Rusty-topped Delma (Delma borea)

Conservation status

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

Breeding season

Breeding timing for the Rusty-topped Delma is not recorded. For planning, use a cautious warmer-month activity window across its Australian range, and confirm local conditions because activity can vary between regions and years.

Breeding mode: Not recorded.

Clutch size: Not recorded.

Incubation period: Not recorded.

Breeding place or nest site: Not recorded.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

The timing may shift between years and regions with temperature, rainfall and local habitat conditions, so use local observations to refine the work window.

• Potential breeding and egg laying, timing not recorded: Treat every month as potentially suitable for breeding until local survey information shows otherwise.
• Surface activity in warmer conditions: Search effort is most likely to detect animals during warmer periods, particularly after suitable weather.
• Reduced activity or sheltering in cooler conditions: During cooler periods, allow for animals sheltering beneath ground cover, debris or other suitable refuges.
• Highest clearing risk: Schedule clearing outside warmer activity periods where practicable, and use a qualified fauna spotter catcher whenever habitat is disturbed.

Identification: Appearance

The Rusty-topped Delma is a legless lizard, not a snake. Identification can be difficult in the field, so treat unusual small reptiles carefully and arrange an expert check where required.

The body is brown to grey. The head has 3 to 4 black bands, which extend down on either side towards the throat.

There are no front legs. Small flaps occur where the back legs would normally be. The species has obvious ear openings and a thick tongue.

• Look for the combination of head bands, ear openings and reduced hind-limb flaps.
• A regenerated tail may occur. A regenerated tail is not evidence that the animal is a snake, because legless lizards can regrow their tails.

Identification: Calls and similar species

No call or echolocation feature is used to identify this species. It should be distinguished from snakes and other legless lizards by its ear openings, thick tongue, head bands and small hind-limb flaps.

Do not rely on body shape alone. Several legless reptiles can appear similar when moving through loose litter or low vegetation.

• Record a clear photograph from above and from the side where this can be done safely.
• If identification remains uncertain, seek advice from a suitably experienced reptile ecologist.

Identification: Field signs and handling

No distinctive droppings, nests, whitewash, stains or odour are available as reliable field signs for this species. A live animal is the most useful detection.

Avoid chasing or repeatedly handling the animal. The field guide recommends taking a good photograph, or bringing the animal back to camp for checking only as a last resort, and only under an approved fauna handling procedure.

• Keep the animal shaded and minimise handling time if temporary containment is authorised.
• Record the location, habitat, direction of movement and whether the animal was found under cover, in litter or in open ground.

Distribution: Australian range

The Rusty-topped Delma is endemic to Australia. It is mapped in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, but its finer regional distribution is not well resolved in this profile.

Records span four jurisdictions: the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. The species is included in the Alice Springs regional fauna list, where it is assessed as having low likelihood within the listed area.

• Check jurisdictional databases and recent local records before finalising a survey design.
• Do not assume that an absence from a general fauna list means the species is absent from a work site.

Distribution: Site records

Local records are particularly useful for this poorly known reptile. Submit verified records with photographs, coordinates, date, habitat description and the action taken.

Where a project occurs near a known record, retain the record in the project constraints register and brief all clearing crews.

• Use a consistent coordinate system and record the accuracy of the location.
• Link the record to the clearing area, construction footprint or retained habitat parcel.

Distribution: Survey planning

Survey effort should reflect the listing and the consequences of clearing. For projects in South Australia or Western Australia, treat a potential occurrence as a conservation constraint and obtain advice from the relevant authority or qualified ecologist.

In Queensland, confirm whether proposed work could affect a breeding place and whether a species management program is required. In the Northern Territory, check current jurisdictional requirements and any project-specific approval conditions.

• Complete habitat assessment before clearing begins.
• Use experienced reptile surveyors where the species is a realistic possibility.
• Increase reporting and review requirements when a confirmed animal or suitable retained habitat occurs within the project area.

