Recent mammal records from Lake Pedder area

Abstract

Between 6 and 24 February 1967, an opportunity was provided for zoologists from the Tasmanian Museum, Hobart and the Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston, to conduct a biological survey in the Lake Pedder area, south-west Tasmania. The survey was conducted in three separate localities totalling about ten square miles in all. During October and November of the same year the Lake Pedder site was again visited by staff from the Tasmanian Museum in two field trips of one week each. The areas are briefiy described physically and the methods and results of the survey are outlined. The material collected is housed in either the Tasmanian Museum or the Launceston Museum, the relevant specimen numbers being given in the text. When compared with more fertile areas of the state, the south-west area seems generally poor in both numbers and species of mammals although almost all indigenous Tasmanian groups are represented to some extent. The sparseness of the animal fauna would seem to be indicated by the low quality of the soils and vegetation and the few varieties of habitat. A systematic list of the mammals collected is included, but owing to the short period of time available in the area, no information regarding the status and distribution is available.