Burning and the Eared Worm-lizard — Where are we at in South Australia?
It is with great excitement that I share news that the Eared Worm-lizard (Aprasia aurita) has become a nationally listed species under the Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, 1999.
The species has been listed as Endangered, because it was assessed as being at high risk of extinction. For anyone who wishes to read the conservation advice, refer to the link here.
Nominating a species is a massive effort, and we thank Tim McGrath from Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Victoria for leading this nomination.
What does it mean to be listed under the EPBC Act?
First and foremost, it acknowledges the long-term effort and commitment shown by people over the years, including Peter Robertson, Nature Glenelg Trust staff, and Mark Hutchinson to highlight the threatened status and the relevance of national listing. The conservation planning document, now prepared, will guide much needed investment in protection and recovery efforts, as well as on-ground action for this species.
The conservation advice report highlights the need for us in SA to:
– Undertake research into the benefits of slow-moving mosaic burns in South Australian habitat.
That’s just what NGT is in the process of doing, with the help of our important long-term partner OneFortyOne (OFO), who manage land where the species occurs in the Furner district. We began this work last autumn with a slow-moving fire at a known Eared Worm-lizard site, and we can already report some positive results.
OFO has been approved to undertake three burns in Aprasia territory sites, two in known monitoring sites (RR5 & FS1) and one unknown. FS1 was first and we have checked the monitoring grid of 50 roofing tiles (where the lizards like to shelter underneath) twice since the burn. On Christmas Eve, we arranged a field trip with OFO staff to check the burn site and several unburnt grids as well. We found 3 individuals at the burn site and evidence of their presence (shed skins) at several others including control sites. Identifying a worm-lizard in our district is easy if the skin is in good condition, as the Striped Worm-lizard has 12 scales around the body, while the Eared Worm-lizard has 14. See below:
At this early stage, we have positive results for using fire in the management of Aprasia aurita habitat, especially with slow-moving mosaic fires.
OFO has an interest and is actively involved in using fire to manage inliers (remnant vegetation) within their plantation estate. Dane Handreck and I have been talking and planning for several years to improve age-class distributions, weed management, and more specifically targeting the habitat of threatened fauna populations, especially our very special Eared Worm-lizard.
A series of long-term reptile monitoring sites will be re-surveyed before and after fires to determine if:
1. The species remains present at a site post-fire.
2. There are observable changes in abundance or distribution (within a grid) due to the burns.
Burn number one occurred last year in June 2025 at site FS1 (see above photos), which has been a site with a regularly observed population and, in some years, the most abundant site during grid surveys.
Site FS1 has been surveyed 14 times over eight years between 2013-2025. Aprasia aurita was detected 11 times during this period (78%), with the highest number (of 3) recorded during a visit in spring 2023, and then six months post-fire in December 2025, as shown in the chart below. This early indication suggests that the colony at this site has remained stable after a slow-moving mosaic burn.
We look forward to continuing this partnership with OFO and ForestrySA/DEW, with on-ground works scheduled for this autumn-winter to address woody weed encroachment and a further burn of a known Aprasia site.
NGT thanks the staff from OFO – Jake, Ellie, Gavin, Adrian, and Dane for coming along and seeing this wonderful creature first-hand.
This project is supported by OneFortyOne.
