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Pernatty Knob-tail (Nephrurus deleani)

The Pernatty Knob-tail is a small, nocturnal gecko found only in sandy parts of South Australia, mainly east of Lake Torrens around Pernatty Lagoon and nearby sites. Its burrows, sandy dune habitat and low shrub cover can be damaged during clearing, vehicle access and earthworks. In South Australia it is listed as Rare and is treated as an EVNT species for project planning and field management.

Conservation status

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Rare.

Breeding season

The Pernatty Knob-tail is an egg-laying gecko, but its breeding months and reproductive cycle are poorly known. Activity is expected to vary with night temperatures, local conditions and rainfall, so avoid assuming that burrows are unused outside a particular season.

Breeding mode: Oviparous, lays eggs.

Breeding sites: Not recorded. The species uses concealed burrows for shelter and living, but breeding use of burrows has not been established.

Clutch size: Not recorded.

Incubation period: Not recorded.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Seasonal activity may vary between years and sites, particularly with night temperature, rainfall, food availability and local dune conditions.

  • Nocturnal activity on suitable nights: Adults may leave burrows on warm nights, with activity recorded between 12 and 35 degrees Celsius rather than by a defined month.
  • Burrow use and sheltering: Burrows can be used throughout the year for shelter and may be up to 3 metres long and 90 centimetres deep.
  • Breeding and egg-laying period: Breeding months are not established, so all months should be treated as having potential breeding use until targeted survey work shows otherwise.
  • Eggs and dependent young: The timing, location and duration of egg incubation and young remaining near burrows are not established.
  • Highest clearing risk: Because breeding timing is unresolved and burrows may be concealed, clearing and ground disturbance should be managed as a year-round risk, with extra care on warm nights and around sandy dune habitat.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Pernatty Knob-tail is a ground-dwelling, nocturnal gecko. It is usually encountered at night on sandy ground, or indirectly through its burrows and tracks around low vegetation.

It has a large head, a short, thin tail and a small, ball-like knob at the tail tip. The back has distinctive markings and the tail is thinner than that of some other knob-tailed geckos.

A regenerated tail does not usually have the knob-like ending. Adults can grow to 13 cm long and weigh up to 25 g.

Identification: Similar species

The Three-lined Knob-tail Gecko, also known as the Smooth Knob-tailed Gecko, can occur in the same broad areas. It has a much fatter knob-tail and may compete with the Pernatty Knob-tail for food and habitat.

Use the combination of the thin tail, small terminal knob, body markings and overall form when making an identification. Photograph the animal from above and from the side where this can be done without handling it.

Identification: Calls and field signs

No diagnostic call or echolocation behaviour is known for this species. It is a gecko that relies on ground movement and burrows rather than conspicuous roosting signs.

Look for small burrow entrances at the base of low vegetation, on dune crests and slopes, and in nearby sandy plains. Entrances may be backfilled from inside and can be difficult to see after the animal returns at dawn.

  • No nest, colony or roost sign is expected.
  • Droppings, stains, whitewash and odour are not reliable field indicators for this species.
  • Do not probe or excavate burrows during searches.

Distribution: Australian range

The Pernatty Knob-tail has a highly restricted distribution in South Australia. Its known range is patchy and covers about 500 square kilometres, so apparently small areas of suitable habitat can be significant on a project site.

The species is endemic to South Australia. It occurs north of Port Augusta, east of Lake Torrens, including areas near Island Lagoon, Lake Macfarlane and Pernatty Lagoon.

It has been recorded at around 70 sites, with sandy ridges around Pernatty Lagoon in the Gawler bioregion being an important part of its known range.

  • South Australia, around Pernatty Lagoon and nearby sandy areas east of Lake Torrens.
  • Known habitat includes dunes, sandy plains, sand islands and areas near salt lakes.

Distribution: Site planning

Treat mapped and unmapped sandy habitat within the known range as potential habitat until a suitably experienced ecologist has assessed it. A regional map or broad vegetation layer should not be used as proof that a particular work area is clear of the species.

Before clearing or ground disturbance, inspect the proposed footprint, access tracks, laydown areas and spoil locations for suitable dunes, sandy plains, low shrubland and burrows.

  • Confirm the project location against current South Australian threatened species information.
  • Retain connected sandy habitat where practicable.
  • Include temporary works and vehicle routes in the habitat assessment.

Habitat: Landforms and soils

The species is associated with sandy landscapes rather than a single vegetation community. On a works site, focus on dune landforms, sandy plains and low vegetation that can support burrows and provide cover.

Look for the crests and slopes of sand dunes, sandy ridges, nearby sandy plains and sand islands. Habitat can also occur close to salt lakes and other dry lake environments.

The soil should be loose enough for burrowing. Compacted tracks, hardstand areas and repeatedly driven sand may no longer provide suitable shelter.

  • Dune crests and slopes.
  • Sandy plains near dunes and salt lakes.
  • Sand islands and sandy margins around the Pernatty Lagoon area.
  • Undisturbed or lightly disturbed sandy ground with low shrub cover.

Habitat: Vegetation structure

Burrows are commonly associated with the base of low vegetation in tall shrubland. Look for open sandy ground with scattered shrubs and an understorey that includes canegrass or hopbush.

Potentially relevant plants include Sand Wattle, Mulga, Dodonaea species and Zygochloa species. Preserve the vegetation and soil surface around suspected burrows during site preparation.

Associated plants: Sand Wattle, Mulga, hopbush and canegrass

Habitat structure: Sandy ground with low vegetation, often within tall shrubland

Habitat: Habitat assessment on works sites

Walk the footprint and the surrounding disturbance area before machinery enters. Record dune shape, vegetation cover, visible burrows, vehicle access and areas where stock or rabbits have altered the ground or understorey.

Where habitat is patchy, assess each sandy patch rather than assuming that one unsuitable-looking section represents the whole site.

  • Mark suitable sandy habitat on the construction plan.
  • Keep vehicle movements to defined routes.
  • Avoid unnecessary removal of low shrubs and ground cover.
  • Treat newly exposed or disturbed sand as a potential impact area.

Foraging habitat: Food and hunting areas

The Pernatty Knob-tail leaves its burrow at night to hunt across sandy habitat. It generally moves in circuits around its home burrow, stopping often and making short rushes at prey.

Its diet includes spiders, scorpions, beetles and other insects. It may also take smaller geckos. Foxes and the geckos both consume adult scorpions, so changes in prey availability may affect feeding opportunities.

Foraging areas are likely to include open sand around shrubs, dune slopes, sandy plains and the edges of vegetation patches.

  • Sandy ground between shrubs.
  • Dune slopes and nearby sandy flats.
  • Areas with intact leaf litter, low plants and invertebrate activity.
  • Ground around the home burrow and adjacent vegetation.

Foraging habitat: Timing of activity

The species is nocturnal and is active on warm nights between 12°C and 35°C. It returns to its home burrow before dawn, when it may also dig a new burrow and conceal the entrance by backfilling it from inside.

Night works, vehicle movements and bright lighting can overlap with feeding activity. Where work cannot be avoided, keep disturbance to the smallest practical area and use designated routes.

  • Avoid unnecessary night driving across sandy habitat.
  • Do not use broad-area lighting where task lighting is sufficient.
  • Check for animals on tracks and around work areas before night vehicles move.

Foraging habitat: Field survey approach

Because the species is nocturnal and cryptic, a daytime inspection alone may not detect it. A suitably experienced ecologist should assess habitat and consider targeted night searches during suitable warm conditions.

Search methods should be low impact. Do not collapse, excavate or fill suspected burrows, and avoid repeated walking over likely foraging areas.

  • Combine daytime habitat and burrow inspection with targeted night observation where appropriate.
  • Record live animals, burrow locations, tracks and habitat condition with photographs and GPS.
  • Stop work and seek ecological advice if the species is found within or beside the disturbance footprint.

Breeding habitat: Potential breeding areas

The Pernatty Knob-tail is oviparous, but its breeding places and breeding season are not well defined. For clearing and construction, manage all suitable burrow habitat as potentially important habitat rather than relying on a known nesting location.

No distinct nest, colony or maternity site has been identified for field management. Burrows are confirmed shelter and living places, but their use for breeding should not be assumed or ruled out during site assessment.

Potentially important areas include intact dune crests and slopes, sandy plains and low shrubland with suitable burrowing soil.

  • Avoid clearing suitable sandy habitat where it is not necessary.
  • Retain low shrubs and understorey around suspected burrows.
  • Keep spoil, fill and construction materials away from sandy habitat.

Breeding habitat: Breeding protection on sites

Given the restricted range and limited knowledge of reproduction, avoid disturbing burrows or compacting the surrounding soil at any time. A confirmed animal or burrow should trigger a site-specific response from the project ecologist.

Where works are proposed near suitable habitat, use clearly marked exclusion areas and brief all operators about the species and its burrows.

  • Do not excavate or relocate burrows without specialist advice and any required approvals.
  • Do not store plant, fuel, spoil or materials on dune habitat.
  • Recheck exclusion markers after rain, grading or vehicle movements.

Sheltering habitat: Burrow habitat

The species shelters in long underground burrows that provide refuge from heat. Burrows can be up to 3 m long and 90 cm deep, and their entrances may be concealed.

Burrows are found in sandy ground, often at the base of low vegetation in tall shrubland. They may occur on dune crests, dune slopes and nearby sandy plains.

The gecko returns to its home burrow before dawn. It may also dig a new burrow and backfill the entrance from inside, so an apparently closed entrance does not mean that the burrow is unused.

Burrow length: Up to 3 m

Burrow depth: Up to 90 cm

Main function: Shelter from heat and a daytime refuge

  • Look for disturbed sand at the base of shrubs.
  • Check both visible openings and recently backfilled patches.
  • Do not insert tools, sticks or cameras into burrows.

Sheltering habitat: Protection during works

Keep machinery, vehicles, stock and foot traffic away from suspected burrows. Soil compaction can make burrowing difficult, while grading, trenching and levelling can destroy underground shelter.

Use fencing or clearly visible markers around retained habitat and burrows. Ensure that exclusion areas cover the burrow and the surrounding sandy ground, not just the entrance.

  • Exclude burrows from clearing and earthworks.
  • Use defined access routes and avoid turning vehicles on sandy habitat.
  • Prevent stock access where grazing or trampling threatens burrows.
  • Reinstate unnecessary vehicle tracks and compacted areas using an approved rehabilitation method.

Threats: Clearing and earthworks

The Pernatty Knob-tail has a small, patchy range, so local damage can affect a substantial part of the habitat in an area. Project controls should focus on retaining sandy habitat, preventing burrow damage and reducing introduced predator impacts.

Clearing shrubs, levelling dunes, trenching and placing spoil can remove burrows and the vegetation used for shelter. Avoid the sandy habitat footprint wherever possible and keep disturbance boundaries tight.

Have a fauna spotter catcher or suitably experienced ecologist inspect the work area before clearing. Stop work if an animal or active-looking burrow is found.

  • Use pre-clearing checks and clearly marked no-go areas.
  • Retain dune landforms, sandy plains and low shrub cover.
  • Keep spoil, fill, compounds and laydown areas off suitable habitat.
  • Do not excavate burrows as part of a search.

Threats: Vehicles and soil compaction

Cars, trucks and earthmoving equipment can compact sandy soil and make burrowing difficult. Driving across dunes and sandy plains also increases the chance of crushing animals or collapsing concealed burrows.

Use existing tracks where possible and restrict vehicle movements to approved routes. Repair unnecessary tracks as part of site rehabilitation.

  • Set and enforce access routes before work begins.
  • Avoid off-road travel and turning on loose sand.
  • Use low-impact methods around retained habitat.
  • Inspect routes after wet weather and after major plant movements.

Threats: Stock, rabbits and vegetation loss

Stock can destroy burrows and trample sandy areas near waterholes. Rabbits can overgraze the low vegetation that provides shelter, while grazing pressure can reduce the structure of the understorey.

Keep stock away from retained habitat and manage rabbit impacts where they are degrading shelter vegetation. Protect regeneration and avoid removing shrubs unless authorised and necessary.

  • Fence or otherwise control stock access to sensitive sandy areas.
  • Retain Sand Wattle, Mulga, hopbush and canegrass where practicable.
  • Monitor vegetation condition around work areas and access routes.
  • Include weed and rabbit controls in rehabilitation planning where relevant.

Threats: Foxes, cats and prey competition

Foxes and cats prey on the species. Foxes may also compete for food, including adult scorpions. The Three-lined Knob-tail Gecko may compete for food and habitat.

Do not provide food or shelter for introduced predators around compounds and camps. Manage waste, keep food secure and report predator activity through the project environmental management system.

  • Secure food scraps and animal feed.
  • Keep compounds clean and remove waste regularly.
  • Record foxes, cats and other predator signs near retained habitat.
  • Use approved pest management programs where required by the land manager.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The Pernatty Knob-tail is a small, nocturnal, ground-dwelling gecko with a restricted distribution in South Australia. Survey sandy dune crests, dune slopes, sandy plains and sand islands during warm nights when animals are most likely to be active.

Confirm whether the site is within the known range around Pernatty Lagoon, Island Lagoon, Lake Macfarlane and Lake Torrens, or another mapped occurrence area in South Australia.

Map sandy dunes, low shrubland, sand wattle, mulga, hopbush and canegrass. Identify areas with likely burrows at the base of low vegetation.

Review recent records, previous approvals, proposed clearing, vehicle access, stock use, weed cover, fire history and potential fox and cat activity.

  • Treat the species as a South Australian conservation priority because it is listed as Rare and is profiled as an EVNT species.
  • Check current state and Commonwealth listings before works commence.
  • Keep the survey area wide enough to include access tracks, laydown areas, stock routes and indirect impacts such as soil compaction.

Survey methodology: 2. Nocturnal active searches

Search on warm, suitable nights when surface temperatures are within the known activity range of 12 to 35 degrees Celsius. Avoid relying on cold, windy or otherwise unsuitable conditions.

Walk slowly through suitable sandy habitat and watch for geckos moving from their burrows. The species commonly forages in circuits around its home burrow, with frequent stops and short rushes.

Use a red-filtered light where practicable and keep handling and illumination to the minimum needed for identification.

  • Search dune crests, slopes, sandy plains, sand islands and the bases of low vegetation.
  • Use experienced observers who can distinguish the thinner tail and smaller tail knob from the fatter knob-tail of the Smooth Knob-tailed Gecko.
  • Repeat searches on suitable nights where the first survey is affected by cold, wind, rain, dust, high traffic or other poor conditions.
  • Do not excavate burrows or destroy backfilled entrances during a survey.

Survey methodology: 3. Burrow and habitat inspection

Inspect likely shelter sites in daylight without disturbing the burrow. Burrows may be up to 3 metres long and 90 centimetres deep, and entrances can be concealed by backfilling.

Look for fresh burrow entrances, backfilled sand, tracks and suitable vegetation. Treat apparently inactive burrows as potential habitat because use can be difficult to confirm.

Use remote cameras or other low-impact methods where they will improve detection and can be installed without blocking entrances.

  • Record burrow locations with a GPS or site map.
  • Mark burrows discreetly and protect them from vehicles, stock and trampling.
  • Do not insert equipment into a burrow unless the method has been approved by the relevant fauna authority and can be carried out safely.
  • Do not assume that an empty burrow is unoccupied.

Survey methodology: 4. Records and survey limitations

Record the date, start and finish times, temperature, wind, cloud, recent weather, survey personnel, area covered and survey conditions.

Record every animal, observation location, behaviour, identification confidence, habitat type, burrow association and any threats observed.

Photograph animals and habitat only where this can be done without causing stress or delaying their return to shelter.

  • Submit verified records to the relevant South Australian biodiversity database or approval holder.
  • Report foxes, cats, compacted sand, damaged burrows, stock impacts and loss of shelter vegetation.
  • State clearly where conditions were unsuitable or where survey access was incomplete.
  • Use the results to refine the impact area, not just to confirm presence or absence.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Avoidance and approvals

Plan to retain sandy habitat and burrows wherever possible. Because the species has a small, patchy range and its breeding requirements are poorly known, avoid disturbing suitable habitat unless impacts have been assessed and approved.

