The Grassland Earless Dragon was once widespread throughout western Victoria, NSW and the ACT
Grassland Earless Dragon populations declined dramatically and threatened with extinction.
The native Grassland Earless Dragon was declared an endangered species in the ACT in 1996 and has special protection status. It is listed as vulnerable internationally, endangered nationally and in NSW.
Was presented un ACT. But In 2019, the ACT region’s Grassland Earless Dragon was formally recognised as a distinct species there also.
The Grassland Earless Dragon is a small lizard found at higher altitudes and in cooler regions than any other earless dragon. It is usually less than 150 millimetres long and weighs 5–9 grams.
Approximately 99.5% of Natural Temperate Grassland in Australia has been destroyed or drastically altered since European settlement.
The major threats to the Grassland Earless Dragon are:
- -loss and fragmentation of habitat through clearing of native grasslands for urban, industrial and infrastructure development and for agricultural purposes
- -modification and degradation of native grassland habitat, particularly through weed invasion,
- -cultivation and pasture improvement, overgrazing or close mowing, excessive vegetation biomass, wildfire or inappropriate fire regimes, and predation by domestic, wild and native animals
- -major ecological disturbances to grassland habitat such as widespread (unplanned) fire, drought and climate change.
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Mitigating threats -manage the species and its habitat to maintain the potential for evolutionary development in the wild, particularly through mowing or grazing, removal of weeds, patch burning and creation of a diverse habitat structure (ACT)
Mitigating threats –enhance the long-term viability of populations through management of adjacent grassland to increase habitat area and connect populations. Provide offset areas, with management plans, for areas subject to urban development. (ACT,NSW)
Mitigating threats – continue extensive survey, monitoring and research. Collaborate with research institutions and non-government organisations and encourage citizen science and volunteers. (ACT,NSW)
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