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Lake Cronin Snake (Paroplocephalus atriceps)

The Lake Cronin Snake is a venomous elapid endemic to Western Australia, recorded from arid eucalypt woodland and reported to climb in trees. It is poorly known and may be encountered during site works. Avoid handling it and follow WA Priority 3 guidance for fauna encounters.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 3.

Seasonal guidance

No months are known for activity, breeding or movement. The row below is a year-round planning reminder, not a claim about seasonal behaviour.

Seasonal evidence: No species-specific months are recorded.

Month values indicate a general planning reminder only; species-specific seasonal timing is not available.

  • Plan surveys and works precautions: Year-round planning window only. Do not interpret this as evidence of year-round activity or a seasonal peak.

Identification: Appearance and size

Use a cautious identification approach and do not handle the snake. The species is venomous, and its features may be difficult to assess safely in the field.

The body is slender behind the neck and somewhat laterally compressed. Dorsal scales are smooth and not highly glossy. The body may be reddish brown, olive green or blackish brown; the head is dull black or dark grey, with pale spots on the lips and a denser, pale-edged dark collar. Dorsal bands or blotches are absent.

A large reported female measured 730 mm snout to vent and had a 90 mm tail. The largest reported male measured 530 mm snout to vent and had a 99 mm tail.

Identification: Similar species

The species resembles Hoplocephalus species in body form and scalation. It differs in features including fewer ventral scales and usually fewer midbody scale rows. Do not check these scale details by approaching or handling a live snake.

Identification: Field signs

Distinctive tracks, shed-skin features and other field signs have not been described. Do not infer presence or absence from a lack of such signs.

Distribution: Known range

The species is endemic to Western Australia. Records are sparse, and its known distribution is restricted but spans multiple locations.

The Reptile Database gives the range as Western Australia and describes the distribution as restricted to arid eucalypt woodlands. Atlas of Living Australia records show 18 WA records at 14 distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitudes -33 and -31.8 and longitudes 119.5 and 123.2.

Distribution: Named places and WA regions

Lake Cronin is the type locality. Peak Eleanora is also named as a record area. The DBCA list flags the Wheatbelt and South Coast regions.

Habitat: Recorded setting

Habitat information is limited, but the type locality and range description indicate eucalypt woodland in an arid part of Western Australia.

The type locality is open eucalypt woodland on sandy loam at Lake Cronin. The species’ distribution is characterised by arid eucalypt woodlands of Western Australia.

Habitat: Habitat uncertainty

Habitat preferences across the range are not well documented, and the type-locality substrate is not established as necessary elsewhere. Treat potentially suitable woodland as a precautionary planning consideration, not proof of occupancy.

Foraging habitat: Prey information

The species’ natural diet and foraging settings are poorly documented.

Natural diet is unknown apart from a single prey record of an agamid lizard. A broader account says its diet includes lizards but gives no further detail.

Foraging habitat: Implications for works

Specific foraging habitat has not been recorded. Do not assume that a particular microhabitat or prey concentration identifies a foraging site for this snake.

Breeding habitat: Reproduction

Breeding habitat, breeding season and reproductive details are not established.

The Reptile Database lists the species as ovoviviparous, while another account describes it as presumed viviparous and states that reproduction is unknown. The reproductive mode remains unresolved.

Breeding habitat: Site considerations

Breeding sites, birth locations, litter sizes and seasonal timing have not been recorded. Avoid making assumptions about breeding habitat when assessing a works footprint.

Sheltering habitat: Known behaviour

Arboreal behaviour is reported, but specific shelter sites are not described.

Arboreality has been confirmed. The Reptile Database also notes arboreal habitat, while its diagnosis describes the snake as terrestrial. The contexts and frequency of these habitat uses are not explained.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter uncertainty

Specific tree features, hollows, ground refuges or sheltering substrates have not been identified. Do not treat any one shelter type as established for this species.

Threats: Listing context

Specific threats to the species have not been identified. Priority 3 indicates that it is poorly known and is not described as under imminent threat.

DBCA Priority 3 is a DBCA priority category, not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. No national listing is identified.

Threats: Works-related precautions

Development or clearing has not been identified as a specific threat. As a general precaution, minimise unnecessary disturbance to potentially suitable woodland and respond cautiously to any snake encountered.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Survey effort should account for the species’ reported nocturnal activity and occasional daytime activity, while recognising that detectability has not been quantified.

Check current DBCA fauna information and occurrence records for the site and surrounding area. Records are sparse, so do not assume the species is absent because no nearby records are mapped.

Survey methodology: 2. Field searches

Where an appropriately authorised survey is required, plan searches across both daylight and night-time periods, reflecting the reported primarily nocturnal activity and some diurnal activity. Survey suitable eucalypt woodland and note the habitat and circumstances of any observation without assuming a preferred shelter site.

Survey methodology: 3. Safety and records

This is a venomous snake. Keep personnel at a safe distance and do not handle it. Record the observation location, date, time, behaviour and a photograph from a safe distance where possible, then follow the project’s fauna reporting and escalation procedures.

Vegetation associations: Woodland

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

The type locality is open eucalypt woodland on sandy loam at Lake Cronin.

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 type locality is open eucalypt woodland on sandy loam at Lake Cronin.

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.

Soil and substrate associations: Loamy soils

The type locality is open eucalypt woodland on sandy loam at Lake Cronin.

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 brief

Before works, use the limited distribution and habitat information to guide precautionary planning. Do not assume the species is absent where records are lacking.

Review occurrence records, the DBCA listing and the habitat description for the works area. Brief crews that this is a venomous snake and that sightings must be reported without approach or handling.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Plan the footprint

Where practicable, avoid unnecessary clearing of open or arid eucalypt woodland. Set out work limits clearly and ensure fauna response arrangements and contact details are available before disturbance begins.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Control work activity

Work carefully and keep a clear response process in place in case a snake is encountered.

Keep disturbance within the approved footprint and maintain visual awareness of the immediate work area. Do not place hands or feet into unseen spaces while working.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to an encounter

Stop work in the immediate area, keep people and equipment away, and do not attempt to capture, move or kill the snake. Contact the designated fauna spotter catcher or other appropriately authorised responder and follow site procedures.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Record and report

If it can be done safely, record the location, time and circumstances of the encounter. Resume work only when the designated responder has advised that it is appropriate under the site procedure.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Complete records

After disturbance, document any observations and make sure any fauna response is closed out through the project process.

Pass observation details, photographs and the location to the project ecologist or nominated fauna lead. Record whether work was paused and what response followed.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Review outcomes

Review any encounter or unexpected habitat finding with the project team and update site instructions if required. Do not infer that no animals were present solely because none were observed.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore disturbed areas

Species-specific rehabilitation requirements have not been described. Use local ecological advice and avoid assuming that rehabilitation will recreate undocumented habitat needs.

Rehabilitate areas in accordance with project approvals and the site rehabilitation plan. Where woodland has been disturbed, use locally appropriate advice to guide restoration of the affected vegetation and substrate.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and report

Record rehabilitation actions and any subsequent snake observations. A monitoring period or success criteria for this species have not been specified.

Sources