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Dampierland Burrowing Snake (Simoselaps minimus)

The Dampierland Burrowing Snake is a small, nocturnal, fossorial elapid recorded in Western Australia. Savanna is recorded as habitat. It may be difficult to detect during site works because it lives underground. In Western Australia, it is listed as DBCA Priority 2, a priority category rather than a statutory threatened listing.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal considerations

Species-specific activity, breeding and movement months are not known. Plan surveys and works with this uncertainty in mind.

Breeding months: Not recorded.

Activity months: Not recorded.

The months shown are a general planning prompt, not evidence of seasonal activity for this species.

  • Survey and clearing planning: General planning window only. No months are established as a species-specific period of activity or reduced risk.

Identification: Appearance and size

Use the following description as a guide. Expert examination may be needed for identification.

The snake has a pale-brown upper surface, a black patch on the head and another on the neck, and creamish ventral scales. It has 15 midbody scale rows, 124 ventrals, a paired anal scale and 18 subcaudals.

It is reported to reach 22 cm; the greatest recorded total length is also given as 219 mm.

Identification: Similar species

Field comparisons with similar species have not been documented. Do not identify a small burrowing snake from size or general appearance alone.

Identification: Field signs

The species is fossorial. Species-specific burrow entrances, tracks and other field signs have not been described.

Distribution: Known range

The known distribution is restricted to Western Australia, although its full range is not established.

The Reptile Database records Western Australia as the distribution and Broome as the type locality. Atlas of Living Australia records show seven Western Australian records at five distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude -18 and -16.4 and longitude 122.2 and 123. Records outside Western Australia were excluded as likely errors.

Distribution: WA region and status

The DBCA priority list flags the Kimberley region. The species is DBCA Priority 2, meaning it is poorly known and known from few locations, with some 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 habitat

Habitat information is limited.

Savanna is recorded as habitat. Particular vegetation types, soil conditions and landforms used by the species have not been described.

Habitat: Site assessment

Treat potentially suitable habitat in the known Kimberley range cautiously, including savanna where present. Habitat appearance alone is not enough to rule out the species.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Diet information is sparse, and feeding locations and methods have not been documented.

The species is carnivorous. Reptiles are recorded as a diet item, based on a single item; its broader diet has not been established.

Foraging habitat: Foraging activity

The species is nocturnal. Where it forages and how often it emerges from cover are not known.

Breeding habitat: Reproduction

Breeding biology is poorly known.

The species is oviparous. Clutch size, egg-laying sites, incubation period and breeding months have not been recorded.

Breeding habitat: Work planning

Do not assume that a particular season or habitat feature is free of breeding activity. No breeding habitat or seasonal window has been identified.

Sheltering habitat: Underground shelter

The species is fossorial, but details of its shelter sites are not known.

The species is fossorial. The form, depth and location of its shelters, and whether it uses existing holes, are not known.

Sheltering habitat: Implications for works

Do not assume the species is absent because no animals or obvious shelter entrances are visible. Do not infer that an unverified burrow or hole belongs to this species.

Threats: Known information

Specific threats to the species have not been identified.

Species-specific threats and population trends have not been recorded. DBCA Priority 2 reflects that the species is poorly known and known from few locations, rather than a stated threat category.

Threats: Development risk

As a fossorial snake, it may not be visible during ordinary surface checks. Apply precautionary survey and clearing controls where works occur within its known regional range and potentially suitable habitat.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Species-specific detectability and survey protocols are not established. Use staged, cautious field checks and record uncertainty.

Check current records, project surveys and the proposed footprint against the known Kimberley distribution and Atlas of Living Australia record summary. Review whether savanna habitat is present, while recognising that habitat information is limited.

Survey methodology: 2. Field inspection

As general practice for fossorial snakes, inspect the work area and accessible surface features carefully before disturbance. Do not treat the absence of an observed snake or apparent burrow as confirmation of absence.

Survey methodology: 3. Encounter response

Ensure fauna spotter catchers and the clearing crew understand the limits of identification and the agreed stop-work process. If a snake is found, pause work in the immediate area and have it assessed and managed by appropriately qualified personnel.

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 habitat disturbance: 1. Plan the works

Plan for the possibility of an underground, difficult-to-detect snake where the species may occur.

Review records, the project footprint and habitat information before clearing. Where practicable, minimise the disturbance footprint and avoid unnecessary ground disturbance.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Prepare the crew

Brief the clearing crew on the species' fossorial and nocturnal habits, the limits of field identification, and the stop-work and reporting process. Confirm that suitably qualified fauna personnel are available for the planned works.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Clear in stages

Proceed cautiously and make it easy to stop work if fauna is encountered.

Use staged, controlled clearing with fauna personnel present where required by the project plan. Keep the active work area as small as practicable and avoid unnecessary disturbance beyond the approved footprint.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to a find

If a snake is found, stop work in the immediate area, keep people clear and do not handle it. Allow a qualified person to assess the animal and determine the appropriate response before work resumes.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Record observations

Record the location, date, circumstances and identification confidence for any observation. Report the encounter through the project and relevant fauna reporting processes.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Close out records

After clearing, check that any fauna encounter has been resolved and that the work area remains within the approved limits.

Document searches, observations, any fauna response and the area cleared. Record uncertain identifications as uncertain rather than as confirmed species records.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Review the outcome

If the species is confirmed or suspected, notify the project ecologist and follow applicable project and regulatory requirements. Use the information to review any further works in the area.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore disturbed areas

Species-specific rehabilitation requirements have not been documented.

Rehabilitate disturbed ground in accordance with project approvals and the site rehabilitation plan. Where practicable, retain or reinstate locally appropriate vegetation and avoid creating additional disturbance.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and adapt

Record rehabilitation actions and any subsequent fauna observations. Do not claim that a particular rehabilitation method benefits this species without site-specific evidence.

Sources