Juvenile Green Python (Morelia viridis). As an adult this specimen will be lime green with a series of mid-dorsal white dots.

Reptiles & Amphibians

Mr Patrick Couper
Dr Andrew Amey

Section

About 120 species of native frogs and one introduced species of toad (the Cane Toad, Bufo marinus) are known from Queensland. All species are represented in the Museum's reference collection of 20,000 specimens. These collections include specimens that are priceless and irreplaceable stores of knowledge.

Frog species are in serious decline worldwide. In Queensland, serious concern has been expressed about the welfare of 18 species. Missing (?extinct), or missing from some areas, are seven species. Populations of another 11 are declining. For all these species, reference specimens now contain a lot of what we already know and everything we can still learn about them.

The three most venomous snakes in the world - the Western Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus), Common Brown (Pseudonaja textilis) and the Coastal Taipan (O. scutellatus) - occur in Queensland. (For more information about these snakes, see our Queensland Snakes feature.) Less notorious, but no less interesting, are another 400+ species of reptiles found here. Nearly all are represented in the research collection of some 36,000 specimens. Research by curators concentrates on sea turtles and on those species that are potentially dangerous, rare and threatened or confined to rainforests, or the arid zone.

Our current work

• Genera of skinks of Australia and its island territories: diverity, distribution and and identification (P.J. Couper, J.A. Covacevich, A.P. Amey & A. Baker)
• Frogs and reptiles of the interface between two tropical biogeographic zones: collection, distribution and conservation in the Annan and Endeavour River catchments (J.A. Covacevich, P.J. Couper & A.P. Amey)
• Type specimens of frogs and reptiles: update 2001 (P.J. Couper, A. Amey & J.A. Covacevich); Type localities for reptiles described from Queensland (J.A. Covacevich, P.J. Couper & A.P. Amey)
• Reptiles of the MacPherson Range, SEQ (J.A. Covacevich & P.J. Couper)
• Resolution of the status of the Phyllurus `caudiannulatus' outlier (P.J. Couper, C. Hoskin, J.A. Covacevich & B Hamley)
• Description of Ctenotus sp. nov. (P.J. Couper, A. Kutt & A.P. Amey)
• On-going reviews of the status of reptile species classed `rare & threatened' (J.A. Covacevich, P.J. Couper & A.P. Amey)
• `Rare and threatened reptile species of the Southern Brigalow Belt' (J.A. Covacevich, P.J. Couper & A.P. Amey), a World Wildlife Fund for Nature project

Significance

Museum collections are basic to all good identifications. They are fundamental to studies aimed at preserving herpetological(and all other) biodiversity. Specimens held in museums also provide the tangible evidence of species' distributions. From these, evidence is derived which can influence decisions about habitat protection, conservation status of species and ecological and management study priorities. Our research collection is like a library. Specimens of frogs and reptiles (herptiles) are the equivalent of books, stored, like-with-like, near related books. The collection is also like a library in the sense that it contains a wealth of information, readily available to anyone who wants to access it. All research in the section is oriented towards the description and documentation of Queensland's herpetological diversity. This work is key to our ideal of conserving our frog and reptile species in the face of continuing threats to their survival, primarily from habitat destruction.

Guide to the collections

1. 'Preserves of nature: an argument for museum collections' (Wildlife Australia, 1999, 36(2): 12-18 by J.A. Covacevich & P.J. Couper) summarizes the history and value of the Queensland Museum's herpetological collection. It also answers the important question. 'Value for money?' and elaborates on how the collections play a significant role in 'Saving human lives'.
2. Type lists:
   Covacevich, J. 1971. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 16: 49-67.
   Ingram, G. & Covacevich, J. 1981. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 20: 291-306.
   Covacevich, J.A. & Couper P.J. 1994. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 37(1): 53-65.
3. Anyone who wants to examine specimens or obtain specialist advice from the Reptiles and Amphibians Section, is welcome to do so by contacting the curatorial staff.

FAQ

Q: I've seen this snake - very slim, dark brown / green, with a bright yellow throat. It's very fast. What is it? Is it dangerous?
A: Identification from a phone description is always difficult. No one, not even a herpetological taxonomist, can be certain of an identification unless he / she can see the snake. However, your description fits that of a Green Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis punctulatus) very well. If it is a Green Tree Snake, it is harmless. This is a species which lacks venom / fangs. It has fine, solid teeth and feeds on small lizards and frogs.

Q: What is the most dangerous snake in Australia?
A: Without doubt, it is the Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus). This species grows to just over 3 m and can inject a big dose of very potent venom. Its venom (primarily neurotoxic, but also coagulant and myotoxic) is the third most toxic snake venom known. The Coastal Taipan occurs in NW WA, northern NT and in Queensland across Cape York Peninsula and along the east coast to the Grafton area, northern NSW. Prior to the development of antivenom, only one person is known to have survived a bite by a Coastal Taipan.

Q: My garden pond is alive with little black tadpoles. Are they Cane Toads or native frogs? What should I do? I do not want more Cane Toads here.
A: If they're small, plain and very black and 'busy' in the pond, they're Cane Toads. Native frog tadpoles can be dark grey / brown and blotched. Some grow quite large and they're not usually as active as Cane Toad tadpoles. The best way to kill these and help to reduce the population of Cane Toads in your garden, is to scoop the tadpoles out of your pond. They will die quickly, once removed from water.

Q: I've just begun to use a pile of sand I have had in my garden for most of August - September and I have disturbed what looks like about 20 eggs about 2cm long. What are they? What should I do to protect them? How long till they hatch?
A: The eggs fit the description of those of a Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata). The location of the nest is also consistent with that of a Bearded Dragon. Bearded Dragon eggs take about 60 days to hatch. The incubation period varies with the temperature. Heat reduces the period. Cool, overcast conditions will mean an incubation period of up to 66 days. There is no way of knowing how long ago the eggs were laid and how much longer it will be till they hatch. You have two choices. Leave the sand alone until after the baby dragons have emerged and moved into and beyond your garden. The second option is to carefully shift the eggs and an appropriate amount of sand into a bucket and allow them to hatch there. If you do this, handle the eggs as little as possible and try to preserve their original orientation. This can be important, depending on when they were deposited.

Q: I love frogs and I want more around me in my garden. How can I best encourage them?
A: Concern about declines of frog populations and a misconception that all frogs are `disappearing' has led many people to try to encourage frogs into their gardens. Often, Cane Toads are blamed for local frog extinctions. However, although Cane Toads may have some impact on native frogs, undoubtedly the main cause of frog declines in the suburbs is loss of suitable habitat and many preferred breeding sites have been drained for mosquito control or to make way for housing. Adopting a `frog-friendly' approach to gardening can create habitat in which local, native frogs can live and breed. While this can be a worthwhile exercise, it must be done carefully to ensure that Cane Toads are not advantaged and to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Most frogs require water in which the adults can breed, tadpoles can develop; and moist places for the young to grow. By creating suitable habitats in a garden, thriving populations of frogs and other wildlife can be encouraged.

In all but the most degraded and polluted urban habitats, there are populations of frogs. These will colonise any `new' area if it is suitable. If the `right' environment is created, nothing will keep them out. If the environment is `wrong', nothing will keep them in!

You can find out more about how to create a frog-friendly garden in our frog feature.