One of the hottest and driest places on Earth, the deserts of Western Australia are home to one of the world's most diverse range of reptile fauna.

As part of the Western Australian Museum’s The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West, reptile expert Dr Paul Doughty will give an illustrated presentation of reptile and frog diversity and the new species discovered in and around the Kalgoorlie region.

Dr Doughty said lizards are especially diverse in the arid regions of Western Australia and that there are also some hardy frog species able to survive the harsh desert conditions.

“I will look at some of the remarkable adaptations lizards have made to survive in the desert environment,” Dr Doughty said.

“Because of their moisture requirements, frogs are less diverse in the desert. However I will discuss some of the fascinating frog species that do survive in the barren landscape.”

Earlier this year, Dr Doughty described several geckos and skinks from the arid zone and, with a team from the University of WA and the Australian National University, also described a new species of burrowing frog called the Pilbara toadlet (Uperoleia saxatilis).

Dr Paul Doughty is the curator of herpetology at the Western Australian Museum. Working primarily on geckos and frogs, he has also published descriptions of dragons, skinks and snakes from the arid zone. Dr Doughty has conducted field work in the Goldfields region and has worked extensively in the Central Ranges and Great Victoria Desert.

The lecture is part of The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West which is proudly presented by the WA Museum in partnership with Chevron Australia. The series showcases the work of Museum scientists, curators and associates in the areas of natural and social sciences.

Lecture: A swag full of lizards and frogs: diversity in the western deserts
When: Thursday 27 October 2011, 5.30pm, Friday 28 October 2011,10.30am
Where: WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder, 17 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie.
Bookings Essential: www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest
Cost: By gold coin donation.

Flora Perrella, Western Australian Museum T. 9212 3856 M. 0424 027 646