Speckled Slider (Lerista baynesi)

Conservation status

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

Breeding season

The Speckled Slider is poorly known, so its seasonal activity pattern is indicative rather than species-specific. In Western Australia, breeding and surface activity may be concentrated in warmer months, with timing varying between regions and years.

Breeding mode: Not recorded.

Clutch or litter size: Not recorded.

Incubation or gestation: Not recorded.

Hatching or weaning: Not recorded.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Breeding site: Not recorded. Retain ground cover, leaf litter, fallen timber, loose soil and surface debris until fauna checks are complete.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Timing may shift between years and regions, particularly with rainfall and temperature, so use pre-clearance searches and stop-work procedures throughout the year in suitable habitat.

• Breeding and laying: A general skink pattern suggests mating and laying may occur mainly from September to December, but this has not been confirmed for the Speckled Slider.
• Eggs and young: Eggs or newly hatched young may be present from late spring into summer, so ground disturbance should be managed during this period.
• Surface activity: Activity is expected to be higher in warmer conditions, although the species may shelter below ground or under cover during unsuitable weather.
• Reduced winter activity: Cooler months may reduce surface activity, but this should not be treated as a period when the species is absent or safe to disturb.
• Highest clearing risk: The highest indicative risk is September to December, when breeding, eggs or very young skinks may be affected by clearing and construction.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Speckled Slider is a skink in the family Scincidae. Reliable field identification information is limited, so records should be handled carefully and supported with clear photographs or a specimen record where permitted.

A species-specific description, measurements and diagnostic features are not established in the available profile. Do not assign a size, colour pattern or body shape to the Speckled Slider without confirmation from a suitably qualified herpetologist.

Body length: Not established for this field profile

Colour and pattern: Species-specific field description not established

• Use a scale reference in photographs, such as a ruler or known object.
• Photograph the whole animal, the head, the back, the sides and the underside if this can be done without harm.
• Record the exact location, date, habitat, weather and activity.

Identification: Calls and similar species

No call or echolocation information is relevant to this terrestrial skink, and no species-specific call is documented here. Similar small skinks may occur in the same broad landscapes, so visual identification should not rely on habitat alone.

• Seek confirmation when the animal is seen briefly, is partly concealed or is moving through dense ground cover.
• Keep clear photographs and the observer's identification rationale with the survey record.

Identification: Field signs

No species-specific information is established for droppings, nests, odour, stains or other field signs. A live animal is the most useful direct evidence.

• Search records should distinguish a confirmed animal from an unconfirmed sighting.
• Do not excavate likely shelter sites or handle animals unnecessarily to obtain a record.

Distribution: Australian range

The Speckled Slider is mapped in Western Australia and is included in the South Australian reptile checklist. The available profile does not define its regional range, localities or any overseas range, so project assessments should use current state databases and local records.

Western Australia is the mapped Australian state. The species is also listed in South Australia, where it has a Rare status. A state listing does not by itself define the full local distribution, and the relevant population or occurrence should be checked for each project area.

Mapped state: Western Australia

South Australian listing: Rare

• Check the current Western Australian fauna database and advice from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
• Check South Australian records and the relevant approval pathway where the project is in South Australia.
• Map confirmed records, suitable habitat and areas searched, including negative survey results.

Distribution: Site scale and records

The species is poorly known at site scale. Absence from a short or poorly timed search should not be treated as proof that it is absent, particularly where suitable ground cover remains.

• Review historical records before finalising the clearing footprint.
• Ask the fauna spotter catcher to record animals found during pre-clearance and clearing supervision.
• Retain habitat and fauna records in the project environmental file.

Distribution: Overseas range

No overseas range is identified in this profile.

Habitat: Features to inspect

The Speckled Slider is terrestrial, so surveys should focus on ground-level habitat rather than trees, water bodies or aerial features. Species-specific habitat associations are poorly documented, and broad habitat suitability should be treated as an initial screening tool only.

Inspect the ground layer across the proposed disturbance area and nearby retained habitat. Look for connected areas with leaf litter, low vegetation, loose debris, soil and places where a small skink could shelter.

