Mount Cooper Striped Skink
Lerista vittata
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Vulnerable
Listed since: 26/03/2008
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Critically Endangered
Listed since: 15/06/2017
Population trend: Decreasing
Other names: Mount Cooper Striped Lerista
Priority species? No
The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derived from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.
Description
The Mount Cooper Striped Lerista is endemic to Queensland, occurring only in a small area around Mt Cooper Station, near Charters Towers. The Mount Cooper Striped Lerista is known to inhabit low closed forest and woodlands with vine thickets, on soft sandy soils where it burrows into leaf litter and loose soil under logs.
Threats
The main identified threats to the Mount Cooper Striped Lerista include habitat loss from land clearing and thinning operations. Additional threats include inappropriate fire regimes and weed invasion that degrade the habitat.
Quollity Conservation Hub's Overall Priority Score
Average life span:
Unknown
Number of young produced each year:
Unknown
Number of breeding events each year:
Unknown
Minimum sexual maturity age:
Unknown
Who is helping
Useful links for more detailed information on this species
DCCEEW - Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
SPRAT - DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database