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Cape Range Liagoceradocus Amphipod (Liagoceradocus branchialis)

Cape Range Liagoceradocus Amphipod (Liagoceradocus branchialis) is a groundwater invertebrate of the Bundera Sinkhole, listed for the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is Endangered under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (WA), Fauna Order 2025(2) in operation from 1 August 2026, and not listed under the EPBC Act. Bundera Sinkhole on the western coastal plain of Cape Range is an anchialine system, where seawater and fresh groundwater meet underground.

Conservation status

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

No species-specific activity or breeding months are recorded. Use the following as a works-planning prompt, not as a statement of seasonal biology.

Seasonal knowledge: Unknown for this species.

The month values are a general planning prompt only and do not represent known activity or breeding months for Liagoceradocus branchialis.

  • Plan checks before disturbance: General planning window only. Check the work area before disturbance whenever works are scheduled; no species-specific seasonal window is known.

Identification: Appearance

Cape Range Liagoceradocus Amphipod is a groundwater invertebrate of the Bundera Sinkhole. Reliable identification needs a specialist.

A species-specific field description is not summarised here. Use the original description and museum specimens for identification.

Identification: Similar species

Related species in the same genus or group can look alike and may occur nearby. Confirm identity with a taxonomist before relying on a record.

Distribution: Known records

Listed for the Pilbara region.

The Atlas of Living Australia holds 7 records at 1 distinct 0.1-degree location, around latitude -22.4, longitude 113.8. Coordinates are often generalised for listed species, so treat this as an indicative area, not a boundary.

Distribution: Group pattern

Bundera Sinkhole on the western coastal plain of Cape Range is an anchialine system, where seawater and fresh groundwater meet underground. Its community is listed as a threatened ecological community and many of its animals are known from nowhere else.

Distribution: WA listing

DBCA lists the species for the Pilbara region.

Habitat: Habitat

The layered fresh and salt water of Bundera Sinkhole and connected voids.

The layered fresh and salt water of Bundera Sinkhole and connected voids.

Species-specific habitat preferences have not been published in detail; this is based on the group and the listed locality.

Habitat: Site interpretation

Treat matching habitat in or near the listed locality as potentially occupied until a qualified survey shows otherwise.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Not documented.

Not documented.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Not documented.

Not documented.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Sinkhole and connected voids.

Sinkhole and connected voids.

Threats: Threats

Groundwater abstraction, pollution and any change to the water layers of the sinkhole.

Groundwater abstraction, pollution and any change to the water layers of the sinkhole.

Threats: Works risk

Groundwater drawdown, pollution and access to the sinkhole.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop review and design

Follow the EPA Western Australia technical guidance and engage specialists with the right licences.

Use the EPA Western Australia guidance on subterranean fauna: desktop review, then troglofauna traps and scrapes or stygofauna net hauls in bores, caves and wells over more than one sampling round.

Survey methodology: 2. Field survey

Subterranean animals are rarely seen at the surface. Habitat mapping of the geology and groundwater is central to the assessment.

Survey methodology: 3. Identification and limits

Identification needs specialist taxonomists and often DNA. A non-detection is not proof of absence.

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. Pre-start review

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

Check the project footprint against the listed locality, DBCA records and any survey results. Map the geology and groundwater that could hold subterranean habitat.

Before disturbance: 2. Approvals

Taking or disturbing listed threatened fauna in WA needs authorisation under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Seek DBCA advice early.

Before disturbance: 3. Crew briefing

Brief crews on the habitat to avoid, the exclusion areas and who to call if the species or its habitat is found.

During disturbance: 1. Protect habitat

Keep works inside the approved footprint.

Groundwater drawdown, pollution and access to the sinkhole. Fence or flag known habitat and keep vehicles, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species or suspected habitat is found outside the approved area, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and DBCA.

After disturbance: 1. Record outcomes

Record what was done.

Record any sightings, specimens, habitat lost or retained and any incidents, and submit records to DBCA as required by the authorisation.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed areas where possible.

Restore surface drainage and avoid ongoing groundwater or pollution impacts. Subterranean habitat lost to excavation cannot be restored.

Sources