Indicator Species List

The species in this list have adapted to living in wetlands and are dependent on them for:

• all of their life; or
• a major part of their life; or
• for critical stages of their lifecycle, such as breeding and larval development.

The wetland indicator species list is not a complete list of species dependent upon wetlands. Only the more common wetland species are included. While the list includes species that use a wetland for some of their survival needs, it does not include species that are capable of living outside a wetland ecosystem for extended periods (for example, kangaroos that come in to drink at waterholes). Species that spend most of their life in a marine environment (outside of the areas defined as a wetland in the wetland mapping and classification definition) are not included in the list.

Species, other than those listed, may be accepted as wetland indicator species for a certain locality given expert recommendation and the presence of site specific data. Where such additions are of rare species, then sighting details (location, time, habitat and abundance of the species) and images of the species should be recorded to enable expert verification.

Expert advice is often needed when fauna that are known to be a wetland indicator species is recorded in a non-wetland area. These species may move between wetlands (for example, crayfish, eels, crocodiles and waterfowl), use adjacent habitats for breeding (for example, freshwater turtles) or are forced into less preferred non-wetland environments because of over-population (for example, swamp rats). Expert opinion should be sought to confirm which frogs are suitable indicator species, as some of these animals may live all of their lives outside of wetland habitats. For example, all members of the family Microhylidae lay eggs on the land and are largely terrestrial; they are not considered wetland indicator species.

Surveys of wetland indicator species during or immediately after flooding events (especially long flooding events) are not advised. Wetland animals, especially fish and water birds, may also move out of wetlands and into flooded areas at these times to take advantage of temporarily abundant resources.

Categories:

• Reptile Wetland Indicator Species
• Frog Wetland Indicator Species: Entire Aquatic Life
• Frog Wetland Indicator Species: Partial Aquatic Life
• Frog Wetland Indicator Species: Early Aquatic Life
• Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Shorebirds (Waders)
• Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Terns
• Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Swan, Goose and Duck
• Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Coot, Moorehen, Crake, Heron, Bittern and Egret
• Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Kingfishers
• Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Pelican, Cormorant, Darter and Grebe
• Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Spoonbill, Ibis
• Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Brolga, Stork, Crane
• Mammal Wetland Indicator Species: Terrestrial Mammals
• Mammal Indicator Species: Aquatic Mammals
• Uncategorised

Reptile Wetland Indicator Species

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
reptiles	Crocodylidae	Crocodylus johnstoni	Australian freshwater crocodile	C
reptiles	Crocodylidae	Crocodylus porosus	estuarine crocodile	V
reptiles	Chelidae	Chelodina canni	Cann's longneck turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Chelodina longicollis	eastern snake-necked turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Elseya albagula	southern snapping turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Elseya dentata	northern snapping turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Elseya irwini	Irwin's turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Elseya lavarackorum	Gulf snapping turtle	V	E
reptiles	Chelidae	Elusor macrurus	Mary River turtle	E	E
reptiles	Chelidae	Emydura macquarii emmotti	Emmott's short-neck turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Emydura macquarii krefftii	Krefft's river turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Emydura macquarii macquarii	Murray turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Emydura macquarii nigra	Fraser Island short-neck turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Emydura macquarii signata	Brisbane short-necked turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Emydura subglobosa subglobosa	Jardine River turtle	R
reptiles	Chelidae	Emydura subglobosa worrelli	diamond head turtle	R
reptiles	Chelidae	Emydura tanybaraga	northern yellow-faced turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Macrochelodina expansa	broad-shelled river turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Macrochelodina rugosa	northern snake-necked turtle	C
reptiles	Chelidae	Rheodytes leukops	Fitzroy River turtle	V	V
reptiles	Chelidae	Wollumbinia belli	Bell's turtle	C	V
reptiles	Chelidae	Wollumbinia latisternum	saw-shelled turtle	C
reptiles	Agamidae	Physignathus lesueurii	eastern water dragon	C
reptiles	Varanidae	Varanus mertensi	Mertens' water monitor	C
reptiles	Acrochordidae	Acrochordus arafurae	Arafura file snake	C
reptiles	Acrochordidae	Acrochordus granulatus	little file snake	C
reptiles	Colubridae	Cerberus rynchops	bockadam	C
reptiles	Colubridae	Dendrelaphis calligastra	northern tree snake	C
reptiles	Colubridae	Enhydris polylepis	Macleay's water snake	C
reptiles	Colubridae	Fordonia leucobalia	white-bellied mangrove snake	C
reptiles	Colubridae	Myron richardsonii	Richardson's mangrove snake	C
reptiles	Colubridae	Stegonotus cucullatus	slaty-grey snake	C
reptiles	Colubridae	Stegonotus parvus	slate-brown snake	C
reptiles	Colubridae	Tropidonophis mairii	freshwater snake	C
reptiles	Elapidae	Acalyptophis peronii		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Astrotia stokesii		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Disteira kingii	Spectacled Sea Snake	C
reptiles	Elapidae	Disteira major		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Disteira sp.
reptiles	Elapidae	Emydocephalus annulatus		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Enhydrina schistosa		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hemiaspis signata	black-bellied swamp snake	C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrelaps darwiniensis		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis caerulescens		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis coggeri		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis elegans		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis gracilis		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis mcdowelli		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis melanosoma		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis ornatus		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis pacificus		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis sp.
reptiles	Elapidae	Hydrophis vorisi		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Lapemis curtus		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Laticauda sp.
reptiles	Elapidae	Parahydrophis mertoni		C
reptiles	Elapidae	Pelamis platurus	yellow-bellied sea snake	C

