Black-soil Ctenotus (Ctenotus joanae)

Conservation status

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Rare.

Breeding season

The Black-soil Ctenotus is poorly known, so its seasonal pattern is best treated as a general warm-season skink pattern. Activity and breeding may vary across its range in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia, especially between wetter and drier years.

Breeding mode: Egg laying is the usual pattern for Ctenotus skinks. Species-specific confirmation is not recorded.

Clutch size: Not recorded.

Incubation: Not recorded.

Fledging or weaning: Not applicable for an egg-laying skink. The timing of emergence from the egg is not recorded.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Nest or egg-laying sites: Not recorded. Protect likely ground shelters, soil cracks, surface debris and connected native ground cover until the site has been assessed.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Timing may shift between regions and years with rainfall, temperature and ground-cover conditions, so use local observations and pre-clearance surveys to refine the work window.

• General surface activity: Surface activity is generally higher in warm weather, although animals may remain active during mild winter conditions.
• Mating and egg laying: Use September to January as the likely broad breeding window for field planning, but confirm conditions locally because species-specific timing is poorly documented.
• Eggs and newly emerged young: Eggs or newly emerged young may be present during and shortly after the warmer breeding period, but their timing and sites are not recorded for this species.
• Highest clearing risk: Plan clearing and construction as higher risk from September to February because active adults, eggs and newly emerged young may be encountered in ground cover and soil shelters.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Black-soil Ctenotus is a terrestrial skink. Species-level identification can be difficult in the field, so photographs and a voucher-quality description should be obtained where a record may affect works.

A detailed physical description and reliable field size are not available for this profile. Treat unidentified small skinks from suitable inland sites as potential Black-soil Ctenotus until an experienced reptile ecologist has checked them.

Scientific name: Ctenotus joanae

Family: Scincidae

Group: Reptile

Identification: Calls and similar species

No call or echolocation information is relevant to this species. No confirmed list of similar species is available here, so visual identification should be supported by clear photographs and, where needed, expert examination.

Identification: Field signs and handling

No species-specific droppings, nests, odour, stains or other field signs are documented. Search carefully around ground cover, loose surface material and shelter features rather than relying on signs alone.

If a skink is found during clearing, stop work around the animal, keep it shaded and minimise handling. Use an appropriately licensed fauna spotter catcher or reptile ecologist for identification and relocation decisions.

• Photograph the dorsal, lateral and head patterns if safe to do so.
• Record the exact location, date, habitat, disturbance activity and photographs.
• Do not retain an animal longer than necessary for identification.

Distribution: Australian range

The Black-soil Ctenotus is recorded across inland parts of Australia. The available mapping covers the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia, with records including the Mitchell Grass Downs region and the Winton local government area in Queensland.

The species is mapped in the following states and territory:

• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia

Distribution: Regional records

Queensland records include the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion and the Winton local government area. These records show presence in inland Queensland, but they do not define the full distribution or confirm occupancy of every apparently suitable site.

Distribution: Site assessment

Check state and territory databases, recent project records and local ecological reports before clearing. A lack of a database record does not demonstrate absence, particularly where survey coverage is limited or habitat has changed.

• Treat mapped records as a trigger for targeted assessment.
• Review records within and near the works footprint before finalising clearing limits.
• Record all observations and submit validated records to the relevant state database.

Habitat: Landforms and vegetation

Detailed habitat requirements are poorly documented. In inland works areas, give particular attention to black-soil landscapes, grassland settings and other relatively open terrestrial habitats within the species' mapped range.

The species name and available regional records indicate that black-soil country should be considered during site assessment. Records from the Mitchell Grass Downs region also support checking open inland grassland landscapes where the species is mapped.

Do not assume that modified or grazed ground is unsuitable. Retain assessment coverage across native grassland, sparse ground cover and disturbed edges where reptiles may shelter.

Habitat: Features to inspect

Inspect areas with surface cracks, loose soil, fallen timber, grass tussocks, rock fragments, debris and other ground-level cover. These features are general reptile habitat cues and are not confirmed as species-specific requirements.

• Black cracking-soil plains and drainage margins
• Native grassland and Mitchell Grass landscapes
• Edges of tracks, pads and cleared areas with remaining ground cover
• Stockpiles, rubble and other temporary shelter features, before disturbance

Habitat: Habitat condition

Map retained habitat, proposed clearing and connected areas outside the footprint. Avoid judging habitat value from vegetation cover alone, as small skinks may use shelter within otherwise open or disturbed ground.

