Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve represents a significant-sized habitat block in its own right in its urban context.  It should also, however, be considered as an element of a network of reserves, remnant vegetation and open space that provides the potential for wildlife to move through the area. In excess of 100 fauna species have been recorded at the reserve.

It is important to take a landscape view of the site’s potential role as fauna habitat, rather than an insular view limited to the site’s potential just within its own boundaries. The reserve supports mammals, marsupials, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects and aquatic species.

Some species formerly recorded to have been within the reserve, may have been lost, such as the Agile Antechinus (recorded in the 1970s but not during the 1990s) and Eastern Grey Kangaroo (for which there is very limited habitat).  Some other native mammal species might persist but have not yet been recorded on the site, such as the Feathertail Glider.  In addition to Common Brushtail and Common Ringtail Possums which are widespread throughout suburban Melbourne, the site continues to support Koala, Sugar Gliders and Echidnas.

Some of the Species found:

• Short-beaked echidna                                   Tachyglossus aculeatus
• Common brushtail possum                           Trichocurus vulpecula
• Sugar glider                                                   Petaurus breviceps
• Common ringtail possum                              Pseudocheirus peregrinus
• Swamp rat                                                     Rattus lutreolus
• Koala                                                             Phascolarctos cinereus

Several microbat species occur within the reserve, demonstrative of good overall biodiversity within the site, given its regional context:

• White-striped free-tail bat
• Gould’s wattled bat
• Lesser long-eared bat
• Large forest bat
• Little forest bat