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Mt Hart Station Camaenid Land Snail (Rhagada harti)

Rhagada harti is a terrestrial camaenid land snail recorded in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Its habitat, seasonal activity and field identification details are poorly known, so works in its recorded area warrant precautionary survey and impact controls. It is listed as Priority 2 on the WA DBCA list, a DBCA priority category rather than a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal planning

Activity, breeding and movement months for Rhagada harti are not documented. Use the periods below only as a general planning prompt, not as a species-specific seasonal calendar.

Species-specific seasonal information: Not documented.

Planning implication: Do not assume any season is risk-free.

No species-specific seasonal claims can be made.

  • Survey and impact planning: Planning window only. No species-specific activity or survey months have been established.

Identification: Appearance and size

Rhagada harti is a terrestrial camaenid land snail, but species-specific details for field identification are limited.

Shell dimensions, shape, colour and other diagnostic features have not been documented. General Rhagada or camaenid descriptions alone are not sufficient for identification.

  • Seek confirmation from an appropriately qualified malacologist where records or specimens may be significant.

Identification: Similar species

Other Rhagada species are listed in taxonomic material, but distinguishing features for R. harti are not documented.

Identification: Field signs

Species-specific field signs and survey detectability are not documented. As general land-snail survey practice, crews can look for intact or broken shells while carefully checking the ground surface and sheltered debris.

Distribution: Known records

Known records indicate an occurrence in the Kimberley, but do not provide a complete description of the species’ range.

Atlas of Living Australia records show 12 Western Australian records at four distinct 0.1-degree locations, spanning latitude -18.2 to -16.2 and longitude 124.7 to 126.4. Records outside Western Australia were excluded as likely errors.

Distribution: WA region and status

The WA list flags the Kimberley region. The DBCA Threatened and Priority Fauna List dated 1 July 2025 assigns Priority 2, described as poorly known and known from few locations, some on conservation lands. No national listing is given.

Habitat: Known habitat

Species-specific habitat has not been documented.

The vegetation, landform, substrate and moisture conditions used by R. harti are unknown. Habitat should not be inferred from the common name or from records of other Rhagada species.

Habitat: Site assessment

Treat suitable habitat as unresolved wherever works overlap the known Kimberley record area. Record site conditions and search effort rather than assuming apparently unsuitable ground is unoccupied.

Foraging habitat: Diet

The diet and foraging habitat of this species have not been documented.

No food plants, food types or feeding observations are documented for R. harti.

Foraging habitat: Precaution

Do not use the presence or absence of a presumed food resource to judge whether the species could occur at a work site. Document ground cover and surface conditions as observations, not as confirmed feeding habitat.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

Breeding habitat and reproductive timing are poorly known.

The locations where R. harti lays eggs, its reproductive mode and breeding period are not documented.

Breeding habitat: Works planning

Do not assume any season is free of breeding risk. Where records or possible habitat overlap the development footprint, complete checks and impact planning before disturbance.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter information

Species-specific shelter sites and inactive periods are not documented.

Refuges, resting sites and conditions under which R. harti is inactive are unknown.

Sheltering habitat: General search practice

As general land-snail survey practice, carefully inspect accessible surface debris and sheltered ground features without treating any one feature as a confirmed refuge for this species. Replace moved material where practicable.

Threats: Known threats

Specific threats to Rhagada harti have not been identified.

The Priority 2 status reflects limited knowledge and few known locations, not a stated threat listing.

Threats: Work-site risks

As a precaution for terrestrial snails generally, clearing, vehicle movement and ground disturbance can crush animals or shells and remove ground features. These are potential work-related risks, not documented impacts specific to R. harti.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

No species-specific survey method or detectability information is available. Use a cautious, documented approach and seek specialist advice where records may be affected.

Check the project footprint against available species records and the Kimberley region flag. Confirm the scope and limitations of the record data with the relevant environmental team. Atlas of Living Australia records show four distinct 0.1-degree locations.

Survey methodology: 2. Field inspection

As general land-snail survey practice, search the ground surface and sheltered debris carefully, including for shells, and avoid unnecessary disturbance while searching. Record the date, weather and site conditions, search area, effort, observations and photographs.

Survey methodology: 3. Identification and records

Do not treat an unconfirmed shell or a non-detection as definitive. Refer potential records to a qualified malacologist and follow applicable specimen handling and permit requirements.

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

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

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 survey

Plan works on the basis that species-specific habitat and survey detectability are poorly known.

Review available records and arrange a suitably timed, appropriately skilled field inspection before clearing where works overlap the known record area. No species-specific survey season has been established.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance planning

Map potential records and survey findings, brief crews on the uncertainty, and identify areas to avoid or protect until an ecologist has assessed them. Do not mark habitat as absent solely because a search found no snails.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work controls

Use controlled, careful work practices where potential records or unassessed ground may be affected.

Keep clearing within approved boundaries, use designated access routes and avoid unnecessary vehicle movements or stockpiling over areas identified for avoidance.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Unexpected finds

If a possible live snail or significant shell is found, pause work in the immediate area, protect the find from trampling and notify the environmental lead. Have an ecologist assess the record and determine next steps under project approvals and permit requirements.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Close-out records

After work, retain records of findings and check that agreed avoidance and handling measures were followed.

Document survey results, unexpected finds, work areas, control measures and any specialist advice. Submit verified records through the applicable project and fauna-recording processes.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Follow-up

Inspect protected areas for accidental encroachment and repair disturbed boundaries where needed. The project ecologist should determine any further monitoring, as no species-specific monitoring protocol has been established.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Site reinstatement

No species-specific rehabilitation requirements have been established. Avoid unsupported assumptions about the snail’s habitat needs.

Reinstate disturbed ground in line with the approved rehabilitation plan, using locally appropriate materials and practices. Do not move animals, shells or surface material to another location unless this has been assessed and authorised by a suitably qualified person.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Review outcomes

Record the areas rehabilitated and any relevant observations. Do not claim that rehabilitation provides habitat for R. harti without evidence and specialist assessment.

Sources