South-eastern South Australia Research Articles

Systematic assessment of the brown tree frog (Anura: Pelodryadidae: Litoria ewingii) reveals two endemic species in South Australia.

The brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii) is a relatively widespread, commonly encountered pelodryadid frog from south-eastern Australia, known for its characteristic whistling call. The distribution of Litoria ewingii spans over more than 350,000 km2, encompassing a range of moist temperate habitats, and is fragmented by well-known biogeographic barriers. A preliminary analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed evidence for deep phylogenetic structure between some of these fragmented populations. In this study, we sought to re-evaluate the systematics and taxonomy of Litoria ewingii sensu lato by analysing variation in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, adult morphology and male advertisement calls throughout the species range. Our analyses reveal two additional, deeply divergent and allopatric lineages in South Australia. We herein re-describe Litoria ewingii from Tasmania, southern New South Wales, Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, resurrect the name Litoria calliscelis for a species occurring in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, and describe a new species, Litoria sibilus sp. nov., endemic to Kangaroo Island.

Quaternary plant macrofossils from Robertson Cave, Naracoorte, South Australia: reproductive structures

The World Heritage Naracoorte Caves in southeastern South Australia are important palaeontological sites known primarily for their diverse vertebrate fossils. Some of the caves also contain well-preserved Quaternary plant macrofossils, but little palaeobotanical research has been undertaken to date. Here, we describe the angiosperm plant taxa represented by macrofossils of reproductive structures that have been extracted from the Robertson Cave sediment deposit; this has an age range of 820–24,230 years BP. We identified 29 angiosperm taxa representing 20 families. These represent some of the plant species that grew in the Naracoorte region during the Quaternary, and form a database for future plant identification and palaeovegetation reconstructions. Rachel A. Atkins [rachel.atkins@adelaide.edu.au], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia and Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Robert S. Hill [bob.hill@adelaide.edu.au], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia and Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Kathryn E. Hill [kathryn@debillenvironmental.com.au], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia and DeBill Environmental, 13 Hawkesbury Ave, Kilburn, South Australia 5084, Australia; Samantha E.M. Munroe [Samantha.Munroe@csiro.au], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005; Elizabeth H. Reed [liz.reed@adelaide.edu.au], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia, Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia, and Earth and Biological Sciences (Palaeontology), South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.

Molecular systematic analysis demonstrates that the threatened southern bell frog, Litoria raniformis (Anura: Pelodryadidae) of eastern Australia, comprises two sub-species

In south-eastern Australia, the pelodryadid Litoria aurea Group (sensu Tyler & Davies 1978) comprises three species: Litoria aurea (Lesson, 1829), Litoria raniformis (Keferstein, 1867), and Litoria castanea (Steindachner, 1867). All three species have been subject to declines over recent decades and taxonomic uncertainty persists among populations on the tablelands in New South Wales. We address the systematics of the Group by analysing mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences to assess divergence in the Litoria raniformis from across its current range in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, South Australia (SA) and Tasmania. We also included samples of Litoria castanea from a recently rediscovered population in the southern tablelands of NSW. Our phylogenetic and population genetic analyses show that Litoria raniformis comprises northern and southern lineages, showing deep mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence (7% net average sequence divergence) and can be diagnosed by fixed allelic differences at more than 4,000 SNP loci. Samples of the northern lineage were collected from the Murray-Darling Basin while those of the southern lineage were collected from south-eastern South Australia, southern and south-eastern Victoria and Tasmania. Analysis of the morphology and bioacoustics did not unequivocally delineate the two lineages. The presence of a hybrid backcross individual in western Victoria at the northern margin of the southern lineage, leads us to assign sub-species status to the two lineages, L. r. raniformis for the northern lineage and L. r. major for the southern lineage. Our data do not unequivocally resolve the taxonomic status of L. castanea which will require molecular genetic analyses of museum vouchers from those parts of the range where L. castanea and L. raniformis are no longer extant. Our data also suggest that human mediated movement of frogs may have occurred over the past 50 years. Our genotyping of vouchers collected in the 1970s from the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia detected mitochondrial haplotypes of both sub-species and SNP analysis showed that a single Tasmanian specimen was a backcross with L. r. raniformis ancestry. Movement of L. r. raniformis into Tasmania and both sub-species into the Mount Lofty Ranges are not likely due to passive movements of animals through agricultural commerce, but due to the attractiveness of the species as pets and subsequent escapes or releases, potentially of the larval life stage.

