WILDLIFE SPECIES LIST
This list correlates names used in the text of Back Country, On Track and Wild Nature with scientific names and other common names, and attempts a broad suggestion of distribution in the area. Economy does not permit a full list of the wildlife species found in south east Australia but I have included many of the common and interesting or unusual species observed, and trust this form will interest those who appreciate names for things.
The list shows the name used in the text, other common names and scientific name, followed by notes on sightings and distribution.
Note that many names have changed since the 1980s and as of 2020 many other Taxa are undergoing revision. I have generally kept the old names in the text, as they are usually better known or have stayed on in common parlance as a common name. New and old names are usually given here.
Adder, death; Acanthophis antarcticus; lower forest areas
Angophora, rough-barked; apple, rough-barked apple; Angophora floribunda;
lower forests and valleys, very common
Antechinus, brown; brown marsupial mouse; Antechinus stuartii; quite
common throughout
__ agile; A. agilis; coastal forests
__ dusky; dusky marsupial mouse; A. swainsonii; frequent, forests and mountainous areas like Wadbilliga Plateau
__ yellow-footed; yellow-footed marsupial mouse; A. flavipes; drier habitats
Ash, blueberry; blue oliveberry; Elaeocarpus reticulatus; coastal, damper sites
__ Jilliga; stenostoma; Eucalyptus stenostoma; rocky ridges between the Deua and Indian Head, most common on rocky places in the Brogo, endemic
__ silvertop; black ash; E. sieberi; most common eucalypt of the area
__ Wadbilliga; E. paliformis; Wadbilliga Plateau and edge of escarpment overlooking the Brogo
__ white; E. fraxinoides; higher forests
Baeckia, mountain; Baeckea utilis; higher swamps and creeksides
__ alpine; B. gunniana; higher swamps and creeksides
Ballart, pale fruit; Exocarpos strictus; ridges overlooking the Tuross
Banksia, mountain; Banksia canei; high country especially with Casuarina nana heath
Bandicoot, long-nosed; Perameles nasuta; relatively common
__ short-nosed; Isoodon obesulus; relatively common
Bauerella; Sarcomelicope simplicifolia; rainforest
Bettong, eastern; Gaimard’s Rat-kangaroo; Bettongia gaimardi; slight possibility near upper Deua and Woila Creek
Bitter-pea; Daviesia species; common in higher country
__ large; D. suaveolens; the larger species often growing near D. mimosoides
__ narrow-leaved; D. mimosoides; farms and scrub
Blackthorn; thornybush; Bursaria spinosa; common especially along streams
__; B. lasiocarpa; as with above but not as common
Blackwood; Acacia melanoxylon; common, damper gullies
Blanket-leaf; Bedfordia arborescens; damp and wet gullies
Blue bush, Bendethera; Acacia covenyi; restricted to limestone area near Bendethera, endangered
Blue-tongue, blotched; southern blue-tongue ; Tiliqua nigrolutea; high country, heath
Bolwarra; Eupomatia laurina; rainforest, Spring Mountain
Bottlebrush, alpine; Callistemon sieberi; yellow, along higher streams and swamps
__ dwarf river; C. subulatus; crimson, common along streams and rivers
__ river; C. paludosus; yellow-whitish and smaller leaves, rivers
__ yellow; C. pallidus; ridges
Bowerbird, satin; Ptilinorhynchus violaceus; forests
Box, apple-topped; Eucalyptus angophoroides; occasional lower country
__ blue; E. baueriana; near Wadbilliga River
Bracken, hard; Pteridium esculentum; woodland and farmland
__ soft; Culcita dubia; damper gullies
Breynia; Breynia oblongifolia; forests
Broom-heath prickly; Monotoca scoparia; relatively common
Brownbarrel; cut-tail; Eucalyptus fastigata; damper and higher forests
Burrawang; Zamia palm; Macrozamia communis; near Belowra
Bushrat; Rattus fuscipes; relatively common, especially near habitation
Butcherbird, grey; Cracticus torquatus; near Wadbilliga
Candlebark; Eucalyptus rubida; tablelands
Casuarina; black she-oak; Casuarina littoralis now Allocasuarina littoralis; lower forests and woodlands
Cherry, native; wild cherry; Exocarpos cupressiformis; forests, relatively common
