Western Three-lined Skink (Acritoscincus trilineatus)

Conservation status

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

Breeding season

Species-specific seasonal timing is poorly known for the Western Three-lined Skink. For clearing and construction planning, use the general pattern for small Australian skinks, with greater activity and likely breeding during warmer months and local variation between regions and years.

Breeding mode: Not recorded

Clutch size: Not recorded

Incubation period: Not recorded

Weaning or independence: Not recorded

Age at maturity: Not recorded

Breeding sites: Not recorded. Check ground cover, leaf litter, fallen timber, rocks and other sheltered terrestrial features during habitat inspections.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded

Timing can shift between South Australian and Western Australian sites and between years, depending on local temperature, rainfall, shelter and food availability.

• Potential breeding activity: As a general skink guideline, mating and egg-laying are more likely from September to December, particularly in warmer conditions.
• Possible eggs and dependent young: Eggs or recently emerged young may be present from late spring into summer, although the species-specific timing is not established.
• Warm-season surface activity: Surface activity is expected to be greatest in warm weather and may reduce during cool, wet or overcast periods.
• Sheltering and reduced detectability: During cooler months, individuals may spend more time beneath ground cover or in other sheltered locations, reducing detection during searches.
• Highest clearing risk: Treat September to February as the higher-risk period for harm to adults, possible eggs and dependent young, with risk increasing where suitable ground cover is present.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Western Three-lined Skink is a small terrestrial lizard, but reliable field identification details are limited. Treat any small skink found during clearing as a potential record until an experienced ecologist confirms the identification.

The common name indicates a three-lined pattern, but colour, markings and adult size can vary and should not be relied on alone. Use clear photographs of the back, sides and head for confirmation.

Do not handle skinks unnecessarily. If capture is required, use an appropriately trained fauna handler and follow animal welfare requirements.

Diagnostic description: Confirm with an experienced reptile ecologist. A full field description is not established in this profile.

Size: Species-specific size information is not established in this profile.

• Record the location, habitat, time, weather and activity of each animal.
• Photograph the whole animal and close views of the head, back and sides where safe to do so.
• Keep a clear separation between confirmed records and unconfirmed small skink observations.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Skinks are generally detected by sight or by movement through ground cover rather than by a conspicuous call. Do not expect call playback to be an effective primary survey method.

Other small skinks may occur in the same ground-layer habitat. Identification should consider the full pattern, body shape and head features, rather than the number of visible lines alone.

Calls or echolocation: No species-specific call or echolocation guidance is established. Visual searches are the practical starting point.

• Use a regional reptile key or obtain expert confirmation for unusual records.
• Retain photographs with the project fauna record and note the observer's confidence.

Identification: Field signs

There are no reliable species-specific nest, burrow, dropping, stain or odour signs to use for routine detection. A skink may be revealed when leaf litter, loose bark, fallen timber, rocks or other ground cover is moved.

Stop work if a live skink is exposed. Keep people and machinery clear while the spotter catcher assesses the animal and its immediate shelter.

• Check displaced cover before it is removed from the work area.
• Record the original cover type and location of each animal.
• Replace suitable cover where this can be done safely and without trapping fauna.

Distribution: Australian range

The Western Three-lined Skink is mapped in South Australia and Western Australia. The available state-level mapping does not define a more precise regional range for project use, so local records and habitat continuity should guide survey planning.

Plan for the species in both South Australia and Western Australia where project mapping, regional databases or previous surveys indicate potential habitat. Do not assume that a site is free of the species because it has not been recorded during a short inspection.

Check the relevant state biodiversity database and obtain current advice from the responsible government agency before finalising clearing controls.

Overseas range: No overseas range is recognised for this Australian species.

• South Australia
• Western Australia

Distribution: Site records and survey planning

Use a precautionary approach in areas of native ground cover, connected vegetation or suitable shelter features. Give extra attention to proposed clearing edges, access tracks, stockpile areas and temporary work zones.

Survey effort should reflect the conservation listing, the amount of habitat affected and the likelihood that animals will be hidden beneath cover. A qualified ecologist should set the final survey design and timing.

