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Brazier's Bothriembryontid Land Snail (Bothriembryon brazieri)

Brazier's bothriembryontid land snail is a terrestrial snail recorded in Western Australia, with records concentrated across the South Coast region and a type locality at the Stirling Range. Its ecology and field identification are poorly documented, so works in suitable native vegetation should use cautious survey and disturbance procedures.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 2.

Seasonal planning

No activity calendar has been documented specifically for Bothriembryon brazieri. The genus is reported to be active during winter, and June to August is a general planning window only.

Species-specific timing: Not documented.

Interpretation: The activity window below is based on genus-level guidance and is not a confirmed seasonal pattern for this species.

Months are January to December. A zero indicates no species-specific seasonal information is available, not that the animal is absent or inactive.

  • Possible activity and survey window: June to August is a general genus-level planning window only. Bothriembryon are described as active during winter, but these months are not confirmed for this species.

Identification: Appearance and size

A species-specific field description is not available. Treat shell and live-animal observations as provisional unless confirmed by an experienced identifier.

No diagnostic appearance or size has been documented for Bothriembryon brazieri. Bothriembryon shells generally range from 1 to 5 cm long, with ovate to elongate-conical shapes and sculpture ranging from smooth to nodulose. These features have not been confirmed for this species.

Identification: Similar species

This taxon is part of an ill-defined species complex. Reliable characters for distinguishing it from similar Bothriembryon species are not known.

Identification: Field signs

A live snail or shell may indicate a land-snail presence, but neither alone confirms this species. Bothriembryon may be seen crawling during or after rainfall and may shelter under fallen branches or logs during the day.

Distribution: Known range

Records indicate a Western Australian distribution, but do not establish continuous occupancy or the precise limits of the species' range.

Atlas of Living Australia records show 140 records in WA at 45 distinct 0.1-degree locations, spanning latitude -35.2 to -34 and longitude 114.8 to 119.1. These records indicate a broad extent, not precise site locations or occupancy of all intervening areas.

The original type locality is “Sinclair’s Range, King George’s Sound”. Iredale considered the published locality erroneous and corrected it to Stirling Range.

Distribution: WA region and localities

The DBCA list flags the South Coast region. The DBCA common name refers to the Stirling Ranges and Porongorups, and the corrected type locality is the Stirling Range.

Habitat: Potential settings

Species-specific habitat records are not available. Habitats used by the broader genus offer possible survey settings, not confirmed requirements for this species.

Bothriembryon species are associated with rocky terrain, woodlands, gorges and gullies, and coastal scrub or heath. Which of these, if any, are used by Bothriembryon brazieri is not known.

Habitat: Site context

Healthy bushland with native vegetation is a useful general search context for Bothriembryon. Treat native vegetation and the settings listed above as precautionary search contexts rather than confirmed species-specific habitat.

Foraging habitat: Diet

The diet and foraging habitat of Bothriembryon brazieri have not been documented.

No food items or feeding behaviour have been recorded for this species. Diet is also poorly documented at genus level.

Foraging habitat: Search approach

Do not infer feeding sites from vegetation or ground features. During general land-snail searches, inspect native vegetation and nearby ground surfaces carefully, and record the precise microhabitat of any observation without treating it as a species preference.

Breeding habitat: Available information

Species-specific breeding timing, egg count and breeding habitat are poorly known.

Bothriembryon are hermaphroditic and lay eggs in soil. This genus-level information has not been confirmed for Bothriembryon brazieri.

Breeding habitat: Precaution

Avoid disturbing soil, litter and sheltered ground features in potential habitat where practicable. Do not assume that eggs or breeding are present or absent based on season alone.

Sheltering habitat: Possible refuges

Species-specific sheltering sites are not known. General observations of Bothriembryon can guide cautious searches but are not confirmed for this species.

Bothriembryon may shelter under fallen branches and logs during the day. The genus also aestivates in summer with a mucoid or calcareous epiphragm. These observations are not documented specifically for Bothriembryon brazieri.

Sheltering habitat: Handling potential refuges

Where searches are necessary, lift loose cover carefully, inspect the ground beneath it, and replace it as found. Avoid unnecessary removal or breakage of logs, branches and litter.

