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Depuch Island Charopid Land Snail (Dupucharopa millestriata)

The Depuch Island charopid land snail is a small, air-breathing land snail known from Depuch Island, east of Roebourne, Western Australia. Its distribution and ecology are poorly understood. It is listed as DBCA Priority 2 in Western Australia.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal planning

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

Seasonal knowledge: No taxon-specific months are recorded.

Plan surveys and precautionary controls around the proposed works and site conditions. Do not infer a preferred survey season from this general planning row.

  • Year-round works planning: General planning window only, not evidence that the species is active throughout the year. No season is known to be more suitable for survey or disturbance.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Depuch Island charopid land snail is a small terrestrial charopid snail. Few details are available for field identification.

It is a small, air-breathing land snail in the family Charopidae. The 1984 account notes that shell features suggest northern affinities but gives no detailed description or measurements.

  • Do not rely on size or shell appearance alone to confirm the species.

Identification: Similar species

Similar species and diagnostic characters that distinguish this snail from other land snails have not been described.

  • Refer uncertain specimens or shells to a suitably experienced malacologist.

Identification: Field signs

Species-specific field signs have not been documented. As general land-snail survey practice, look for live snails and shells when carefully checking ground-level cover and debris. These observations alone do not confirm this species.

Distribution: Known range

The taxon is known from a very limited record, and its distribution is poorly documented.

The 1984 account records Dupucharopa millestriata once from Depuch Island, east of Roebourne, Western Australia. The species is also described as endemic to coastal Western Australia, but no additional locality records are given.

Distribution: WA region and records

The DBCA Priority Fauna List flags the Pilbara region. No public WA coordinates or further confirmed sites are available. Do not assume the species is absent elsewhere because only one occurrence has been recorded.

Distribution: Status

DBCA lists the species as Priority 2, a category for poorly known fauna known from few locations, with some occurring on conservation lands. This is a DBCA priority category, not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The species has no national listing.

Habitat: Recorded setting

Specific habitat information has not been documented beyond the coastal island locality in the known record.

The only described record is from Depuch Island, east of Roebourne. The vegetation, substrate, landform and site conditions where it was collected are not specified.

Habitat: Site assessment

Do not assume that a particular vegetation type or ground feature is suitable habitat. At a proposed works site, document ground cover, substrate and sheltered features as observations, without treating them as confirmed habitat preferences.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding

The species' diet and feeding locations have not been documented.

Diet, feeding behaviour and foraging locations have not been documented.

Foraging habitat: Precaution during searches

As general land-snail survey practice, check ground-level cover and debris carefully rather than assuming feeding occurs on a particular plant or substrate. Record any feeding signs as observations, not as evidence of a known diet for this species.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

Breeding biology is poorly known.

Breeding season, egg-laying sites, clutch size and juvenile development have not been documented.

Breeding habitat: Works planning

Do not plan works around an assumed breeding season. Where the known locality or potentially relevant ground features may be affected, seek advice from the project ecologist and DBCA before disturbance.

Sheltering habitat: Known shelter sites

Sheltering behaviour and responses to dry or disturbed conditions are poorly known.

Species-specific sheltering behaviour and shelter sites have not been documented.

Sheltering habitat: General search practice

As general land-snail survey practice, carefully inspect ground-level cover and debris where authorised, since snails or shells may be overlooked without close examination. Do not treat any cover type as a confirmed shelter for this species.

Threats: Information limits

Specific threats to this taxon have not been identified.

No species-specific threats, population trend or impact assessment has been reported. Its limited known record means its distribution and susceptibility to site disturbance are poorly understood.

Threats: Priority for works

Treat a potential occurrence as a precautionary matter because the species is DBCA Priority 2 and is known from few locations.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

No species-specific survey method or detectability information is available. Use cautious, documented land-snail search methods and seek expert advice where needed.

Check current DBCA fauna information and project records for the proposed area, including the Depuch Island record and Pilbara regional listing. No public WA coordinates are available, so do not assume the species is absent because no records are mapped.

Survey methodology: 2. Site inspection

As general land-snail survey practice, carefully inspect ground-level cover and debris in areas that could be affected. Record the location, date, conditions, search effort, photographs and whether observations are live animals or shells. No survey condition or season is known to be optimal for this species.

Survey methodology: 3. Identification and limits

The available descriptions do not provide sufficient diagnostic detail for reliable field identification. Photograph and retain records in accordance with project procedures, and arrange expert identification of uncertain specimens. Report any non-detection with the search methods and their limitations.

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. Confirm the risk area

Before clearing, establish whether the works could affect the known locality or areas requiring precautionary assessment.

Review the proposed footprint against available records and consult the project ecologist and DBCA where the works could affect Depuch Island or other relevant Pilbara areas. Do not infer precise occurrence boundaries from the limited published record.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Survey and brief crews

Arrange a site inspection before disturbance, without assuming a species-specific survey season. Brief clearing crews on the limited identification information, the need to avoid crushing or removing possible snails, and the procedure for stopping work and reporting a find.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Mark and avoid

Where an observation or precautionary area has been identified, map and clearly mark it for avoidance until an ecologist has assessed it and any required approvals or directions have been confirmed.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work carefully

Use a cautious stop-work response if a possible snail or shell is found during works.

Keep clearing within the approved footprint and avoid unnecessary ground disturbance outside it. As a general precaution, avoid crushing or sweeping aside ground-level cover before it has been checked where a risk area has been identified.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to a find

Pause work in the immediate area, prevent further disturbance and notify the fauna spotter catcher or project ecologist. Record the location and condition, and arrange expert identification. Do not handle, collect or relocate an animal unless authorised and directed under the project procedures.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Resume only after review

Keep the affected area undisturbed until the ecologist has assessed the find and advised on next steps. Document the decision and any required controls before work resumes.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Check and document

After works, retain records of searches, observations and management decisions to support future assessment of this poorly known species.

Complete any required post-work inspection of the affected area as directed by the project ecologist. Record search effort, findings, photographs and the final footprint of disturbance.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Report records

Submit confirmed or possible records through the project reporting process and to the relevant authority where required. Include identification confidence and distinguish live animals from shell records.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Review controls

Review whether avoidance and work procedures were followed, and retain the information for future work planning. Do not interpret a non-detection as proof that the species is absent.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore disturbed areas

Species-specific rehabilitation requirements and preferred habitat features have not been documented.

Rehabilitate only in line with approved project plans and ecologist advice. Where locally present and appropriate to retain, avoid unnecessary removal of ground cover and surface features. These are not confirmed habitat requirements for this snail.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and adapt

Document rehabilitation actions and inspect their progress as required by the project. If the species is confirmed or further evidence becomes available, obtain specialist advice before setting species-specific rehabilitation targets.

Sources