Foraging habitat: Likely foraging settings

The Black-soil Ctenotus is a skink, but its diet and foraging behaviour are not well documented in the available profile. Use general terrestrial reptile survey methods and protect areas with ground cover and likely invertebrate prey habitat.

Inspect the base of grass tussocks, litter, loose soil, cracks and the margins of surface cover. These locations can provide both invertebrate prey and escape cover for small terrestrial skinks, although the use of each feature by this species should be confirmed locally.

Foraging habitat: Worksite inspection

Before clearing, walk the footprint slowly and inspect ground cover that will be removed or crushed. Include access tracks, laydown areas, trench lines and temporary work areas in the assessment.

• Check beneath movable cover only where safe and authorised.
• Replace inspected cover in its original position where practicable.
• Avoid prolonged exposure of animals to sun, heat, machinery and people.

Foraging habitat: Diet and management

No confirmed diet is given for the species. Avoid using pesticides unnecessarily in retained habitat, and prevent spills, sediment movement and waste accumulation that may reduce ground-dwelling invertebrate habitat.

Diet: Not well documented. Small terrestrial invertebrates are a reasonable general consideration for skink habitat assessment, but should not be treated as a confirmed species-specific diet

Breeding habitat: Breeding places

Breeding timing, clutch size, incubation and breeding places are not well documented for the Black-soil Ctenotus. Manage potential habitat year round unless a project ecologist identifies a locally supported lower-risk timing window.

No confirmed nest, burrow or other breeding-place description is available. Do not disturb cracks, soil cavities, dense tussock bases or other protected ground features unnecessarily during clearing.

Breeding habitat: Survey and clearing controls

A fauna spotter catcher should inspect ground cover progressively ahead of machinery. Use staged clearing where practicable, moving animals away from the immediate work area under an approved fauna handling procedure.

• Clear toward retained habitat where site conditions allow.
• Keep machinery speeds low during initial ground disturbance.
• Stop work if an animal is found in the active clearing zone.
• Maintain records of captures, relocations and mortality.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

No reliable breeding months, clutch size, incubation period or age at maturity are available for this profile. Avoid claiming that a site is free of breeding activity solely because no eggs, young or nest structure is found.

Breeding timing: Not documented

Breeding place: Not documented

Clutch size: Not documented

Sheltering habitat: Shelter features to retain

The species is a terrestrial skink and is likely to depend on ground-level shelter for refuge from heat, predators and machinery. Species-specific shelter preferences are poorly documented, so retain a range of natural cover features during planning and clearing.

Inspect and retain, where practicable, grass tussocks, leaf litter, fallen timber, loose rocks, soil cracks and other low cover. Avoid unnecessary removal of shelter outside the approved footprint.

• Native ground cover
• Cracking or friable soil
• Fallen timber and bark
• Loose rocks and surface debris
• Vegetated edges around tracks and pads

Sheltering habitat: Clearing practice

Use a staged, supervised approach. Move or remove cover only after it has been checked by the fauna spotter catcher, and do not place spoil, equipment or materials over retained habitat.

• Mark no-go areas clearly.
• Keep temporary stockpiles off potential retained habitat.
• Inspect trenches, pits and other excavations regularly.
• Provide safe egress or cover excavations when unattended, as required by the site fauna plan.

Sheltering habitat: Heat and disturbance

Reptiles are vulnerable to heat, dehydration, crushing and vehicle strikes during ground works. Schedule intensive hand searching and initial clearing for conditions that allow safe detection, and pause if heat or visibility prevents effective searching.

Threats: Clearing and earthworks

The main worksite risks are direct mortality and loss of ground habitat. South Australia's Rare listing warrants a precautionary approach, especially where clearing affects mapped habitat or a connected inland grassland landscape.

Vegetation removal, grading, topsoil stripping and trenching can destroy shelter and breeding features and can kill animals that remain under cover. Define the smallest practicable disturbance footprint and fence retained habitat before works begin.

Threats: Vehicle and machinery impacts

Vehicle movements, rolling, compaction and stockpiling can crush animals and remove the loose ground cover they use. Restrict traffic to designated routes and inspect active work areas before machinery enters.

• Use fauna spotter catchers during initial clearing and high-risk ground disturbance.
• Control vehicle speed on unsealed tracks and within the work area.
• Keep equipment and materials out of retained habitat.

Threats: Fire, weeds and altered ground cover

Unplanned fire, inappropriate fuel reduction, weed invasion and changes to grass cover can simplify ground habitat. Keep fire and weed management aligned with the ecological assessment, and avoid broad treatment of retained habitat without checking for fauna impacts.

