Usefulness of camera traps in detecting cryptic species and species interactions: record of a Black-palmed Rock Monitor Varanus glebopalma predation event on the rarely detected Giant Slender Blue-tongue Cyclodomorphus maximus in the West Kimberley, Australia

The Kimberley region in Western Australia is a hotspot for reptile species diversity. Despite this, the ecology of the region’s reptiles and relationships between predator and prey species remain poorly understood, largely due to the inaccessibility of certain areas making survey work resource-intensive. Camera traps are a cost-effective way of conducting surveys in remote areas, and during extended deployments often detect rare and cryptic species. This field note reports on the first observation of a Black-palmed Rock Monitor Varanus glebopalma predating on a Giant Slender Blue-tongue Cyclodomorphus maximus, a cryptic and rare Kimberley endemic. This observation highlights the usefulness of camera traps for detecting cryptic species and providing insight into species interactions.