The Fauna Wetland Indicator Species List (WISL) has been compiled to support the determination of whether a site is a wetland. Wetland indicator species (WIS) have adapted to living in wetlands and are dependent on them for all or part of their lives. Some spend a major part of their life there, whereas others only use them for critical stages of their life cycle, such as breeding and larval development.
The presence of a WIS at a site does not, in itself, confirm the site to be a wetland, but is one line of evidence towards determining the wetland status of a site.
species are dependent on water and need to be immersed in water, or floating upon water, for their total life cycle.
Others
require water for most of their life cycle stages or for a critical stage in their development.
The WISL includes mainly the more common fauna species. Most rare species and all vagrant fauna species have not been included. Species, other than those listed, may also be wetland indicator species for a certain locality given expert recommendation and reliable site specific data.
Most marine species are also not included in the WISL as the wetland definition excludes marine water more than 6m below low tide.
Knowledge of the species geographic distribution and behaviour will aid interpretation of some recorded observations. Expert advice may be required when WIS are recorded in an area without other identifiable wetland characteristics as the species may be:
travelling between wetlands (e.g. crayfish, eels, crocodiles and birds)
using adjacent non-wetland habitat for a period of their life cycle or lifestyle (e.g. Chelidae freshwater turtles laying eggs on dry ground)
forced into less preferred non-wetland habitat due to overpopulation pressures (e.g. swamp rat).
The species groupings below are divided into subgroupings which contain species with similar habitat needs and behaviours. The WIS lists have been grouped in 7 tables and are all at a species level except for insects and spiders.
Insect and spider Wetland Indicator Species List (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Common name
insects
Ephemeroptera
Baetidae
mayfly
insects
Ephemeroptera
Caenidae
mayfly
insects
Ephemeroptera
Coloburiscidae
mayfly
insects
Ephemeroptera
Leptophlebiidae
mayfly
insects
Ephemeroptera
Oniscigastridae
mayfly
insects
Ephemeroptera
Prosopistomatidae
mayfly
insects
Ephemeroptera
Vietnamellidae
mayfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Coenagrionidae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Isostictidae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Protoneuridae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Chorismagrionidae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Hypolestidae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Lestidae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Megapodagriondae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Synlestidae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Calopterygidae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Diphlebiidae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Zygoptera
Libellagimidae
damselfly
insects
Odonata
Epiproctophora
Gomphidae
dragonfly
insects
Odonata
Epiproctophora
Lindeniidae
dragonfly
insects
Odonata
Epiproctophora
Petaluridae
dragonfly
insects
Odonata
Epiproctophora
Aeshnidae
dragonfly
insects
Odonata
Epiproctophora
Telephlebiidae
dragonfly
insects
Plecoptera
Austroperlidae
stonefly
insects
Plecoptera
Eustheniidae
stonefly
insects
Plecoptera
Gripopterygidae
stonefly
insects
Plecoptera
Notonemouridae
stonefly
insects
Hemiptera
Heteroptera
Gerridae
water strider
insects
Hemiptera
Heteroptera
Hermatobotidae
insects
Hemiptera
Heteroptera
Hydrometriadae
water measure
insects
Hemiptera
Heteroptera
Veliidae
small water strider
insects
Hemiptera
Heteroptera
Notonectidae
backswimmer
insects
Hemiptera
Heteroptera
Corixidae
water-boatman
insects
Megaloptera
Sialidae
alderfly
insects
Megaloptera
Corydalidae
dobsonfly
insects
Coleoptera
Sphaeriusidae
sphaeriusid
insects
Coleoptera
Dytiscidae
dobson fly
insects
Coleoptera
Gryinidae
whirligig beetle
insects
Coleoptera
Halipidae
haliplid
insects
Coleoptera
Hygrobiidae
insects
Coleoptera
Hydrophilidae
water beetle
insects
Diptera
Tanyderidae
fly
insects
Diptera
Chaoboridae
mosquito
insects
Diptera
Corethrellidae
mosquito
insects
Diptera
Culicidae
mosquito
insects
Diptera
Chironomidae
midge
insects
Diptera
Ceratopogonidae
sand fly
insects
Trichoptera
Calamoceratidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Spicpalpia
Glossosomatidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Spicpalpia
Hydrobiosidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Spicpalpia
Hydropilidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Annulipalpia
Philopotamoidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Annulipalpia
Stenopsychidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Annulipalpia
Dipseudopsidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Annulipalpia
Ecnomidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Annulipalpia
Hydropsycidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Annulipalpia
Polycentropodidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Annulipalpia
Psychomyiidae
caddis-fly
insects
Trichoptera
Polyphaga
Atriplectididae
caddis-fly
pycnogonida
Pantopoda
Ammotheiidae
intertidal spider
pycnogonida
Pantopoda
Austrodecidae
intertidal spider
pycnogonida
Pantopoda
Nymphonidae
intertidal spider
pycnogonida
Pantopoda
Phoxichildilidiidae
intertidal spider
arichnida
Aranea
Barychelidae
waterspider
Crustacean
There is little knowledge about Queensland’s freshwater crustaceans. Expertise should be sought when using Class Crustacea as a wetland indicator species as some species are considered amphibious during their life cycle and may appear outside the wetland environment.