Threats: Status and management response

The species is listed as Rare in South Australia and is profiled as an EVNT species. Apply targeted survey and a documented fauna management plan where clearing may affect mapped habitat or known records. Queensland records list the species as least concern under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, but native fauna handling and state approval requirements still apply.

• Engage a suitably experienced reptile ecologist for project risk assessment.
• Complete targeted searches before clearing where habitat is present.
• Use progressive clearing and supervised fauna relocation where authorised.
• Report injuries, deaths and confirmed records through the relevant project and government channels.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The Black-soil Ctenotus is a poorly known terrestrial skink. Use a combination of habitat assessment, active searching and, where justified, trapping designed for small ground dwelling reptiles.

Check current state and territory records before planning works. The species is mapped in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. Treat records as indicators of possible presence, not as proof that a site is occupied.

Review recent WildNet and other government records, habitat mapping, previous ecological reports, aerial imagery, soil mapping and proposed clearing footprints. Confirm whether the site falls within a listed population or jurisdictional category.

• Map areas of intact or lightly disturbed terrestrial habitat and likely movement routes.
• Check whether the action may affect a South Australian Rare population or a Queensland population subject to near threatened protections.
• Refer the action for an EPBC Act assessment if another protected matter, or a potential Commonwealth listing, may be affected. Do not assume that a lack of an EPBC listing removes state approval requirements.

Survey methodology: 2. Active searches

Search during daylight when skinks are likely to be active. Warm conditions with suitable surface temperatures are generally more productive than cold, wet or very hot conditions. Avoid searching during rain, strong winds, extreme heat or immediately after major disturbance.

Walk slowly through suitable habitat and inspect ground cover, soil cracks, fallen timber, rocks, litter, tussocks and the edges of disturbed areas. Use hand tools carefully to lift cover, then replace it in its original position.

• Search several times where the habitat is suitable, including at different times of day and under different weather conditions.
• Use experienced observers who can identify small skinks and distinguish a confirmed record from an unconfirmed sighting.
• Do not rely on one negative search to clear a site where suitable habitat remains.

Survey methodology: 3. Trapping and targeted effort

If active searches are unlikely to provide adequate confidence, have a suitably experienced ecologist design a targeted trapping program. Pitfall and funnel trapping can be considered for terrestrial skinks, subject to animal welfare, weather and permit requirements.

Set traps only where they can be checked frequently and safely. Provide suitable shelter and moisture management, and close or suspend trapping during unsuitable conditions. Obtain approval before trapping on public land or where a permit is required.

• Use the least invasive method that can answer the project question.
• Keep trapping effort, trap locations, weather, habitat condition and search time consistent enough to compare results.
• Stop trapping if animals show signs of heat stress, dehydration, injury or repeated disturbance.

Survey methodology: 4. Records and confidence

Record every observation, including animals not captured. A clear photograph and an accurate location are valuable for verification.

Document the survey date, start and finish time, weather, recent rain, search method, personnel, effort, habitat, ground cover, animal behaviour and identification confidence.

• Map live animals, carcasses, shelters, burrows, soil cracks and other relevant microhabitat.
• Record all captures, releases, relocations, injuries and mortalities, including the reason for each handling event.
• State the limitations of the survey and identify habitat that remains uncleared or inadequately surveyed.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and responsibilities

Plan the work around avoidance first. The Black-soil Ctenotus has limited published information on breeding places, seasonal movements and disturbance tolerance, so retain suitable habitat wherever practicable and use a precautionary approach.

Confirm the current conservation status for the project location before work starts. The species is treated as an EVNT species in the project context, with a Rare listing in South Australia and relevant protected wildlife provisions in Queensland.

Obtain all required state, territory and local approvals. In Queensland, check whether proposed interference with a breeding place requires a species management program and ensure that the program is in place before work begins.

• Have the ecologist check whether an EPBC referral is required for the action or for another protected matter.
• Obtain fauna survey, trapping, handling, relocation and collection permits required in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Nominate the person responsible for compliance, incident reporting and contact with regulators.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and work limits

Retain intact terrestrial habitat, native ground cover, soil cracks, fallen timber, rocks and other shelter features. Avoid unnecessary vehicle access and storage of materials in retained habitat.

Set no disturbance areas around confirmed animals, occupied shelters or suspected breeding places. The project ecologist should define the extent and management conditions of each area in accordance with approvals and site risk.

