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Small-eyed Blind Snake (Anilios micromma)

The small-eyed blind snake is a little-known blind snake recorded from the Kimberley, including Leopold Downs, the locality named in its DBCA common name. It is listed as Priority 1 on the WA DBCA Threatened and Priority Fauna List, meaning it is poorly known and known from few locations. Its underground habitat and limited records make precautionary checks important before works.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal planning

Species-specific seasonal information is unknown. Use year-round precautions and treat the survey and works timing below as a planning window only.

Known seasonality: Breeding, movement and activity months are not recorded.

Planning approach: Do not assume any period is free of risk based on the available information.

No taxon-specific seasonal evidence is available.

  • Survey and works precautions: Year-round planning window only. Species-specific activity and detectability are unknown.

Identification: Appearance and size

Identification information is limited. Confirm any suspected record with a suitably experienced herpetologist.

The species is a blind snake. Its eye is no larger than the nostril, and its nasal cleft proceeds from the second labial. The holotype is reported as 205 mm long, including a 5 mm tail.

Identification: Similar species and field signs

Other blind snakes may be difficult to distinguish in the field. A full field description and reliable information about signs such as tracks, shed skins or characteristic surface activity are not documented.

Do not identify the species from a single feature alone. Photograph the animal where safe and arrange expert identification.

Distribution: Known range

Known records indicate a very restricted and poorly documented Western Australian distribution.

The species is reported from the Kimberley region of Western Australia and is endemic to Western Australia.

Distribution: Records and limits

Atlas of Living Australia records show one Western Australian record in one distinct 0.1 degree location, at latitude -17.9 and longitude 125.5. The DBCA common name refers to Leopold Downs. The full range and presence of further populations are unknown.

Habitat: Habitat information

Specific habitat requirements are poorly known.

A preferred vegetation type, soil, landform or hydrological setting has not been documented.

Habitat: Site assessment

For planning, treat suitable habitat as unresolved within the species' known regional range. Record the site's soils, landforms, vegetation and ground conditions as observations, not as confirmed species preferences.

Foraging habitat: Diet and foraging

The species' diet and foraging habitat have not been documented.

Prey, feeding behaviour and foraging locations are unknown.

Foraging habitat: Precaution

During site assessment, note ground conditions and any potential prey or invertebrate observations, but do not present these as evidence of this snake's diet or habitat use.

Breeding habitat: Known information

Breeding biology and breeding habitat are poorly known.

Breeding season, egg-laying sites, clutch size, young and breeding behaviour have not been documented.

Breeding habitat: Works planning

Do not schedule works on the assumption that a particular season is free of breeding risk. Apply the same fauna safeguards throughout the year unless reliable taxon-specific information becomes available.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter information

Shelter sites and daily behaviour have not been documented.

The species' shelter sites, depth, activity pattern and use of cover are unknown.

Sheltering habitat: General blind-snake precautions

As general practice for blind snakes, inspect disturbed soil and ground cover carefully rather than relying only on surface searches. This is a group-level precaution, not a documented shelter preference for this species.

Threats: Known status

The species is poorly known, and specific threats have not been identified.

DBCA lists the species as Priority 1: poorly known, known from few locations, and with none of the known locations on conservation lands. This is a DBCA priority category, not a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Threats: Threat information

Taxon-specific threats have not been documented.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The species is poorly known, and no validated survey method has been established. Use cautious, documented searches and expert support.

Check current DBCA advice, records and proposed works against the Kimberley distribution and limited locality information. Confirm whether project areas are near known records, including the Leopold Downs area.

Survey methodology: 2. Field inspection

Have an experienced fauna ecologist inspect the development footprint before disturbance. As general practice for blind snakes, check exposed soil, ground cover and material scheduled for removal, and record the search effort, conditions and findings.

A non-detection should not be treated as proof of absence because species-specific detectability and survey methods are unknown.

Survey methodology: 3. Records and identification

Photograph suspected animals where safe, note the precise location and habitat observations, and seek expert identification. Follow applicable permits and animal-handling 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. Plan and brief

Plan for uncertainty because the species is known from few locations and its habitat requirements are poorly known.

Review records and DBCA requirements, define the work footprint and identify a fauna spotter catcher with appropriate experience. Brief crews that blind snakes may be overlooked during surface-only checks.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Reduce exposure

Avoid unnecessary clearing and disturbance of soil or ground cover. Where practicable, stage work so that an ecologist can inspect each area before it is disturbed.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Prepare response arrangements

Agree in advance on stop-work, notification, identification and lawful handling procedures for any suspected animal. Keep suitable documentation and contact details available on site.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Supervise clearing

Use active fauna supervision and pause work if a suspected blind snake is encountered.

Have the fauna spotter catcher inspect the work area as it is opened. Use controlled, staged disturbance and allow time for inspection of exposed ground and material.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to an animal

Stop work in the immediate area, keep people and machinery clear, and notify the designated fauna lead. Do not handle the animal unless authorised and competent to do so.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Record the encounter

Record the location, time, photographs, circumstances and identification outcome. Resume work only when the fauna lead has confirmed the appropriate response under the project procedure.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Close out records

Document outcomes and follow up any encounter or potential impact through the project fauna process.

Compile survey effort, observations, photographs, locations, identifications and any fauna handling or relocation details. Distinguish confirmed records from unverified sightings.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Review and report

Escalate suspected records and incidents to the project ecologist and relevant authorities as required. Review whether work methods or controls need adjustment before further clearing.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Reinstate disturbed areas

Species-specific rehabilitation requirements are unknown. Do not imply that replacement habitat is proven suitable.

Where required by the project, stabilise and revegetate disturbed ground using the approved site rehabilitation plan. Minimise further unnecessary soil disturbance.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor outcomes

Record rehabilitation actions and any fauna observations. Do not claim that a rehabilitated area provides suitable habitat for this species without supporting evidence.

Sources