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Gnaraloo Mulch Slider (Lerista haroldi)

The Gnaraloo Mulch Slider is a small, fossorial skink known from white coastal and near-coastal sands in Western Australia, from Gnaraloo south to Cape Cuvier. It is listed as Priority 1 on the WA DBCA priority fauna list, so works in its known range warrant careful assessment and precautionary survey.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal timing

Activity and breeding months are unknown.

The planning window is precautionary, not a species-specific activity or breeding calendar.

  • Precautionary survey and works planning: No species-specific seasonal timing is recorded. This is a planning window only; maintain suitable checks and disturbance precautions throughout the year.

Identification: Appearance and size

This small skink is fossorial and may be difficult to detect during a brief site inspection.

It lacks a dorsal or upper lateral pattern and has paired frontoparietals, a feature used to distinguish it from some related Lerista.

The greatest recorded snout-to-vent length is 40 mm. It has three digits on each foot.

Identification: Similar species

Among Western Australian members of the Lerista muelleri species group, L. haroldi is distinguished from patterned species by its lack of a dorsal or upper lateral pattern.

Where field characters are unclear, have identification confirmed by a suitably experienced herpetologist.

Identification: Field signs

The species is fossorial. No distinctive surface sign, burrow form or track description is known.

As general skink survey practice, inspect suitable loose sandy substrate for animals or signs. Do not assume an unoccupied-looking patch is free of fauna.

Distribution: Known range

The species is known from the upper west coast of Western Australia.

The reported range is white coastal and near-coastal sands from Gnaraloo south to Cape Cuvier. The type locality is 1 km south of Gnaraloo.

Atlas of Living Australia records show eight Western Australian records at three distinct 0.1-degree locations, spanning latitude -24.2 to -23.1 and longitude 113.5 to 114. These records indicate a limited known distribution, but do not define the full range.

Distribution: WA region and status

The DBCA priority list flags the Midwest region for this species.

It is Priority 1 on the DBCA Threatened and Priority Fauna List dated 1 July 2025. This is a DBCA priority category, not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. No national listing is recorded.

Habitat: Sandy environments

The species is associated with coastal and near-coastal sands.

It is recorded from white coastal and near-coastal sands along the upper west coast. Particular soil depth, vegetation structure and landform preferences are unknown.

Habitat: Other habitat descriptions

A secondary account describes grassland as its preferred natural habitat, but gives no further site-level detail. Treat this as a reported description, not a complete account of its habitat requirements.

A dataset also lists the species in a desert and xeric shrubland biome. How this broad biome classification relates to local site conditions is unclear.

Foraging habitat: Reported diet

Diet and foraging locations are poorly documented.

A compiled species account reports a carnivorous diet of tiny invertebrates. Prey groups and feeding rates are unknown.

Foraging habitat: Site considerations

No specific foraging microhabitat is known. When assessing potential habitat, retain attention on suitable sandy ground and associated surface cover without assuming that a particular vegetation type is required.

Breeding habitat: Reproduction

The species is oviparous, but its breeding biology is poorly known.

It lays eggs. Clutch size, egg-laying sites, incubation period and breeding months are unknown.

Breeding habitat: Precaution

Do not assume a site is outside the breeding period. Apply careful searches and disturbance controls throughout the year.

Sheltering habitat: Subsurface shelter

The species is fossorial, but its shelter sites are poorly known.

Burrow dimensions, depth, occupancy patterns and use of litter or other cover are unknown.

Sheltering habitat: Ground inspection

As general practice for fossorial skinks, inspect loose sandy substrate and ground cover carefully, including areas that may be disturbed by clearing or excavation. Avoid extensive substrate disturbance solely to search for the species.

Threats: Known information

Specific threats to this species are not documented.

The species is listed as Priority 1 by DBCA and described as rare in the Reptile Database. Its population trend and causes of decline are unknown.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or excavation in suitable sandy habitat could disturb fauna living below ground. This is a precautionary works consideration based on the species being fossorial, not a documented species-specific threat.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The species is poorly known, and no validated survey protocol or detectability estimates are available.

Check the proposed footprint against the reported range from Gnaraloo to Cape Cuvier, the Midwest regional flag and available fauna records. Confirm whether the site contains the coastal or near-coastal sandy settings associated with the species.

Survey methodology: 2. Field inspection

Use an experienced herpetologist to inspect suitable sandy ground and ground cover. General skink survey practice may include careful searches beneath loose cover and targeted searches of suitable substrate. Conduct handling or trapping only under applicable approvals and protocols.

The most effective survey method, season and effort are unknown. Record survey conditions, searched habitat and limitations, and do not treat non-detection as proof of absence.

Vegetation associations: Shrubland

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

A dataset also lists the species in a desert and xeric shrubland biome.

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: Sandy soils or sand

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

The Gnaraloo Mulch Slider is a small, fossorial skink known from white coastal and near-coastal sands in Western Australia, from Gnaraloo south to Cape Cuvier.

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.

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. Review and map

Plan works around the known coastal range and the possibility of an undetected fossorial skink.

Review records, the reported range and site habitat before setting clearing limits. Map sandy areas and other potentially suitable ground, and make the limits clear to the clearing crew.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Prepare the work area

Arrange a pre-clearance inspection by a suitably experienced fauna spotter catcher where suitable habitat is present. Brief crews on the species' small size, fossorial habit and the need to pause work if a skink is found.

Set out exclusion areas and a clear communication process before machinery enters the footprint.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Clear progressively

Use staged, controlled works and respond cautiously to any fauna encounter.

Keep disturbance within approved limits and proceed in manageable stages. Have the spotter catcher check the active work area and pause machinery when fauna or potential signs are encountered.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Manage an encounter

If a small skink is found, stop nearby work, protect it from machinery and keep people at a safe distance. Do not assume its identity from size or colour alone. Seek identification by a qualified person and follow project approvals and fauna handling procedures.

Record the location, habitat, photographs where suitable, and the response taken. Relocate the animal only if authorised and directed under the applicable procedures.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Inspect and record

After works, check that disturbance stayed within the authorised footprint and document fauna outcomes.

Inspect the work area and its boundaries for additional fauna or signs of unintended disturbance. Report findings, non-detections and survey limitations through the project reporting process.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Review controls

If the species is detected or suitable habitat was disturbed, review the effectiveness of exclusion areas, staged clearing and fauna response procedures before further work proceeds.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore the site

Rehabilitation requirements for this species are not documented.

Where rehabilitation is required, follow the approved project plan and aim to restore disturbed sandy ground and ground cover to the intended site condition. Do not introduce unapproved materials or vegetation.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor outcomes

Document rehabilitation actions and any fauna observations. Success criteria, monitoring duration and a species-specific restoration method are unknown.

Sources