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Kenneally's Gecko (Lake Buchanan) (Diplodactylus kenneallyi)

Kenneally's Gecko is a short-tailed gecko known from a type locality near Lake Buchanan in Western Australia. Its ecology and current distribution are poorly known, so works near its known range warrant careful assessment. It is listed as Priority 2 on the WA DBCA priority fauna list.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal planning

Species-specific activity and breeding months are unknown. Use project-specific survey planning and treat any timing as a general planning window, not a known seasonal pattern for this species.

Breeding: Oviparous; breeding months are not recorded.

Activity: Seasonal activity and detectability are not recorded.

No months for activity or breeding are established.

  • Survey and works planning: Planning window only. No species-specific seasonal pattern is documented; consider survey and fauna controls whenever works may affect potentially relevant habitat.

Identification: Appearance and size

Published information gives several diagnostic features, but not a full field description or measurements.

The species is described as a short-tailed gecko in the Diplodactylus conspicillatus group. Its diagnosis notes moderately large subdigital granules and apical plates, a rostral scale separated from the nostril, and a very deep, narrow mental scale with concave sides.

The diagnosis also describes distinctive coloration, but does not specify its colours or pattern. No body length or other size measurement is recorded.

Identification: Similar species

The published diagnosis compares it with D. conspicillatus, D. savagei and D. pulcher. It distinguishes the species by features including its labial scales, first lower labial and coloration.

Do not rely on a single feature for field identification. Seek expert confirmation where a gecko cannot be confidently identified.

Identification: Field signs

Tracks, scats, calls, distinctive shelters and other field signs are not documented for this species. The taxonomic account includes no photographs.

Distribution: Known range

Kenneally's Gecko has a highly restricted and poorly documented Western Australian range.

The type locality is the foot of a stony hill near Lake Buchanan, Western Australia. The Reptile Database reports that the species is known only from the type specimen.

Atlas of Living Australia records show one Western Australian record in one 0.1-degree location, at approximately -25.6 latitude and 123.1 longitude. These rounded coordinates do not establish a more precise locality.

Distribution: WA region

The DBCA priority list flags the Goldfields region. This regional listing does not establish the species’ precise distribution within the region.

An older biodiversity audit also records the species as a priority species in the Gascoyne 2 subregion. No separate confirmed locality is recorded there.

Habitat: Recorded setting

Habitat information is very limited and should not be extrapolated beyond the recorded locality.

The type locality is described as the foot of a stony hill near Lake Buchanan. Vegetation, soil and landform around the specimen are not described in detail.

Habitat: Habitat uncertainty

It is not known whether the species uses other rocky settings, surrounding plains, particular vegetation types or a broader range of landforms. Assess potentially suitable nearby habitat rather than assuming it is occupied or unoccupied.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Foraging habitat and diet have not been documented.

No prey or diet information is recorded for Kenneally's Gecko.

Foraging habitat: Foraging areas

Where and how the species forages, and whether it uses particular vegetation or landforms for feeding, are unknown. Do not assign a foraging habitat based on the type locality alone.

Breeding habitat: Reproduction

The species is egg-laying, but breeding details are poorly known.

The taxonomic account records the species as oviparous. Its breeding season, clutch size, egg-laying site and incubation requirements are not recorded.

Breeding habitat: Breeding areas

No specific breeding habitat is documented. Do not assume the type locality is a breeding site, or that potential egg-laying areas can be recognised from the available descriptions.

Sheltering habitat: Known shelter

Shelter use is not documented for this species.

Shelter sites, refuge types, burrows and activity periods are not described for Kenneally's Gecko.

Sheltering habitat: Precaution in the field

When searching for small geckos, inspect potential refuges carefully and avoid overturning or removing rocks and other cover unnecessarily. This is precautionary group-level guidance, not a documented shelter preference for this species.

Threats: Evidence limits

Species-specific threats have not been established.

Kenneally's Gecko is poorly known and recorded from very few locations. No confirmed threat or effect on the species has been documented.

Threats: Works-related risks

Clearing, vehicle movements and disturbance of ground cover can affect fauna and habitat generally. Consider these precautionary factors in project planning; they are not documented species-specific threats to Kenneally's Gecko.

Survey methodology: 1. Review records and habitat

The species is poorly known, and no validated survey method or detectability information is available.

Check current project-area records, the Lake Buchanan type locality and the Goldfields regional flag. Map stony landforms and other site features for assessment without treating them as confirmed habitat.

Survey methodology: 2. Search carefully

Use an appropriately experienced reptile ecologist to survey areas that could be affected. As general gecko survey practice, search suitable ground features and cover carefully, using methods and timing selected for the site and conditions.

The species' activity period, detectability, effective survey effort and most successful survey season are unknown. Record these limitations when reporting survey results.

Survey methodology: 3. Record and verify

Document survey locations, effort, conditions and any observations with photographs and coordinates where practicable. Seek expert identification for uncertain records and report survey results through the relevant project and fauna-recording processes.

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: Rocky, stony or shallow ground

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

The type locality is the foot of a stony hill near Lake Buchanan, Western Australia.

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. Assess the footprint

Because the species has a very limited documented range, plan works conservatively where they could affect the known locality or potentially suitable nearby landforms.

Review the proposed disturbance area against available species records, including the Lake Buchanan type locality and the Goldfields regional flag. Identify stony ground and other potentially relevant features for targeted assessment, while noting that wider habitat use is unknown.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Plan controls

Have a fauna ecologist or qualified spotter catcher prepare site-specific search, avoidance and response arrangements before clearing. Brief crews on the uncertainty in the species' distribution and the need to stop work if a possible individual is found.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work progressively

Use staged, controlled work and respond cautiously to any possible gecko encountered.

Keep clearing within the approved footprint and proceed in a controlled sequence that allows fauna to be detected. Avoid unnecessary disturbance to retained ground features and cover.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop and assess

If a possible Kenneally's Gecko is found, pause work in the immediate area, protect the animal from further disturbance and contact the fauna ecologist or spotter catcher. Do not identify it solely from the short tail or handle it unless authorised and necessary under the project procedure.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Document the encounter

Record the location, circumstances and identification evidence, including photographs where safe and appropriate. Follow the project’s approval conditions and fauna-handling procedures.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Check the area

After works, retain clear records and address any confirmed observation through the project’s environmental process.

Have the responsible environmental personnel check the work area and adjacent retained ground for fauna that may have been missed or displaced. This is general site practice, not a species-specific detection method.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Report and review

Document any encounters, identification decisions, handling and release actions, and any unplanned disturbance. Review whether work controls or survey coverage should be adjusted before further clearing.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore disturbed ground

No species-specific rehabilitation requirements are documented.

Rehabilitate disturbed areas in line with project commitments, using suitable local materials and avoiding the introduction of weeds or debris. Retain existing ground features outside the disturbance footprint where possible.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor outcomes

Record rehabilitation actions and monitor the site against project objectives. Specific vegetation, refuge features and habitat outcomes required by Kenneally's Gecko are not identified.

Sources