Atomic Worm Lizard (Aprasia rostrata) from Hermite Island, Montebello Archipelago.
In 1952, preparations were underway establishing infrastructure for Britain’s first atomic weapons test in the Montebello Archipelago. Mr Frank Hill was a member of the party camped near Claret Bay on the southern end of Hermite Island. He was neither botanist nor naturalist, but managed to collect numerous plant and animal specimens, including two worm lizards, which were subsequently described as new in 1956. Mr Hill’s notes were published in London in 1955. No further specimens of this lizard had been seen since.
In September 2006, Brad Maryan (WA Museum) and Brian Bush (Snakes Harmful & Harmless) spent a week in the area and visited Hermite, Trimouille and North-West Islands. They rediscovered this small worm lizard on Hermite Island and recorded it for the first time on Trimouille Island.
