And they’re not after the kind you might find down at the pub.
A team of conservationists have been searching for the Striped Legless Lizard, which they believed could be at large in the district.
‘‘As part of this year’s Striped Legless Lizard searches in central Victoria (Heathcote, Nagambie, Rushworth), the isolated record from Rushworth is intriguing,’’ Senior Conservation Officer with Trust for Nature Bertram Lobert said.
The rare little critter was originally spotted in Rushworth in 1992 in McDonald Road by an eagled-eyed couple who just so happened to be trained biologists. Cynthia and Ted Beasley lived on their Rushy property for 20 years.
‘‘They found legless lizards on more than one occasion in their bush garden over the course of several years and in 1992 submitted their record to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas,’’ Mr Lobert said.
The discovery was of particular interest to the research team because the animals were found outside what is considered to be their natural environment.
‘‘Striped Legless Lizards usually occur in grassland or grassy dominated woodlands – they tend not to occur in heavily treed or forested country, or where there is a dense shrub layer,’’ Mr Lobert said.
‘‘The habitat and location make this an interesting record that might inform our understanding of the species’ ecology.’’
Unfortunately, despite admirable efforts, there hasn’t been another sighting of the Striped Legless Lizard in Rushworth since.
Until there is, we won’t know whether the species still lives around Rushworth, or has become locally extinct.
The study is part of an effort to save the little lizard from extinction.
It’s listed as ‘Threatened with extinction’ at both a state and national level and is currently found in isolated pockets in central, north east and western Victoria. As land use becomes more intensive and suitable habitat more fragmented, the survival of the species hangs in the balance.
The project is being funded with support from the Victorian government.
If you think you may have seen a Striped Legless Lizard, Trust for Nature would be keen to hear from you. Call Mr Lobert on 0409 433 276.
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