Lower crustal resistivity signature of an orogenic gold system

Orogenic gold deposits provide a significant source of the world’s gold and form along faults over a wide range of crustal depths spanning sub-greenschist to granulite grade faces, but the source depths of the gold remains poorly understood. In this paper we compiled thirty years of long-period magnetotelluric (MT) and geomagnetic depth sounding (GDS) data across western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia that have sensitivity to the electrical resistivity of the crust and mantle, which in turn depend on past thermal and fluid processes. This region contains one of the world’s foremost and largest Phanerozoic (440 Ma) orogenic gold provinces that has produced 2% of historic worldwide gold production. Three-dimensional inversion of the long-period MT and GDS data shows a remarkable correlation between orogenic gold deposits with > 1 t production and a < 20 Ω m low-resistivity region at crustal depths > 20 km. This low-resistivity region is consistent with seismically-imaged tectonically thickened marine sediments in the Lachlan Orogen that contain organic carbon (C), sulphides such as pyrite (FeS2) and colloidal gold (Au). Additional heat sources at 440 Ma due to slab break-off after subduction have been suggested to rapidly increase the temperature of the marine sediments at mid to lower crustal depth, releasing HS− ligands for Au, and CO2. We argue that the low electrical resistivity signature of the lower crust we see today is from a combination of flake graphite produced in situ from the amphibolite grade metamorphism of organic-carbon in the marine sediments, and precipitated graphite through retrograde hydration reactions of CO2 released during the rapid heating of the sediments. Thus, these geophysical data image a fossil source and pathway zone for one of the world’s richest orogenic gold provinces.

Pasture plant biomass increase following introduction of European rabbit fleas, Spilopsyllus cuniculi, into Australia to facilitate myxomatosis transmission

Long-term benefits of introducing European rabbit fleas to Australia as vectors of myxomatosis have not been evaluated. To address this deficit, data on pasture plant biomass from a 21-year study in semi-arid South Australia was reviewed. A plant biomass index was derived from photographed quadrats on the site. Spring pasture biomass over a seven-year period before fleas were introduced was compared with pasture production over 14 years following their introduction after correcting for differences in rainfall. Plant biomass on the quadrats in spring (October) doubled after arrival of fleas presumably because high mortality of young rabbits reduced grazing pressure during the plant growing season; little dry plant material was carried over from previous years contrary to model outputs using the ‘Aussie GRASS’ program. Substantial benefits accrued from releasing rabbit fleas, especially in areas of Mediterranean-like climate in Western Australia, south-eastern South Australia and western Victoria where rabbit fleas changed the timing of myxomatosis outbreaks. Plant biomass saved from rabbits helped to maintain sheep production which was at an all-time high when fleas were released. Extra food may also have enabled native mammals such as swamp wallabies to expand their distribution soon after fleas became established.

Contribution to the knowledge of the endemic Australian genus Binburrum Pollock, 1995 (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pilipalpinae), with description of three new species

AbstractBinburrum Pollock, 1995 is a small group of fire-coloured beetles (Tenebrionoidea: Pyrochroidae: Pilipalpinae) endemic to Australia with five described species. Herein, three new species of Binburrum – B. articuno (southeastern South Australia), B. moltres (northeastern Queensland, Australia), and B. zapdos (northeastern Queensland) – are described based on comparative anatomy, highlighting the underestimated diversity of this genus. Binburrum angusticollis Pollock, 1995 is newly recorded from New South Wales, Australia. Descriptions of new species are supplemented with digital photographs and scientific illustrations of habitus and salient structures. A key for the identification of Binburrum is provided.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Hydrocotyle simulans&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; (Araliaceae), a new perennial species from south-eastern Australia&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Hydrocotyle simulans, a new perennial species from south-eastern Australia, is here described with associated illustration, photographic images and distribution map. The new species is restricted mostly to freshwater swamps in coastal areas of south-eastern South Australia, southern Victoria and to the Furneaux Group of islands, off the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. Hydrocotyle simulans resembles both H. plebeya and H. pterocarpa, in having orbicular-cordate to reniform leaves, hydathodes along leaf lamina margins and broadly ovate to orbicular stipules with entire margins. It differs from these taxa by a combination of characters, such as reflexed white trichomes congregated at the petiole apices, ovate floral bracts with basal lobes, subsessile flowers with pale to dark crimson petals and lenticular mericarps with minutely rugulose surfaces when mature.

Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) distribution has dramatically increased following sustained biological control of rabbits

Swamp wallabies have dramatically extended their distribution through western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia over the last 40 years. Newspaper reports from 1875 onwards show that on European settlement, wallaby populations were confined to eastern Victoria, including the ranges around Melbourne, the Otway Ranges and Portland District of south-western Victoria, and a tiny part of south-eastern South Australia. Populations contracted further with intense hunting for the fur trade until the 1930s. In the late 1970s, however, wallabies began spreading into drier habitats than those initially recorded. Possible causes underlying this change in distribution are discussed; some seem unlikely but, because wallabies began spreading soon after the introduction of European rabbit fleas as vectors of myxomatosis, the cumulative effects of releases of biological agents to control rabbits appear important. A caution is given on assuming that thick vegetation in high-rainfall areas provides the only habitat suitable for swamp wallabies, but, most importantly, the study shows how native mammals may benefit if rabbit abundance is reduced.

New species of tube web spiders of the genus Ariadna from South Australia (Araneae, Segestriidae)

Two new species in the tube-web spider genus Ariadna Audouin, 1826 (Segestriidae Simon, 1893) are described from South Australia based on morphological features of both males and females. Ariadnaclavatasp. n. and Ariadnatangarasp. n. are widespread and sympatric on eastern Kangaroo Island, where they are found beneath bark, in borer holes in dead wood, and in short burrows under rocks. They have also been found in south-eastern mainland South Australia and bring the total number of described Australian Ariadna to 13 species. We showcase intraspecific variation in both species based on a significant number of specimens, including substantial size variation in females and variations in patterns of leg spination. For male Ariadna, we also establish the previously unknown functions of apophyses and spines on the metatarsi and tibiae on the first legs, which are used during mating to clasp the female.

Population genetics of the Australian eucalypt pest Thaumastocoris peregrinus: evidence for a recent invasion of Sydney

Biological invasions represent a major threat to agriculture and forestry across the globe. Thaumastocoris peregrinus is a small sap-sucking heteropteran bug that has recently invaded a number of eucalypt plantations worldwide from its native range in Australia. To date, no studies have examined the range of this insect within Australia, and its population genetics remain poorly understood. We sampled T. peregrinus from 16 populations from South East Queensland, across New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria to south-eastern South Australia, and generated microsatellite and mtDNA data for ~ 200 individuals. Population genetic analyses consistently revealed moderate levels of genetic isolation by distance among populations across the range. Nonetheless, T. peregrinus has undergone dispersal across large distances, as revealed by the presence of identical mitochondrial haplotypes in both South East Queensland and South Australia. Two populations within the Sydney area (NSW) were divergent from other populations based on STRUCTURE and factorial correspondence analysis. They also had relatively low allelic richness and haplotype diversity indices. These results suggest they are the result of a relatively recent invasion event, consistent with their discovery in 2001. Pairwise genetic distance analyses suggest that the source of the invasion may have been central NSW. Our study provides an important framework for understanding the biology of this pest in its native environment, and may have implications for determining how it has invaded multiple areas worldwide.