• Search the entire disturbance footprint and a practical buffer around it.
• Review nearby records before clearing begins.
• Map retained habitat and movement links between habitat patches.

Habitat: Vegetation and ground layer

Species-specific habitat descriptions are limited, so site assessment should focus on the ground layer and the availability of shelter. Terrestrial skinks can be missed in open-looking areas when suitable cover is present at ground level.

Inspect native vegetation with leaf litter, low plants, fallen timber, loose bark, stones or other debris. Retain intact ground cover wherever possible, including beneath and between larger plants.

Assess both vegetated areas and disturbed margins. Skinks may use edges, but the value of an edge depends on the amount of remaining cover, weeds, grazing and disturbance.

• Native leaf litter and decomposing plant material
• Low grasses, herbs, shrubs and dense ground cover
• Fallen branches, logs, loose bark and surface rocks
• Vegetated links between larger habitat patches

Habitat: Landform and site features

Check gentle rises, rocky areas, drainage lines, embankments and construction margins where ground cover has accumulated. Avoid removing shelter features during the initial site inspection.

Record whether the ground is compacted, bare, waterlogged, heavily grazed or affected by frequent fire. These conditions help assess the likelihood of persistence and the need for additional controls.

• Rocky or debris-covered ground
• Leaf-littered woodland or scrub floor
• Sheltered edges around logs, rocks and retained vegetation
• Undisturbed areas beside proposed clearing

Foraging habitat: Features to inspect

The Western Three-lined Skink is a terrestrial reptile and is likely to forage close to the ground. Species-specific diet information is limited, so avoid assuming that apparently bare ground has no value if nearby shelter and leaf litter remain.

Search around leaf litter, low vegetation, fallen timber, loose bark, rocks and the bases of plants. These features can provide both feeding surfaces and rapid cover from predators and machinery.

Give particular attention to the interface between retained vegetation and the clearing footprint. Animals may move from cover into open ground while works are underway.

• Leaf litter and decomposing vegetation
• Low native ground cover
• Edges of logs, bark and rocks
• Shaded ground beneath retained vegetation

Foraging habitat: Likely food resources

A small skink would generally be expected to take small ground-dwelling invertebrates, but the species-specific diet should not be assumed without local evidence. Maintain the ground layer and avoid unnecessary pesticide use in retained habitat.

Use direct sightings and habitat observations rather than inferred feeding signs, as feeding remains are unlikely to be diagnostic on a work site.

Diet: Species-specific diet is not established in this profile. General skink survey guidance is to inspect ground-layer habitat and associated invertebrate resources.

• Retain natural litter and surface cover.
• Limit disturbance to retained ground habitat.
• Prevent chemical drift into retained vegetation and shelter areas.
• Record active foraging if observed.

Foraging habitat: Survey approach

Use careful visual searches by trained personnel before ground disturbance. Lift movable cover slowly, inspect the underside and surrounding ground, then replace the cover where safe.

Search during periods when reptiles are most likely to be active under local weather conditions, as approved by the project ecologist. Avoid relying on a single brief inspection.

• Walk slowly and scan ahead for movement.
• Inspect cover from several angles before moving it.
• Keep machinery outside the search area until the area is cleared.
• Record all fauna observations, including unidentified skinks.

Breeding habitat: Potential breeding features

Breeding biology and breeding-site requirements for the Western Three-lined Skink are not well established for operational surveys. Treat suitable ground cover and undisturbed shelter as potential breeding habitat, and avoid disturbing it during clearing unless the work method has been assessed and approved.

Inspect sheltered ground sites such as dense leaf litter, loose bark, decaying timber, rock edges and soil beneath surface cover. Do not remove these features simply to check whether they are being used.

Because a nest or young may be hidden, an adult sighting should trigger a careful search of nearby cover and a review of the planned clearing method.

• Undisturbed leaf-litter beds
• Loose bark and decaying timber
• Rock piles and rock edges
• Sheltered soil beneath surface debris

Breeding habitat: Breeding timing and evidence

A reliable breeding season, clutch size and nesting description should not be assumed for this species. Seek regional advice before clearing and consider whether the work could affect concealed eggs or young.

