Pink-tailed Worm Lizard Recovery Team

Background

The Pink-tailed Worm Lizard (PTWL) Aprasia parapulchella is considered threatened at both a Victorian and national scale, where it is categorised as Endangered and Vulnerable, respectively. It is highly sensitive to environmental changes and its reliance on specific ant species as its only food source intensifies its vulnerability.

The only known Victorian population is restricted to woodlands of the Bendigo region. The population in Victoria is almost entirely surrounded by residential development, placing it at great risk of local extinction due to domestic cats, fuel reduction burning/inappropriate fire regimes, habitat loss, human disturbance and habitat fragmentation.

In New South Wales (NSW) the PTWL is only known from the Central and Southern Tablelands, and the Southwestern Western Slopes. There is a concentration of populations in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It has also been recorded near Cooma, Yass, Bathurst, Albury and West Wyalong, although some of these records are historical.

The Victorian population is highly isolated and displays different morphology to the populations in NSW and the ACT. It is hypothesised that this is a distinct species or perhaps an evolutionary significant unit.

The Threatened Species Conservancy (TSC) brings together specialists from across Australia to form a Recovery Team and develop a Recovery Plan. TSC and Deakin University are undertaking genetic analyses to determine if the Victorian population is a distinct species. This information will inform the development of the Recovery Plan and guide the role of the Recovery Team.

Current survey and monitoring protocols for this species are highly invasive and significantly disturb the species’ habitat. New passive monitoring methods will be developed as part of this project. If effective, they will enable us to better monitor the status of PTWL and evaluate the progress of recovery actions.

Role of the Recovery Team

The primary role of the Recovery Team is to provide strategic coordination, technical guidance, and oversight of recovery actions for Pink-tailed Worm Lizard across its range and associated conservation programs. The Recovery Team will operate as the central coordinating body for the species’ recovery, integrating actions across multiple projects, sites, and organisations over time.

To achieve this role, the Recovery Team will review and coordinate the implementation and recovery actions for Pink-tailed Worm Lizard as outlined in the ‘National Recovery Plan including in situ management, ex situ conservation, translocation, and monitoring programs. In particular, the Recovery Team will:

● oversight of development and review of a Recovery Plan;

● planning and coordination of recovery program implementation;

● identifying potential partnerships to improve recovery outcomes;

● advising on cost-effective recovery of PTWL;

● advising government agencies on management and coordination of PTWL activities, including identification of priority actions;

● and coordination of communication, reporting and community involvement with regards to the Recovery Team.

The initial function of the PTWL Recovery Team will be to:

● oversee genetic analyses to determine if the Victorian population is genetically distinct from the NSW and ACT populations;

● develop and trial non-invasive monitoring techniques, including eDNA and camera monitoring;

● survey historical PTWL sites using a standardised and statistically supported approach;

● contribute to regular meetings with all relevant stakeholders;

● update the draft Recovery Plan and Action Statement using information from genetic analyses and recent monitoring.

Recovery Team membership

SPRAT Profile Link: Aprasia parapulchella — Pink-tailed Worm-lizard, Pink-tailed Legless Lizard 

Link to TSC Project Page: Saving The Pink-Tailed Worm-Lizard