This section includes only the macro freshwater crustacean species within Class Crustacea, Order Decapoda and Family either Palaemondae (freshwater crabs) or Parastacidae (freshwater crayfish).
Crustacean Wetland Indicator Species List (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
Class
Family
Scientific name
Common name
NCA
EPBC
End.
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax cairnesenis
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax cartalacoolah
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax depressus (complex)
orange fingered yabby
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax destructor
inland yabby
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax parvus
rainforest yabby
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax quadricarinatus
redclaw
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax rhynchotus
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax robustus
sand yabby
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax tenuimanus
marron
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Cherax urospinosus
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus balanensis
Balan spiny crayfish
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus bindal
Mt. Elliot spiny crayfish
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus eungella
Eungella spiny crayfish
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus fleckeri
Flecker's spiny crayfish
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus hystricosus
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus jagara
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus maidae
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus monteithotum
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus robertsi
Robert's spiny crayfish
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus setosus
Mount Glorious spiny crayfish
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus sulcatus
Lamington spiny crayfish
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus suttoni
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus urospinosus
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Euastacus yigara
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Tenuibranchiurus glypticus
swamp yabby
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Paratya australiensis
Australian paratya
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Caridina longirostris
long-beaked cardina
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Carindina serratirostris
spiny-beaked cardina
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Caridina gracilirostris
slender-beaked carindina
crustacean
Caridina typus
typical cadina
crustacean
Caridina zebra
zebra shrimp
crustacean
Caridina confusa
false zebra shrimp
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Australtya striolata
riffle shrimp
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Macrobrachium australiense
common Australian river prawn
crustacean
Macrobrachium idea
Ida's river prawn
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Macrobrachium tolmerum
east Australian river prawn
crustacean
Parastacoidea
Macrobrachium novaeholandiae
New Holland river prawn
crustacean
Macrobrachium lar
giant jungle prawn
crustacean
Macrobrachium rosenbergii
giant river prawn
crustacean
Macrobrachium sp.
Koombooloomba Prawn
crustacean
Macrobrachium handschini
Handschin's River prawn
crustacean
Macrobrachium latidactylus
broad-fingered river prawn
crustacean
Callianassa australiensis
yabby
crustacean
Portunus sanguinolentus
redspot swimmer crab
crustacean
Mictyris longicarpus
soldier crab
crustacean
Synalpheus neptunus
Neptune's snapping shrimp
crustacean
Lysmata vittata
red-striped shrimp
crustacean
Heloecius cordiformis
semaphore crab
crustacean
Varuna litterata
river swimming crab
crustacean
Holthuisana agassizi
Agassiz's freshwater crab
crustacean
Holthuisana transversa
inland crab
crustacean
Holthuisana wasselli
Wassell's freshwater crab
crustacean
Alpheus edwardsii
Alpheus's snapping shrimp
crustacean
Thalassina squamifera
mud lobster
crustacean
Callianassa australiensis
yabby
crustacean
Clibanarius taeniatus
yellow-striped hermit
crustacean
Clibanarius virescens
yellow-footed hermit
crustacean
Petrolisthes haplodactylus
rounded porcelain crab
crustacean
Petrolisthes teres
crustacean
Calappa hepatica
common box crab
crustacean
Ashtoret granulosa
red-banded sand crab
crustacean
Carisoma carnifex
giant shore crab
crustacean
Metopograpsus frontalis
broad-fronted mangrove crab
crustacean
Graspus teuicrustatus
tropical rock crab
crustacean
Heice leachii
purple and cream crab
crustacean
Neosarmatium trispinosum
scarlet three-fingered mangrove crab
crustacean
Parasesarma erythodactyl
red-fingered marsh crab
crustacean
Perisesarma messa
maroon mangrove crab
crustacean
Bresediun brevipes
banded mangrove crab
crustacean
Paracleistoma wardi
Ward's hairy-legged crab
crustacean
Scorpimera inflata
sand bubbler
crustacean
Australoplax tridentata
furry-clawed crab
crustacean
Macrophthalmus setosus
Australian sentinel crab
crustacean
Ocypode ceratophthalma
horn-eyed ghost crab
crustacean
Uca coarctata
orange-clawed fiddler crab
crustacean
Uca triangularis
lemon fiddler
crustacean
Uca perplexa
yellow-clawed fiddler
crustacean
Uca vomeris
two-toned fiddler
crustacean
Portunus pelagius
sand crab
crustacean
Scylla serrata
mud crab
crustacean
Thalamita sima
four-lobed swimming crab
crustacean
Epixnathus dentatus
long-fingered shore crab
crustacean
Myomenippe fornasinii
slow-moving shore crab
crustacean
Palaemon serenus
rock pool shrimp
crustacean
Ancyloceles agravelei
twisted-claw poercelain
crustacean
Calcinus latens
purple foot-band hermit
Fish
All wild fish—Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) and Osteichthyes (bony fish)—recognised as recorded within Queensland are considered to be WIS, depending on their typical habitat’s physical characteristics as compared to those described in the Queensland Wetland Program wetland definition.
