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Buff-snouted Blind Snake (Anilios margaretae)

The Buff-snouted Blind Snake is a slender, fossorial snake recorded in Western Australia, with its type locality at Lake Throssell. Its distribution and ecology are poorly known, so clearing crews should use precautionary survey and stop-work procedures. It is listed as DBCA Priority 2 in WA.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal planning

Activity and breeding months have not been documented for this species. Plan survey and fauna management around the works programme rather than assuming a season of low risk.

Seasonal evidence: No species-specific months are recorded.

Seasonal timing is not known.

  • Survey and works planning: Planning window only. These entries do not indicate known seasonal activity; arrange checks and precautions according to the works schedule.

Identification: Appearance and size

The species is a slender blind snake. Field information is limited, so identification should be confirmed by a suitably qualified person.

It is very slender, with 18 scale rows at midbody. The nasal cleft proceeds from the second labial, and the snout is mildly trilobed when viewed from above.

The back is pink to purplish grey, the underside pale grey, and the snout pale yellowish brown. Reported maximum total length is 30.5 cm.

Identification: Similar species

The Reptile Database describes it as most similar to Anilios bituberculatus, but with a more elongate body and a less strongly trilobed snout.

Do not identify a blind snake from colour or size alone. Record clear photographs and seek expert confirmation if identification is uncertain.

Identification: Field signs

Distinctive tracks, burrow entrances and other field signs have not been described for this species. A confirmed individual is the most reliable evidence.

Distribution: Known range

The species is known from Western Australia, but recorded distribution is sparse and should not be treated as a complete range map.

The type locality is Lake Throssell in Western Australia. Atlas of Living Australia records show three WA records at three distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude 30.4°S and 27.4°S and longitude 124.3°E and 125.9°E.

Records outside WA are considered likely errors. The small number of records does not establish that the species is absent from other suitable areas.

Distribution: WA region and status

Goldfields is the WA region flagged on the DBCA priority list. The species is listed as Priority 2, a DBCA priority category for poorly known fauna known from few locations, some on conservation lands. It is not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. No national listing is given.

Habitat: Reported habitat

Habitat information is broad and does not describe site-level requirements.

Desert and grassland are reported as preferred natural habitats. Particular vegetation communities, soil types, landforms and moisture conditions have not been identified for this species.

Habitat: Site assessment

On proposed works sites, record the vegetation, ground surface, soil and landform across the footprint and adjacent areas. Treat apparently modified or open ground cautiously because the broad habitat description cannot rule out use.

Foraging habitat: What is known

Species-specific feeding and foraging information has not been documented.

Prey, diet, foraging locations and foraging behaviour have not been documented. Do not assume prey types or preferred feeding microhabitats.

Foraging habitat: Precaution on site

Avoid unnecessary disturbance of ground and vegetation in areas being retained. Record any animal encountered and its immediate location and ground conditions, without inferring foraging behaviour from a brief observation.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

The species is reported to lay eggs, but breeding sites and timing are poorly known.

Reproduction is oviparous. Breeding months, clutch size, egg-laying locations and development have not been documented.

Breeding habitat: Works precautions

Do not assume that any particular month is free of breeding risk. If an animal or possible eggs are encountered, stop work in the immediate area and seek advice from the project ecologist or fauna spotter catcher before proceeding.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter information

The species is described as fossorial, but its specific shelter locations and burrowing conditions are poorly known.

A fossorial lifestyle is reported. The depth and form of shelter sites, preferred soils and use of particular ground features have not been documented.

Sheltering habitat: Ground disturbance

Because the species is fossorial, surface-only checks may not detect it. As a general precaution for fossorial fauna, inspect exposed soil and spoil during staged ground disturbance and keep suitable areas available for inspection by the fauna spotter catcher.

Threats: Known information

Specific threats to this species have not been identified.

No species-specific threats or population trend have been documented. The Priority 2 listing reflects poor knowledge and records from few locations, not a stated threat category.

Threats: Project risk

As a general works-site precaution, clearing and excavation may harm fauna if an animal or shelter site is present. Minimise the disturbance footprint, stage ground works where practicable, and respond promptly to any encounter.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Fossorial blind snakes can be difficult to detect using normal collecting and short-term survey methods. The following actions are precautionary guidance, not a validated species-specific survey protocol.

Check current occurrence records, the Lake Throssell type locality, DBCA information and proposed works boundaries. The few records do not define the full distribution.

Survey methodology: 2. Habitat inspection

Walk the proposed footprint and areas to be retained, recording desert or grassland habitat and ground conditions. A surface inspection alone cannot confirm absence of a fossorial species.

Survey methodology: 3. Works observation

Use a trained fauna spotter catcher during staged clearing and ground disturbance. Monitor exposed soil and spoil as work proceeds, and have suitable equipment and an agreed response process ready before disturbance begins.

Survey methodology: 4. Record and report

For any suspected or confirmed record, document the date, location, photographs, habitat and circumstances of detection. Seek expert identification and report the record through the project’s agreed channels.

Vegetation associations: Tussock grassland

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

Desert and grassland are reported as preferred natural habitats.

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

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. Confirm constraints

Plan for uncertainty because records are sparse and the species is fossorial.

Check current DBCA advice and project approval requirements, and review records for the footprint and surrounding area. Do not assume the species is absent because no records are mapped.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Prepare the work area

Clearly mark the approved disturbance boundary and areas to be retained. Brief clearing crews on the species’ appearance, fossorial habit, stop-work procedure and contact person.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Set up response

Arrange an appropriately experienced fauna spotter catcher for relevant works. Confirm how work will pause, who will assess an encounter, and how any required reporting or relocation decisions will be authorised.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work in stages

Proceed carefully and be prepared to stop if a blind snake or possible shelter site is encountered.

Keep clearing within marked limits and use a staged approach where practicable. Avoid unnecessary disturbance of adjacent habitat and exposed soil.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to an encounter

Stop work in the immediate area, protect the animal from people and machinery, and notify the fauna spotter catcher or project ecologist. Do not handle or move the animal unless authorised and competent to do so.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Document the event

Record the location, photographs, time, work activity and ground conditions. Resume work only after the responsible person has assessed the situation and confirmed the next steps.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Check the area

Close out encounters and disturbance activities with clear records and follow-up.

After an encounter or pause in work, have the responsible fauna professional check the immediate work area and confirm whether further precautions are needed before work resumes.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Retain records

Keep survey and encounter records, photographs, location data, actions taken and decisions about work resumption in the project file. Submit records through the required project and agency channels.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore disturbed ground

Species-specific rehabilitation and restoration requirements have not been documented.

Where required by the project, reinstate disturbed areas in line with the approved rehabilitation plan and local habitat objectives. Avoid introducing unapproved materials or making unsupported assumptions about the species’ preferred soils.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor outcomes

Document rehabilitation actions and inspect progress against the project’s agreed criteria. A species-specific monitoring period or success measure has not been established.

Sources