free from brushwood..." Fauna The Cumberland Plain is home to a variety of bird, insect, reptile and mammal species, including bats. Arachnid, amphibian and crustacean species are also present. About 40 species of reptiles are found in the Cumberland Plain. 30 bird species exist in the urban areas, with the common ones being the Australian magpie, Australian raven, noisy miner and the pied currawong. Introduced birds include the common mynah, common starling and the house sparrow. 14 mammal species are widespread in the plain, with common species being those of bats and possums. The outskirts of the Cumberland Plain, such as those adjacent to large parks, have a great diversity of wildlife. Vegetation communities Cumberland Plain features three main plant communities: Cumberland Plain Woodland, which is filled with heavy clay soils and merges the Shale Hills Woodland and Shale Plains Woodland subcommunities. Original extent was 125,446 ha, and now only 11,054 ha or 8.8% of original extent remains. Shale Plains Woodland occurs in the flat, low rainfall areas where it grades into Shale Hills Woodland at higher elevations to the south. Moist Shale Woodland is found in wetter areas, mostly on the upper component of very steep sheltered slopes. Originally at 2,034 ha, it is now at 604 ha (or 29.7% of original extent). Shale Sandstone Transition Forest is found at the edges of the Cumberland Plain, in an area with relatively low rainfall (800mm-900mm), that features moderately tall eucalyptus forest. It is linked with the subtle transition between clay-rich shale soil and the rough sandy matter of the sandstone plateau. It is present on the western bounds of the Woronora Plateau and above the Nepean and Georges rivers near Appin, through Ingleburn to the west of the Woronora Plateau and the Holsworthy defence area. It is a modestly tall eucalyptus forest with a mixed understorey of sclerophyll shrubs and grasses with some sparse blanket of tall casuarinas (Allocasuarina littoralis and Allocasuarina torulosa). Its ground cover contains varies species of shrubs that are common on shale substrates such as blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa) and those linked with sandstone soils such as geebungs (Persoonia). Sydney Coastal River-flat Forest, which is present on the damper and the more fertile deposits near creeks and rivers. This community includes Alluvial Woodland and Riparian Forest ecoregions. Original or pre-1750 extent was 39,162 ha. Now only 5,446 hectares, or 13.9% of original extent still remains in the