Frog Wetland Indicator Species: Entire Aquatic Life

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC	Eggs in water	Tadpoles in water	Notes
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Limnodynastes convexiusculus	marbled frog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Limnodynastes peronii	striped marshfrog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Crinia deserticola	chirping froglet	C		Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Crinia tinnula	wallum froglet	V		Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Pseudophryne covacevichae	magnificent broodfrog	V	V	N	Y	Seepage
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Taudactylus pleione	Kroombit tinkerfrog	E	V	?	?	Aquatic
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Taudactylus rheophilus	northern tinkerfrog	E	E	Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria dahlii	northern waterfrog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria genimaculata	tapping green eyed frog	R		Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria gracilenta	graceful treefrog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria lorica	little waterfall frog	E	CE	Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria nannotis	waterfall frog	E	E	Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria olongburensis	wallum sedgefrog	V	V	Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria subglandulosa	New England treefrog	V		Y	Y	Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria verreauxii	whistling treefrog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic

Frog Wetland Indicator Species: Partial Aquatic Life

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC	Eggs in water	Tadpoles in water	Notes
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Adelotus brevis	tusked frog	V		Y	Y	Terrestrial/Aquatic
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Crinia remota	northern froglet	C		Y	Y	Aquatic/Terrestrial
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Crinia signifera	clicking froglet	C		Y	Y	Aquatic/Terrestrial
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Pseudophryne coriacea	red backed broodfrog	C		N	Y	Aquatic/Terrestrial
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Taudactylus eungellensis	Eungella dayfrog	E	E	Y	Y	Aquatic/Aquatic fringing
amphibians	Myobatrachidae	Taudactylus liemi	Eungella tinkerfrog	R		Y	Y	Aquatic/Aboreal
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria andiirrmalin	Melville Range treefrog	V		?	Y	Aquatic fringing
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria cooloolensis	Cooloola sedgefrog	R		Y	Y	Aquatic/Terrestrial
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria coplandi	sandstone frog	C		Y	Y	Terrestrial/Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria dentata	bleating treefrog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic/Terrestrial
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria fallax	eastern sedgefrog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic/Terrestrial
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria nasuta	striped rocketfrog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic fringing
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria pearsoniana	cascade treefrog	V		Y	Y	Aquatic / Aquatic fringing
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria revelata	whirring treefrog	R		Y	Y	Terrestrial/Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria rheocola	common mistfrog	E	E	Y	Y	Aquatic fringing
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria tyleri	southern laughing treefrog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic/Terrestrial?
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria wotjulumensis	giant rocketfrog	C		Y	Y	Terrestrial/Aquatic
amphibians	Hylidae	Litoria xanthomera	orange thighed treefrog	C		Y	Y	Aquatic fringing/Aboreal
amphibians	Hylidae	Nyctimystes dayi	Australian lacelid	E	E	Y	Y	Aquatic fringing/Aboreal

Frog Wetland Indicator Species: Early Aquatic Life

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC	Eggs in water	Tadpoles in water	Notes
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Limnodynastes dumerilii	grey bellied pobblebonk	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Limnodynastes salmini	salmon striped frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Limnodynastes tasmaniensis	spotted grassfrog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Limnodynastes terraereginae	scarlet sided pobblebonk	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Neobatrachus aquilonius	rattling frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Neobatrachus centralis	trilling frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Neobatrachus sudelli	meeowing frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Notaden bennettii	holy cross frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Hylidae	Cyclorana australis	northern snapping frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Hylidae	Cyclorana brevipes	superb collared frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Hylidae	Cyclorana cultripes	grassland collared frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Hylidae	Cyclorana manya	little collared frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Hylidae	Cyclorana novaehollandiae	eastern snapping frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Hylidae	Cyclorana platycephala	water holding frog	C		Y	Y	Burrowing
amphibians	Hylidae	Cyclorana verrucosa	rough collared frog	R		Y	Y	Burrowing

Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Shorebirds (Waders)

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
birds	Haematopodidae	Haematopus fuliginosus	sooty oystercatcher	R
birds	Recurvirostridae	Cladorhynchus leucocephalus	banded stilt	C
birds	Recurvirostridae	Recurvirostra novaehollandiae	red-necked avocet	C
birds	Charadriidae	Charadrius bicinctus	double-banded plover	C
birds	Charadriidae	Charadrius leschenaultii	greater sand plover	C
birds	Charadriidae	Charadrius melanops
birds	Charadriidae	Charadrius mongolus	lesser sand plover	C
birds	Charadriidae	Charadrius ruficapillus	red-capped plover	C
birds	Charadriidae	Charadrius veredus	oriental plover	C
birds	Charadriidae	Elseyornis melanops	black-fronted dotterel	C
birds	Charadriidae	Erythrogonys cinctus	red-kneed dotterel	C
birds	Charadriidae	Pluvialis dominicus	American golden plover
birds	Charadriidae	Pluvialis fulva	Pacific golden plover	C
birds	Charadriidae	Pluvialis squatarola	grey plover	C
birds	Jacanidae	Irediparra gallinacea	comb-crested jacana	C
birds	Rostratulidae	Rostratula australis	Australian painted snipe	V	V
birds	Scolopacidae	Actitis hypoleucos	common sandpiper	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Arenaria interpres	ruddy turnstone	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Calidris acuminata	sharp-tailed sandpiper	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Calidris alba	sanderling	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Calidris alpina	dunlin	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Calidris canutus	red knot	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Calidris ferruginea	curlew sandpiper	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Calidris melanotos	pectoral sandpiper	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Calidris ruficollis	red-necked stint	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Calidris tenuirostris	great knot	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Gallinago hardwickii	Latham's snipe	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Limnodromus semipalmatus	Asian dowitcher	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Limosa lapponica	bar-tailed godwit	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Limosa limosa	black-tailed godwit	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Numenius madagascariensis	eastern curlew	R
birds	Scolopacidae	Numenius phaeopus	whimbrel	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Phalaropus lobatus	red-necked phalarope	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Philomachus pugnax	ruff	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Tringa brevipes	grey-tailed tattler	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Tringa flavipes	lesser yellowlegs	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Tringa glareola	wood sandpiper	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Tringa incana	wandering tattler	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Tringa nebularia	common greenshank	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Tringa stagnatilis	marsh sandpiper	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Tringa totanus	common redshank	C
birds	Scolopacidae	Xenus cinereus	terek sandpiper	C

Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Terns

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
birds	Laridae	Chlidonias hybrida	whiskered tern	C
birds	Laridae	Chlidonias leucopterus	white-winged black tern	C
birds	Laridae	Hydroprogne caspia	Caspian tern	C
birds	Laridae	Sternula albifrons	little tern	E
birds	Laridae	Thalasseus bengalensis	lesser crested tern	C

Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Swan, Goose and Duck

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
birds	Anseranatidae	Anseranas semipalmata	magpie goose	C
birds	Anatidae	Anas castanea	chestnut teal	C
birds	Anatidae	Anas gracilis	grey teal	C
birds	Anatidae	Anas platyrhynchos	mallard
birds	Anatidae	Anas rhynchotis	Australasian shoveler	C
birds	Anatidae	Anas superciliosa	Pacific black duck	C
birds	Anatidae	Aythya australis	hardhead	C
birds	Anatidae	Biziura lobata	musk duck	C
birds	Anatidae	Cygnus atratus	black swan	C
birds	Anatidae	Dendrocygna arcuata	wandering whistling-duck	C
birds	Anatidae	Malacorhynchus membranaceus	pink-eared duck	C
birds	Anatidae	Nettapus coromandelianus	cotton pygmy-goose	R
birds	Anatidae	Nettapus pulchellus	green pygmy-goose	C
birds	Anatidae	Oxyura australis	blue-billed duck	C
birds	Anatidae	Stictonetta naevosa	freckled duck	R
birds	Anatidae	Tadorna radjah	radjah shelduck	R
birds	Anatidae	Tadorna tadornoides	Australian shelduck	C

Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Coot, Moorehen, Crake, Heron, Bittern and Egret

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
birds	Ardeidae	Ardea intermedia	intermediate egret	C
birds	Ardeidae	Ardea modesta	great egret	C
birds	Ardeidae	Ardea pacifica	white-necked heron	C
birds	Ardeidae	Ardea sumatrana	great-billed heron	C
birds	Ardeidae	Botaurus poiciloptilus	Australasian bittern	C
birds	Ardeidae	Butorides striata	striated heron	C
birds	Ardeidae	Egretta garzetta	little egret	C
birds	Ardeidae	Egretta picata	pied heron	C
birds	Ardeidae	Egretta sacra	eastern reef egret	C
birds	Ardeidae	Ixobrychus dubius	little bittern	C
birds	Ardeidae	Ixobrychus flavicollis	black bittern	C
birds	Ardeidae	Nycticorax caledonicus	nankeen night heron	C
birds	Rallidae	Amaurornis cinerea	white-browed crake	C
birds	Rallidae	Fulica atra	Eurasian coot	C
birds	Rallidae	Gallinula tenebrosa	dusky moorhen	C
birds	Rallidae	Porzana fluminea	Australian spotted crake	C
birds	Rallidae	Porzana pusilla	Baillon's crake	C
birds	Rallidae	Porzana tabuensis	spotless crake	C

Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Kingfishers

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
birds	Alcedinidae	Ceyx azureus	azure kingfisher	C
birds	Alcedinidae	Ceyx pusilla	little kingfisher	C
birds	Halcyonidae	Todiramphus chloris	collared kingfisher	C

Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Pelican, Cormorant, Darter and Grebe

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
birds	Podicipedidae	Podiceps cristatus	great crested grebe	C
birds	Podicipedidae	Poliocephalus poliocephalus	hoary-headed grebe	C
birds	Podicipedidae	Tachybaptus novaehollandiae	Australasian grebe	C
birds	Anhingidae	Anhinga novaehollandiae	darter	C
birds	Phalacrocoracidae	Microcarbo melanoleucos	little pied cormorant	C
birds	Phalacrocoracidae	Phalacrocorax carbo	great cormorant	C
birds	Phalacrocoracidae	Phalacrocorax sulcirostris	little black cormorant	C
birds	Phalacrocoracidae	Phalacrocorax varius	pied cormorant	C
birds	Pelecanidae	Pelecanus conspicillatus	Australian pelican	C

Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Spoonbill, Ibis

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
birds	Threskiornithidae	Platalea flavipes	yellow-billed spoonbill	C
birds	Threskiornithidae	Platalea regia	royal spoonbill	C

Bird Wetland Indicator Species: Brolga, Stork, Crane

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
birds	Ciconiidae	Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus	black-necked stork	R
birds	Gruidae	Grus antigone	sarus crane	C
birds	Gruidae	Grus rubicunda	brolga	C

Mammal Wetland Indicator Species: Terrestrial Mammals

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
mammals	Ornithorhynchidae	Ornithorhynchus anatinus	platypus	C
mammals	Muridae	Hydromys chrysogaster	water rat	C
mammals	Muridae	Xeromys myoides	false water-rat	V	V

Mammal Indicator Species: Aquatic Mammals

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
mammals	Dugongidae	Dugong dugon	dugong	V
mammals	Delphinidae	Delphinus delphis	common dolphin	C
mammals	Delphinidae	Orcaella heinsohni	Australian snubfin dolphin	R
mammals	Delphinidae	Sousa chinensis	Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin	R
mammals	Delphinidae	Tursiops aduncus	Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin	C

Uncategorised

Class	Family	Scientific name	Common name	NCA	EPBC
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Opisthodon ornatus	ornate burrowing frog	C
amphibians	Limnodynastidae	Opisthodon spenceri	desert burrowing frog	C
amphibians	Ranidae	Hylarana daemeli	Australian woodfrog	C

Note: This list is based on information that has been submitted to the EPA WildNet database and is not exhaustive.

Legend

NCA - Status under the Nature Conservation Act 1992

PE	: Presumed Extinct
E	: Endangered
V	: Vulnerable
NT	: Near Threatened
R	: Rare
C	: Least Concern

EPBC - Status under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

EX	: Extinct
XW	: Extinct in the wild
CE	: Critically Endangered
E	: Endangered
V	: Vulnerable
CD	: Conservation Dependent

Last updated: 19 October 2007