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Mitchell's Rainforest Snail (Thersites mitchellae)

Mitchell's Rainforest Snail is a large land snail endemic to north-eastern New South Wales, where it occurs in coastal remnants between the Richmond and Tweed Rivers. Its habitat needs include moist remnant rainforest or swamp forest, an intact canopy and a well-developed leaf litter layer.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

Mitchell's Rainforest Snail is reported present year-round in its range and is active at night.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Present year-round: Mitchell's Rainforest Snail is reported present year-round in its range and is active at night.

Identification: Appearance

It is a large land snail. It is semi-arboreal and can be found under bark on tree trunks and at the base of palm fronds.

It is a large land snail. It is semi-arboreal and can be found under bark on tree trunks and at the base of palm fronds.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

It occurs in coastal northern New South Wales between the Richmond and Tweed Rivers, with records from some adjacent mid-elevation areas. Known populations include Stotts Island, Banora Point, Byron Bay, Suffolk Park and Lennox Head.

It occurs in coastal northern New South Wales between the Richmond and Tweed Rivers, with records from some adjacent mid-elevation areas. Known populations include Stotts Island, Banora Point, Byron Bay, Suffolk Park and Lennox Head.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It occupies undisturbed remnant lowland subtropical rainforest and swamp forest, including swamp sclerophyll forest with a rainforest understorey. Slightly raised ground around wetlands, especially where palms and figs occur, is favoured; leaf litter and an intact canopy help maintain suitable habitat.

It occupies undisturbed remnant lowland subtropical rainforest and swamp forest, including swamp sclerophyll forest with a rainforest understorey. Slightly raised ground around wetlands, especially where palms and figs occur, is favoured; leaf litter and an intact canopy help maintain suitable habitat.

Foraging habitat: Diet

It feeds on leaf litter, fungi and lichen.

It feeds on leaf litter, fungi and lichen.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

It is typically found among leaf litter on the forest floor, and may also shelter under tree bark or at the base of palm fronds. Logs are also among the places where it has been observed.

It is typically found among leaf litter on the forest floor, and may also shelter under tree bark or at the base of palm fronds. Logs are also among the places where it has been observed.

Threats: Threats

Habitat clearing and ongoing habitat degradation have reduced and fragmented the areas it occupies. It may also be vulnerable to predation by introduced mammals such as rats and by birds.

Habitat clearing and ongoing habitat degradation have reduced and fragmented the areas it occupies. It may also be vulnerable to predation by introduced mammals such as rats and by birds.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing can remove habitat and directly kill individuals, while habitat fragmentation can interrupt movement between suitable areas. Construction may also damage habitat through hydrological changes, pesticide or herbicide use, and trampling or crushing by vehicles or personnel.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Rainforest or vine thicket

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

It occupies undisturbed remnant lowland subtropical rainforest and swamp forest, including swamp sclerophyll forest with a rainforest understorey.

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: NSW.

Habitat use: general

Vegetation associations: Eucalypt forest

It occupies undisturbed remnant lowland subtropical rainforest and swamp forest, including swamp sclerophyll forest with a rainforest understorey.

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: NSW.

Habitat use: general

Vegetation associations: Wetland or sedgeland

It occupies undisturbed remnant lowland subtropical rainforest and swamp forest, including swamp sclerophyll forest with a rainforest understorey.

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: NSW.

Habitat use: general

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: Water-associated habitat mentioned in profile

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

It occupies undisturbed remnant lowland subtropical rainforest and swamp forest, including swamp sclerophyll forest with a rainforest understorey.

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: NSW.

Habitat use: general

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 disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources