Checklist of the Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of Western Australia
Taxonomic checklist of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna for Western Australia
Download the latest version of the WA Checklist (2026) (updated November 2026) for the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Western Australia. This handy Excel sheet can be modified to suit your needs or imported into other applications. Use the 'SORT' column to restore the list into taxonomic order. The file is a single Excel workbook, with separate sheets for amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
The changes from the November 2026 checklist are documented below and can also be downloaded in pdf format. Previous changes to the checklist (2014-2025) can be found listed at the bottom of the page.
A comprehensive update of the WA Checklist is released by the WA Museum every year or as necessary. The WA checklist (2026) contains revisions of the terrestrial vertebrate species of Western Australia and additional information on the conservation status of the WA fauna (provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions).
The taxonomic changes are based on the work of the WA Museum's Terrestrial Zoology staff, and their many colleagues from around Australia and beyond. In the future, we will try to update the list as new taxonomic changes occur.
Bookmark this page, and keep visiting for the latest updated version. This page is updated twice a year, in April and October.
Please contact the relevant author of the specific list if you have any questions or comments.
Changes to the WA Museum Checklist from June 2026 (updated November 2026)
Reptiles and frogs
Two new Liopholis skink species
Aplin et al. (2024) described two new Liopholis skink species (formerly in L. inornata), both with very small ranges: Liopholis parva – from the North West Cape; L. purnululu – from Purnululu National Park.
Aplin et al. (2024). Molecular and morphological assessment of the Liopholis inornata (Rosén, 1905) species group (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae), with descriptions of two new species from northern Western Australia. Zootaxa 5551: 299–332. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5551.2.4
Reversion of Australian blindsnakes generic name
After 12 years as the genus Anilios, the generic name for Australian blindsnakes has reverted back to Ramphotyphlops.
Kraus, F. & Maddock, S.T. (2026). No justification for recognition of the blindsnake genera Anilios and Sundatyphlops (Squamata: Typhlopidae). Zootaxa 5768: 250–260. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5768.2.5
Synonymy of subspecies of Lerista planiventralis
A morphological and molecular study indicated that the two additional subspecies of L. planiventralis (decora and maryani) represented geographic variants with non-matching genotypic structure or were based on erroneous counts.
Farquhar, J.E., Maryan, B., Prates, I., Rabosky, D.L., Doughty, P. & Chapple, D.G. (2026). On an even keel: Revision of Lerista planiventralis (Lucas and Frost, 1902; Squamata: Scincidae) in Western Australia, with synonymy of its subspecies. Zootaxa 5839: 40-70. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5839.1.2
New species of Egernia
Egernia umbra was described using morphological and molecular data by Hamilton et al. (2026). The authors maintained the subspecies designations of E. stokesii (stokesii and badia) owing to introgression in the Shark Bay area (the subspecies aethiops from this area was also formally synonymised), and all non-WA population of large-bodied spiny-tailed skinks were assigned to E. zellingi.
Hamilton, Z.R., Doughty, P., Maryan, B., Ellis, R.J., Adams, M., Foster, R., Gardner, M.G., Pearson, D.J. & Donnellan, S.C. (2026). Revision of the Egernia stokesii species-group (Reptilia: Scincidae), with the description of a new saxicoline species from Western Australia. Zootaxa 5894: 451–495. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5894.4.1
Birds
No changes.
Mammals
Change of status for the Kimberley long-tailed planigale
The Long-tailed Planigale, Planigale ingrami, has been shown to represent four species. The Kimberley population had already been named as a subspecies previously, but is now elevated to full species, as Planigale subtilissima, with the common name of Kimberley Planigale.
Umbrello, L.S., Westerman, M., Travouillon, K.J., Blacket, M.J., Cameron, S.F., Mulder, E. and Baker, A.M. (2026). Untangling the long-tailed planigale (Dasyuridae: Planigale ingrami) species complex: four species revealed using integrative taxonomy. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 207(2), zlag082, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlag082
Revision of the bandicoot genus Isoodon
A major revision of the bandicoot genus Isoodon found new subspecies for WA, including the Kimberley Golden Bandicoot, Isoodon auratus bundilarri, the Daw Island Quenda, Isoodon fusciventer dawensis and the Little Quenda, Isoodon fusciventer halae. The revision of the Golden Bandicoot also suggests that the subspecies I. auratus auratus is extinct.
Travouillon, K.J., Cooper, S.J.B., Bertozzi, T., MacDonald, A.J., Roycroft, E., Phillips, M.J., Dahl, S., Comer, S. and Stemmer, D. (2026). Genetic and morphological reassessment of the genus Isoodon (Marsupialia: Peramelemorphia) and description of new species and subspecies. Australian Journal of Taxonomy 136: 1-53. https://doi.org/10.54102/ajt.3ej9p
