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South-western Orange-tailed Slider (Lerista distinguenda)

The South-western Orange-tailed Slider is a small, fossorial skink associated with heathlands in South Australia and Western Australia. It can remain hidden in soil and litter during clearing, so routine visual searches may miss it. It is listed as Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia, which are near threatened equivalents for this profile and warrant targeted survey and careful habitat management.

Conservation status

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

Breeding season

The breeding season of the South-western Orange-tailed Slider is poorly known. For planning in south-western Australia, use the warmer part of the year as a provisional period of increased activity and possible breeding, with local rainfall, temperature and soil conditions likely to cause variation.

Breeding mode: Not recorded.

Clutch or litter size: Not recorded.

Incubation: Not recorded.

Breeding place: Not recorded. The species is fossorial and occurs in heathlands.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Timing may shift between years and regions, particularly with rainfall, temperature and soil conditions, so use local records and pre-clearing searches to refine the work controls.

  • Breeding activity, provisional warm-season window: Plan for possible mating and egg laying from September to February until local survey data indicate otherwise.
  • Eggs or recently emerged young, provisional: Avoid assuming that concealed eggs or young will be detectable during routine searches.
  • Fossorial activity and surface encounters: The species may be encountered throughout the year, with warmer conditions expected to improve activity and detectability.
  • Highest clearing risk: Treat September to December as the highest provisional risk period for harming breeding animals, eggs or newly emerged young during clearing.

Identification: Appearance and size

The South-western Orange-tailed Slider is a very small skink that spends much of its time in or close to the soil. Its fossorial habits make it easy to overlook during site inspections and clearing operations.

The species is a small skink, with an orange tail indicated by its common name. Detailed field marks and confirmed measurements are not established here.

Its recorded weight is about 1 g. Use an experienced reptile ecologist for confirmation where identification is uncertain.

Group: Small fossorial skink

Weight: About 1 g

Identification: Calls and similar species

Do not rely on calls or echolocation to locate this species. It is not known as a species that can be detected by echolocation.

Similar species information is limited. Photograph any captured or exposed individual, including the tail, body and head, and retain a clear location record for expert checking.

Identification: Field signs

Direct sightings are likely to be uncommon because the species is fossorial. There are no reliable species specific nests, droppings, whitewash, stains or odour signs to use during a standard clearing inspection.

  • Inspect loose soil, leaf litter and the bases of heathland vegetation where animals may be exposed by hand searching or careful ground disturbance.
  • Stop work if a small skink is found. Keep it shaded and secure, and refer handling or relocation to the fauna spotter catcher and relevant approval conditions.

Distribution: Australian range

The South-western Orange-tailed Slider is mapped in South Australia and Western Australia. In Western Australia, it has been included in fauna records and assessments for the Lake Clifton area.

The recorded states are South Australia and Western Australia. Available regional information is limited, so the absence of records from a particular site should not be treated as proof that the species is absent.

  • South Australia
  • Western Australia, including the Lake Clifton regional area

Distribution: Site assessment

Give greater attention to intact or lightly disturbed heathland with loose surface soil and leaf litter. Review local records before works and confirm whether the site falls within mapped or known habitat.

  • Check state databases and project records before finalising the clearing footprint.
  • Record all sightings with coordinates, habitat description, photographs and the work activity underway.

Distribution: Overseas range

The species is treated here as an Australian species. No overseas range is identified.

Habitat: Vegetation to look for

Heathland is the main habitat identified for the South-western Orange-tailed Slider. On a works site, retain attention on the vegetation and soil layer together, because clearing the shrubs alone may not describe the habitat used by a fossorial skink.

Look for heathland vegetation, especially areas with continuous low shrubs, ground cover and an intact litter layer. Maintain a site map showing intact, degraded and cleared heathland.

  • Uncleared heathland patches
  • Heathland edges with connected ground cover
  • Areas with leaf litter and loose soil beneath low vegetation

Habitat: Landform and ground features

The available profile does not identify a particular landform or soil type. Treat intact surface soil, litter and low heath structure as potential habitat wherever they occur within the mapped range.

  • Avoid assuming that open or apparently dry ground is unsuitable without a field assessment.
  • Inspect proposed access tracks, laydown areas, stockpile sites and drainage works as well as the main clearing footprint.

Habitat: Habitat management on site

Keep the disturbance footprint as narrow as practicable. Mark no-go areas before machinery arrives and prevent unnecessary vehicle movement through retained heathland.

  • Use designated access routes.
  • Keep cleared material and soil stockpiles out of retained heathland.
  • Prevent sediment, rubbish and construction materials from spreading into retained habitat.

Foraging habitat: Where to search

The diet and detailed foraging ecology of the South-western Orange-tailed Slider are not established in this profile. Because it is fossorial, foraging areas are likely to include the soil surface, litter and low heathland structure rather than only the visible shrub canopy.

Search beneath leaf litter, around the bases of heath plants and through loose surface soil. Focus on areas with continuous ground cover and limited compaction.

  • Heathland floor
  • Leaf litter and low ground cover
  • Loose soil around shrub bases

Foraging habitat: Ground disturbance

Avoid broad scraping or grading where habitat can be retained. These activities can remove the surface layer used by small ground dwelling reptiles and make animals difficult to detect before machinery enters.

  • Use progressive clearing with a fauna spotter catcher present.
  • Work from the cleared edge towards retained habitat where safe and suitable.
  • Pause work when an animal is exposed or when visibility is reduced by dust, darkness or heavy machinery movement.

Foraging habitat: Diet and resources

Do not assume a particular prey item or apply a species specific baiting method. Retaining natural litter, soil structure and heathland vegetation is the most appropriate general approach while the species ecology remains poorly known.

Breeding habitat: Breeding places

Specific breeding places, breeding timing and clutch information are not established for this species. Manage intact heathland and its soil layer as potential breeding habitat, rather than relying on a visible nest search.

No confirmed nest, burrow, colony or other breeding place type is identified. A lack of visible breeding structures should not be used to clear an area without further assessment.

  • Retain undisturbed heathland and surface soil where practicable.
  • Avoid filling, deep ripping or compacting likely shelter and soil habitat.

Breeding habitat: Timing and survey planning

A breeding season has not been established. Plan targeted searches before clearing and maintain fauna supervision throughout ground disturbance, rather than restricting protection to a particular month.

  • Schedule surveys when site conditions allow safe and effective detection.
  • Use additional caution after rain or other conditions that may bring fossorial reptiles closer to the surface, where this is consistent with the approved survey method.

Breeding habitat: If an animal is found

Treat an exposed skink as a live fauna find, not as evidence that the area is clear. Stop the immediate activity, protect the animal from heat and machinery, and follow the project fauna handling and relocation procedure.

  • Record the location and habitat.
  • Obtain an identification before release or relocation.
  • Report the record to the project ecologist and relevant authority where required by approval conditions.

Sheltering habitat: Likely shelter features

The South-western Orange-tailed Slider is fossorial, so shelter is likely to be associated with soil, litter and low vegetation. There is no confirmed roost or shelter structure that can be checked in isolation.

Give priority to loose soil, leaf litter and the bases of heathland plants. Retain connected ground cover and avoid unnecessary removal of the surface layer.

  • Loose or friable soil
  • Leaf litter and low ground cover
  • Sheltered spaces beneath or between heathland plants

Sheltering habitat: Inspection method

Use careful, progressive inspection of the ground layer. Limit hand disturbance to what is needed for detection and follow approved animal handling procedures.

  • Check the clearing edge before machinery advances.
  • Use hand tools rather than broad mechanical scraping for targeted searches where safe.
  • Replace disturbed litter and soil where no animal is found and the work method allows.

Sheltering habitat: Retained habitat

Protect retained heathland from vehicle entry, compaction, fire and material storage. Fencing and clear signage can help maintain the intended shelter habitat during construction.

  • Fence exclusion areas before clearing.
  • Keep workers, vehicles and stored materials within the approved footprint.
  • Inspect exclusion fencing after storms, earthworks and other events that may damage it.

Threats: Clearing and earthworks

The main project risk is harm to a small, poorly detected skink during clearing and soil disturbance in heathland. The species is listed as Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia, so works should use a precautionary approach and meet all approval conditions.

Vegetation removal, grading, trenching, excavation and soil stockpiling can destroy shelter habitat or injure animals below the surface. Keep the footprint to the minimum approved area and use staged clearing with fauna supervision.

  • Peg and inspect the clearing limits before works begin.
  • Search the ground layer progressively.
  • Stop and manage any fauna find before machinery resumes.

Threats: Fragmentation and construction disturbance

Tracks, compounds and laydown areas can divide small heathland patches and compact the soil. Use existing disturbed areas where possible and retain links between habitat patches.

  • Avoid new access through intact heathland.
  • Prevent vehicle overruns outside the approved footprint.
  • Control dust, sediment and construction material spread into retained habitat.

Threats: Fire, weeds and land management

Unplanned fire, inappropriate fire regimes, weed invasion and repeated disturbance can reduce the quality of heathland and its ground layer. Include retained habitat in the project's fire, weed and rehabilitation controls.

  • Clean vehicles and machinery before entering heathland.
  • Prevent weed material and contaminated soil from entering retained areas.
  • Use rehabilitation methods that restore native ground cover and surface structure.

Threats: Survey and statutory status

A targeted reptile survey and fauna spotter catcher supervision are appropriate for proposed clearing in potential habitat. Because the species is near threatened equivalent in the listed states, use survey effort proportionate to the footprint, habitat quality and likelihood of soil disturbance.

  • South Australia: listed as Rare under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.
  • Western Australia: listed as Priority 4, a non statutory DBCA category for rare and near threatened species that need monitoring.
  • Confirm current approvals, reporting duties and handling requirements with the relevant state authority before works begin.
  • The species profile records no cat or fox predation for this species, but standard predator and habitat management should still be followed where required by the project.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The South-western Orange-tailed Slider is a small, fossorial skink associated with heathlands. It is poorly known, so use several complementary methods and treat apparently suitable habitat as occupied until field evidence supports another conclusion.

Map heathland, sandy soils, dense ground cover, disturbance areas and proposed clearing limits before field work. Check current state databases, local records, land tenure and conservation mapping for South Australia and Western Australia.

Confirm the current conservation status for the project location. The species is listed as Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia, and should be managed as an EVNT species under the project risk assessment.

  • Review the current EPBC Act protected matters information and determine whether referral or approval is required.
  • Identify areas that can be retained, fenced and accessed without clearing.
  • Ask local land managers and fauna specialists about recent records and suitable survey conditions.

Survey methodology: 2. Targeted field search

Use experienced reptile ecologists to search heathland habitat in suitable weather. Combine active searches with careful checks of surface cover, loose litter, fallen vegetation, sandy margins and other places where a small fossorial skink may shelter.

Use hand searches and limited lifting of cover objects where safe and authorised. Replace every cover object carefully and avoid unnecessary disturbance to soil, roots and ground cover.

  • Search during daylight when the ground surface is warm enough for reptile activity, while avoiding very hot, cold, wet or windy conditions.
  • Use pitfall traps with drift fencing, funnel traps or other approved trapping methods where active searches are unlikely to provide adequate coverage.
  • Obtain animal ethics, landholder and wildlife research approvals before trapping or handling animals.
  • Use remote cameras only as a supplementary method, as they are unlikely to reliably detect a small fossorial skink.

Survey methodology: 3. Survey effort and timing

There is no established species specific survey effort or breeding calendar for this skink. Set effort according to habitat quality, clearing risk, project scale and advice from the relevant state wildlife authority.

Repeat surveys when the first visit is affected by unsuitable weather, poor access, dense cover or incomplete coverage. Do not use a single negative survey to conclude that the species is absent from suitable heathland.

  • Record the date, start and finish times, weather, recent rainfall, temperature conditions, wind, soil condition and survey personnel.
  • Record the method, trap type, number and location of traps, trap opening and closing times, search paths and total search effort.
  • Check traps at the frequency required by the permit and animal welfare protocol, with protection from heat, cold, rain and predators.
  • Stop trapping if conditions become unsafe or likely to cause animal stress.

Survey methodology: 4. Records and identification

Photograph each animal only when this can be done without delaying release or causing stress. Have uncertain identifications checked by a suitably experienced herpetologist.

Record the exact location, habitat, microhabitat, activity, direction of movement and any evidence of injury or breeding.

  • Submit verified records to the relevant state database and project fauna register.
  • Record negative results with the same level of detail as positive records.
  • Map all records against the clearing footprint, retained habitat, access tracks and proposed rehabilitation areas.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Avoid clearing heathland habitat wherever practicable, especially where records or suitable fossorial habitat occur. Plan approvals, exclusion fencing and pre-clearance checks before machinery or vegetation crews arrive.

Confirm the legal status of the species and the approval pathway before works begin. The species is Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia. Priority 4 is a DBCA category for rare and near threatened species that need monitoring.

The species is not listed in the supplied project information as nationally threatened. Recheck the current EPBC Act list and protected matters information because a referral may be required if the project could have a significant impact on a nationally listed species or other protected matter.

  • Obtain any state scientific, wildlife handling, relocation, trapping and collection permits before survey or handling.
  • In Queensland, seek advice from the relevant authority if the species is present or if works may tamper with a breeding place. A species management program may be required for protected near threatened animals.
  • Check local government, reserve, land manager and project approval conditions before clearing.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and site layout

Retain heathland patches, sandy ground, dense ground cover and connecting habitat. Avoid fragmenting retained habitat with tracks, laydown areas, drainage works or repeated vehicle movements.

Keep the disturbance footprint as small as practicable. Use existing cleared areas for compounds, access and stockpiles.

  • Survey and mark the approved clearing boundary before mobilisation.
  • Install visible exclusion fencing around retained habitat and known records.
  • Keep machinery, spoil, chemicals, concrete washout and waste outside retained habitat.
  • Provide fauna spotter catchers and supervisors with a map showing records, exclusion zones and no-go areas.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey

Complete a final pre-clearance search shortly before clearing. The search should cover the approved footprint, access routes, trench lines, stockpile areas and any other ground that will be disturbed.

Because breeding places and breeding timing are poorly documented, inspect the ground, litter, shelter sites and soil carefully for animals, eggs, young or concentrated activity.

  • Use the same approved search and trapping methods that are suitable for the habitat and season.
  • Inspect areas after machinery has stopped and before each new stage of clearing if the work is staged.
  • Clearly mark any animal, egg, shelter site or suspected breeding place and stop the affected work area until the ecologist advises.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Timing, induction and contingency planning

There is no reliable published breeding or migration calendar for this species. Set work timing with the project ecologist and state authority using local records, weather, habitat condition and survey results rather than assuming a low risk season.

Make the protection measures part of the construction plan, not an informal instruction given on the day.

  • Induct all workers on identification, habitat, exclusion fencing, stop work authority, vehicle speed, trench checks and reporting.
  • Provide a contact list for the fauna spotter catcher, site supervisor, wildlife carer and relevant wildlife authority.
  • Brief operators that the fauna spotter catcher can stop work immediately where an animal, breeding place or unexpected habitat risk is found.
  • Prepare secure, ventilated temporary containers and suitable release or veterinary arrangements before clearing starts.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence from the least disturbed edge towards retained habitat, with the fauna spotter catcher directing each stage. Small fossorial skinks can be missed in soil, litter and ground cover, so proceed slowly and keep the work area observable.

Remove non habitat obstacles first, then clear vegetation and ground cover in small, manageable stages. Allow fauna to move towards retained habitat where this does not direct them into roads, trenches, machinery or other hazards.

Do not bury, burn, crush or roll ground cover before it has been checked by the fauna spotter catcher.

  • Keep the fauna spotter catcher in a position with a clear view of the active clearing face.
  • Pause clearing while fallen vegetation, soil clumps, litter and shelter objects are inspected.
  • Check open trenches, pits, pipes and stored materials at the frequency required by the project approval and fauna management plan.
  • Close or cover excavations when they are not being actively used.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Handling and relocation

Only authorised and trained people may catch, handle or relocate the South-western Orange-tailed Slider. Use clean hands or approved equipment and minimise handling time.

Place an animal in a secure, ventilated container with suitable temporary shelter. Keep it shaded and away from vibration, exhaust, direct sun and extreme temperatures.

  • Do not hold the animal by the tail or place it in water.
  • Release healthy animals only under the direction of the fauna spotter catcher and in suitable retained habitat near the capture location, unless the permit specifies another location.
  • Do not move animals across roads, into unsuitable cleared ground or outside the approved relocation area.
  • Record the capture, handling, release location, condition and time.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Breeding places and concentrated activity

If eggs, young, a suspected breeding place or repeated use of a shelter is found, stop work in the immediate area. Do not excavate, fill, relocate or modify the site until the fauna spotter catcher and relevant authority have provided direction.

A colony or roost is not expected for this terrestrial skink, but any unexpected concentration of animals must be managed as a potential important site until assessed.

  • Fence the area and establish a practical no-go zone based on the site assessment and approval conditions.
  • Photograph and map the location without disturbing the animals or shelter.
  • Notify the site supervisor, project ecologist and relevant authority where required.
  • Resume work only after the site has been cleared or a revised method has been approved.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured or dead animals

Treat an injured animal as a wildlife incident. Keep people and machinery clear, and have the authorised fauna handler assess it promptly.

Do not release an injured animal. Arrange assessment by a registered wildlife carer or veterinarian under the applicable permit and wildlife authority requirements.

  • Record the location, apparent cause, condition, photographs and action taken.
  • Use a secure container and maintain appropriate temperature and ventilation during transport.
  • Report deaths, suspected machinery strikes and repeated injuries to the project manager and relevant authority as required.
  • Review the clearing method before work recommences in that area.

During habitat disturbance: 5. Daily records

Maintain a daily fauna clearance log. A clear record supports compliance and allows methods to be improved during the project.

  • Record personnel, weather, clearing area, equipment, start and finish times, animals seen, captures, relocations, injuries, deaths, breeding places and stop work events.
  • Record trap checks, empty searches and any changes to the approved method.
  • Retain photographs, maps, permit details, release records and authority directions with the project environmental records.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance inspection

Complete a formal check of the cleared area before releasing it to construction crews. Continue checking retained edges, excavations and stored materials while construction remains active.

The fauna spotter catcher or project ecologist should inspect the completed clearing area after each stage. Check disturbed soil, remaining ground cover, machinery, stockpiles, trenches, pipes and temporary structures.

Search the clearing edge and retained heathland for animals that may have remained under cover or moved back into the work area.

  • Record the area inspected, method, timing, weather and result.
  • Remove or secure hazards that could trap animals, including open pipes, pits, trenches and loose sheeting.
  • Do not sign off an area until all required checks and mitigation measures are complete.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Construction monitoring

Continue fauna checks during construction where the project retains heathland or creates ongoing hazards. Increase checks after heavy rain, major earthworks, vegetation disturbance or changes to access routes.

Use the approval conditions and fauna management plan to set the monitoring frequency, as species specific monitoring intervals are not established.

  • Inspect exclusion fencing and repair gaps promptly.
  • Check sediment controls, drainage structures and stored materials for trapped fauna.
  • Keep lighting, noise, dust and vehicle movements within approved limits near retained habitat.
  • Report new records to the project ecologist and state database where appropriate.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated animals and outcomes

Review relocation records to confirm that each animal was released as authorised and that no animal was left in a temporary container. Do not assume that release alone demonstrates a successful outcome.

Where monitoring is required, use repeat searches in the release and retained habitat and record observations consistently.

  • Check for signs of movement, shelter use and continued presence without repeatedly disturbing shelter sites.
  • Record recaptures, mortalities, injuries and animals found outside the release area.
  • Seek authority advice if animals repeatedly return to the work area or are found in poor condition.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Reporting and incident review

Provide the final fauna clearance and monitoring report to the project manager, approval holders and relevant authority within the required timeframe.

Use incidents and survey results to improve later clearing stages, rehabilitation and future projects.

  • Summarise survey effort, records, captures, relocations, breeding places, injuries, deaths, stop work events and permit compliance.
  • Map retained habitat, cleared habitat, release locations and incident locations.
  • Investigate any breach, unplanned clearing or animal death and document corrective action.
  • Update the construction environmental management plan when monitoring identifies a new risk.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore heathland structure

Rehabilitation should recreate connected heathland habitat with suitable ground cover and sandy, well drained soil where practicable. The species is fossorial and terrestrial, so habitat structure and soil condition are more relevant than nest boxes or roost structures.

Retain topsoil and natural litter where approved and suitable for reuse. Reinstate local soil profiles without compacting areas intended for habitat.

Replant with locally appropriate heathland species and restore a varied layer of low vegetation, litter and fallen cover.

  • Use local provenance seed or plants where available and approved.
  • Keep rehabilitation areas connected to retained heathland and avoid narrow isolated strips.
  • Restrict vehicle access until soil and vegetation are stable.
  • Remove temporary fencing and construction materials once they are no longer needed, while keeping fauna exclusion measures in place until the site is safe.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Shelter and breeding habitat

Breeding places and shelter requirements are poorly documented for the South-western Orange-tailed Slider. Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nests or roost structures unless a qualified ecologist and the relevant authority confirm that a specific design suits this skink.

Instead, retain or recreate natural ground shelter, litter, low vegetation and suitable soil, while avoiding dense piles that could create fire, pest or construction hazards.

  • Retain suitable natural cover objects where they do not obstruct safety or maintenance.
  • Do not import soil, mulch, logs or cover materials that may introduce weeds, pathogens or predators.
  • If an artificial shelter trial is approved, document its design, location, materials, inspection method and removal criteria before installation.
  • Monitor any approved artificial feature for use and adverse effects.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, predators and water

Control weeds that replace heathland ground cover or alter soil conditions. Use methods that limit chemical drift, soil disturbance and harm to reptiles.

The species is terrestrial, and no species specific water requirement is established. Manage drainage so rehabilitation remains suitable for heathland rather than creating prolonged waterlogging or exposed erosion.

  • Use targeted weed control and inspect treated areas for non target impacts.
  • Keep food waste and rubbish secured to avoid attracting cats, foxes and other predators.
  • Prevent domestic animals from entering retained and rehabilitated habitat.
  • Use erosion and sediment controls that do not create animal traps.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Lighting and construction disturbance

Limit unnecessary night lighting beside retained and rehabilitated heathland. Although migration timing is not established, persistent disturbance can reduce habitat quality and alter invertebrate activity.

Use the lowest practical light intensity and direct light away from ground cover and habitat edges.

  • Turn off temporary lighting when it is not required.
  • Use directional, shielded fittings and avoid broad spill into retained habitat.
  • Keep noisy plant, vehicle routes and access points away from rehabilitation areas where practicable.
  • Prevent repeated soil disturbance after rehabilitation has commenced.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Long term monitoring

Monitor rehabilitation for establishment, weed invasion, erosion, soil compaction, connectivity and fauna use. Set the duration and frequency through the approval conditions and project risk assessment because species specific monitoring standards are not established.

Use the same methods across monitoring events so changes can be interpreted reliably.

  • Record vegetation cover, ground shelter, soil condition, weeds, predator signs and any South-western Orange-tailed Slider records.
  • Repair erosion, fencing failures, weed outbreaks and drainage problems promptly.
  • Adapt planting, shelter retention and access controls when monitoring shows that habitat quality is declining.
  • Submit significant new records or mortality information to the relevant state authority and conservation database.

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