Habitat: Features to inspect

The Rusty-topped Delma is terrestrial. Detailed habitat associations are not well established, so site assessments should focus on ground-level cover, native vegetation structure and areas that allow a small legless lizard to move and shelter.

Inspect native ground cover, leaf litter, fallen timber, loose bark, low vegetation and other surface cover. Check both intact areas and disturbed edges where cover remains connected.

Consider landform, soil surface, drainage and the continuity of ground cover across the work area. Avoid assuming that open ground is unsuitable without a targeted assessment.

• Map retained native vegetation and ground-layer cover.
• Mark patches of connected litter, debris and low vegetation that could be used during movement or shelter.
• Inspect the edges of proposed access tracks, stockpiles and laydown areas before they are disturbed.

Habitat: Habitat assessment on works sites

Walk the proposed disturbance footprint and nearby retained areas before machinery enters. Look beneath suitable surface cover only where this can be done without damaging habitat or injuring animals.

Record the condition of the ground layer, the amount of cover, recent disturbance, fire history where known, and connections to adjoining native habitat.

• Keep vehicle routes and work compounds within already disturbed areas where practicable.
• Retain ground cover and fallen material outside the approved footprint.
• Prevent unnecessary removal of litter, logs, bark and low native vegetation.

Habitat: Survey conditions

The species is difficult to detect and may be missed during a single inspection. Use a survey approach suited to local conditions, season, weather and the amount of available cover.

A negative result should not be treated as proof of absence where habitat remains suitable or survey conditions were poor.

• Document the survey date, weather, time, observers, area searched and methods used.
• Use repeat or targeted searches where the species has been recorded locally or where clearing would remove substantial ground cover.

Foraging habitat: Ground-level foraging areas

The species' foraging ecology is poorly documented. For project planning, retain a connected ground layer and avoid broad disturbance that removes both cover and the small invertebrate resources associated with native litter and vegetation.

Inspect leaf litter, low vegetation, loose bark, fallen timber and other near-ground features. These areas can provide cover while the lizard searches for prey.

Give attention to habitat mosaics, including the edges between litter, low plants and more open ground.

• Avoid unnecessary grading, slashing and scraping of the ground layer.
• Keep cleared material and machinery from spreading across retained foraging habitat.
• Do not burn or remove surface cover outside the approved disturbance area.

Foraging habitat: Diet and prey resources

A species-specific diet is not established here. Manage the site on the basis that a small terrestrial legless lizard may forage for small ground-dwelling invertebrates associated with native vegetation and litter.

Broad use of insecticides can reduce prey and may expose reptiles to indirect harm. Use chemicals only where authorised, necessary and consistent with environmental controls.

• Retain native vegetation and litter that support ground-dwelling invertebrates.
• Prevent fuel, concrete washout, sediment and other pollutants from entering retained habitat.
• Inspect and remove waste that could trap or injure small reptiles.

Foraging habitat: Survey and construction controls

Before clearing, search suitable ground cover and have fauna spotter catchers briefed on the species' identification features. Stop work if a suspected Rusty-topped Delma is found within the active work area until it has been assessed.

Use photographs and location records to support identification and later habitat management.

• Maintain a no-go area around retained habitat where practicable.
• Use staged clearing so fauna can move away from the immediate work front.
• Relocation should only be undertaken by an appropriately authorised and experienced person, under the project approval and fauna handling procedure.

Breeding habitat: Potential breeding features

Breeding timing, clutch size and breeding-site characteristics are poorly documented for the Rusty-topped Delma. Until local information is available, manage potential breeding habitat conservatively and avoid disturbing occupied cover.

Inspect areas with stable ground cover, leaf litter, loose debris, low vegetation and sheltered soil surfaces. These features may provide opportunities for shelter and reproduction, but should not be treated as confirmed breeding places without local evidence.

Record any repeated observations, small juveniles, courtship behaviour or animals using the same cover feature.

