Editing Lizard Island (section)

== Flora and fauna==
===Plant species===
As the sea level rose in the early [[Holocene]], resulting in the isolation of Lizard Island, [[mangrove forest]] gradually became established in place of the near-coastal palms and grasses. There are a number of distinct plant communities, mainly ''[[Themeda australis]]''  and ''[[Arundinella|Arundinella nepalensis]]'' (a low grass), and some small patches of [[rainforest]] and [[semi-deciduous]] [[notophyll]] (dry rainforest). There is some woodland consisting of mainly ''[[Acacia crassicarpa]]'' and some ''[[Eucalyptus tessellaris]]'', along with shrubs such as ''[[Thryptomene oligandra]]'' and swamplands of [[pandanus]]. Along the [[coastal dune]] there is strand vegetation.<ref name=":1"/><ref name=liz/>

===Animals===
The waters around the island contain a number of coral reefs. [[Climate change in Australia|Climate change]] is causing the reefs to suffer [[coral bleaching]], in the summer of early 2024 over 97% of some reefs around the island died.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/26/most-of-it-was-dead-scientists-discovers-one-of-great-barrier-reefs-worst-coral-bleaching-events |title='Most of it was dead': scientists discover one of Great Barrier Reef's worst coral bleaching events |author=Graham Readfearn |date=25 June 2024 |access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>

==== Reptiles ====
{{as of|2009}} there were 11 species of lizards on the island.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2009-10-19 |title=Nature, culture and history {{!}} Lizard Island National Park |url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/lizard-island/about/culture |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Parks and forests {{!}} Department of Environment and Science, Queensland |language=en-AU}}</ref> The most commonly found lizard is the yellow-spotted monitor (''[[Varanus panoptes]]).''<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Lizard Island |url=https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/lizard-island/about.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910235511/https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/lizard-island/about.html |archive-date=10 September 2017 |access-date=11 September 2017 |website=Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing |publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref> [[Skink]]s and [[gecko]]s are among some of the other reptiles roaming Lizard Island. The lowlands bar-lipped skink (''[[Eremiascincus pardalis]]'') and the sandy rainbow-skink (''[[Carlia dogare]]'') are endemic species of Queensland found on this island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wildlife of Lizard Island National Park |url=https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/wildlife/?AreaID=national-park-lizard-island |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> The Chevert gecko ([[Nactus cheverti]]) is the only gecko on the island that's only endemic to Queensland. Pythons and tree snakes are common while the most dangerous snake on the island, the brown-headed snake (''[[Furina tristis]]''), is rarely seen.<ref name=":0" /> Green marine turtles (''[[Chelonia Mydas|Chelonia mydas]]'') and loggerhead marine turtles (''[[Caretta caretta]]'') can be seen nesting on the island in the summer and are often spotted in the shallow water.

==== Birds ====
There are over 40 species of birds that reside on or visit Lizard Island.<ref name=":0" /> Only about 20 species nest on the island, including [[tern]]s.<ref name=":0" /> The island is home to many land and sea birds including the bar-shouldered dove (''[[Geopelia humeralis]])'', pheasant coucal (''[[Centropus phasianinus]]),'' yellow-bellied sunbird (''[[Nectarinia jugularis]]),'' white-bellied sea-eagle (''[[Haliaeetus leucogaster]]''), and osprey (''[[Pandion cristatus]]''). Seasonal birds such as white-tailed tropicbird (''[[Phaethon lepturus]])'' and dollarbird ''([[Eurystomus orientalis]])'' also appear on the island.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

==== Mammals ====
Lizard Island is home to a few [[bat]] species, but the most common is the Black flying-foxes (''[[Pteropus alecto]]'').<ref name=":0" /> They typically roam around the island and congregate in the mangroves. Black flying-foxes will fly to the mainland when flowering is poor. Eastern Dusky Leaf-nosed Bat (''[[Hipposideros ater]]'') have also been spotted on the island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bats and Rats |website =Lizard Island Field Guide  |url=http://lifg.australianmuseum.net.au/Group.html?hierarchyId=PVWrQCLG&groupId=QVIHln6c |access-date=2023-04-20 |publisher= [[Australian Museum]]}}</ref>

Until 2009, Lizard Island had no native [[rodent]]s recorded. In October 2009, water rats (''[[Hydromys chrysogaster]]'') were spotted on the island and steadily increased in population until 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Water rat (species: Hydromys chrysogaster) in Lizard Island Field Guide (Lizard Island Field Guide) |url=http://lifg.australianmuseum.net.au/Group.html?hierarchyId=PVWrQCLG&groupId=PNmPc23a |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=lifg.australianmuseum.net.au}}</ref> In 2010, Cape York mosaic-tailed rat  (''[[Melomys capensis]])'' were spotted in South Island, marked as the first native rodent to the island chain.