Threats: Species-specific evidence

Specific threats to Bothriembryon brazieri have not been identified. Its DBCA Priority 2 status reflects poor knowledge and few known locations.

No particular development pressure or cause of decline has been identified for this species. No national listing is recorded.

Threats: Broader context

Land clearing, fires and urban sprawl are among the threats reported for listed Bothriembryon species. These are broader genus-level examples and are not established threats for Bothriembryon brazieri.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Species-specific survey methods and detectability are not known. Use a targeted, low-impact land-snail search and document findings so uncertain identifications can be checked.

Review project boundaries against occurrence information, including the WA record extent and the South Coast region flag. Treat broad database coordinates as a screening guide rather than site-level confirmation.

Survey methodology: 2. Field search

Bothriembryon are often observed during or after rainfall, early in the morning or late in the day, and may shelter under fallen branches or logs. These general search cues are not verified detectability rules for this species.

  • Search suitable native vegetation and the general habitat settings identified for the genus, including rocky ground, woodland, gorges or gullies, and coastal scrub or heath where present.
  • Inspect vegetation, the ground surface and loose cover carefully. Minimise turning or moving habitat features, and replace any moved cover in its original position.
  • Photograph live animals and shells with a scale and habitat context, and record date, coordinates, weather and microhabitat.

Survey methodology: 3. Identification and records

Do not identify the species from general shell appearance alone. Retain clear photographs and seek expert review where identification is uncertain. Follow applicable approvals and collection requirements before taking specimens.

Vegetation associations: Woodland

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

Bothriembryon species are associated with rocky terrain, woodlands, gorges and gullies, and coastal scrub or heath.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: general

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

Vegetation associations: Heath

Bothriembryon species are associated with rocky terrain, woodlands, gorges and gullies, and coastal scrub or heath.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: general

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

Vegetation associations: Shrubland

Bothriembryon species are associated with rocky terrain, woodlands, gorges and gullies, and coastal scrub or heath.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: general

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

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: Rocky, stony or shallow ground

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

Bothriembryon species are associated with rocky terrain, woodlands, gorges and gullies, and coastal scrub or heath.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: general

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

Soil and substrate associations: Calcareous or limestone ground

The genus also aestivates in summer with a mucoid or calcareous epiphragm.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: sheltering

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

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. Confirm the work area

Plan for uncertainty because the species is poorly known and species-specific survey guidance is not available.

Check whether the site lies within the broad WA record extent or South Coast region, and review any project or database records available for the site. Do not assume the species is absent because no records are mapped.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Inspect and brief

Where potential native vegetation or the general Bothriembryon habitat settings occur, arrange a pre-disturbance search by an appropriately experienced person when practicable. Brief crews on the possibility of live snails and shells, careful handling of cover, and the stop-work and notification process.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work carefully

Use staged, careful work and respond promptly to any possible snail or shell discovery.

Keep disturbance within approved boundaries and avoid unnecessary removal or crushing of logs, branches, litter and surface vegetation. Where safe and practicable, clear slowly enough for fauna to be noticed.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to finds

If a possible Bothriembryon is found, pause work in the immediate area, protect the animal or shell from further disturbance, and notify the site environmental lead or fauna spotter catcher. Record its location and condition and seek identification advice before deciding how to proceed.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Record outcomes

After works, preserve records of observations and check that agreed site protections have been followed.

Document survey effort, conditions, locations searched, observations, photographs, identification confidence and any fauna response. Report records through the project process and to the relevant collection or authority where required.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Review the site

Check disturbed edges and retained habitat for accidental damage to logs, branches, litter and vegetation. Record any further live snails or shells and refer uncertain observations for expert review.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore ground cover

No rehabilitation requirements specific to Bothriembryon brazieri have been documented. Use locally appropriate restoration measures that retain general shelter features used by land snails.

Where restoration is required, reinstate native vegetation and ground cover in line with the approved rehabilitation plan. Retain or replace suitable natural cover such as branches and logs where this is consistent with the plan and site safety.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and adapt

Record rehabilitation actions and any later snail observations. The presence of general habitat features or absence of visible snails does not prove habitat suitability or species absence.

Sources