St Francis Island is the site of a reintroduction program for the endangered brush tailed bettong (''The conservation park was classified in 2010 as being anBettongia penicillata The woylie or brush-tailed bettong (''Bettongia penicillata'') is a small, critically endangered, gerbil-like mammal native to forests and shrubland of Australia. A member of the rat-kangaroo family (Potoroidae), it moves by hopping and is acti ...''), which became extinct on the island in the early 1900s. St Francis Island is also one of only two islands in South Australia which has a population of the vulnerable southern brown bandicoot ('' Isoodon obesulus''). This island also supports a population of the carpet snake (''Morelia spilota''), which is vulnerable in South Australia and in decline throughout its mainland range. Several rare or uncommon bird species breed on the Isles, including Cape Barren goose (''Cereopsis novaehollandiae The Cape Barren goose (''Cereopsis novaehollandiae'') is a large goose resident in southern Australia. Etymology The species' common name is derived from Cape Barren Island, where specimens were first sighted by European explorers. It is known ...''), the second rarest goose species in the world and the banded rail ('' Rallus philippensis''). Significant breeding colonies of Australian sea lion (''Neophoca cinerea The Australian sea lion (''Neophoca cinerea''), also known as the Australian sea-lion or Australian sealion, is a species of sea lion that is the only endemic pinniped in Australia. It is currently monotypic in the genus ''Neophoca'', with the ex ...''), one of the rarest marine mammals in the world, occur on Fenelon and West Islands… St Francis granite formation outcrops on eastern St Francis Island and this is a type locality… The Isles also support a large breeding population of short tailed shearwaters (''Puffinus tenuirostris The short-tailed shearwater or slender-billed shearwater (''Ardenna tenuirostris''; formerly ''Puffinus tenuirostris''), also called yolla or moonbird, and commonly known as the muttonbird in Australia, is the most abundant seabird species in A ...''). New Zealand fur seals (''Arctocephalus forsteri ''Arctocephalus forsteri'' (common names include the Australasian fur seal, South Australian fur seal, New Zealand fur seal, Antipodean fur seal, or long-nosed fur seal) is a species of fur seal found mainly around southern Australia and New Z ...'') breed on Fenelon Island... This group of nine islands lies off the coast of South Australia near Ceduna, beyond the Nuyts Archipelago group of islands. The total area covered by the group is 1,312 ha, the largest islands in the group being St Francis Island (809ha), Masillon Island (202 ha) and Egg, Dog and West Islands (all 60 ha in area). The islands consist of limestone and sand over granite bases. Nuyts Volcanics formation outcrops on western St Francis Island, and St Francis Granite formation outcrops on eastern St Francis Island. Both are considered geological monuments. The vegetation on the larger islands consists mostly of coast saltbush (''Atriplex cinerea ''Atriplex cinerea'', commonly known as grey saltbush, coast saltbush, barilla or ''truganini'', is a plant species in the family Amaranthaceae. It occurs in sheltered coastal areas and around salt lakes in the Australian states of Western Aust ...'') shrubland on the low-lying areas, with grassland and scattered low shrubs covering the remainder. Populations of bush rat (''Rattus fuscipes The bush rat or Australian bush rat (''Rattus fuscipes'') is a small Australian nocturnal animal. It is an omnivore and one of the most common indigenous species of rat on the continent, found in many heathland areas of Victoria and New Sou ...'') occur on Dog and Masillon Islands. St Francis is also the site of a breeding population of short-tailed shearwaters (''Puffinus tenuirostris''). Other birds which breed on the Isles include Cape Barren goose (''Cereopsis novaehollandiae''), banded rail (''Rallus philippensis''), rock parrot ('' Neophema petrophila'') and little penguin (''Eudyptula minor The little penguin (''Eudyptula minor'') is a species of penguin from New Zealand. They are commonly known as little blue penguins or blue penguins owing to their slate-blue plumage and are also known by their Māori name . The Australian lit ...''). Significant breeding colonies of Australian sea-lion (''Neophoca cinerea'') occur on Fenelon and West Islands and New Zealand fur seals (''Arctocephalus forsteri'') breed on Fenelon Island… For most of these islands, pastoral leases have been held since the late 1800s. St Francis Island is the most disturbed of the group, a large part of it having been cleared and the whole island grazed by sheep, but the vegetation is now recovering. Introduced plants are common on St Francis Island. The remaining islands are in their natural state.
See also
*Notes and references
Notes
References
Attribution
* {{Protected areas of South Australia, state=collapsed Former protected areas of South Australia Protected areas established in 1967 1967 establishments in Australia Protected areas disestablished in 2011 2011 disestablishments in Australia Great Australian Bight South Australian places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate