Fauna Spotters logo

Sandamara Blind Snake (Napier Range) (Anilios troglodytes)

The Sandamara blind snake is a poorly known, burrowing snake recorded in Western Australia from a small number of locations in the Kimberley. Works in potential habitat should allow for its possible presence, although its local habitat requirements and detectability are not well documented.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 1.

Seasonal planning

No species-specific activity, breeding or movement months are known. Use these year-round planning windows as a precaution, not as a species calendar.

Seasonal information: No months are documented for this species.

Planning approach: Apply fauna precautions in every season because an effective survey period is not established.

Do not use this planning row to infer presence, absence or breeding activity in any particular month.

  • Fauna checks and disturbance precautions: Year-round planning window only; species-specific seasonal activity information is not available.

Identification: Appearance and size

Species-specific identification information is sparse. Confirm any suspected animal with a suitably experienced fauna specialist.

The species is described as limbless, with a uniform black or brown back. Its greatest recorded length is 402 mm; further body measurements and a detailed diagnostic description are not recorded.

Identification: Similar species

Field characters for separating this species from other blind snakes have not been documented. Do not identify it from colour or body shape alone.

Identification: Field signs

Species-specific tracks, burrow signs and other field signs have not been documented. Its fossorial habit means it may not be readily encountered during surface searches.

Distribution: Western Australian records

Records indicate a limited and poorly documented Western Australian distribution.

Atlas of Living Australia records show eight Western Australian records at seven distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitudes 17.6°S and 15.8°S and longitudes 124°E and 128.8°E. These record extents are not a confirmed range boundary.

Distribution: Listed region and status

The DBCA priority list identifies the Kimberley region and assigns the species Priority 1, describing it as poorly known and known from few locations, with none on conservation lands. This is a DBCA priority category, not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. No national listing is recorded.

Habitat: Reported habitat

The species' specific habitat requirements in Western Australia are not established.

A compiled species dataset labels its habitat as grassland and savanna. These broad labels are not a verified description of habitat at a particular development site.

Habitat: Site interpretation

Particular soil types, vegetation communities, landforms and microhabitats used by this species have not been identified. Assess local habitat cautiously and do not rule out presence solely because a site does not match a broad habitat label.

Foraging habitat: Diet information

Foraging ecology is poorly documented.

A compiled dataset classifies the species as carnivorous, but this is an imputed value rather than species-specific diet evidence. Prey types and foraging locations have not been documented.

Foraging habitat: Works-site implications

Do not assume a particular prey source or foraging habitat is present. As a general precaution for a burrowing animal, avoid unnecessary soil disturbance in areas being assessed for possible habitat.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

Breeding habitat and timing are poorly known.

The species is reported to be oviparous. Egg-laying sites, breeding season, clutch size, incubation and juvenile development have not been documented.

Breeding habitat: Precaution

Do not assume a site is outside the breeding period. Apply the same careful fauna procedures whenever suitable work areas are disturbed.

Sheltering habitat: Underground shelter

The species is fossorial, but the underground refuges it uses are not described.

The species is recorded as fossorial. Burrow form, depth, soil preferences and use of existing burrows have not been documented.

Sheltering habitat: Disturbance relevance

As a general precaution for fossorial fauna, soil stripping, trenching and excavation may affect concealed animals or refuges. The degree of risk for this species at any particular site is not known.

Threats: Known information

Specific threats to this species have not been identified.

A species-specific threat assessment is not available.

Threats: Potential works impacts

Ground disturbance could affect a fossorial animal if present, but the scale of any effect on this species is not documented. Treat this as a precaution for site planning, not as a confirmed species-specific threat.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

No species-specific survey method or detectability information is established. Use a cautious approach suited to a poorly known fossorial snake.

Review current DBCA information, known records and site history before works. Check whether the project area is within the broad Kimberley record region and whether nearby records or mapped habitat warrant further advice.

Survey methodology: 2. Field inspection

Have a qualified ecologist inspect the proposed disturbance area and document vegetation, ground conditions and planned soil disturbance. A surface inspection alone cannot establish absence of a fossorial species.

Survey methodology: 3. Survey interpretation

Do not treat non-detection as evidence that the species is absent. An effective survey season, survey effort and method have not been established for this species. Seek specialist advice where identification or survey confidence is important.

Vegetation associations: Tussock grassland

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

A compiled species dataset labels its habitat as grassland and savanna.

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: WA.

Habitat use: general

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

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 assess

Plan works on the assumption that absence may be difficult to confirm.

Check the latest DBCA priority fauna information and available records. Assess the site and the proposed disturbance footprint with an ecologist, noting that the species' specific WA habitat associations are not known.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Set controls

Clearly mark approved clearing limits and no-go areas. Minimise the disturbance footprint and avoid unnecessary soil stripping, trenching or vehicle movement outside the approved area.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Brief the crew

Explain that the animal is a small, poorly known fossorial snake and may be concealed in soil. Provide a stop-work and escalation process for any suspected blind snake or other fauna encounter.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work to limits

Use staged, controlled ground disturbance and respond promptly to fauna encounters.

Keep clearing and excavation within marked areas. Use the agreed staged work sequence and have the nominated fauna spotter catcher or ecologist present where required by the project controls.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop and assess

If a suspected blind snake is exposed, pause work in the immediate area, prevent further disturbance and contact the qualified fauna handler. Do not handle, injure or bury the animal.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Record the encounter

Have a suitably qualified person record the location, circumstances and identification confidence, and follow applicable approvals and site procedures. Do not release or relocate an animal without the required advice and authority.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Complete checks

Check the disturbed area and preserve records so uncertain identifications and unexpected encounters can inform later works.

After each work stage, inspect the active work area for exposed fauna and confirm that disturbance has remained within the approved footprint. Escalate any animal found or suspected to the project ecologist.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Document and review

Record survey effort, non-detections, encounters and management actions. Review the controls before the next stage if a blind snake or other fossorial fauna is found.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Reinstate disturbed ground

Rehabilitation should reduce unnecessary ongoing disturbance; species-specific restoration requirements are not known.

Where required by the project, reinstate disturbed areas in accordance with approved rehabilitation plans and avoid introducing unapproved fill or materials. Soil and vegetation restoration requirements for this species have not been documented.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and adapt

Check rehabilitation against the site plan and record any fauna observations. Do not claim that rehabilitation has recreated habitat for this species without supporting site-specific evidence.

Sources