Conservation genomics of an endangered subspecies of Southern Emu-Wren, Stipiturus malachurus (Passeriformes: Maluridae)

ABSTRACTThe endangered subspecies of Southern Emu-Wren (Stipiturus malachurus intermedius) in the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR), South Australia has a fragmented distribution and poor dispersal capability. These factors make it susceptible to local population extinction, as evidenced by declining distribution and abundance since 1993. We documented genetic diversity by genotyping thousands of nuclear markers from samples collected in the 1990s to inform genetic management. We found that Southern Emu-Wrens from south-eastern South Australia and the MLR, which are separate subspecies that share mitochondrial haplotypes, are genetically distinct based on nuclear DNA, albeit at a low level (FST = 0.21). Within the MLR, differentiation between southern and northern sites is consistent with the presence of two populations, with the boundary reflecting a disjunction in the distribution of historical records. Although Southern Emu-Wrens are now absent from our MLR sample sites, nearby occupied sites within each of the populations require continued management, and our results suggest these may warrant treatment as separate management units. At one site where birds had disappeared over an 8-year period, our retrospective genotyping found low levels of inbreeding, reinforcing the need to distinguish factors impacting on population viability to mitigate extinction likelihood.

Two new species of Clinopsalta Moulds (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) and additional distribution records for Clinopsalta adelaida (Ashton), with notes on their distinctive calling songs

Two new species are described in the genus Clinopsalta Moulds. Clinopsalta autumna sp. nov. exhibits a warm temperate distribution from south-east Queensland south to Goulburn and Nerriga in eastern New South Wales. Clinopsalta semilunata sp. nov. has a patchy distribution in southern Queensland from Binjour Plateau west to near Miles, south to Yelarbon State Forest and Durikai State Forest, both near Inglewood. In addition to the descriptions of these new species, further distribution records are provided for C. adelaida (Ashton), which extend its distribution from south-eastern South Australia and northern Victoria to inland central and northern New South Wales. The species of Clinopsalta are small–medium sized cicadas (< 20 mm body length) with distinctive calling songs of an intermediate frequency (c. 6 to 18 kHz). The temporal structures of the calling songs follow a similar pattern in each species, comprising an introductory rattle followed by a series of clicking phrases. The call is characteristically accompanied with bouts of prominent wing-snapping, except in one species (C. semilunata sp. nov.).

Taxonomic and nomenclatural implications of a review of the Pied Currawong Strepera graculina in southern Victoria

In a review of knowledge about subspecies of the Pied Currawong in southern Victoria and far south-eastern South Australia, Menkhorst & Morley (2017) hypothesised that the type specimen of Strepera graculina ashbyi Mathews 1913 might be an immature female of the population currently recognized as S. g. nebulosa Schodde and Mason 1999. If this hypothesis is correct, there are nomenclatural consequences, which we detail here. We also retract the suggestion that neotypes should be defined for the subspecies concerned.

Revision of the water-holding frogs, Cyclorana platycephala (Anura: Hylidae), from arid Australia, including a description of a new species.

The water-holding frog, Cyclorana platycephala, occurs in the Australian arid and semi-arid zones but not in the central Australian deserts. Recent inspection of morphological variation in adults and larvae suggests that the taxon comprises three regional populations: eastern, northern and western that may each represent separate species. To assess the systematic status of these populations, we documented phylogenetic relationships using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers, divergence in adult and larval morphology and male advertisement call. Our molecular genetic data demonstrates that the western population of C. platycephala is not the sister taxon of eastern and northern representatives of this nominate species, as the latter two are more closely related to another morphologically distinct species, C. verrucosa. Discriminant Function Analysis of 14 morphological traits in adults and 15 in larvae showed a high degree of morphological differentiation of western versus eastern/northern C. platycephala. Calls of eastern and western populations differed in duration, pulse rate, frequency and especially in amplitude modulation pattern across the call duration. We describe the western population as a new species, whose range is contained entirely within Western Australia. In addition, we redescribe Cyclorana platycephala, quantify morphological and genetic differences between the eastern and northern populations, and conclude that these data support recognition of a single species, Cyclorana platycephala, for populations found in New South Wales, the Barkly Tablelands and south-eastern Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia.