Chough, white-winged; Corcorax elanorhamphos; about Deua and Wadbilliga rivers, frequent
Cockatoo, yellow-tailed black; Calyptorhynchus funereus; common especially in wattle groves
__ gang gang; Callocephalon fimbriatum; relatively common
__ glossy; Calyptorhynchus lathami; most numerous deeper in the back country, often in casuarina groves
__ sulphur-crested; Cacatua galerita; more open country, farmland
Coprosma; prickly currant-bush; Coprosma quadrifida; forests and streams
Crowea; Crowea exalata; along Brogo River
Cuckoo, pallid; Cuculus pallidus; especially adjacent to clearings
Currawong, grey; Strepera versicolor; higher country
__ pied; S. graculina; common
Cut-grass; long or shiny-headed mat-rush; Lomandra longifolia; open forest and especially along streams
Cypress-pine; Port Jackson Pine; Callitris rhomboidea; dry slopes above Wadbilliga River
Daisy-bush, musk; Olearia argophylla; damp gullies
Dingo; Canis familiaris dingo; not sighted but likely along main rivers, most frequent about the Great Divide
Dogweed; dogwood; Cassinia aculeata; damper slopes
Douligah; yowie, yeti?, bigfoot?, Doolagar, Wild Hairy Man; see Yowie; not sighted
Duck, black; Anas superciliosa; rivers and streams, common
__ wood; maned duck; Chenonetta jubata; rivers and streams
Eagle, wedge-tailed; Aquila audax; commonly seen
Earth-star; Geastrum species; rainforest
Echidna; spiny anteater; Tachyglossus aculeatus; relatively common
Epacris; common heath; Epacris impressa; common on higher and well drained sites
Eucalyptus badjensis; endemic, near mountaintops, especially at head of gulleys, endangered
__ E. baeuerlenii; Baeuerlens gum; very rare, steep slopes of Queens Pound ridge, endangered
__ E. mannifera; brittle gum; usually in higher, poor country, and near Canoolie and Belowra
__ E. pauciflora; White Sallee or sometimes cabbage gum;
__ E. wilcoxii; Deua gum; endemic, very steep granite slopes on Mother Woila and through the Brogo, endangered
__ E. tereticornis; forest red gum; upper Tuross and lower valleys
__ E. smithii; gully gum; blackbutt peppermint; gullies and riversides
__ E. maidenii; Maiden’s gum; especially richer forests
__ E. cypellocarpa; monkey gum; mountain grey gum; especially damper forests
__ E. dalrympleana; mountain gum; higher country
__ E. viminalis; ribbon gum; manna gum; common especially along rivers
__ E. nitens; shining gum; higher forests
__ E. parvifolia now E. parvula; small-leaved gum; upper Tuross, restricted to Two River Plain
__ E. ovata; swamp gum; higher damper sites, and near Tralfamadore
__ E. rossii; white gum; higher country
Everlasting; everlasting daisy; Helichrysum or Bracteantha; species common on swamps and damp places
__ golden; H. acuminatum; swampy country
__ pale; H. rutidolepis; swampy country
__; H. bracteatum now Bracteantha bracteata; drier slopes
__; H. scorpioides; damp places
Fantail, grey; Rhipidura fuliginosa; forests and woodlands
Fern, birdsnest; Asplenium australasicum; rainforest, Spring Mountain
__ filmy; Polyphlebium venosum; rainforests, on soft tree ferns
__ hard water; Blechnum wattsii; damper forest slopes, common
__ rock-felt; Pyrrosia rupestris; rainforest
__ water; Blechnum nudum; very common, especially shaded places
Fig, rusty; Ficus rubiginosa; damper rocky sites especially in the Brogo
__ sandpaper; F. coronata; rainforests
Flax-lily; Dianella tasmanica; especially higher forests
Fleabane; Conyza species; tall weed most common on disturbed ground
Flycatcher, brown; Jacky winter; Microeca leucophaea; forests and woodlands
__ satin; Myiagra cyanoleuca; forests and woodlands
Fox; Vulpes vulpes; common throughout
Friar-bird, noisy; Philemon corniculatus; rivers and streams
Frogmouth, tawny; Podargus strigoides; common
Geebung, narrow leaf; Persoonia linearis; common in lower forests
__ smooth; P. levis; mountain slopes
Gentianella; mountain gentian; Gentianella diemensis; higher damp places
Goanna; lace monitor; Varanus varius; common
Golden-tip; Goodia lotifolia; dampish places
