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 (2024) (updated November 2024) 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 2024 November checklist are documented below and can also be downloaded in pdf format. Previous changes to the checklist (2012-2022) can be found in the documents 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 (2024) 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 2024 (updated November 2024)
Reptiles and frogs
No changes.
Birds
Following IOC changes:
- mtDNA and UCE genetic studies reveal that Ixobrychus is not monophyletc but is rather paraphyletic relative to Botaurus (Päckert et al. 2014; Hruska et al. 2023). Merge Ixobrychus into Botaurus (Chesser et al. 2024).
- Phylogenetic analysis based on UCE elements reveals that Bubulcus is embedded in Ardea (Hruska et al. 2023). Move Eastern Cattle Egret from Bubulcus to Ardea (Chesser et al. 2024).
- Tachyspiza Kaup 1844 is resurrected as a genus to resolve the non-monophyly in the genus Accipiter demonstrated in phylogenetic analyzes (Lerner & Mindell 2005; Mindell et al. 2018) following Catanach et al. (2024).
- Pacific Swallow H. javanica and Tahiti Swallow H. tahitica are split based on differences in morphology (del Hoyo & Collar 2016; HBW/BirdLife). With the split of monotypic Tahiti Swallow Hirundo tahitica and polytypic Pacific Swallow, change the scientific name of the latter to Hirundo javanica.
- Sandhill Grasswren Amytornis oweni (including aenigma) is split from Rufous (Pilbara) Grasswren A. whitei based on differences in morphology and ecology (Christidis et al. 2013; WGAC 988)
New vagrant records:
- Red-billed Tropicbird subspecies, P. a. mesonauta, recorded on Ashmore Reef.
- Emperor Penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri, came ashore at Denmark on 5 November 2024.
- Nazca Booby, Sula granti, Banded bird photographed on Ashmore Reef on 7 August 2024.
- Apostlebird, Struthidea cinerea, Kununurra area, July 2024.
- Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops on Christmas Island.
Mammals
Sminthopsis nitela:
Umbrello et al. (2024) revised the Red-cheeked Dunnart, Sminthopsis virginiae, splitting the species into two species, by raising the WA subspecies to full species, Sminthopsis nitela. As a result, Sminthopsis virginiae is removed from the WA checklist (as it occurs only on the east coast), and Sminthopsis nitela is added instead.
Umbrello, L.S., Newton, H., Baker, A.M.,Travouillon, K.J., & Westerman, M. (2024). Vicariant speciation resulting from biogeographic barriers in the Australian tropics: The case of the red-cheeked dunnart (Sminthopsis virginiae). Ecology and Evolution, 14: e70215.
Minor corrections:
Updated Nyctophilus holtorum as WA endemic.
Corrected the subfamily name for Macroglossus minimus to Macroglossusinae.
