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Gibb River Camaenid Land Snail (Rhagada gibbensis)

The Gibb River camaenid land snail is an air-breathing terrestrial snail in the family Camaenidae, endemic to Australia and recorded in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is poorly known, with few WA records, so works in the region should allow for careful searches and precautionary responses. It is listed as DBCA Priority 1, a DBCA priority category rather than a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal planning

Seasonal activity, breeding and detectability are unknown for this species. Use the following as a planning reminder, not as a species-specific seasonal calendar.

Seasonal information: No species-specific months have been recorded.

Survey planning: Plan assessment around the project programme and site conditions rather than assuming a season when the species is absent.

No species-specific seasonal evidence is available. Do not use this planning row to infer presence or absence.

  • Any season: precautionary planning: Planning window only. These months do not represent known activity or breeding periods for Rhagada gibbensis.

Identification: Appearance and size

Species-specific field identification details are limited.

This is an air-breathing land snail in the family Camaenidae. Its shell description, measurements and other diagnostic features are not documented.

Identification: Similar species and field signs

Similar species and distinctive field signs have not been described for Rhagada gibbensis. As general land-snail survey practice, look for snails or shells and record their location and photographs for expert identification.

Distribution: Known range

Records are sparse, and the species is recorded in the Kimberley region.

Atlas of Living Australia records show six records in Western Australia at four distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude -17.2 and -15.7 and longitude 125 and 127.6. Records outside WA were excluded from these details as likely errors.

Distribution: WA regions and status

The DBCA list flags the Kimberley region. DBCA Priority 1 means the species is poorly known and known from few locations, with none on conservation lands.

Habitat: Recorded habitat

Habitat used by this species has not been documented.

No habitat type, vegetation, substrate or landform has been recorded for this species.

Habitat: Site assessment

Do not infer that a site is unsuitable because a particular habitat feature is absent. Treat areas within the known regional range as requiring assessment where project works could affect terrestrial land-snail habitat.

Foraging habitat: Known information

The species' diet and foraging habitat have not been documented.

What this species eats and where it feeds are unknown.

Foraging habitat: Precaution

Do not target survey effort around a presumed food plant or feeding site. Record the conditions and precise location of any snail or shell found, without treating those observations as evidence of a known diet.

Breeding habitat: Known information

Breeding habitat and reproductive timing are poorly known.

Breeding sites, reproductive behaviour, egg information and breeding months have not been recorded for this species.

Breeding habitat: Planning

Do not assume that any time of year is outside the breeding period. Assess likely impacts and apply site-specific controls without relying on an unverified seasonal window.

Sheltering habitat: Known information

Shelter sites and behaviour have not been documented.

No shelter sites, resting behaviour or refuge features have been recorded for Rhagada gibbensis.

Sheltering habitat: Search precautions

As general practice for land-snail searches, inspect accessible ground surfaces and potential refuges carefully, and avoid crushing or removing material unnecessarily. No particular refuge type is confirmed for this species.

Threats: Known pressures

The species is poorly known, and specific threats have not been identified.

No species-specific threats are documented. The DBCA Priority 1 category records that the species is poorly known and known from few locations.

Threats: Work-site risk

Clearing can affect terrestrial fauna and their refuges as a general matter. The work activities and habitat features that may present a particular threat to this species are unknown, so use precautionary assessment and controls.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Species-specific detectability is unknown, so combine records review with careful field inspection.

Review current fauna records, the proposed disturbance footprint and nearby areas in the Kimberley. The known record base is sparse. Do not assume the species is absent because no records are mapped at a site.

Survey methodology: 2. Field inspection and records

As general practice for land-snail surveys, search carefully for live snails and shells, taking care not to crush or displace potential finds. Record the date, location, photographs and site conditions, and seek expert identification where needed. A taxon-specific survey method, season and detectability estimate have not been established.

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 records and footprint

Plan for uncertainty before clearing or other ground disturbance begins.

Check the latest available records and confirm that survey coverage includes the full proposed disturbance area and relevant adjacent ground. Allow for the limitations of the sparse known record base.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Brief the work team

Brief spotter catchers, ecologists and clearing crews on the species' identity as a land snail, its Priority 1 status, the limits of current knowledge, and the procedure for pausing work and reporting a find.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Watch the active work area

Use careful work practices and respond promptly to any possible find.

As a general precaution, maintain visual checks of the active disturbance area and avoid unnecessary crushing or movement of ground material before it has been inspected.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Pause and report

If a possible live snail or relevant shell is found, pause work in the immediate area, prevent further disturbance, photograph and record the find, and contact the project ecologist or fauna spotter catcher for identification and advice. Do not assume a shell can be identified to this species in the field.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Record and review

Document outcomes and follow up any find through the project process.

Document survey effort, locations inspected, observations, photographs, identification decisions and any areas where detection was limited. Submit records through the applicable project and fauna-recording channels.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Reassess controls

If the species is confirmed or a credible identification remains unresolved, review the remaining works and seek appropriate ecological advice before resuming disturbance in the affected area.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Limit additional disturbance

Species-specific rehabilitation requirements have not been documented.

As general site practice, keep rehabilitation works within the approved footprint and avoid unnecessary disturbance to adjacent ground. Do not claim that a particular planting or substrate will benefit this species without supporting evidence.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and report

Record rehabilitation actions and any subsequent snail or shell observations. Use those observations to inform site management, while recognising that they do not establish the species' habitat requirements.

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