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Cape Range Crenadactylus (Crenadactylus tuberculatus)

The Cape Range Crenadactylus is a very small gecko known from North West Cape, with records from limestone gorges, spinifex clumps and some coastal dunes. Its sheltering habitat may be affected by site works, and its limited records and poor knowledge make careful checks important.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal planning

Seasonal activity, breeding timing and detectability have not been documented for this species.

Species-specific timing: Not documented.

No species-specific months are known.

  • Survey and works planning: General planning window only. These periods are not species-specific; schedule searches and works to suit site conditions, approvals and project constraints.

Identification: Appearance and size

This is a very small gecko. Its size and dorsal scales are useful identification features, but careful examination may be needed.

Adults reach up to 27.7 mm snout to vent length. The head is long and narrow. Dorsal scales are heterogeneous, with scattered enlarged, keeled tubercles.

The ground colour is greyish-brown, from light to dark, with weakly contrasting pale and dark longitudinal stripes. The underside is pale off-white, with absent to weak stippling.

Identification: Similar species and field signs

Other small Crenadactylus may be difficult to distinguish in the field. Enlarged dorsal tubercles are distinctive for this species within the genus, but a full field comparison with other species is not available.

Tracks, droppings and other field signs have not been described. Do not use an unverified sign alone to identify the species.

Distribution: Known range

The known range is centred on North West Cape. Records are few and should not be treated as a complete measure of distribution.

The species is recorded from North West Cape in Western Australia. Atlas of Living Australia records show 31 WA records at seven distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude -22.3 and -21.8 and longitude 113.8 and 114.1.

Named records include Charles Knife Road, Yardie Creek, Vlamingh Head and Shothole Canyon. Records outside WA are likely errors and have been excluded.

Distribution: WA region and status

The DBCA list flags the Pilbara region. The species is listed as Priority 2 on the DBCA Threatened and Priority Fauna List, dated 1 July 2025. It is poorly known and known from few locations, with some locations on conservation lands. This is a DBCA priority category, not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

No national listing is given.

Habitat: Recorded settings

Records describe a localised range of rocky and coastal settings. Habitat information is based on collection records rather than a complete habitat study.

Most habitat notes report animals collected from living or dead spinifex clumps, usually in limestone gorges. Some records are from coastal dunes.

The holotype was collected at the upper edge of a rocky gorge with scattered shrubs and spinifex.

Habitat: Site context

Known records are from North West Cape, including Cape Range localities. The full range of habitats used across the species' distribution is not established.

Foraging habitat: Diet and foraging

Diet and foraging behaviour are undocumented.

Diet, prey and foraging times have not been documented. Do not assume a particular food source or foraging microhabitat when planning works.

Foraging habitat: Precaution at works sites

As a general precaution for small reptiles, check suitable ground cover and crevices before disturbing them. Keep searches focused on recorded habitat features rather than treating any one feature as evidence of feeding.

Breeding habitat: Known breeding information

The species lays eggs, but its breeding biology is poorly known.

The species is oviparous. Nest locations, clutch size, breeding season and egg development are not documented.

Breeding habitat: Precaution

Do not identify a season or particular substrate as breeding habitat without evidence. During works, avoid unnecessary disturbance to spinifex clumps, dead logs and rocky crevices that may provide shelter.

Sheltering habitat: Recorded shelter features

Collection notes point to ground-level cover as an important place to check, although the species' sheltering behaviour is not fully documented.

Most habitat notes report collection from living or dead spinifex clumps. One specimen was collected from a dead log. Limestone gorges are common among the collection records, with some records from coastal dunes.

Sheltering habitat: Other cover

Daily refuges and shelter use have not been described in detail. As a general field precaution, inspect ground cover and accessible crevices carefully, and replace any cover lifted during a search.

Threats: Knowledge gaps

Specific threats to this species have not been identified.

Species-specific threats, population trends and sensitivity to disturbance have not been documented. Its Priority 2 status reflects that it is poorly known and known from few locations, rather than a stated threat assessment.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or crushing spinifex clumps, dead logs and rocky cover could disturb potential shelter features. This is a precaution based on recorded habitat, not a quantified species-specific impact.

Survey methodology: 1. Prepare the survey

No species-specific survey method or detectability information is available. Searches should therefore be cautious and targeted to recorded habitat features.

Review site plans and available records, then map limestone gorges, rocky edges, spinifex clumps, coastal dune habitat and dead logs within the works footprint and adjacent areas. Seek appropriate approvals before handling or moving fauna or habitat.

Survey methodology: 2. Search carefully

Use slow visual searches of the ground layer and cover features. Where authorised, inspect accessible cover gently and replace it as found. Avoid destructive searches or dismantling rock features.

Record search effort, habitat, weather, exact location, photographs and identification confidence. Do not assume the species is absent because it was not detected; detectability is not documented.

Vegetation associations: Hummock grassland or spinifex

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

Most habitat notes report animals collected from living or dead spinifex clumps, usually in limestone gorges.

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: Sandy soils or sand

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

The Cape Range Crenadactylus is a very small gecko known from North West Cape, with records from limestone gorges, spinifex clumps and some coastal dunes.

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: Rocky, stony or shallow ground

The holotype was collected at the upper edge of a rocky gorge with scattered shrubs and spinifex.

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 Cape Range Crenadactylus is a very small gecko known from North West Cape, with records from limestone gorges, spinifex clumps and some coastal dunes.

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.

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. Assess and plan

Plan works to avoid unnecessary disturbance to habitats where the species has been recorded.

Check current fauna records and proposed clearing boundaries. Have a suitably experienced ecologist assess spinifex clumps, rocky gorge edges, coastal dunes and dead logs that may be affected.

Where practicable, adjust the footprint or sequence of works to retain these features and avoid unnecessary clearing.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Brief the crew

Explain the species' small size, known habitat features and Priority 2 status to spotter catchers and clearing crews. Agree on a stop-work and escalation process if a suspected animal is found.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Clear cautiously

Use staged, attentive work practices around suitable cover, with a clear response if fauna is encountered.

Keep clearing within approved limits. Work slowly around spinifex clumps, dead logs and rocky features, and check cover before it is moved or crushed. Do not pull apart rock crevices or undertake destructive searches.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to a find

If a suspected Crenadactylus is found, pause nearby work, prevent handling by untrained personnel and contact the nominated fauna specialist. Follow project approvals and directions from the relevant authorities for identification and any required fauna handling.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Record and report

After works, document any records and check that disturbed habitat has been managed as planned.

Document observations, search effort, locations, habitat and actions taken. Have uncertain identifications reviewed by a suitably qualified person and report records through the required project and agency channels.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Review the site

Check that retained habitat has not been unintentionally damaged and that temporary work areas are clear of equipment and debris. Follow the project fauna management plan for any further monitoring or reporting.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Retain habitat features

Rehabilitation should prioritise recorded local habitat features without assuming species requirements that have not been established.

Where practicable, retain existing spinifex clumps, dead logs and rocky features. Avoid relocating habitat materials unless required by the approved rehabilitation plan and guided by an appropriately qualified person.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Restore and monitor

Use locally appropriate methods and materials specified by the project ecologist to restore disturbed ground and vegetation. Species-specific rehabilitation targets and monitoring periods have not been established, so define these through project approvals and site advice.

Sources