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Thampanna Cave Spider (Tartarus thampannensis)

Thampanna Cave Spider (Tartarus thampannensis) is a cave-dwelling invertebrate of the Nullarbor Plain, listed for the South Coast region of Western Australia. It is Vulnerable under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (WA), Fauna Order 2025(2) in operation from 1 August 2026, and not listed under the EPBC Act. Nullarbor caves hold a specialised dark-zone fauna.

Conservation status

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Seasonal planning

No species-specific activity or breeding months are recorded. Use the following as a works-planning prompt, not as a statement of seasonal biology.

Seasonal knowledge: Unknown for this species.

The month values are a general planning prompt only and do not represent known activity or breeding months for Tartarus thampannensis.

  • Plan checks before disturbance: General planning window only. Check the work area before disturbance whenever works are scheduled; no species-specific seasonal window is known.

Identification: Appearance

Thampanna Cave Spider is a cave-dwelling invertebrate of the Nullarbor Plain. Reliable identification needs a specialist.

A species-specific field description is not summarised here. Use the original description and museum specimens for identification.

Identification: Similar species

Related species in the same genus or group can look alike and may occur nearby. Confirm identity with a taxonomist before relying on a record.

Distribution: Known records

Listed for the South Coast region.

The Atlas of Living Australia holds 1 record at 1 distinct 0.1-degree location, around latitude -31.7, longitude 127.7. Coordinates are often generalised for listed species, so treat this as an indicative area, not a boundary.

Distribution: Group pattern

Nullarbor caves hold a specialised dark-zone fauna. The Australian Museum notes that this fauna relies on organic matter washed in from entrances and on plant root mats, and the WA Museum described four new blind Troglodiplura species from fragments collected by cavers.

Distribution: WA listing

DBCA lists the species for the South Coast region.

Habitat: Habitat

The dark, humid zone of limestone caves under the Nullarbor Plain.

The dark, humid zone of limestone caves under the Nullarbor Plain.

Species-specific habitat preferences have not been published in detail; this is based on the group and the listed locality.

Habitat: Site interpretation

Treat matching habitat in or near the listed locality as potentially occupied until a qualified survey shows otherwise.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Small invertebrates in the cave, supported by organic matter from the surface. Not studied for this species.

Small invertebrates in the cave, supported by organic matter from the surface. Not studied for this species.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Not documented.

Not documented.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Cave passages and rockpiles in the deep cave zone.

Cave passages and rockpiles in the deep cave zone.

Threats: Threats

Changes to cave humidity, airflow or organic inputs, visitor disturbance and pollution entering caves.

Changes to cave humidity, airflow or organic inputs, visitor disturbance and pollution entering caves.

Threats: Works risk

Ground disturbance over cave systems, changes to surface drainage and vegetation around entrances, and cave access.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop review and design

Follow the EPA Western Australia technical guidance and engage specialists with the right licences.

Use the EPA Western Australia guidance on subterranean fauna: desktop review, then troglofauna traps and scrapes or stygofauna net hauls in bores, caves and wells over more than one sampling round.

Survey methodology: 2. Field survey

Subterranean animals are rarely seen at the surface. Habitat mapping of the geology and groundwater is central to the assessment.

Survey methodology: 3. Identification and limits

Identification needs specialist taxonomists and often DNA. A non-detection is not proof of absence.

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: Calcareous or limestone ground

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

The dark, humid zone of limestone caves under the Nullarbor Plain.

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

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 disturbance: 1. Pre-start review

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before any works begin.

Check the project footprint against the listed locality, DBCA records and any survey results. Map the geology and groundwater that could hold subterranean habitat.

Before disturbance: 2. Approvals

Taking or disturbing listed threatened fauna in WA needs authorisation under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Seek DBCA advice early.

Before disturbance: 3. Crew briefing

Brief crews on the habitat to avoid, the exclusion areas and who to call if the species or its habitat is found.

During disturbance: 1. Protect habitat

Keep works inside the approved footprint.

Ground disturbance over cave systems, changes to surface drainage and vegetation around entrances, and cave access. Fence or flag known habitat and keep vehicles, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species or suspected habitat is found outside the approved area, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and DBCA.

After disturbance: 1. Record outcomes

Record what was done.

Record any sightings, specimens, habitat lost or retained and any incidents, and submit records to DBCA as required by the authorisation.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed areas where possible.

Restore surface drainage and avoid ongoing groundwater or pollution impacts. Subterranean habitat lost to excavation cannot be restored.

Sources