• Fence and sign exclusion areas before machinery arrives.
• Keep access tracks, laydown areas and clearing footprints as narrow as practicable.
• Do not nominate a generic buffer without checking the approval conditions, species management program and site context.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey

Complete a pre-clearance survey close to the start of works. Search the final disturbance footprint and the edges of retained habitat using the methods in the survey plan.

Use the results to update the clearing sequence. If conditions are unsuitable or the survey confidence is low, delay or revise the work rather than treating the area as fauna free.

• Mark confirmed animals, likely shelter sites and high quality habitat on the site plan.
• Inspect cover that will be removed, including timber, rocks, litter and dense ground vegetation.
• Brief the spotter catcher and machine operators on the species, its likely shelters, the exclusion areas and the stop work process.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Timing and crew induction

Published information does not establish breeding months or migration periods for this species. Do not assume that a site is outside a breeding period. Schedule works when animals can be detected and safely moved, subject to weather, approvals and advice from the project ecologist.

Give all personnel a short site induction before clearing begins.

• Explain that only authorised and appropriately trained people may handle fauna.
• Show photographs or identification material and the reporting chain for sightings.
• Tell operators to stop immediately when directed by the spotter catcher or ecologist.
• Explain the location of exclusion areas, first aid equipment, holding containers and the injured animal pathway.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Use staged clearing and keep a qualified fauna spotter catcher in control of fauna decisions. Stop work whenever an animal, shelter or possible breeding place requires assessment.

Clear in small, manageable stages toward retained habitat where the site layout allows. Remove ground cover and smaller material before larger vegetation or heavy soil disturbance.

Pause between stages so animals can move away and so the spotter catcher can inspect newly exposed ground and cover.

• Use low speed and careful machine movements near retained habitat and identified shelter features.
• Inspect each item of cover immediately before it is moved or removed.
• Keep machinery, workers and vehicles out of exclusion areas unless the approval expressly allows access.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop work authority

Give the fauna spotter catcher authority to stop work without waiting for supervisor approval. The direction should be clear, immediate and respected by all operators.

Stop work for a live Black-soil Ctenotus, an injured animal, a suspected breeding place, an occupied shelter or any uncertainty about whether the clearing method is compliant.

• Make the area safe and keep people and machinery clear.
• Allow the ecologist to identify the animal or feature and decide the next action under the approval.
• Restart only after the spotter catcher or authorised ecologist gives clearance.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and relocation

Handle animals only when necessary and only by people authorised under the relevant permit or management program. Use clean, secure containers with suitable ventilation and shelter, and minimise handling time.

Release a healthy animal at an approved nearby location with suitable habitat, unless the permit, species management program or ecologist directs another action. Do not move animals across roads, into isolated habitat or outside the approved relocation area.

• Record the capture location, release location, time, condition, handler and method.
• Do not chase animals into unsafe areas or dismantle shelters unnecessarily.
• Do not retain, transport or relocate an animal without the required authority.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Breeding places and other incidents

If an active breeding place, occupied shelter or suspected breeding place is found, stop disturbance and protect the feature. Have the ecologist assess it and follow the approval or species management program.

The available species information does not establish colony or roost behaviour for this terrestrial skink. Apply the same stop work process to any concentrated sheltering or repeated use of a site.

• Set and maintain an exclusion area until the authorised ecologist confirms the control measures.
• Notify the project manager and regulator when required by the approval.
• For an injured animal, place it in a secure ventilated container, keep it quiet, and contact the approved wildlife carer or veterinarian. Record the outcome.
• Report mortality, unauthorised handling, damage to an exclusion area and any breach of approval conditions.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Finish each clearing stage with a documented inspection. Use the results to correct controls before the next stage and to improve later surveys and site design.

Inspect the completed footprint and the retained habitat edge after each clearing stage. Look for live or injured animals, exposed shelters, trapped animals, carcasses, damaged exclusion fencing and new access impacts.

Search debris piles, soil disturbance and remaining ground cover before material is removed or the area is compacted.

• Confirm that all fauna handling and relocation records are complete.
• Check that no animals remain in temporary trenches, pipes, pits, containers or machinery.
• Remove or make safe artificial hazards created by the works.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Reporting and compliance

Prepare a clearing report that reconciles the approved footprint with the area actually disturbed. Include maps, photographs, survey effort, observations, captures, relocations, injuries, mortalities and incidents.

Submit notifications and reports within the timeframes required by permits, the species management program, approval conditions and regulator directions.