Record juveniles, gravid females, courtship, eggs or repeated use of the same shelter as high-value observations. Do not disturb suspected eggs or young.

Breeding season: No confirmed breeding months are stated for this profile.

Clutch or litter size: Not established for this profile.

• Photograph evidence without moving it where possible.
• Establish an exclusion area around suspected breeding features.
• Obtain advice from the relevant wildlife authority if breeding evidence is found.
• Include breeding risk in the pre-clearing fauna management plan.

Breeding habitat: Clearing controls

Where suitable habitat will be cleared, use a staged approach that allows fauna to move towards retained habitat. A fauna spotter catcher should inspect each stage and manage any animal, egg or young animal found.

Do not use unapproved relocation methods. Capture, handling and release must comply with state permits, animal welfare requirements and project conditions.

• Mark no-go areas before machinery enters the site.
• Clear from the retained habitat side towards the open area where the ecologist considers this suitable.
• Pause work when fauna is detected.
• Retain connected shelter outside the approved footprint.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter features

Shelter is likely to be provided by features at ground level. On a clearing site, these features can be removed quickly by slashing, grading, piling or vehicle movement, so they should be identified before works begin.

Inspect beneath fallen timber, loose bark, rocks, leaf litter, dense low vegetation and accumulated debris. Check both natural features and ground cover retained along clearing boundaries.

Do not place spoil, equipment, pipes or materials on shelter features that are to be retained.

• Fallen logs and branches
• Loose bark and woody debris
• Surface rocks and rock edges
• Deep leaf litter and low vegetation
• Undisturbed ground beneath retained plants

Sheltering habitat: Movement and refuge during works

Maintain nearby refuge while clearing is in progress. A skink displaced from cover may remain still and be difficult to see, or may move into the active work area.

Keep a clear route to retained vegetation where practicable. Use temporary exclusion fencing only where it will not trap animals or block access to suitable shelter.

• Inspect work areas after vegetation is felled and before machinery enters.
• Check material piles before they are moved.
• Keep spotter catchers close to the active clearing edge.
• Use hand tools around retained shelter features where practicable.

Sheltering habitat: Records and protection level

The South Australian Rare listing and Western Australian Priority 4 status warrant targeted consideration during project planning, even where the species has not previously been recorded on the site. Priority 4 is a non-statutory Western Australian category, but it indicates a rare or near threatened species requiring monitoring.

Confirm state approval, permit and reporting requirements before works. Escalate a confirmed record to the project ecologist and relevant authority, and update the site fauna risk assessment.

South Australia: Rare under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

Western Australia: Priority 4, a non-statutory DBCA category for rare and near threatened species that need monitoring.

• Complete a pre-clearing habitat inspection.
• Use a trained fauna spotter catcher during clearing in suitable habitat.
• Map confirmed records and retained shelter.
• Monitor outcomes where habitat is cleared or fragmented.

Threats: Clearing and machinery

The main work-site risks are the removal of ground cover, direct injury during clearing and fragmentation of retained habitat. Controls should be scaled to the listing, the amount of suitable habitat affected and the quality of local records.

Slashing, grading, excavation, vehicle movements and stockpiling can kill animals beneath cover or remove shelter before animals are detected. Complete a pre-clearing inspection and maintain a trained spotter catcher during relevant works.

Use staged clearing and pause machinery when a skink or potential shelter feature is found.

• Mark the approved clearing boundary clearly.
• Inspect leaf litter, logs, bark, rocks and debris before removal.
• Keep machinery out of retained habitat and exclusion areas.
• Check felled vegetation and disturbed ground for displaced fauna.

Threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation

Removing small patches of ground cover can leave retained vegetation isolated and exposed. Keep connected native vegetation, shelter features and low ground cover within and beside the work area.

Design access routes, compound areas and stockpiles to avoid intact ground habitat wherever practicable.

• Retain habitat links between larger patches.
• Avoid unnecessary widening of tracks.
• Keep spoil and materials away from retained vegetation.
• Rehabilitate temporary disturbance with locally appropriate native ground cover.

