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Campbell's Keeled Glass-snail (Advena campbellii)

This air-breathing land snail is endemic to Norfolk Island. It occurs in native palm valley forest, so retaining moist, intact forest and adjacent hardwood habitat is important for works planning.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

Seasonal planning

Monitoring found higher adult counts from April to July on Norfolk Island.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Higher adult abundance: Monitoring found higher adult counts from April to July on Norfolk Island.

Identification: Appearance

It has a delicate, keeled shell and can blend into the forest floor. The species is a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod.

It has a delicate, keeled shell and can blend into the forest floor. The species is a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species is endemic to Norfolk Island. A living population was found in a sheltered rainforest gully in Norfolk Island National Park, and captive-bred snails have since been released into forest there.

The species is endemic to Norfolk Island. A living population was found in a sheltered rainforest gully in Norfolk Island National Park, and captive-bred snails have since been released into forest there.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It is associated with moist native palm valley forest and adjacent hardwood forest. The extant population has been reported from sheltered forest sites in Norfolk Island National Park.

It is associated with moist native palm valley forest and adjacent hardwood forest. The extant population has been reported from sheltered forest sites in Norfolk Island National Park.

Foraging habitat: Diet

It feeds on biofilm and organic matter.

It feeds on biofilm and organic matter.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

A captive-breeding programme at Taronga Zoo was established using 46 wild founder snails. The programme has produced snails for release back into Norfolk Island National Park.

A captive-breeding programme at Taronga Zoo was established using 46 wild founder snails. The programme has produced snails for release back into Norfolk Island National Park.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Snails shelter in leaf litter and beneath palm fronds on the forest floor. They also hide in the damp, dark bases of niau palms.

Snails shelter in leaf litter and beneath palm fronds on the forest floor. They also hide in the damp, dark bases of niau palms.

Threats: Threats

Historical land clearing and invasive weeds have been associated with a restricted range. Introduced rats and chickens prey on native animals, including this snail.

Historical land clearing and invasive weeds have been associated with a restricted range. Introduced rats and chickens prey on native animals, including this snail.

Threats: Works risk

Land clearing could remove or degrade the moist palm valley and adjacent hardwood forest on which the species depends. The spread of invasive weeds can also restrict this habitat.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

Field searches in a sheltered valley, prompted by unusual shells found during a survey for rare plants, led to confirmation of a living population. Released snails have also been monitored by researchers and National Parks staff.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 3. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

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 disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources