Dirk Hartog Island is home to a wide range of terrestrial fauna including dozens of species of reptiles, rare amphibians and an astounding variety of bird life.

A full species list of all known reptiles and amphibians on Dirk Hartog Island can be downloaded here.

Reptiles -
The first extensive expedition to collect reptiles on Dirk Hartog Island took place during 1977 and the species collected are now lodged in the Western Australian Museum.
It was during this expedition that is was discovered that Dirk Hartog Island's reptile species are typical of the warmer, drier areas of South Western Australia and that many of the species found on the island are either endemic or rare.
The island's reptiles include geckos, legless lizards, dragons, skinks, monitors and snakes.



Amphibians -
Dirk Hartog Island is home to frog species "Arenophryne Rotunda" or the burrowing Sandhill Frog; a rare species that only became known to science in 1976.
This small frog species (approx. 3cm long) spends most of its time buried in the sand and can dig up to a meter underground. This burrowing allows the frog to live in the moist subsurface sand and absorb the water it needs. The frog returns to the surface at night to feed or when it rains. Due to the Sandhill Frog's nocturnal nature and its burrowing habits it can be hard to find.

Birdlife -
The island is home to 81 different species of birdlife, some of which are considered rare or endangered. Wrens are the most common type of bird on the island and include the rare black and white wren and southern emu wren. Meade Island, located in front of the homestead and joint to the island at low tide, is a bird sanctuary.

A detailed list of Dirk Hartog Island's bird species can be downloaded here.