Common).
Wild Horses - Equus caballus (Scattered small groups along coastal alkaline dunes west of Cape le Grand and around the mallee granite outcrops to the north and west of Mt. Ragged).
One-humped Camel - Camelus dromedarius (Scattered small groups in open mallee areas to the North and NW of Mt. Ragged).
Goats - Capra hircus (Not seen in the Esperance region, but common in the Goldfields).

Short-beaked Echidna - Tachyglossus aculeatus

I have not seen this egg-laying monotreme in either the coastal alkaline or heathland zones around Esperance, although I have heard of a few that have been introduced from other areas. I can see no reason why this absence should be, as I have seen them in sandy heaths in Victoria where they were very common. However, in this region I have only seen them in the inland mallee, particularly around granite outcrops where their diggings for ants and termites are often extensive. For photos and other Echidna details see here:http://www.faunanet.gov.au/wos/factfile.cfm?Fact_ID=296

Western Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus concinnus

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Western Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus concinnus

In the Esperance region I have only seen two of these delightful little marsupials; one was near some exposed limestone in the coastal alkaline sand area 20 km east of Esperance. And the other was way past Israelite Bay where the Nullarbor Plain's limestone cliffs come down to the beach, it had been caught and killed by a feral cat. I have not seen them in the honey possum heathland habitat where I do most of my night-time investigations, although there is considerable evidence that the mallee region could be good habitat for them.

Although called the Western Pygmy Possum, it is found across a number of southern regions in South Australia and into the far western portions of NSW and Victoria. It is a beautiful little animal about the size of an introduced mouse, but with big eyes, forward pointing ears and a long prehensile tail. It feeds on nectar, pollen, grubs and some insects and usually makes a gum-leaf nest in hollows. It is larger and its snout is not as long as the Honey Possum, plus it does not have the brown stripes down the back, so should not be confused with that species, although it may be found in a similar Banksia dominated habitat. Further details can be found here:

http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10154

Update 27/11/2009 (Photos added)
I had virtually given up hope of seeing another of these delightful possums, but completely out of the blue I received an email from Anne and Shane O'Neill of Esperance that they had caught a Pygmy-possum and would I like to see it. Apparently it had been disturbed when their gas bottles were being changed over, but being a little sleepy during the day, was slow and so easily picked up and placed in a shoe box for safe care, as its nest could not be located.

When I arrived later in the day, the lid was slowly removed to reveal a very sleepy juvenile Western Pygmy-possum. As it was not active I helped it onto my hand where it remained while we took a few photos (shown above) when it was returned to the box. Later at dusk it was released on the trunk of a large Red-flowering Gum near to where it was found and true to form, promptly disappeared.

My thanks to Anne and Shane for permitting me to photograph their cute little possum.