• Retain connected patches of suitable ground cover during site establishment.
• Avoid unnecessary disturbance to logs, bark, litter and other sheltered features.
• Seek specialist advice if animals are found repeatedly in one location.

Breeding habitat: Breeding place controls

In Queensland, confirm whether the proposed activity could tamper with a breeding place. A species management program is required where the relevant legal threshold is met.

For South Australian Rare populations and Western Australian Priority 4 records, use a precautionary approach and consult the relevant authority or project approval conditions before disturbing occupied or suitable habitat.

• Do not remove suspected breeding or shelter features solely to make fauna searches easier.
• Include potential breeding habitat in pre-clearing constraints maps.
• Record the reason, timing and authorisation for any disturbance.

Breeding habitat: Seasonal planning

No reliable breeding months are specified for this species. Plan works around confirmed local observations and project approval conditions rather than applying an assumed seasonal window.

If a suspected animal is found, pause the immediate activity, protect the location and obtain ecological advice before continuing.

• Brief supervisors and machine operators before each clearing stage.
• Review controls after every fauna encounter.
• Use local records to refine future survey timing and effort.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter features to look for

Sheltering locations are not well defined for this species. Small legless lizards can be difficult to see because they use ground-level cover, so retain and inspect suitable shelter features before disturbance.

Inspect leaf litter, loose bark, fallen timber, low dense vegetation, surface debris and sheltered soil interfaces. Also check edges where ground cover meets open areas.

Do not assume that a feature is empty because it appears dry, exposed or lightly disturbed.

• Lift or move cover only when authorised and where it can be safely replaced.
• Search slowly and check both the underside of cover and nearby escape routes.
• Leave inspected material in its original position where practicable.

Sheltering habitat: Clearing and relocation

Use staged clearing and retain escape routes towards suitable undisturbed habitat where this is consistent with the project design and fauna management plan.

If an animal cannot move away safely, an authorised fauna handler should manage it using the approved capture, temporary holding and release procedure.

• Do not place animals in direct sun, water, fuel or areas of active machinery.
• Release relocated fauna only at an approved nearby location with suitable cover.
• Record the original and release locations, time, condition and handler.

Sheltering habitat: Site protection

Keep stockpiles, trenches, pipes and other artificial shelters managed so that animals cannot enter and become trapped. Inspect open excavations and materials before use or at the frequency required by the project fauna plan.

Maintain housekeeping around retained habitat and remove entanglement hazards.

• Cap or cover pipes and similar voids when they are not in use.
• Provide safe escape points or fauna ramps in open trenches where required.
• Check temporary fencing and exclusion zones after rain, wind or earthworks.

Threats: Clearing and habitat loss

The main project risks are loss of ground cover, direct injury during clearing and entrapment in construction materials or excavations. The species' EVNT profile calls for stronger survey, avoidance and reporting controls than would normally be used for an unlisted common reptile.

Broad clearing, grading, slashing, fire and removal of litter or fallen timber can remove shelter and foraging habitat. Fragmentation can also reduce movement between retained patches.

Keep the disturbance footprint as small as practicable and protect connected native ground cover.

• Fence and mark no-go areas before machinery arrives.
• Use existing disturbed access routes where practicable.
• Rehabilitate temporary work areas with locally appropriate native ground cover and surface structure.

Threats: Direct mortality

Earthmoving, vegetation removal, vehicle movements and manual handling can kill or injure animals that are sheltering beneath cover or moving across the work area.

Use pre-clearing searches, staged clearing and an active fauna spotter catcher during relevant works.

• Stop work for suspected or confirmed individuals until the fauna procedure is applied.
• Control vehicle speeds and keep machinery within approved work areas.
• Report all injuries, deaths, escapes and relocations through the project incident system.

Threats: Trapping and pollution

Open trenches, pipes, construction materials, waste and poorly managed stockpiles can trap small reptiles. Sediment, chemicals and fire can degrade retained habitat and prey resources.