Grass-bird, tawny; Megalurus timoriensis; woodland near Canoolie
Grass-tree; blackboy, blackfellers spear; Xanthorrhoea species including X. australis; drier slopes
Grevillea, rosemary-leaf; Grevillea rosmarinifolia; higher country
__ royal; G. victoriae; rocky slopes
__ spiderflower; G. irassa; higher rocky slopes
__ startling; G. miqueliana; higher rocky slopes
__ woolly; G. lanigera; upper Tuross
Gum, Badja; Eucalyptus badjensis; endemic, near mountaintops, especially at head of gulleys, endangered
__ Baeuerlens; E. baeuerlenii; very rare, steep slopes of Queens Pound ridge, endangered
__ brittle; E. mannifera; usually in higher, poor country, and near Canoolie and Belowra
__ cabbage; probably E. pauciflora or sometimes E. dalrympleana
__ Deua; E. wilcoxii; endemic, very steep granite slopes on Mother Woila and through the Brogo, endangered
__ forest red; E. tereticornis; upper Tuross and lower valleys
__ gully; blackbutt peppermint; E. smithii; gullies and riversides
__ Maiden’s; E. maidenii; especially richer forests
__ monkey; mountain grey gum; E. cypellocarpa; especially damper forests
__ mountain; E. dalrympleana; higher country
__ ribbon; manna gum; E. viminalis; common especially along rivers
__ ribbony: may be cabbage gum, brittle gum, river peppermint, mountain gum, candlebark, et cetera, but usually ribbon gum
__ shining; E. nitens; higher forests
__ small-leaved; E. parvifolia now E. parvula; upper Tuross, restricted to Two
River Plain
__ swamp; E. ovata; higher damper sites, and near Tralfamadore
__ water; Tristaniopsis laurina; streams and riversides especially along the upper Brogo
__ white; E. rossii; higher country
Hakea; Hakea macraeana; forests
__ dagger; H. teretifolia; forests
__ finger; H. dactyloides; ridges
__ small-fruit; H. microcarpa; high forests, streams
Helichrysum; everlasting; Helichrysum or Bracteantha species; higher damp places especially swamps
Heron, blue; white-faced heron; Ardea novaehollandiae; rivers and streams
Honey-eater, Lewin; Meliphaga lewinii; coastal side of ranges
__ New Holland; Phylidonyris novaehollandiae; coastal side of ranges
__ white-eared; Lichenostomus leucotis; mountain heath
__ yellow-tufted; L. melanops; near Tuross River
Holly, native; Prickly shaggy pea; Podolobium ilicifolium; common in silvertop ash forests
Hop-bush; Dodonaea species; relatively common
Indigofera; Austral indigo; Indigofera australis; relatively common in forests
Kangaroo, grey; Macropus giganteus; common especially in higher country
Kingfisher, azure; Ceyx azurea; rivers and streams
__ sacred; C. sancta; rivers and streams
Kookaburra, laughing; Dacelo novaeguineae common
Kunzea, pink; violet kunzea; Kunzea parvifolia; higher heaths
Kurrajong; Brachychiton populneus; relatively common especially on lower damper slopes
Lawyer-vine; wait-a-while; Smilax australis; damper slopes
Leucopogon; lance beard-heath; Leucopogon lanceolatus; relatively common
Lilli-pilli; lillipilli; lilly pilly; Acmena smithii; damper places often forming rainforest
Lily, rock; rock orchid; Dendrobium speciosum now Dockrillia speciosum ; dampish rocky sites
Lomatia, holly; Lomatia ilicifolia; ridges
__ river; L. myricoides; common along rivers and streams
Lorikeet, rainbow; Trichoglossus haematodus; Yankees Creek
Lyrebird; Menura superba; forests and rainforests
Magpie, black-backed; Gymnorhena tibicen; common
Mahogany; southern mahogany, bangalay; Eucalyptus botryoides; near creeks in lower Brogo wilderness
Maidenhair, giant; Adiantum formosum; rainforests
__ little; A. aethiopicum; forests and damp places
Mallee-ash, Kybean; Eucalyptus kybeanensis; high country heath, Wadbilliga and Kydra peaks
Melaleuca; Melaleuca sp (aff. ericifolia); higher country above the Brogo
Microseris walteri; also M. spp; Yam daisy; also nyamin, garngeg, murrnong; remnant near swampy areas
Mintbush; Victorian Christmas bush; Prostanthera lasianthos; thickets, common in damper places
Mistletoe; Amyema species; common
__ river oak; A. cambagei; only grows on river oaks
Mock-olive; Notelaea species; forests
__ large; N. venosa; forests
__ privet; N. ligustrina; high altitude forests
Mutton-wood; Rapanea howittiana; rainforests
Myrtle, grey; ironwood; Backhousia myrtifolia; rainforests and gullies, usually forming pure stands
Nettle, stinging; Urtica incisa; damper places, creeksides, the native species
Oak, river; Casuarina cunninghamiana; some river and streamsides
Olive-berry, black; Elaeocarpus holopetalus; higher rainforests and wet gullies
Olsenii; Olsen’s gum; Eucalyptus olsenii; dry higher ridges and stonyplaces from Woila Creek to Wadbilliga Plateau
Orange-thorn; Citriobatus pauciflorus; damper places, along streams
Orchid, dagger; Dendrobium pugioniforme now Dockrillia pugioniforme; rainforests
__ common donkey; Diuris longifolia; higher forests
__ donkey; D. abbreviata; forests
__ greenhood; Pterostylis species; near streams
__ liparis; Liparis reflexa; higher dampish rocky sites
__ mule; (see donkey)
__ orange-blossom; Sarcochilus falcatus; rainforests
__ pencil; Dendrobium striolatum now Dockrillia striolatum; rocky sites with lichen
__ rock; D._speciosum; damper rocky sites
__ tangle; Thrixspermum tridentatum; damper places and rainforests
__ wasp; slipper orchid; Cryptostylis subulata; Wadbilliga granite
Owl, barking; Ninox connivens; common
__ boobook; mopoke; N. novaeseelandiae; common
__ masked; Tyto novaehollandiae; relatively common
__ powerful; Ninox strenua; Wadbilliga
Owlet-nightjar; Aegotheles cristatus; Wadbilliga
Oxylobium, alpine; Oxylobium alpestre; higher heaths
__ common; O. ellipticum; higher heaths
Pardelote, spotted; Pardelotus punctatus; forests with coastal aspect
Parrot, king; Alisterus scapularis; common
Passionfruit; native passion-flower; Passiflora cinnabarina; ridge above Woila Creek
Pepper, mountain; Tasmannia lanceolata; higher woodland
__ T. xerophila; Badja
Peppermint, narrow-leaved; Eucalyptus radiata; forest and woodland especially higher country
__ river; E. elata; beside rivers and streams
Pigeon, brown; Macropygia amboinensis; rainforests
Pinkwood; eastern leatherwood, plumwood; Eucryphia moorei; rainforests, often in pure stands, endangered
Pittosporum; sweet pittosporum, mock orange; Pittosporum undulatum; common in damper, lower places
Platypus; Ornithorhynchus anatinus; sighted in Tuross, but especially higher rivers and streams
Plover, spur-winged; masked lapwing; Vanellus miles novaehollandiae; cleared land, common
Pomaderris; Pomaderris species; many species common in damper gullies and rainforests
Poison-bush, peach-leaved; Trema aspera; rainforests, Brogo River
Possum, brushtail; Trichosurus vulpecula; uncommon in back country but most common near settlement
__ greater glider; Schoinbates volans; higher country
Quoll, spotted-tailed; tiger cat; Dasyurus maculatus; high forest, uncommon
Robin, flame; Petroica phoenicea; dry forest, higher country and heaths
__ rose; P. rosea; rainforest
__ southern yellow; Eopsaltria australis; lower coastal side of back country
Rosella, crimson; Platycercus elegans; common
__ eastern; P. eximius; common
Sallee, black; Eucalyptus stellulata; higher country especially heaths and woodland
__ narrow-leaved; E. moorei; relatively common in scrub and woodland of upper Tuross, endangered
__ white; snow gum; E. pauciflora; high country
Sassafras, southern; Atherosperma moschatum; streams and rainforests
Saw-sedge, razor; Carex species; probably C. impressa or C. gaudichaudiana; Wildflower Swamp
Scrubwren, large-billed; Sericornis agnirostris; very dense undergrowth
__ white-browed; S. frontalis; dense undergrowth
Silvereye, grey-breasted; Zosterops lateralis; forest, in flocks
Skink; eastern water skink; Sphenomorphus quoyii; streams and rivers in lower country
Snake, black, red-bellied; Pseudochis porphyriacus; very common especially along streams
__ brown; Pseudonaja textilis; higher country
__ copperhead; Austrelaps superba; tablelands, nana heath
__ tiger; Notechis scutatus; higher country
Snowgum; Eucalyptus pauciflora; common, high country
Sphagnum; Sphagnum cristatum; high wet places, bogs
Spinebill, eastern; Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris; coastal aspects of forests
Stenostoma; Jilliga ash; Eucalyptus stenostoma; endemic, rocky ridges between the Deua and Indian head, very common on rocky places in the Brogo
Stinging-tree, giant; giant nettle-tree; Dendrocnide excelsa; rainforests, Spring Mountain
Stinkwood; Zieria arborescens; moister forests and gullies
Stringybark, blue-leaved; Eucalyptus agglomerata; common, lower forests
__ white; E. globoidea and E. eugenioides; common drier slopes
__ yellow; E. muelleriana; lower hills, common
Swallow, welcome; Hirundo neoxena; open country especially near water
Tea-tree; burgan; Kunzea ericoides; (formerly Leptospermum phylicoides);
damp places, streamsides, lignotuberous, common
__ river; Leptospermum obovatum; streamsides
__ slender; L. brevipes; near forests and streams, common
__ swamp; L. myrtifolium; higher swamps
Thistle, Scotch; Onopordum acanthion; weed of farmland, Robinsons Hole
__ spear; Cirsium vulgare; very common weed, widespread along streams
Thornbill, brown; Acanthiza pusilla; damper forests, common
__ little; A. nana; forests and woodland
__ striated; A. lineata; forests, common
Thornybush includes coprosma, blackthorn, orangethorn and tree violet
Thrush; grey shrike-thrush; Colluricincla harmonica; forests, common
__ ground; Zoothera dauma; moister forests
Tree-currant; prickly currant bush; Coprosma quadrifida; forests
Tree-fern, hard; Cyathea australis; damp forests
__ soft; Dicksonia antarctica; rainforests
Tree-violet; Hymenanthera dentata; forest gullies
Trigger-plant; Stylidium graminifolium; silvertop forests
Tristaniopsis laurina; water gum; streams and riversides especially along the upper Brogo
Vine, lawyer; austral sarsaparilla; Smilax australis; moister places
__ pearl; big-leaf vine; Stephania japonica; rainforests
__ snake; Sarcopetalum harveyanum; rainforests
__ water; Cissus hypoglauca; rainforests
__ wonga wonga; Pandorea pandorana; forests
Violet, native; ivy-leaved violet; Viola hederacea; forests, especially sheltered places
__ native; purple violet; Viola betonicifolia; as above
Wallaby, black; swamp wallaby; Wallabia bicolor; everywhere
__ red-necked; Macropus rufogriseus; more open country, flats
Wallaby-bush; Beyeria lasiocarpa; lower sheltered slopes, common
Water-dragon, eastern; Physignathus lesueurii; bask by streams
Watergum; kanooka; Tristaniopsis laurina; some streamsides especially upper Brogo and upper Deua
Water-rat; Hydromys chrysogaster; near permanent bodies of water, the upper Shoalhaven
Water-vine; Cissus hypoglauca; closed wet forests
Wattle, Bendethera; blue bush; Acacia covenyi; endemic to Bendethera
__ black; A. mearnsii; forests, common
__ Bodalla silver; red wattle; A. silvestris; common, usually in large
stands from the Deua to the Brogo
__ Brogo; A. blayana; found only in the Brogo
__ coast myall; A. binervia; damper forests, rocky sites
__ hickory; A. falciformis; damper forests
__ Kybean; small-leaved silver; A. kybeanensis; about upper Tuross
__ mountain hickory; A. obliquinervia; damper forests
__ silver; A. dealbata; higher forests
__ the silver; A. blayana as above
__ white sallow; A. floribunda; streamsides
__ woollybear; A. lucasii; heath near Kydra
Wattle-bird, red; Anthochaera carunculata; common near blossom
Weed, Indian; Sigesbeckia orientalis; weed densely spreading from disturbed country
Westringia, mountain; Westringia eremicola(?); sheltered high places adjacent to heath
Whipbird, eastern; Psophodes olivaceus; damper forests undergrowth
Whistler, golden; Pachycephala pectoralis; tall forest
Willow, bloody (excluded on principle)
Wombat; Vombatus ursinus common in less rocky places, but especially on tablelands
Wood-swallow, dusky; Artamus cyanopterus; forest and woodland usually near clearings
Wren, superb blue; Malurus cyaneus; lower forests, undergrowth
Yam daisy; Microseris walteri; also nyamin, garngeg, murrnong; remnant near swampy areas
Yabby; freshwater crayfish; Euastacus species; streams and rivers of the mountains
Yowie; not sighted