Former distribution and apparent disappearance of theLitoria aureacomplex from the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

Abstract

Frogs of the Litoria aurea complex were common and widespread in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory before they apparently suffered a major decline in abundance at the end of the 1970s. The extent of population declines in the species complex has been assessed by examination of museum specimens and records, evaluation of reports by experienced herpetologists and by undertaking field surveys, particularly in the Canberra region. Examination of museum material confirmed that three taxa occurred in the Southern Tablelands; L. aurea, L. raniformis and L. flavipunctata. Litoria aurea occurred only in the northern half of the Southern Tablelands, extending as far south as Canberra and Braidwood; L. raniformis occurred throughout much of the region at altitudes up to about 1 300 metres, but may not have occurred east of Lake George; and L. flavipunctata apparently had a restricted distribution near Canberra, Bombala and Delegate. Opportunistic surveys conducted since ...