Threats: Fire, weeds and site maintenance

Frequent or intense fire, weed invasion, grazing and repeated mowing can simplify the ground layer and remove shelter. Manage these pressures without creating sudden loss of cover across the whole site.

Use weed and fire planning that protects retained leaf litter, logs, rocks and low native vegetation.

• Limit mowing and slashing to approved areas.
• Retain suitable ground cover during weed control.
• Inspect burn areas for fauna before follow-up works.
• Prevent new weed spread along machinery access routes.

Threats: Protection and monitoring response

For a Rare or Priority 4 species, use a documented fauna management plan, targeted pre-clearing checks and clear stop-work triggers. A confirmed record should prompt review of the work footprint, timing, controls and reporting requirements.

Monitor retained habitat where clearing is substantial or where records indicate a local population. Use the results to refine future clearing and rehabilitation methods.

• Stop work when a Western Three-lined Skink, suspected breeding site or injured animal is found.
• Notify the project ecologist and fauna spotter catcher supervisor.
• Record location, habitat, action taken and outcome.
• Seek agency advice where the proposed work may affect a significant local occurrence.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The Western Three-lined Skink is a terrestrial skink with limited species-specific survey guidance. Use a combination of active searches and shelter checks, and increase effort where suitable habitat will be cleared because the species is listed as Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia.

Map remnant vegetation, rocky or woody ground cover, leaf litter, fallen timber, artificial debris and other sheltered ground habitats within and around the work area.

Check current state and Commonwealth threatened species databases, previous records and local land manager information. Confirm whether the record relates to the Western Three-lined Skink and whether any listing or approval requirement has changed.

Treat the species as a survey consideration in mapped South Australian and Western Australian range, even where no local record is available. The absence of a database record does not demonstrate absence from a site.

• Review proposed clearing, access tracks, stockpiles, drainage works and temporary laydown areas.
• Identify habitat that can be retained and connected through the works.
• Record the source, date and location accuracy of all species records.

Survey methodology: 2. Active searches and shelter checks

Search slowly through suitable ground habitat during mild to warm conditions when skinks are likely to be active. Avoid relying on searches during very cold, very hot, wet or windy conditions.

Inspect the edges and undersides of natural and artificial ground cover where this can be done safely. Check leaf litter, fallen timber, loose bark, rocks and other shelter without unnecessarily disturbing the site.

Use experienced observers and more than one survey method where practical. Target habitat patches rather than searching only along cleared edges.

• Replace rocks, timber and other cover carefully after inspection.
• Do not use destructive searches unless they have been approved in the work method and are supervised by an appropriately qualified person.
• Use traps only where justified by the ecologist, approved under relevant permits and operated by trained personnel.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing and survey effort

Species-specific breeding, movement and seasonal activity periods are poorly documented. Plan surveys in more than one suitable weather window where the project risk warrants greater confidence.

For a Rare or Priority 4 species, use a risk-based survey design that covers all habitat proposed for clearing and gives extra attention to isolated or high-quality patches. Increase effort when habitat is extensive, records are nearby or detection conditions are poor.

Record the date, start and finish time, weather, ground conditions, search method, area searched, observers and search effort. Record both detections and the areas searched without detection.

• Stop or repeat a survey if conditions are unsuitable for detection.
• Use photographs and accurate coordinates for every observation and relevant habitat feature.
• Record live animals, dead animals, sloughed skin, tracks, shelter features and signs of breeding separately.

Survey methodology: 4. Identification and records

Have a qualified ecologist confirm records where identification is uncertain. Photograph the animal from suitable angles without delaying release or causing avoidable stress.

Record the animal's location, habitat, behaviour, direction of movement and whether it was found inside or outside the disturbance footprint.

Submit significant records to the relevant state biodiversity database where appropriate, and retain the original field data with the project records.

• Do not handle an animal solely to obtain a photograph.
• Use the current approved taxonomic name, Acritoscincus trilineatus, in project records.
• Report any concentration of animals or repeated use of one shelter area to the project ecologist before work proceeds.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Plan the work to retain ground habitat and avoid killing or displacing skinks. The level of investigation and control should reflect the species' Rare listing in South Australia, Priority 4 status in Western Australia and the scale of the proposed disturbance.