Arenopsaltria nubivena (Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Cryptotympanini) from the arid regions of Central Australia and southwest Western Australia

The genus Arenopsaltria is restricted to Australia, from which three species are described. Two, A. fullo and A. pygmaea, occur in coastal and subcoastal Western Australia; the third, A. nubivena, was thought to be restricted to the relatively small region from southeastern South Australia to northwestern Victoria, but is now known to occur much more widely into northeastern South Australia, southwestern Queensland, southern Northern Territory and with a possibly isolated population in southwestern Western Australia. The continuous buzzing calling song of A. nubivena is here documented from four well separated locations and is shown to be remarkably similar in temporal and other acoustic properties. The songs of A. fullo and A. pygmaea are also documented; both songs have a similar temporal structure, and both are distinct from the A. nubivena calling songs. MaxEnt modelling of the A. nubivena distribution can be linked by a climatic envelope in which the three most significant variables are precipitation variables, consistent with the currently known geographical distribution and emergence behaviour of this species in the warm to temperate margins of the arid zone, areas which experience sporadic and sometimes heavy summer rainfall events. Modelling of the estimated conditions at and since the Last Glacial Maximum (c. 22 ka), a period during which we expect to find the most significant contrast with the present-day distribution of A. nubivena, suggests an expanded distribution of this species during this period. Details of the geographic distributions will, however, be mediated by additional physical factors, such as dispersal barriers (e.g., the Nullarbor Plain), local interspecific interactions and other unsuitable habitats.

Effects of landscape matrix on population connectivity of an arboreal mammal, Petaurus breviceps.

Ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation is considered a threat to biodiversity as it can create small, isolated populations that are at increased risk of extinction. Tree-dependent species are predicted to be highly sensitive to forest and woodland loss and fragmentation, but few studies have tested the influence of different types of landscape matrix on gene flow and population structure of arboreal species. Here, we examine the effects of landscape matrix on population structure of the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) in a fragmented landscape in southeastern South Australia. We collected 250 individuals across 12 native Eucalyptus forest remnants surrounded by cleared agricultural land or exotic Pinus radiata plantations and a large continuous eucalypt forest. Fifteen microsatellite loci were genotyped and analyzed to infer levels of population differentiation and dispersal. Genetic differentiation among most forest patches was evident. We found evidence for female philopatry and restricted dispersal distances for females relative to males, suggesting there is male-biased dispersal. Among the environmental variables, spatial variables including geographic location, minimum distance to neighboring patch, and degree of isolation were the most important in explaining genetic variation. The permeability of a cleared agricultural matrix to dispersing gliders was significantly higher than that of a pine matrix, with the gliders dispersing shorter distances across the latter. Our results added to previous findings for other species of restricted dispersal and connectivity due to habitat fragmentation in the same region, providing valuable information for the development of strategies to improve the connectivity of populations in the future.

Physicochemical influences on Ruppia tuberosa abundance and distribution mediated through life cycle stages

This study determined and contrasted the effect of physicochemical conditions on the distribution and abundance of the life stages of Ruppia tuberosa J. Davis and Tomlinson in neighbouring permanent (Coorong) and ephemeral (Pipe Clay and Cantara) lakes in southeastern South Australia. The distribution and abundance of shoots, flowers, seeds, and turions of R. tuberosa were monitored. Salinity and water depth were identified as the principal physicochemical conditions driving changes in the distribution and abundance of the life stages of R. tuberosa. Extremely high salinity led to reduced germination, flower and seed production, and shoot abundance in the Coorong. Salinity levels in Lake Pipe Clay were favourable for germination but not for flowering; however, Lake Cantara was not only favourable for the establishment of R. tuberosa shoots, but also for flower and seed production. In ephemeral systems, if favourable salinities for germination and growth occur during autumn and winter, R. tuberosa is able to survive elevated spring salinities and persist through either sexual reproduction or the production of turions, depending on salinity levels. The reduced abundances of R. tuberosa at water depths >0.6 m suggest light limitation and that R. tuberosa is a high-light– adapted species. Because salinity is an easily measured parameter with significant biological implications, it is useful for setting environmental flow targets for the Coorong and River Murray estuary.