Inspect hazards regularly and apply the project's fauna and environmental controls.

• Cover or cap artificial voids when not in use.
• Provide escape measures for excavations where required.
• Store chemicals and fuels away from retained habitat and prevent spills from entering the ground layer.

Threats: Listing and management response

The species is profiled as EVNT. South Australia lists it as Rare, and Western Australia assigns it Priority 4, a non-statutory DBCA category for rare and near threatened species needing monitoring. In Queensland, near threatened animals are protected wildlife, and tampering with a breeding place requires a species management program.

Scale survey and mitigation to the jurisdiction, project approvals and the quality of the habitat affected. Confirm current requirements before clearing.

• South Australia: treat confirmed records and suitable habitat as a high-priority constraint and seek authority advice where required.
• Western Australia: protect records, retain suitable habitat where practicable and provide monitoring and reporting appropriate to a Priority 4 species.
• Queensland: confirm protected wildlife requirements and whether a species management program is needed for the proposed activity.
• Northern Territory: check current local approval conditions and conservation advice before works commence.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The Rusty-topped Delma is a poorly known legless lizard, and detection can be difficult. Use a combination of careful visual searches, suitable weather and targeted searches of ground cover, with experienced fauna staff involved where possible.

Check current records and conservation listings before planning works. Map remnant vegetation, intact ground cover, logs, leaf litter, cracks, debris and other sheltered places that may support a legless lizard.

Confirm whether the work area is in the known range in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia or Western Australia. Treat apparently suitable habitat as potential habitat where local records are limited.

• Obtain recent records from the relevant state or territory database and local land managers.
• Review the construction footprint, access tracks, stockpile areas, laydown areas and proposed rehabilitation areas.
• Identify areas where ground disturbance, clearing or removal of cover cannot be avoided.
• Engage a qualified ecologist or fauna spotter catcher familiar with legless lizards.

Survey methodology: 2. Field detection

Search slowly and inspect the ground surface, low vegetation, leaf litter, logs, stones and loose debris. Legless lizards may be missed during a rapid walkover.

Use visual searches when reptiles are likely to be active, such as during mild to warm conditions. Avoid relying on a single visit in very cold, very hot, windy or otherwise unsuitable conditions.

Use the species identification features during checks. The Rusty-topped Delma is brown to grey, with 3 to 4 black bands on the head that extend towards the throat. It has no front legs, small flaps near the rear of the body and obvious ear holes. A thick tongue distinguishes it from a snake, which has a thin, forked tongue.

• Inspect likely sheltering places before they are disturbed.
• Use a torch for shaded cover and ground-level gaps where visibility is poor.
• Take a clear photograph in place whenever this can be done safely.
• Only bring an animal back to camp for checking as a last resort, and only where authorised and safe to do so.
• Do not rely on snake trapping or pitfall trapping unless a suitably qualified ecologist has designed and approved the method.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing and effort

Plan more than one search where the habitat is suitable, the consequence of missing an animal is high, or the first visit has poor conditions. There is no reliable breeding or migration timing available for this species, so do not assume that one season is risk free.

Coordinate searches with the construction program. Complete the final pre-clearance check as close as practicable to disturbance, while allowing enough time to manage any animal found.

• Record the date, start and finish time, weather, recent rainfall, ground conditions and visibility.
• Record the area searched, search method, personnel, qualifications and effort.
• Record every observation, including location, habitat, behaviour, photographs and the animal's outcome.
• Record unsuccessful searches and the reasons for reduced detectability.
• Have an experienced person confirm uncertain identifications before work proceeds.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey limits and response

A failure to find a Rusty-topped Delma does not demonstrate that the site is unoccupied. Treat suitable habitat and concealed ground cover as potential habitat until it has been cleared under an approved process.

Escalate unusual concentrations of animals, repeated records or any suspected breeding place to the project ecologist and the relevant authority.

• Stop and reassess the survey if visibility, weather or access is inadequate.
• Use photographs rather than extended handling to resolve identification where possible.
• Keep animals out of direct sun, away from machinery and away from unnecessary disturbance.
• Follow the applicable animal welfare, permit and translocation conditions for any capture or movement.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Avoidance and approvals

Avoiding habitat is the preferred first response. Confirm the legal pathway, prepare the workforce and complete a documented pre-clearance process before any clearing or ground disturbance starts.

Retain suitable ground cover, logs, leaf litter, native understorey and connected habitat wherever practicable. Keep access, vehicle movements and temporary work areas within the approved footprint.

Check the current status of the species and the proposed action before finalising the method. An EPBC Act referral may be required if the action could have a significant impact on a listed threatened species or another matter of national environmental significance.

• Obtain advice from the relevant Commonwealth department where an EPBC referral may be triggered.
• In Queensland, confirm the protected wildlife requirements and whether disturbance to a breeding place requires a species management program, or SMP.
• In South Australia, check the requirements applying to a species listed as Rare under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.
• In Western Australia, check the current Priority 4 advice and any permit or approval requirements applying to the work.
• In the Northern Territory, check the current territory permit, wildlife and clearing requirements before work begins.
• Keep copies of approvals, permits, conditions and contact details at the site office.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Pre-clearance survey and exclusion

Complete a pre-clearance survey after the work area has been marked and before vegetation or ground cover is removed. Search the full disturbance footprint, including areas that will be used for vehicle access, trenching, spoil, fencing and temporary facilities.

Use staged exclusion where it can be done without trapping animals. Avoid creating isolated strips of habitat or pushing animals towards roads, machinery or unsuitable ground.

• Mark no-go habitat and retained shelter with visible fencing or bunting.
• Check exclusion fencing regularly for damage and animals caught against the fence.
• Remove loose materials progressively and inspect each item before moving it.
• Do not use exclusion methods that block access to retained habitat or create a risk of entrapment.
• Keep domestic animals, unnecessary people and vehicles out of retained habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Work timing and breeding places

Breeding timing for the Rusty-topped Delma is not well established. Plan the work to avoid disturbance to any active breeding place found during assessment, rather than relying on a presumed breeding season.

A suspected breeding place must be treated cautiously. The project ecologist should define the site, assess the risk and seek authority advice before disturbance.

• Ask the relevant authority whether a species management program, permit, approval or additional survey is needed.
• Do not remove shelter, excavate, compact soil or alter drainage at a suspected breeding place until the response has been agreed.
• Do not move eggs, young or adults unless the permit and an authorised wildlife professional allow it.
• Document the location, habitat, evidence of use, proposed impact and proposed protection measures.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Crew induction

Every person working near the clearing footprint should know how to recognise a legless lizard and what to do when one is found. The induction should stress that identification and handling are specialist tasks.

Give the spotter catcher authority to stop work. Make that authority clear to supervisors, operators and subcontractors before clearing begins.

• Show workers the head bands, ear holes, rear flaps and other identification features.
• Explain the difference between a legless lizard and a snake without encouraging workers to handle either animal.
• Provide the fauna spotter catcher's name, radio channel and escalation contacts.
• Mark the location of the first aid kit, wildlife container and approved release or holding area.
• Record attendance and retain the induction record with the project environmental documents.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence and keep the fauna spotter catcher close to the active work area. Stop work whenever an animal, suspected breeding place or unexpected habitat feature is found.

Clear only the approved footprint and only after the pre-clearance controls are in place. Work in small, manageable sections so the spotter catcher can inspect disturbed ground and sheltering material before machinery moves on.

Retain identified habitat and avoid pushing vegetation, logs, rocks or debris into areas that have already been checked.

• Use a slow, staged process for vegetation removal and ground disturbance.
• Inspect loose cover before it is lifted, moved or crushed.
• Check the ground, machinery path, spoil and stockpile areas after each stage.
• Keep machinery stopped while the spotter catcher investigates a find.
• Maintain exclusion zones around retained habitat and any animal being managed.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal handling and relocation

Only an authorised and appropriately trained person may capture, handle or relocate a Rusty-topped Delma. Minimise handling and keep the animal in a secure, shaded container for the shortest practicable time.

