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Mount Lidgbird Charopid Land Snail (Pseudocharopa ledgbirdi)

This small land snail is endemic to Lord Howe Island, NSW, and is associated with rainforest on the island’s southern mountains. Moist rock faces and crevices in high-altitude cloud forest are important habitat for the species.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Critically endangered.

Seasonal planning

Surveys have sampled the snail in August, October and November on Mount Lidgbird.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Survey timing: Surveys have sampled the snail in August, October and November on Mount Lidgbird.

Identification: Appearance

It has a small, loosely coiled shell with few whorls and an elevated apex. The shell is dull grey, marked or flame-patterned with brown.

It has a small, loosely coiled shell with few whorls and an elevated apex. The shell is dull grey, marked or flame-patterned with brown.

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

The species is confined to the southern part of Lord Howe Island. It has been recorded around Mount Lidgbird and Mount Gower, and its range is reported to have contracted.

The species is confined to the southern part of Lord Howe Island. It has been recorded around Mount Lidgbird and Mount Gower, and its range is reported to have contracted.

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 occurs in rainforest, including high-altitude Gnarled Mossy Cloud Forest, and lives on moist basalt rock faces and in crevices. It has also been recorded under or inside logs and in moss.

It occurs in rainforest, including high-altitude Gnarled Mossy Cloud Forest, and lives on moist basalt rock faces and in crevices. It has also been recorded under or inside logs and in moss.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Charopid snails are non-carnivorous.

Charopid snails are non-carnivorous.

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

During dry weather, the snail shelters in crevices and cavities in basalt. It has also been recorded under or inside logs and in moss.

During dry weather, the snail shelters in crevices and cavities in basalt. It has also been recorded under or inside logs and in moss.

Threats: Threats

Predation by introduced rats is considered a likely key threat, although the evidence is described as largely circumstantial.

Predation by introduced rats is considered a likely key threat, although the evidence is described as largely circumstantial.

Threats: Works risk

Works that disturb or remove rainforest, moist rock faces or crevices could affect habitat used by the snail. Introduced-rat predation is also identified as a likely threat.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

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

Field surveys have searched the upper slopes of Mount Lidgbird and recorded sites where the snail occurs on basalt rock surfaces. It may be found crawling on rocks after rain.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

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: 3. 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 occurs in rainforest, including high-altitude Gnarled Mossy Cloud Forest, and lives on moist basalt rock faces and in crevices.

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: Basalt-derived soils

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

It occurs in rainforest, including high-altitude Gnarled Mossy Cloud Forest, and lives on moist basalt rock faces and in crevices.

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

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 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