• Keep records of weather, work dates, personnel, stop work events and corrective actions.
• Provide the final fauna report to the project manager, site environmental representative and relevant regulator where required.
• Update the site risk assessment if the species is found outside the predicted habitat.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitoring and relocated animals

Monitor retained and receiving habitat when required by the approval or when relocation has been used. The monitoring design should be set by the project ecologist because species specific survival and movement data are limited.

Use consistent locations and methods so that changes in animal detections, ground cover, weeds, erosion and disturbance can be identified.

• Check relocated animals only under an approved monitoring plan and avoid repeated handling.
• Record observations, shelter use, mortality, vehicle access and changes in habitat condition.
• Maintain exclusion fencing until the site is stable and the ecologist confirms that it can be removed.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every stop work event, injury, mortality and unexpected habitat feature. Identify whether the cause was survey timing, plant and equipment, induction, fencing, supervision or an approval gap.

Apply corrective actions before the next work stage and include lessons in the project closeout.

• Retrain crews where the same error could recur.
• Change the clearing sequence or equipment approach where animals are repeatedly encountered.
• Share verified records with the relevant biodiversity database or land manager.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Habitat reinstatement

Rehabilitation should restore functioning terrestrial habitat rather than simply replanting the cleared footprint. Focus on native ground cover, shelter and soil condition, with measures suited to the local landscape.

Retain and replace natural ground features where safe and lawful. Reuse suitable logs, rocks, leaf litter and salvaged soil from the site in rehabilitation areas, while avoiding the spread of weeds or disease.

Re-establish locally appropriate native ground cover and maintain connectivity between retained habitat patches.

• Repair compaction, erosion and altered drainage before planting.
• Use local native species suited to the soil and regional conditions.
• Keep rehabilitation areas free from unnecessary vehicle traffic and storage.
• Avoid creating abrupt, highly lit or regularly mown edges beside retained habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Breeding and shelter structures

The Black-soil Ctenotus is a ground dwelling skink, and species specific evidence for artificial breeding structures is limited. Prioritise natural ground shelter and soil features over nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nest sites or roost structures, which are not established measures for this species.

Only install artificial shelters if the project ecologist has a clear site based reason, an approved design and a plan to inspect and maintain them.

• Do not install structures designed for bats or hollow nesting fauna as a substitute for ground habitat.
• Place any trial shelter in suitable connected habitat and record its location and condition.
• Remove experimental structures if they create pest, predator, entanglement, fire or maintenance risks.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and fire

Control weeds before they dominate native ground cover or change shelter conditions. Use methods that avoid unnecessary soil disturbance and follow the site weed hygiene plan.

Manage water so that rehabilitation does not create prolonged flooding, erosion or artificial barriers to ground movement.

• Clean machinery before entering rehabilitation areas.
• Inspect for weed regrowth after rain and treat it early.
• Avoid broad disturbance around drainage lines and retained shelter.
• Coordinate fire management with the land manager and avoid removing all ground cover from occupied habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Lighting and ongoing disturbance

Limit night lighting around retained and rehabilitated terrestrial habitat. Use the lowest practical intensity, direct light downward and avoid lighting habitat edges or movement routes.

Control traffic, unauthorised access, domestic animals and repeated ground disturbance in rehabilitation areas.

• Use shielding, timers and motion controls where lighting cannot be avoided.
• Keep permanent infrastructure outside retained habitat where practicable.
• Maintain signs and barriers until rehabilitation is established and the ecologist confirms that access controls can be reduced.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Long term monitoring

Set monitoring triggers and methods before rehabilitation begins. Because the species is poorly known, combine direct observations with habitat condition measures rather than relying on a single detection method.

Review results with the land manager and adapt weed, fire, drainage and access controls as conditions change.

• Monitor native ground cover, shelter features, weeds, erosion, soil condition and connectivity.
• Repeat targeted reptile searches when required by the approval or rehabilitation plan.
• Record all Black-soil Ctenotus observations and make verified records available to the relevant biodiversity authority.
• Continue monitoring for the period required by approval conditions, and extend it if rehabilitation is not stable.

Sources

• Reptiles of Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD) bioregion, Queensland Government WetlandInfo: https://wetlandinfo.detsi.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/wildlife/?AreaID=bioregion-mitchell-grass-downs-mgd&Kingdom=animals&Class=reptiles
• Reptiles of Winton local government area - WetlandInfo, Queensland Government WetlandInfo: https://wetlandinfo.detsi.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/wildlife/?AreaID=lga-winton&Kingdom=animals&Class=reptiles
• Occurrence records for the distribution map, Atlas of Living Australia: https://biocache.ala.org.au/