Release an animal only at an approved suitable location and in accordance with the relevant permit, management plan and advice from the project ecologist.

• Do not allow workers to chase, restrain, photograph repeatedly or pass the animal between people.
• Use clean equipment and a secure, ventilated container if temporary containment is authorised.
• Keep the animal separate from other animals and protect it from heat, sun, noise and machinery.
• Record the capture location, release location, time, habitat, condition, photographs and handler.
• Do not relocate an animal across roads, into cleared ground or into habitat that has not been assessed as suitable.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Breeding places and unexpected finds

If an active breeding place, suspected breeding place, colony, roost or other sensitive feature is found, stop work in the immediate area. A colony or roost is not a typical feature established for this species, but any such feature must still be assessed before disturbance.

Do not resume work until the project ecologist and the relevant authority have confirmed the required controls.

• Establish a clearly marked exclusion zone around the find.
• Prevent entry by machinery, vehicles and unauthorised personnel.
• Photograph and map the feature without disturbing it.
• Seek advice on buffers, timing, monitoring, protection or an approved management program.
• Update the environmental controls and brief the crew before work recommences.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured animals and incidents

Treat an injured or distressed animal as a wildlife incident. Do not attempt treatment in the field unless this is within the person's authority and training.

Record and report all incidents, including animals found dead, injured, displaced or unable to be identified.

• Stop nearby work and protect the animal from further harm.
• Contact the nominated wildlife carer, veterinarian, wildlife authority or fauna ecologist listed in the project procedure.
• Use a secure container and keep the animal quiet, shaded and at a stable temperature while awaiting advice.
• Do not feed the animal or apply chemicals.
• Notify the site supervisor and environmental manager immediately, then complete the incident record.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Post-clearance checks confirm that controls were followed and help identify animals or habitat features missed during active works. Use the results to improve the next work area and report any non-compliance promptly.

Inspect the cleared footprint, retained habitat edges, stockpiles, access routes and disturbed ground after each clearing stage. Pay particular attention to loose cover, machinery paths and places where animals may have been displaced.

Continue checks until the spotter catcher and project ecologist are satisfied that the approved section has been completed.

• Search exposed ground and remaining shelter in daylight and under suitable conditions.
• Check exclusion fencing, fauna ramps, trenches and other potential traps.
• Inspect open trenches and excavations at the frequency required by the approval or management plan.
• Remove or cover hazards that could trap a legless lizard.
• Record the date, area checked, personnel, findings and corrective actions.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated animals

Confirm the condition and final outcome of every captured animal. A relocation record should show that the animal was released in an appropriate place and under the applicable authority conditions.

If an animal is not suitable for immediate release, maintain authorised care arrangements and obtain advice from a qualified wildlife professional.

• Confirm the release location and habitat description.
• Record whether the animal was released, transferred for care, found injured or found dead.
• Report any mortality or unexpected behaviour to the environmental manager and relevant authority where required.
• Do not assume that a released animal has survived without the monitoring required by the approval or management plan.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting and compliance

Prepare a clear fauna report at the end of each clearing stage and for the whole project. Include both detections and non-detections, because survey conditions affect how the results are interpreted.

Report breaches, unapproved clearing, missed fauna, injury, mortality and disturbance to a breeding place through the project incident system and to regulators where required.

• Attach maps, photographs, field sheets, permit details and spotter catcher records.
• Compare the work completed with the approved footprint and conditions.
• List unresolved risks and assign an owner and completion date for each action.
• Provide records to the land manager, environmental regulator or approval holder when required.
• Keep records in the project archive for the period specified by the approval.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review each find, injury, mortality or near miss with the spotter catcher, supervisor and machinery operators. Use the review to improve sequencing, exclusion, induction and survey conditions for later stages.

Seek specialist advice if repeated records occur or if the work affects an area of apparently suitable habitat.

• Identify what happened, why the control did not work and what will change.
• Update the clearing procedure, risk assessment and induction where needed.
• Increase supervision or survey coverage when detection conditions are poor.
• Share lessons with all crews before the next work stage.
• Recheck retained habitat where works have increased edge effects, dust, traffic or access.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Habitat restoration

Rehabilitation should restore the ground structure and shelter used by legless lizards, not just replace the canopy. The species is poorly known, so use local habitat evidence and adaptive management rather than installing structures that are not suited to its biology.

Reinstate native ground cover, leaf litter, fallen timber, low vegetation and natural soil profiles where these were present before disturbance. Maintain links between retained habitat and rehabilitation areas.

Avoid excessive tidiness. A structurally varied ground layer provides more shelter than uniformly bare or heavily mulched ground.

• Use local native species and locally suitable soil and mulch where practicable.
• Replace suitable logs, rocks and other natural cover in stable positions.
• Prevent vehicle access and soil compaction in rehabilitation areas.
• Retain natural drainage patterns and avoid erosion, sediment deposition and prolonged waterlogging.
• Control weeds before they dominate the ground layer.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Breeding and shelter structures

There is no established requirement for nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nest sites or roost structures for the Rusty-topped Delma. These structures should not be installed as a routine substitute for retaining natural ground habitat.

If surveys identify a specific shelter or breeding feature that cannot be retained, obtain advice from a reptile ecologist and the relevant authority before designing a replacement.

• Prefer replacement ground refuges made from locally appropriate natural materials where they match the habitat and approved method.
• Do not install bird or bat boxes for this species unless a specialist has demonstrated that they are relevant to the approved mitigation.
• Place any approved refuge structures in connected, protected habitat and inspect them under a monitoring plan.
• Record the design, materials, location and maintenance requirements.
• Remove or modify structures that create traps, retain excessive heat or attract predators.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and lighting

Manage rehabilitation areas so that native ground cover can establish and shelter remains available. Water and lighting changes can alter habitat quality even when clearing is complete.

The species does not have a documented requirement for artificial water points. Provide water only where needed for plant establishment or erosion control, and avoid creating permanent water features that increase weeds, predators or disease risk.

• Control weeds using methods that minimise harm to reptiles and their shelter.
• Prevent herbicide, fuel, sediment and wash water from entering retained or rehabilitated habitat.
• Use low-spill, low-intensity lighting only where lighting is necessary for safety.
• Direct lights away from habitat edges and ground cover.
• Switch off temporary construction lighting when it is not required.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Monitor rehabilitation for establishment of ground cover, retention of shelter and recolonisation by native fauna. The monitoring design should reflect the conservation listing, approval conditions and the risk posed by the project.

Use consistent methods and conditions so that results can be compared between visits. Interpret non-detections cautiously because the Rusty-topped Delma can be difficult to find.

• Inspect rehabilitation after major works, following extreme weather and at the intervals required by the approval.
• Record vegetation cover, shelter condition, weeds, erosion, predators, vehicle access and any Rusty-topped Delma observations.
• Use photographs from fixed locations to track changes in ground structure.
• Adjust weed control, watering, access controls or habitat placement when monitoring shows poor outcomes.
• Provide monitoring results to the project manager, land manager and relevant authority where required.

Sources

• Pirra Jungku Project species guide, nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au: https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/4kanjc5w/1-3-4-pirru-jungku-species-field-guide_google_aug-2020_f.pdf
• Alice Springs Fauna List ● Taxonomy Updated July 2018, wildlife.lowecol.com.au: https://wildlife.lowecol.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/FaunaList.pdf
• Rusty-topped delma - Wikipedia, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty-topped_delma
• Occurrence records for the distribution map, Atlas of Living Australia: https://biocache.ala.org.au/