The influence of tectonics on flank margin cave formation on a passive continental margin: Naracoorte, Southeastern Australia

Intensive cave development within the highly porous and permeable Eocene–Middle Miocene Gambier Limestone in southeastern South Australia is restricted to a 1×11km area at Naracoorte. The caves are overwhelmingly horizontal, consisting of large solutional domes connected by smaller passages, with bell holes, small pendants and large non-directional scallops on the walls and ceilings. Orientation is strongly controlled by NW/SE joints. Cave entrances have been opened by subsequent collapse, and breakdown is common.The caves are located on the Kanawinka Fault escarpment, which was uplifted in the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene and then overlain by a series of Pleistocene carbonate strandline dunes, deposited as the sea retreated following a Late Miocene transgression. The coastline lay along the Kanawinka escarpment at ~0.9–1.1Ma, when the caves formed just inland of the shoreline within the zone of enhanced dissolution at the seaward margin of the freshwater lens. They have the typical flank margin cave morphology, except that joint development adjacent to the fault caused the strong linear orientation parallel to the coastline.The beach dune deposited to the west of the Kanawinka escarpment shows that sea-level had dropped sufficiently to completely drain the caves at 780–880ka. Cave development was therefore confined to a period spanning ~0.8–1.1Ma. Continuing gradual uplift through the Pleistocene means that the caves are now >100km inland, obscuring the essentially coastal nature of the Naracoorte karst.Speleogenesis at Naracoorte reflects the interaction of neotectonics with coastal dissolution, and emphasizes the role that tectonism can play in Pleistocene karst development even on passive continental margins, where glacio/eustatic sea-level fluctuations are generally ascribed as the dominant role.

Nomadic beekeeper movements create the potential for widespread disease in the honeybee industry.

To examine the nomadic movements of Australian beekeepers and determine their potential to assist the spread of pests and diseases. A questionnaire was mailed to all beekeepers in Australia who maintained >100 hives, requesting information on the location of their home base, locations used throughout the year and the crops that the bees fed on in each location. The information was analysed using network analysis software and a geographic information system. Nomadic Australian beekeepers formed a connected network linking 288 locations from central Queensland to western Victoria. A second, smaller network included 42 locations in south-eastern South Australia. Almond orchards in Robinvale and Boundary Bend and lucerne seed production in Keith were locations of major hive congregations driven by the opportunity to provide paid pollination services. In the 3 months after completion of almond pollination in August 2008, movement of hives occurred from Robinvale and Boundary Bend to 49 locations, ranging from south-east Queensland to south-west Victoria. The movements identified in this study highlight the potential for rapid spread of disease or pests throughout the beekeeping industry should an incursion occur.

When the ‘native cat’ would ‘plague’: historical hyperabundance in the quoll (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae) and an assessment of the role of disease, cats and foxes in its curtailment

Since the European settlement of Australia in 1788, 25 mainland terrestrial mammal species have become extinct, more than on any other continent during this period. To determine if the causal factors are still active, it is necessary to better understand the species and their status preceding these regional extirpations or extinctions, and examine the historical record for clues to the cause(s) of these declines. From an extensive review of historical material, primarily newspaper accounts, we collated &gt;2700 accounts of quolls. We discovered 36 accounts that demonstrate the propensity for quolls to become hyperabundant. The geographical distribution of accounts implies that most refer to Dasyurus viverrinus, but an account from Normanton district (Queensland) likely applies to D. hallucatus. More than 110 accounts demonstrate that disease/parasite epizootics occurred in south-eastern Australia, commencing on mainland Australia possibly in the goldfields region of Victoria in the 1850s, or in south-eastern South Australia and south-western Victoria in the mid to late 1860s, and implicate these as the initial primary factor in the regional extirpation of Australia’s quolls. The loss of D. viverrinus populations in south-eastern Australia was reportedly from population abundances and densities that were sporadically extraordinarily high, hence their loss appears more pronounced than previously suspected. Accounts describing the widespread, rapid and major loss of quolls suggest the possible involvement of several pathogens. Ectoparasites such as Uropsylla tasmanica and ticks appear to be described in detail in some accounts. A few others state comortality of Felis catus and Canis lupus familiaris, suggestive of a disease of either or both of these species, such as Canine Distemper Virus, a morbillivirus with a propensity to be non-host specific, that may have caused the decline of the quolls, perhaps vectored by the reported ectoparasites. We also collated 23 presumed independent accounts of cats negatively impacting quolls, two of which describe significant mortality, and three presumed independent accounts of fox predation. These highlight the capacity of both of these introduced predators to have reduced quoll distribution and abundance.