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Abydos Antichiropus Millipede (Antichiropus forcipatus)

The Abydos Antichiropus millipede is a Pilbara species known from few locations, including its recorded type locality near Abydos, west of Marble Bar. Its habitat and life history are poorly known, so works near known records call for careful pre-clearance checks. It is listed as Priority 1 on the WA DBCA Priority Fauna List.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 1.

Seasonal planning

Seasonal activity and breeding information are not known for this species. Use the row below only as a general planning prompt, not as evidence of when millipedes are active.

Species-specific seasonality: Not recorded.

Plan survey timing around project requirements and current site conditions; the species' seasonal activity is unknown.

  • Survey and pre-clearance planning: General planning window only. These values do not indicate a known seasonal activity period for A. forcipatus.

Identification: Appearance and size

Species-level identification relies on diagnostic male structures. General appearance, body size and obvious signs in the field are not described.

The male gonopods have a long, pointed solenomere process and a slender solenomere tip. No body-size measurements or broader colour and appearance details are recorded.

Identification: Similar species

Antichiropus procerus and A. sloanae are similar in having relatively slender, upright gonopod femorites. Their solenomere tips are leaf-like, unlike the slender tip described for A. forcipatus. A. uvulus also has a well-developed solenomere process, but it is short and triangular rather than long and pointed.

Identification: Field signs

No species-specific tracks, burrows, refuges or other field signs are recorded. Treat an unconfirmed millipede observation as requiring expert identification, especially if the diagnostic male structures cannot be examined.

Distribution: Known range

Records place the species in the Pilbara, but its distribution is sparse and poorly known.

The named type locality is Abydos, about 64 km west of Marble Bar. Atlas of Living Australia records show 26 Western Australian records across three distinct 0.1-degree locations, with records spanning latitude -21.1 and longitude 118.9 to 119.2.

Distribution: WA region and status

The DBCA list flags the Pilbara region. The species is Priority 1, meaning it is poorly known and known from few locations, with none recorded on conservation lands in the list entry. This is a DBCA priority category, not a threatened-species listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. No national listing is given.

Habitat: Habitat information

Specific habitat associations have not been documented.

The species is a Pilbara millipede, but no particular landform, vegetation, soil, substrate or moisture conditions are recorded for A. forcipatus.

Habitat: Site interpretation

Do not use a presumed habitat preference to rule out a development site. Record the ground conditions and surface cover around known records and proposed works, while treating habitat suitability as uncertain.

Foraging habitat: Food and feeding

The diet and foraging locations of this species have not been documented.

No diet, feeding behaviour or foraging microhabitat is recorded for A. forcipatus.

Foraging habitat: Field recording

If an animal is found, record its exact position and the immediate ground conditions without disturbing it or assuming its food source.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

Breeding sites, reproductive timing and development are poorly known.

No breeding season, egg-laying site, clutch size, juvenile description or development period is recorded for this species.

Breeding habitat: Precaution

Do not schedule works on the assumption that breeding is confined to a particular season. Report any suspected eggs, juveniles or aggregations for expert assessment.

Sheltering habitat: Refuge information

The species' sheltering behaviour and refuge types are not documented.

No shelter type, burrowing behaviour or use of surface cover is recorded for A. forcipatus.

Sheltering habitat: Search precautions

As general millipede survey practice, carefully inspect accessible surface cover and ground crevices where permitted, replacing moved material as found. This is a search precaution, not a documented refuge preference for this species.

Threats: Known pressures

Species-specific threats and responses to disturbance are not known.

No specific threats are reported for A. forcipatus. Its Priority 1 status reflects that it is poorly known and recorded from few locations, with none on conservation lands according to the DBCA list.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or ground disturbance could affect an animal if present, but the extent of any species-specific impact is not established. Use precautionary controls and document any encounters.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

No survey method or detectability information is known for this species. Use targeted searches cautiously and record their limitations.

Check the known Pilbara records and the Abydos type locality against the project footprint. Confirm record precision and survey access. Do not assume the species is absent because no records are mapped.

Survey methodology: 2. Ground inspection

As general practice for millipedes, search suitable accessible ground slowly and inspect surface cover and crevices carefully, replacing moved material. No particular cover type or survey timing is established for this species.

Survey methodology: 3. Record and verify

Record the location, date, conditions, search effort and any habitat observations. Photograph the animal where practical and seek specialist identification. Male gonopod characters are needed for the stated species diagnosis.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Plan the footprint

Plan around uncertainty and the small number of known locations rather than relying on an assumed habitat or season.

Review known records and the project boundary with the project ecologist. Map areas of ground disturbance and retain undisturbed areas where practicable, particularly near known records.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Brief the crew

Explain how to pause work, protect a live millipede from immediate disturbance, and contact the fauna spotter catcher or ecologist. Do not collect or relocate an animal without appropriate approval and expert direction.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Inspect before clearing

Arrange a pre-clearance inspection by a competent person where warranted by records and project risk. Document the area searched and the limits of the inspection.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Pause and protect

Apply stop-and-check precautions if a millipede is found during clearing or ground works.

Stop work in the immediate area and prevent machinery or foot traffic from contacting the animal. Notify the fauna spotter catcher or ecologist and follow the approved site procedure.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Identify and document

Photograph the animal in place if safe, record coordinates and nearby ground conditions, and seek expert identification. Do not assume that an unverified millipede is A. forcipatus.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Resume only when cleared

Keep the immediate area undisturbed until the responsible ecologist has assessed the find and provided direction consistent with approvals and site procedures.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Report the observation

After a find or relevant survey, keep a clear record and use it to inform subsequent work.

Provide the ecologist with the location, photographs, date, identification confidence and circumstances of the observation. Distinguish a confirmed record from an unverified sighting.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Review remaining works

Reassess nearby work areas and controls with the ecologist. Record any additional inspection, avoidance or other action, and follow applicable approvals and reporting requirements.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Minimise the disturbed area

Species-specific rehabilitation requirements are not known, so rehabilitation should not claim to recreate known habitat for this millipede.

Keep disturbance within approved limits and retain adjacent undisturbed ground where practicable. Avoid unnecessary movement of soil and surface material beyond the works footprint.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and document

Rehabilitate according to the project plan and record the methods and condition of the area. No species-specific rehabilitation design, habitat target or monitoring period is stated.

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