Redesign clearing, roads, compounds and stock access to retain dune crests, slopes, sandy plains, sand islands, low vegetation and known burrows.

Check whether the proposal may affect a listed species or another protected matter under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Make a referral where required by the Act.

Obtain South Australian wildlife permits and any approval conditions that apply to survey, capture, handling, relocation or clearance.

  • Treat the South Australian Rare listing as a trigger for early consultation with the relevant state authority.
  • Use the approved impact area only. Do not extend clearing or vehicle access without reassessing the approval.
  • A Queensland species management program is not ordinarily relevant because this species is recorded from South Australia. If a Queensland approval involves protected wildlife or a breeding place, follow the Queensland requirements and obtain an SMP where required.
  • Confirm all permit conditions before mobilising the crew.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Pre-clearance survey

Complete a targeted pre-clearance survey in suitable nocturnal conditions before soil disturbance. Include the full disturbance footprint and nearby areas that may be affected by vehicles, spoil, drainage or altered access.

Inspect and map burrows, shelter vegetation and sandy habitat. Allow enough time for animals that remain underground to be considered in the work plan.

Have a fauna spotter catcher or other appropriately authorised person review the results and approve the clearance sequence.

  • Do not clear solely on the basis of a daytime search.
  • Flag all known burrows and establish site controls before machinery arrives.
  • Recheck areas if the footprint changes, if works are delayed substantially, or if new habitat is opened.
  • Do not use destructive burrow searches to prove absence.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Timing, buffers and exclusion

There is no reliable breeding season or migration period published for this species. Plan works outside periods of unsuitable weather for fauna handling and avoid night works where they would interfere with active geckos.

Set site-specific no-go areas around known burrows and retained habitat through the approval process. The available species information does not establish a standard numerical buffer.

Fence or mark exclusion areas clearly and keep them free from machinery, vehicles, spoil, firewood and stock.

  • Retain natural sandy substrate and avoid compaction.
  • Use existing tracks wherever possible and prohibit off-road driving in suitable habitat.
  • Keep lighting away from retained habitat. Use the lowest practical intensity and direct lights away from dunes and vegetation.
  • Have the fauna spotter catcher confirm that exclusion fencing has not blocked burrow entrances.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and readiness

Brief every worker, contractor and driver before work starts. Explain the species' appearance, nocturnal habits, burrow use and the stop-work process.

Confirm who can handle fauna, who can authorise work to stop and who must be contacted if an animal or burrow is found.

Prepare secure, ventilated holding equipment, suitable transport arrangements, a first aid pathway for injured animals and the required permits before clearance.

  • Show workers photographs of the Pernatty Knob-tail and similar knob-tailed geckos.
  • Instruct workers not to touch, chase, trap or move an animal unless authorised.
  • Place emergency contacts and permit conditions in vehicles and site offices.
  • Record the induction date, attendees and trainer.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Staged clearance

Clear in a controlled sequence from retained habitat towards already disturbed ground. The fauna spotter catcher must have clear authority to stop work whenever an animal, burrow or unexpected habitat feature is found.

Use staged, low-speed clearing under direct supervision. Remove non-habitat vegetation first where this can be done without collapsing burrows or exposing animals to machinery.

Clear in a direction that gives animals an opportunity to move towards retained suitable habitat, but do not rely on movement as a substitute for capture or exclusion.

Keep machinery out of mapped exclusion areas and stop if the ground surface, burrow pattern or habitat differs from the approved plan.

  • Separate vegetation removal from soil excavation where practicable.
  • Use small machinery in constrained areas and avoid turning vehicles on sandy habitat.
  • Do not grade, roll, compact or stockpile material over known or suspected burrows.
  • Check the work face, spoil piles and machinery path continuously.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal and burrow response

Stop work immediately if a Pernatty Knob-tail is seen, uncovered or suspected to be inside the disturbance area. Keep people and machinery clear until the authorised fauna handler gives direction.

Handle animals only under the relevant permit and by a person authorised for the task. Minimise handling, heat exposure, noise and time away from cover.

