Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00199:reg:6:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00199
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 6 (pt 2/17)
Character Range: 9029–12035

2021).

   Accompanying Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT) pages provide additional background information on the biology, population status and threats to the Australian Painted Snipe. SPRAT pages are available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgibin/ sprat/public/sprat.pl.

1.1            Conservation Status

   The Australian Painted Snipe is listed as threatened under the EPBC Act, and in all parts of its range under State legislation (Table 1). This species is classified as Endangered under the EPBC Act owing to recent declines over much of its breeding range. Loss and degradation of wetlands, through drainage and the diversion of water for agriculture and reservoirs, are thought to have contributed most to this decline. Over-grazing, drought and reduced rainfall are also contributing factors that have adversely affected the species across its range.

                   1.2            Taxonomy

             Until recently, the Australian Painted Snipe was considered to be a subspecies of the Greater Painted Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis), a species that occurs across Africa and Asia (Marchant and Higgins 1993). However, Lane and Rogers (2000) recommended treating the subspecies found in Australia (R. benghalensis australis) as a full species (R. australis) based on its distinctive appearance, measurements and anatomy. Genetic studies indicate that the Australian Painted Snipe is a distinct species that diverged around 19 million years ago. It is now accepted as a full species (Baker et al. 2007; Garnett et al. 2011; ADF 2019). The Australian Painted Snipe is the only member of the genus Rostratula that occurs in Australia (del Hoyo et al. 1996; AFD 2019).

                   1.3            Species description

             The Australian Painted Snipe is a small stocky waterbird, approximately 240–300 mm in length, with a wingspan of 500–540 mm and weighing 125–130 g (Marchant and Higgins 1993). The adult female is more colourful and larger than the male. It has a chocolate-brown head with chestnut patch in the nape, a comma-shaped white marking around the eye and metallic green back and wings, barred olive and black. A diagnostic white 'harness marking' runs from the mantle onto the breast. It has a brown eye, white belly, bluish-green legs and long pink-orange bill darkening towards the tip. The male is smaller than the female and has a duller head pattern. It has a mottled grey-brown head and neck, with a buff stripe down the centre of the crown and through the eyes. Wings and back are spotted black, buff and white, and the breast has a broad black band. There is no seasonal variation in the plumage of the Australian Painted Snipe. The juvenile plumage is very similar to the adult male (Marchant and Higgins 1993).

1.4            Species distribution in Australia

   The Australian Painted Snipe is endemic to Australia. The species has a historical distribution through most of continent including some desert regions, but