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Gane's Blind Snake (Pilbara) (Anilios ganei)

Gane's blind snake is a small, fossorial snake known from the Pilbara region of Western Australia, where grassland is reported as its preferred natural habitat. Its underground habits and poorly known distribution make careful, precautionary checks appropriate during works; it is listed as DBCA Priority 1 in WA.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 1.

Seasonal guidance

Species-specific activity, breeding and movement months are not known. Use year-round precautions as a planning measure, not as a statement that the snake is active throughout the year.

Seasonal information: No species-specific months are recorded.

Planning approach: Consider fauna checks whenever suitable ground is disturbed.

Month values indicate a general planning window only and do not represent measured species activity.

  • Precautionary works planning: Year-round planning window only. Seasonal activity or breeding periods are not known.

Identification: Appearance and size

This fossorial snake may not be readily visible during routine surface searches. Descriptions are limited.

The upper body is deep grey-brown and the belly is cream. It grows to about 30 cm in total length, including the tail.

Identification: Similar species

There is no published comparison with similar species. Seek identification advice from a suitably experienced herpetologist if a specimen cannot be identified confidently.

Identification: Field signs

Distinctive surface signs, tracks and burrows have not been described for this species. Do not identify an animal from an unverified burrow or soil mark alone.

Distribution: Known range

The known range is in north-western Western Australia, with records concentrated in the Pilbara.

The species is known from the Pilbara region. Atlas of Living Australia records show 26 Western Australian records at 23 distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude -23.4 and -21.1 and longitude 116.3 and 120.

Distribution: WA regions and locality

Pilbara is the WA region flagged on the DBCA priority list. The type locality is Cathedral Gorge, 30 km west of Newman. The known records do not establish that the species occurs throughout the region or at every site within the record bounds.

Habitat: Reported habitat

Habitat information is limited, with grassland the only preferred natural habitat identified.

Grassland is reported as the species' preferred natural habitat. Specific soil types, vegetation structure and landform preferences are not known.

Habitat: Site assessment

Treat grassland within the known Pilbara range as potentially relevant habitat, but do not assume that other habitat is unsuitable. Record vegetation, ground conditions and the extent of proposed disturbance during site assessment.

Foraging habitat: Available information

Foraging ecology and feeding locations are not documented.

The species is fossorial, but its prey, foraging behaviour and foraging microhabitat are not known.

Foraging habitat: Precaution on site

Avoid assuming that surface appearance identifies areas used for feeding. Where ground disturbance is proposed in potentially suitable habitat, apply the same staged checks and fauna management procedures used for other small fossorial reptiles.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

The species lays eggs, but breeding sites and timing are not known.

Gane's blind snake is oviparous. Breeding months, clutch size, egg-laying locations and development time have not been recorded.

Breeding habitat: Works planning

Do not assign a breeding season or presume that works outside a particular period avoid breeding impacts. Use year-round precautions where suitable habitat is disturbed.

Sheltering habitat: Underground habits

The species is fossorial, but specific shelter structures and soil conditions are not known.

The species is terrestrial and fossorial. Particular burrow forms, shelter depths and soil preferences have not been identified.

Sheltering habitat: Potential shelter areas

Treat soil and ground cover in potential habitat as potentially used for shelter. Avoid interpreting the absence of visible animals or obvious burrows as evidence that an area is unoccupied.

Threats: Status

Specific threats to this species have not been identified. Its DBCA category reflects limited knowledge and records.

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

Threats: Threat information

No species-specific threats have been described.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Species-specific survey methods and detectability are not known. Plan surveys as precautionary searches for a fossorial reptile.

Check the proposed works against the known Pilbara range and record bounds. Review existing site records and habitat information, and do not assume the species is absent because no records are mapped.

Survey methodology: 2. Field inspection

Have a suitably experienced ecologist inspect potential habitat before disturbance. As general practice for fossorial reptiles, search accessible ground carefully and check exposed soil or spoil during authorised works, using safe handling and fauna procedures.

An effective survey season, search effort and detection rate have not been established for this species. Record survey conditions, searched areas, observations and limitations.

Survey methodology: 3. Identification and records

Photograph and document any suspected animal where safe and permitted. Obtain expert confirmation when identification is uncertain, and report records through the appropriate WA channels.

Vegetation associations: Tussock grassland

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

Grassland is reported as the species' preferred natural habitat.

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

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 and brief

Plan works on the assumption that a fossorial animal may be present in suitable habitat even when none is seen.

Confirm the disturbance footprint, check available fauna information and identify grassland or other potentially suitable ground within the Pilbara range. Brief crews on the species' appearance, fossorial habits and the response procedure for fauna encounters.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Prepare the site

Where practicable, minimise the area and duration of ground disturbance. Arrange an ecologist or fauna spotter catcher to be available during relevant ground works, and confirm how work will be paused if a suspected animal is found.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work progressively

Use staged, controlled ground disturbance and respond cautiously to any suspected blind snake.

Keep disturbance within the approved footprint and proceed in manageable stages where practicable. Allow the fauna observer to inspect accessible exposed ground and spoil without entering unsafe areas.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to an animal

Pause work in the immediate area if a suspected Gane's blind snake is found. Keep people and machinery clear, do not handle it unless authorised and competent to do so, and contact the nominated fauna specialist to assess identification and next steps.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Record and report

After works, document outcomes and follow through on any fauna incident under the project procedure.

Record the location, date, habitat, work activity and outcome of any observation or suspected encounter. Submit confirmed records through appropriate channels and retain relevant survey and incident records.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Review

Review whether the disturbance stayed within its approved footprint and whether fauna procedures were followed. Update site controls if observations or changed conditions indicate further precautions are needed.

Rehabilitation actions: Ground and vegetation

Species-specific rehabilitation requirements are not known. Rehabilitation should aim to restore disturbed ground and vegetation to the approved site objectives.

Where rehabilitation is required, stabilise disturbed ground and restore vegetation in accordance with the project rehabilitation plan. Grassland is reported as preferred natural habitat, but suitable plant species and restoration methods for Gane's blind snake have not been identified.

Rehabilitation actions: Follow-up

Inspect rehabilitated areas for erosion, access issues and establishment of the planned vegetation. Claim that rehabilitation has recreated habitat for this species only if supported by appropriate monitoring.

Sources