If a burrow is exposed, leave the area undisturbed until its status and the appropriate response have been assessed.

  • Do not pull an animal from a burrow, dig after it or seal the entrance.
  • Do not relocate an animal unless relocation is authorised and a suitable release site has been approved.
  • If an active breeding place is suspected, stop work and notify the approval holder and relevant authority. No confirmed breeding place, nest or colony type is described for this species, so treat any suspected breeding use conservatively.
  • Do not use nest boxes, artificial roosts or other replacement structures as a substitute for retaining natural sandy habitat and burrows.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Stop-work authority and communications

Give the spotter catcher authority to stop all machinery and direct personnel away from the find. Work must not restart until the response, exclusion area and permit requirements are documented.

Escalate unexpected finds, repeated burrow encounters, injured animals, unauthorised impacts or damage to exclusion fencing to the site environmental manager.

Record decisions and approvals during the shift, not retrospectively.

  • Use a clear stop-work call and radio channel.
  • Mark the find location without driving or walking over the burrow.
  • Notify the project manager, fauna ecologist and relevant authority where approval conditions require it.
  • Update the clearance map as work progresses.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured or dead animals

Place an injured animal in a secure, ventilated container lined with clean material, only if this can be done safely and under the relevant authority. Keep it cool, dark and quiet.

Contact a licensed wildlife carer, veterinarian or other approved wildlife rehabilitation provider immediately. Do not provide food or water unless directed by that provider.

Do not release an injured animal at the site or move it between sites without approval.

  • Record the location, time, apparent cause of injury, photographs where appropriate and the person who took custody.
  • Report a death or serious injury under the applicable approval and permit conditions.
  • Preserve evidence of vehicle strike, crushing, predation or other incident where this will assist compliance review.
  • Keep the animal separate from other fauna.

During habitat disturbance: 5. Clearance records

Maintain a daily clearance log that links observations to the approved footprint and work stage.

Record survey conditions, personnel, machinery, areas cleared, animals found, burrows affected, actions taken, release locations, injuries, deaths, stop-work events and authority notifications.

  • Use GPS coordinates for all finds and release sites.
  • Photograph habitat and burrow impacts before and after the response.
  • Have the spotter catcher sign the daily record.
  • Report any departure from the approved method before continuing work.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Immediate post-clearance check

Post-clearance checks should confirm that no animals, burrows or unrecorded habitat features remain within the work area. Review the work against the approval conditions and use the findings to improve the next stage of the project.

Inspect the completed work area, edges, spoil areas and access routes after machinery has left. Check for exposed or collapsed burrows, trapped animals, damaged exclusion fencing and animals sheltering under materials.

Have the fauna spotter catcher confirm that the area is clear before the next work stage or final handover.

Keep retained habitat protected from follow-on traffic, storage and informal access.

  • Remove temporary materials that could trap or injure animals.
  • Close or rehabilitate unauthorised vehicle tracks without burying or blocking known burrows.
  • Record all residual impacts and outstanding actions.
  • Do not declare the area clear solely because no animal is visible.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated animals

Where relocation was authorised, check the approved release location and confirm that it contains suitable sandy habitat, shelter vegetation and protection from immediate works.

Record the animal's identification, condition, capture and release locations, time in holding, handler and permit reference.

Do not repeatedly recapture or move animals because they are found near the release area unless directed by the project ecologist or authority.

  • Keep release sites free from vehicles, stock and construction materials.
  • Monitor the release area only with low-impact methods.
  • Report mortality, repeated dispersal into the work area or evidence of predation.
  • Review whether the relocation method should be changed before further clearance.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitoring and reporting

Complete monitoring required by the approval, permit or management plan. Focus on retained dunes, sandy plains, known burrows, release areas and sites affected by compaction or grazing.

Use repeat nocturnal searches in suitable warm conditions and record the same habitat and weather information used during the baseline survey.

Submit a completion report that compares approved impacts with actual impacts.

  • Include maps, photographs, survey effort, animal records, burrow records, incidents, corrective actions and outstanding risks.
  • Report findings to the relevant South Australian authority and approval holder within the required timeframe.
  • Keep raw records, GPS data, photographs and permit correspondence in the project file.
  • Escalate evidence of population decline, repeated mortality or unexpected distribution to the species recovery or land management program.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every stop-work event, injured or dead animal, damaged burrow, unauthorised entry into an exclusion area and failure of fencing or signage.