• Ground litter and fallen branches
• Low shrubs, grasses and other dense ground cover
• Loose stones, bark, woody debris and surface cracks
• Undisturbed soil and habitat links between retained areas

Habitat: Site assessment

Describe the actual vegetation, substrate, landform and disturbance history at each site. Avoid assuming that all areas within the mapped state are suitable habitat.

• Mark habitat patches and breaks caused by roads, tracks, cleared verges or construction areas.
• Note recent fire, grazing, weed invasion, compaction, rubbish and other changes to the ground layer.
• Record whether suitable ground cover continues beyond the clearing boundary.

Habitat: Works planning

Where suitable ground habitat is present, keep the disturbance footprint as small as practicable and retain connected ground cover. Use a qualified ecologist to refine habitat interpretation before clearing if records or suitable habitat are present.

• Include the species in the pre-clearing risk assessment.
• Keep machinery and stored materials within approved work areas.
• Use clearly marked exclusion areas for habitat retained near the works.

Foraging habitat: Likely search areas

The diet and foraging behaviour of the Speckled Slider are not established in this profile. As a small terrestrial skink, it should be assessed through the condition and continuity of its ground layer rather than through a presumed food source.

Search beneath and beside ground cover where a small skink may move or shelter. Give attention to litter, low vegetation, bark, stones, woody debris and surface irregularities.

• Inspect habitat edges as well as the centre of proposed clearing areas.
• Search across different ground conditions and levels of cover.
• Avoid turning or removing cover unless this is authorised and necessary for the survey method.

Foraging habitat: Diet and foraging

A species-specific diet is not established. Do not describe a particular prey group as confirmed for this species without specialist advice.

• Record the ground cover and surface moisture conditions during searches.
• Note whether the site supports a continuous layer of leaf litter, low plants and small invertebrate habitat.
• Avoid pesticide use in retained habitat unless separately assessed and approved.

Foraging habitat: Construction controls

Construction activity can remove foraging cover, compact soil and isolate small habitat patches. Protect retained ground cover from vehicle movement, spoil, washdown and material storage.

• Keep access routes within the approved footprint.
• Prevent sediment, concrete washout and rubbish from entering retained habitat.
• Reinstate disturbed ground with locally appropriate native ground cover where required by the project approval.

Breeding habitat: What to look for

Breeding habitat, breeding timing, clutch size and shelter used for reproduction are not established for the Speckled Slider. Treat areas with intact ground cover and potential shelter as breeding habitat until a suitably qualified ecologist confirms otherwise.

Inspect retained ground habitat for small sheltered spaces beneath litter, bark, stones, woody debris or other surface cover. Do not assume that a visible nest is required, as the species-specific breeding site is not documented here.

• Record potential shelter features before clearing.
• Include connected habitat outside the immediate work area in the assessment.
• Avoid unnecessary disturbance of concealed ground features.

Breeding habitat: Timing and breeding records

No breeding months, clutch size, incubation period or age at maturity are established in this profile. Use seasonal restrictions only where they are specified by the relevant regulator, approval or species specialist.

• Report any gravid female, juvenile or suspected reproductive site to the project ecologist.
• Pause work around a confirmed animal or suspected breeding site while the response is assessed.
• Do not relocate animals or disturb suspected breeding places without approval and an appropriate method.

Breeding habitat: Clearing response

If breeding habitat is identified, the clearing plan should be reviewed before work continues in that area. A fauna spotter catcher should inspect the area and follow the approved handling, exclusion and relocation procedure.

• Stage clearing so fauna can move towards retained suitable habitat where this is safe and approved.
• Check felled material and surface debris before removal.
• Keep a record of inspections, animals found, actions taken and final outcomes.

Sheltering habitat: Potential shelters

Specific sheltering and roosting information is not established for this species. For a terrestrial skink, focus on ground-level cover and small refuges, and retain these features wherever practicable.

Potential shelter includes leaf litter, bark, stones, fallen branches, woody debris, soil cracks and dense low vegetation. These are general skink habitat features, not confirmed Speckled Slider shelter requirements.

• Map concentrations of surface cover within the work area.
• Inspect underneath cover carefully during approved searches.
• Replace cover after inspection where it is safe and appropriate.

Sheltering habitat: Disturbance risks

Clearing, grading, soil compaction, burning, intense grazing and repeated vehicle movements can remove or degrade shelter. Spoil heaps and stored materials can also alter access to the ground layer and trap animals.

• Do not use retained habitat for laydown, parking or spoil storage.
• Limit night lighting and unnecessary activity around retained habitat where practicable.
• Maintain links between shelter patches rather than leaving isolated fragments.

Sheltering habitat: Pre-clearance and clearing

Use a staged pre-clearance inspection where the project risk assessment identifies suitable habitat or a nearby record. Any handling, capture or relocation should be undertaken by authorised personnel under the project approval.

• Mark no-go areas before machinery arrives.
• Inspect debris and the ground surface progressively as clearing occurs.
• Stop and seek advice if an unfamiliar skink is found or if multiple animals are encountered.

Threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation

The available species profile does not identify confirmed threats. On works sites, manage the general risks that clearing and construction create for a rare or poorly known ground-dwelling skink.

Clearing can remove ground cover, shelter and possible breeding habitat. Roads, tracks and isolated cleared areas can break connections between habitat patches.

• Avoid clearing suitable habitat where practicable.
• Reduce the approved footprint and retain connected ground cover.
• Locate temporary works in already disturbed areas where possible.

Threats: Ground disturbance

Grading, excavation, trenching, soil compaction and removal of litter or woody debris can injure animals and remove their shelters. Keep disturbance within the approved footprint and inspect areas progressively.

• Use clearly marked work limits.
• Keep spoil, equipment and vehicles out of retained habitat.
• Use a fauna spotter catcher during risk activities where required by the project controls.

Threats: Fire, weeds and altered land management

Fire, weed invasion, intensive grazing and changes to the ground layer may reduce shelter and foraging opportunities. The species-specific response is not established, so avoid broad assumptions about tolerances.

• Protect retained habitat from unauthorised fire and machinery access.
• Control weeds with methods that minimise harm to ground fauna.
• Maintain a varied, locally appropriate ground layer during rehabilitation.

Threats: Unexpected finds and compliance

A confirmed Speckled Slider record should trigger a review of the immediate work area and the proposed controls. The species is listed as Rare in South Australia and is treated as an EVNT species, while Western Australian records are associated with Priority 4 monitoring needs.

South Australia: Rare

Western Australia: Priority 4, non-statutory

• Stop work in the immediate area if an animal may be at risk.
• Contact the project ecologist and relevant wildlife authority for direction.
• Record the location, photographs, habitat, action taken and outcome.
• Apply any permit, approval or species management conditions before work resumes.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The Speckled Slider is poorly known, so surveys should use more than one method and be designed by a suitably experienced reptile ecologist. Treat all suitable terrestrial habitat as potentially occupied until survey evidence and site conditions support another conclusion.

Map all proposed clearing, access tracks, stockpile areas and construction footprints. Review recent records, vegetation condition, soil and ground-cover types, land use, fire history and connectivity with nearby native habitat.

Check the relevant state database and referral requirements before fieldwork. The species is listed as Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia. Confirm the current listing and approval requirements for the project location.

• Identify areas with intact ground cover, loose surface material, leaf litter, fallen timber, low vegetation and suitable shelter.
• Plan survey coverage across the full disturbance footprint and nearby areas that may be used for relocation or retained habitat.
• Record the limits of mapped habitat and any uncertainty in the survey design.

Survey methodology: 2. Field detection methods

Use systematic active searches by experienced reptile surveyors. Carefully inspect ground shelters such as leaf litter, fallen timber, loose bark, stones and other surface cover, and replace each item after inspection.

Use passive methods suited to small terrestrial skinks, such as pitfall traps with drift fencing and funnel traps, where approved and where animal welfare controls can be maintained. Traps must be checked at suitable intervals, protected from heat and weather, and supplied with appropriate shelter.

Consider temporary artificial refuge sheets or tiles where they suit the site and can be checked safely. Use them as supplementary methods, not as evidence that the species is absent.

• Survey during periods when small skinks are likely to be active, avoiding extreme heat, cold, flooding and other unsafe conditions.
• Use repeated visits where habitat is suitable, records are nearby, or the consequences of missing an animal are high.
• Obtain any required wildlife research, trapping or handling authority before setting traps or lifting shelter.
• Stop or change the method if trapping causes undue stress, injury or excessive exposure.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing and effort

The breeding season, seasonal movements and preferred activity conditions of the Speckled Slider are not well established. A qualified ecologist should set the timing and number of visits using local climate, recent records, habitat condition and the proposed clearing date.

Avoid relying on a single brief inspection for a high-risk site. Survey effort should increase where habitat is intact, the species has been recorded nearby, ground cover is dense, or clearing will remove most available habitat.

• Record date, start and finish time, weather, recent rainfall, temperature conditions, wind, surveyors, search methods and the area covered.
• Record trap type, number, placement, opening and closing times, checking times, bait or shelter used, and any trap-related incidents.
• Document any constraints, including inaccessible ground, poor weather, dense vegetation, fire risk or incomplete survey coverage.

Survey methodology: 4. Records and identification

Photograph animals only when this can be done safely and without delaying release. Use an experienced herpetologist or approved identification process for verification, especially where similar small skinks may occur.

Record the exact location, habitat, ground cover, behaviour, condition, direction of movement and whether the animal was captured, released or relocated.

• Use a GPS location and a site code for every observation.
• Keep specimen, tissue or photographic records only under the relevant authority and animal welfare procedures.
• Report significant records to the relevant state database or agency where required by approval conditions.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Plan the work around avoidance first. Because the Speckled Slider has a limited distribution and is poorly known, retain suitable ground habitat wherever practicable and obtain advice before disturbing occupied habitat.

Check whether the action requires an EPBC Act referral or approval. Confirm the current state conservation listing and all survey, trapping, handling, relocation and clearing requirements before work starts.

In Queensland, check whether the relevant animal is protected wildlife and whether tampering with a breeding place requires a species management program. Obtain a Queensland species management program where it applies.

In South Australia and Western Australia, confirm the permits and approvals required for a species listed as Rare in South Australia or Priority 4 in Western Australia. Do not rely on a database listing alone as evidence that approval is unnecessary.

• Nominate the approval holder, ecologist and site supervisor responsible for compliance.
• Put approval conditions, stop-work triggers and reporting contacts in the site environmental management plan.
• Brief subcontractors on any permit limits before mobilisation.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and site design

Redesign the footprint to retain areas of native ground cover and connected habitat. Avoid unnecessary clearing, grading, soil removal, compaction, stockpiling and vehicle access through retained habitat.

Keep retained habitat clearly marked and protected from machinery, laydown areas, spoil, wash-down water and uncontrolled pedestrian access.

• Fence exclusion areas before clearing begins.
• Use existing disturbed access routes where possible.
• Keep clearing to the approved footprint and do not widen it without ecological and approval review.
• Control fire, dust, erosion, weeds, rubbish and domestic animal access around retained habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey and exclusion

Complete the approved pre-clearance survey immediately before disturbance, using methods suited to the habitat and season. Recheck areas where vegetation, ground cover or soil has changed since the original survey.

Mark all confirmed and potential animal locations. Set a site-specific exclusion area around occupied habitat where required by the approval, risk assessment or supervising ecologist. Do not use an unverified standard buffer for this species.

• Use a qualified fauna ecologist to inspect the footprint and likely shelter sites.
• Remove loose surface cover by hand only where authorised and where it can be replaced safely.
• Confirm that traps are closed and removed before machinery enters the area.
• Do not clear if an animal cannot be safely captured, released or relocated under the approval conditions.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Timing and crew induction

No reliable breeding or migration period is established for the Speckled Slider. Set work timing using local records, seasonal conditions and advice from the project ecologist, and avoid periods when animals are likely to be inactive, exposed to heat or difficult to detect.

Give every worker a short induction before clearing. The induction should use photographs or other approved identification material and explain the stop-work process.

• Show workers where exclusion zones and retained habitat are located.
• Tell workers not to lift shelters, chase animals or handle wildlife.
• Provide the spotter catcher contact, fauna handling authority and injured animal pathway.
• Require immediate reporting of every suspected Speckled Slider sighting.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence and keep a fauna spotter catcher present when the approval or risk assessment requires it. The spotter catcher must have authority to pause or stop work whenever an animal, occupied shelter or unexpected habitat risk is found.

Clear in small, manageable stages from the disturbed edge towards retained habitat, where this is suitable for the site and approved method. Use low-impact equipment and hand clearing around shelters, dense ground cover and areas identified during the pre-clearance survey.

Keep machinery out of exclusion zones and stop if visibility, ground conditions or animal risk cannot be controlled.

• Inspect each work area immediately before clearing.
• Check felled vegetation, displaced ground cover, soil piles and machinery tracks for reptiles.
• Keep a clear communication link between the operator, spotter catcher and site supervisor.
• Record each cleared stage and any fauna observations.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal handling and release

Only authorised and suitably trained people may capture, handle or relocate a Speckled Slider. Handle the animal as little as possible, keep it shaded and secure, and follow the relevant permit, method statement and hygiene procedures.

Release or relocate the animal only as directed by the fauna ecologist and approval conditions. Use nearby suitable habitat that is outside the disturbance area and not isolated by active works, unless the approved method specifies otherwise.

• Do not place the animal in direct sun, a hot vehicle, an unventilated container or an unsuitable temporary holding container.
• Do not give food or water unless directed by a wildlife veterinarian or approved fauna handler.
• Do not transport an animal across roads or long distances unless specifically authorised.
• Record the capture location, release location, time, handler, condition and outcome.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Breeding places and occupied habitat

If an active breeding place, occupied shelter, colony or other concentration of animals is found, stop work in the immediate area. The supervising ecologist must assess the find and confirm the required buffer, protection, permit response and work method.

Do not destroy, fill, move or tamper with a suspected breeding place without the required approval. The species' breeding places and breeding timing are not well established, so treat unusual shelter use or repeated sightings conservatively.

• Secure the area with a visible exclusion barrier.
• Notify the site supervisor, project ecologist and approval holder immediately.
• Seek agency advice where the approval or species management program requires it.
• Restart work only after the authorised person confirms that controls are in place.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injury, mortality and incidents

For an injured animal, stop nearby work and contact the nominated wildlife veterinarian, wildlife carer or fauna ecologist. Keep the animal quiet, shaded and secure only if an authorised handler can do so safely.

Report mortality, suspected injury, unapproved clearing, damaged exclusion fencing and any breach of permit conditions through the project's incident process.

• Do not attempt treatment unless qualified and authorised.
• Photograph the location and work area without moving the animal unnecessarily.
• Record the time, cause or suspected cause, animal condition, people involved and immediate controls.
• Notify the relevant agency when required by the approval or permit.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance inspection

Post-clearance checks help confirm that animals have not been left in machinery areas, spoil piles or isolated habitat. Use the results to improve the next clearing stage and to meet approval reporting requirements.

Inspect the cleared footprint, retained edges, soil piles, felled vegetation and access routes after each clearing stage. Look for live or injured reptiles, carcasses, trapped animals, damaged shelters and new hazards.

A fauna ecologist should confirm that the area is clear before the next construction activity where the risk assessment or approval requires this.

• Check exclusion fencing and repair gaps promptly.
• Remove temporary traps and artificial refuges when the approved survey period ends.
• Inspect areas after major rain, fire, earthworks or changes to the construction footprint.
• Keep retained habitat free of spoil, rubbish, concrete wash-out and machinery encroachment.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated animals and follow-up

Track relocated animals where this is required by the permit, management plan or project risk assessment. The appropriate follow-up method may include repeat searches or checks of the release area, but the design should reflect the species' poorly known ecology.

Do not repeatedly capture animals just to confirm survival unless the method has been approved and provides a clear management benefit.

• Record release locations, habitat condition and any later sightings.
• Check whether relocated animals remain exposed, trapped or displaced by ongoing works.
• Review the release site if animals are repeatedly found outside the intended habitat.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting and compliance review

Prepare a clear fauna report for the approval holder and relevant agencies. Explain the survey coverage, clearing stages, detections, handling, relocations, incidents, exclusions and any limitations.

Compare the outcome with the approved method and update the site environmental management plan before further disturbance.

• Map all records and exclusion areas.
• Attach photographs, field sheets, trap logs and incident forms where required.
• Report unexpected concentrations, mortality or repeated detections promptly.
• Close out corrective actions with a named person and due date.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Monitoring and incident review

Review every fauna incident with the spotter catcher, operator, supervisor and ecologist. Identify whether timing, plant selection, speed, visibility, induction or exclusion controls need to change.

Use monitoring results to refine future survey timing and effort. There is no established standard monitoring program for this species, so retain a precautionary approach where uncertainty remains.

• Record lessons learned before the next clearing stage.
• Increase supervision or change the clearing method if detections continue.
• Escalate recurring impacts to the approval holder and relevant agency.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Habitat restoration

Rehabilitation should restore connected terrestrial habitat and the ground conditions used by small skinks. The Speckled Slider's specific shelter and breeding requirements are poorly known, so focus on native ground cover, shelter diversity and protection from new threats.

Retain and reinstate native ground cover, leaf litter, fallen timber, loose bark, stones and other natural shelters where they occur in the local habitat. Use local provenance plants and materials where practicable.

Avoid broad-scale grading and retain natural soil profiles. Reconnect rehabilitated areas with nearby retained habitat rather than creating isolated landscaped patches.

• Stage rehabilitation as soon as areas are no longer needed for construction.
• Prevent soil erosion, sediment movement and compaction.
• Use fauna-safe fencing and provide movement routes around permanent barriers.
• Keep construction materials, rubbish and domestic animals out of rehabilitated habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Shelter and breeding features

Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nest sites or roost structures as a default measure for the Speckled Slider. These structures are designed for other animal groups and are not known to provide suitable breeding habitat for this terrestrial skink.

Where habitat assessment identifies a need for artificial shelter, the supervising reptile ecologist should specify the design, materials, placement and monitoring method. Natural shelter restoration should be the first option.

• Use locally sourced, clean natural materials where their use is approved.
• Do not create pits, trenches or artificial containers that can trap reptiles.
• Inspect any installed feature for overheating, flooding, predators and unintended hazards.
• Remove or modify features that do not benefit the species or create fauna risks.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and lighting

Control weeds without removing all ground cover at once. Use staged treatment and retain safe shelter while native vegetation recovers.

Provide water only where it is part of an approved habitat design and can be maintained without creating drowning, disease, predator or weed risks. The species' water requirements are not established.

• Use fauna-safe weed control methods and prevent chemical drift into retained habitat.
• Keep drains, pits and tanks covered or fitted with escape devices.
• Use low-spill, warm-spectrum lighting and direct lights away from retained habitat where night lighting is unavoidable.
• Avoid unnecessary night works near retained habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Set monitoring objectives around habitat recovery, ground-cover condition, shelter availability, weed control and any confirmed Speckled Slider records. The monitoring period and methods should be set by the project ecologist and approval conditions.

Use repeat searches and other approved methods consistently so results can be compared between visits. Interpret non-detections cautiously because the species is difficult to survey and poorly known.

• Record habitat condition, weather, search effort, detections, mortality and threats at each visit.
• Inspect rehabilitation after major storms, fire, earthworks or weed treatment.
• Trigger corrective action if ground cover declines, barriers isolate habitat, or fauna mortality is detected.
• Share relevant records with the responsible land manager and state database.

Sources

• [PDF] Checklist of the Reptiles and Frogs of South Australia - SA Museum, South Australian Government: https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/getDocument/8msikn875
• Occurrence records for the distribution map, Atlas of Living Australia: https://biocache.ala.org.au/