The fish species in this list largely belong to the freshwater fish that are bed spawners (demersal) with the non-floating eggs sinking to the water column bed or adhering to submerged rocks or vegetation.
Other fish (diadromus) are dependent on estuarine and lower freshwater habitat early in their life cycles. The free floating young then move from the estuarine to the marine environment for their mature lives either breeding at sea or returning to estuarine or freshwater environments to breed.
Some species move downstream to breed in the brackish water or even seawater and then migrate upstream (catadromous). Examples of these are Australian perch and barramundi.
More extensive Queensland fish species lists are available from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries). Queensland’s watercourses and estuaries are populated by freshwater and estuarine elasmobranchs (rays, bull sharks, sawfish). The taxonomy, distribution and status of these creatures are poorly known and because of this expert guidance is essential if considering these as wetland indicator species.
Note that species that may spend a part of their life in a marine environment are outside the scope of this guideline.
Fish Wetland Indicator Species List - cartilaginous (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
Fish Wetland Indicator Species List - lobe-finned (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
Fish Wetland Indicator Species List - ray-finned (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
These creatures live most of their lives in aquatic ecosystems and are therefore considered wetland indicators.
Reptile Wetland Indicator Species List (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
Frogs are amphibians, usually going through 3 distinct life cycle stages from eggs to aquatic larvae (tadpole) and air breathing adults. Expert opinion should be sought as these animals may live at least one stage of their life cycle outside wetland habitats. The frog species selected for these lists are the most hydrophilic frog species whose life cycle fits within the Queensland Wetlands Program wetland definition (animals that are adapted to and dependent on living in wet conditions for at least part of their life cycle).
Frogs living in permanent wetland conditions usually breed in the wetter summer months. Those in the arid inland areas with ephemeral wetlands are usually burrowing frogs that bury themselves in the moist underground, subdue body metabolism and enter a state of dormancy referred to as aestivation for months or years of drought. They can then activate themselves within 24 hours of a rain or flood event, rise to the surface and mate with the tadpole metamorphosing into a frog in about 14 to 20 days in most species. Breeding occurs as long as the wet event lasts. The moistest soil for burrowing and drought survival is beneath the wetlands. As such, the frog wetland indicator list is divided into 3 tables to differentiate between the frogs according to their relationship with wetlands.
Frog—entire aquatic life
These frog species are considered to live an entirely aquatic life. One species is noted as being in seepage areas. As most members of the family Microhylidae lay eggs on the land and are arboreal or terrestrial[1], they are not included as representative WIS.
Frog Wetland Indicator Species List - entire aquatic life (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
These species do not spend all life stages (egg, tadpole or maturity) within the aquatic environment. These species can be indicators of wetland conditions, but require expert interpretation of their associations with wetlands.
Frog Wetland Indicator Species List - partial aquatic life (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
For these species, the aquatic environment is essential for the early life stages (egg and tadpole), and the mature stage is not aquatic but burrowed except for breeding events. Therefore, these species are only an indicator for possible wetland conditions in the egg and tadpole stages, and during breeding events.
Frog Wetland Indicator Species List - early aquatic life (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
The birds listed in the following tables are selected for their close relationship with wetlands. To assist with identification, the lists have been divided into categories of species that share similar behaviour and habitats.
The lists include indicator species that either:
breed in wetlands
feed almost entirely in wetlands
live in wetlands or abutting habitat.
These lists include species that are easy to identify but are not complete lists of wetland species. Uncommon and vagrant species are not included. It is important to note that some species in these lists may be recorded out of wetland habitats because they migrate or move during dry periods. This does not interfere with their status of wetland indicators but means that data used as wetland indication may require expert interpretation.
It is also important to recognise that while most wader birds breed in wetlands of the Northern Hemisphere, they remain faithful to wetland sites when in Australia.
Bird Wetland Indicator Species List (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
Wetland mammals are grouped in 2 categories—fresh water and saltwater.
Mammal—freshwater
These species are wetland specialists but do not spend their entire life in the water environment.
Mammal Wetland Indicator Species List - freshwater (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
Mammal Wetland Indicator Species List - saltwater (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
Uncategorised Wetland Indicator Species List (this list is indicative and may not be all inclusive of all WIS in this section) Download this table in .CSV format
^ Cogger, HG (1994), Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia; 5th edition, Reed Books, Sydney.
^ Geering, ADW, Agnew, L & Harding, S (2007), Shorebirds of Australia. [online], CSIRO Pub., Victoria, Australia. Available at: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/5345/ [Accessed 13 November 2020].
Last updated: 22 March 2013
This page should be cited as:
Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2013) Fauna - Wetland Indicator Species List, WetlandInfo website, accessed 30 August 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/components/biota/fauna/fauna-indicator-species/