Involve the spotter catcher, supervisor, machinery operator and ecologist in the review.

Change the method, exclusion controls, induction or work sequence before the next similar activity.

  • Identify the immediate and underlying cause.
  • Assign a responsible person and due date for each corrective action.
  • Share lessons with all crews working in suitable habitat.
  • Close the incident only after the action has been checked in the field.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore sandy habitat

Rehabilitation should restore the sandy structure and vegetation that support burrowing, shelter and nocturnal foraging. Natural habitat retention is the preferred approach because breeding places and the value of artificial structures for this species are not established.

Reinstate natural contours on disturbed dunes and sandy plains. Avoid creating compacted pads, steep spoil faces or barriers across suitable habitat.

Replace suitable local sand where it has been removed, and keep the surface loose enough for burrowing while preventing erosion.

Retain and restore low vegetation associated with burrows, including sand wattle, mulga, hopbush and canegrass where appropriate to the site.

  • Restrict rehabilitation machinery to defined access routes.
  • Do not bury known burrows under spoil or mulch.
  • Use local provenance seed or tubestock where practicable and appropriate.
  • Protect rehabilitated areas from vehicles, stock and rabbits until vegetation is established.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Weeds, grazing and predators

Control weeds without disturbing burrows or removing shelter vegetation unnecessarily. Use methods that are approved for the site and suitable for sandy soils.

Manage stock access to prevent burrow destruction, trampling near waterholes and loss of low shelter vegetation.

Include fox and cat control where it is permitted, effective and part of the approved land management program.

  • Inspect fences and gates regularly.
  • Prevent new tracks across dunes and sandy plains.
  • Coordinate predator and rabbit control with the land manager and relevant authority.
  • Record treatment areas, methods, dates and follow-up results.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Water and lighting

Keep drainage, runoff and water points from changing the natural condition of sandy habitat. Prevent sediment, pollutants and construction water from entering retained habitat.

Avoid installing new water points in sensitive habitat unless they are part of an approved conservation design. Manage existing water points to reduce stock concentration and trampling.

Direct construction and operational lighting away from dunes, vegetation and retained habitat, and use the lowest practical intensity.

  • Shield lights and switch them off when not required.
  • Do not create permanent bright lighting near known burrows.
  • Use erosion and sediment controls that do not block burrow entrances.
  • Inspect after heavy rain or flooding for erosion, ponding and sediment movement.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Replacement structures and habitat features

Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nest sites or roost structures as a default offset for the Pernatty Knob-tail. This ground-dwelling gecko is described as using natural burrows, not tree hollows, roosts or colonies.

Where natural burrows are lost, obtain species-specific advice before considering any artificial shelter. Any trial should be approved, designed for sandy soils and monitored by a qualified herpetologist.

Prioritise retaining and restoring natural burrows, loose sand and shelter vegetation.

  • Do not place boxes or artificial structures in the disturbance area as a substitute for pre-clearance and avoidance.
  • Do not excavate or construct replacement burrows without an approved method and supervision.
  • Document the design, location, installation date and maintenance plan for any approved trial.
  • Remove failed structures if they create traps, obstruct movement or increase predation risk.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Long-term monitoring

Monitor rehabilitation for establishment of shelter vegetation, soil stability, vehicle exclusion, burrow formation and evidence of Pernatty Knob-tail use.

Use repeat nocturnal surveys in suitable warm conditions and compare results with the pre-clearance survey, while recognising that the species is patchy and difficult to detect.

Continue monitoring for as long as required by the approval or management plan, with extra checks after major disturbance, fire, drought, flooding or grazing changes.

  • Record habitat condition, burrows, animals, predators, weeds, rabbits, stock impacts, compaction and lighting.
  • Repair fencing, drainage and erosion controls promptly.
  • Use monitoring results to adjust grazing, predator control, access and rehabilitation methods.
  • Report failures and successful measures to the land manager and relevant conservation authority.

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