Environmental Trust, Awards and In addition to tussocks, partially embedded surface rocks, and spider and insect holes are used for shelter. The Grassland Earless Dragon lays 3-6 eggs in a burrow in late spring or early summer. Bathurst grassland earless dragon: Tympanocryptis mccartneyi - Melville, Chaplin, Hutchinson, Sumner, Gruber, MacDonald & Sarre, 2019: Pronunciation TIM-pan-oh-KRIP-tiss Etymology Tympanocryptis: 'hidden ear'. The species goes into torpor during winter, but may be active during this time of year if weather conditions are suitable. We provide a comprehensive taxonomic review of this group, integrating multiple lines of evidence, including phylogeography (mtDNA), phylogenomics (SNPs), external morphology and micro X-ray CT scans. Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2019-2021, Public Health Emergency has been declared, Grassland Earless Dragon Action Plan (2017), ACT Native Grassland Conservation Strategy (2017), Australian Government conservation advice, 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. All lizards belonging to this genus have the following similar characters: The body is depressed, the tympanum is hidden, and it is covered posteriorly with various scales. The lizard likes well-drained sites dominated by Tall Speargrass and shorter wallaby grasses, with patches of tussocks and open spaces between them. Maintaining a varied grassland structure and avoiding herbage biomass extremes will maximise the range of shelter and thermal niches and food for the lizard. Kangaroo grazing in the nature reserve reducing tussock cover for the dragons. Department of Territory and Municipal Services, issuing body. land and soil, Soil and weeds, Visit Feeds on small invertebrates, including ants and spiders. Fixation Indices Locus Dropped: ED1H4 Little, to the point of negligible, differentiation in genetic diversity between the populations. The grassland earless dragons of south-eastern Queensland have long been of conservation concern. The grassland earless dragon lizards (Agamidae: Tympanocryptis) of southeastern Australia have long been of conservation concern but there have been ongoing taxonomic uncertainties. Through the Grassland Earless Dragon Action Plan (2017), which continues the 2006 action plan, and the ACT Native Grassland Conservation Strategy (2017), the ACT Government proposes to maintain the conditions, in the long term, that encourage a viable, wild population. Changed hydrology from activities such as irrigation and effluent disposal. Advantage, For Some occur in the ACT, and individuals have been found at locations near Cooma, NSW. The Grassland Earless Dragon is known or predicted to occur in the following sub-regions of the South Eastern Highlands Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia. Keepers at Melbourne Zoo have proudly introduced to visitors some baby grassland earless dragons. organisations, Scientific Overnight, three new dragons were born. Do not erect fences or other structures on which predatory birds can perch.