Check the current South Australian and Western Australian threatened species requirements before clearing. Obtain any state fauna, capture, handling, relocation or scientific permits that apply to the proposed work.

Check whether the action could be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Make a referral where required, and follow any approval conditions.

For work in Queensland, check the current protected wildlife requirements. If a near threatened animal or its breeding place may be affected, obtain or comply with the relevant species management program and any associated authority.

• Do not assume that a project approval authorises fauna capture or relocation.
• Keep permits, approval conditions, fauna procedures and contact details on site.
• Have the ecologist confirm the approval pathway before vegetation clearing or habitat disturbance starts.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and work design

Redesign the footprint where practicable to retain occupied habitat, connected ground cover and undisturbed refuge areas. Avoid unnecessary removal of rocks, fallen timber, leaf litter and low ground vegetation.

Keep machinery, spoil, materials and vehicle movements out of retained habitat. Prevent soil compaction and changes to drainage that could remove ground shelter.

Do not set a generic buffer without site assessment. Establish a documented exclusion area around confirmed animals, occupied shelter or other important habitat, based on advice from the project ecologist and the relevant approval.

• Fence retained habitat before mobilisation.
• Mark exclusion areas clearly and inspect fencing before each shift.
• Keep fire, herbicide, dust, sediment and waste out of retained habitat.
• Use designated access routes and avoid creating new tracks through shelter areas.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey and staged release

Complete a pre-clearance fauna survey shortly before disturbance, using the approved method and suitable weather conditions. Search all ground habitat within the disturbance area and inspect likely refuge features.

Use staged clearing so animals can move towards retained habitat where the site layout allows. Clear lower-risk areas first and leave retained refuge areas undisturbed.

The ecologist should brief the clearing crew on identification, exclusion areas, stop-work procedures and the limits of their authority.

• Confirm that all required permits and controls are active before release of each work area.
• Remove movable debris only under fauna spotter catcher supervision where this forms part of the approved method.
• Do not disturb suspected breeding or refuge areas until they have been assessed and released by the ecologist.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Crew induction and equipment

Give all workers a site induction before clearing starts. Explain that small skinks may shelter under ground cover and that workers must not chase, catch or move them unless authorised.

Provide the fauna spotter catcher with communication equipment, suitable containers, gloves where appropriate, and access to a shaded, secure holding location if temporary containment is authorised.

Make the fauna spotter catcher or nominated ecologist the point of contact for all fauna observations.

• Show workers the marked exclusion areas and approved travel paths.
• Tell operators to stop immediately on the spotter catcher's signal.
• Keep cats, dogs and other domestic animals away from the work area.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in small, controlled stages under active fauna supervision. The fauna spotter catcher must be able to stop work whenever an animal, shelter feature or potential breeding place is found.

Clear vegetation and ground cover progressively, from the disturbed area towards retained habitat where this is safe and suitable. Use the least damaging machinery and avoid crushing loose shelter before it has been checked.

Keep the spotter catcher in a position where the operator can see and hear instructions. Pause work while ground cover, logs, rocks or debris are inspected.

Do not excavate, trench, grade or stockpile material in an exclusion area.

• Clear only the area released for that shift or stage.
• Recheck the active work face after breaks, equipment changes and unexpected delays.
• Stop work if visibility, noise, dust or machinery movement prevents effective fauna supervision.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Handling and relocation

Only authorised and appropriately trained people may catch, handle or relocate a skink. Minimise handling time and keep the animal shaded, quiet and at a suitable temperature.

Release a healthy animal as soon as practicable into suitable retained habitat nearby, unless a permit, approval condition or ecologist directs another outcome. Do not move animals across roads, into unsuitable habitat or outside the approved relocation area.

Record the capture, temporary holding and release details for every animal.

• Never grab an animal by the tail or deliberately induce tail loss.
• Do not place different species or incompatible animals together in a container.
• Seek advice from the project ecologist before relocating an animal that appears injured, stressed or unwell.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Breeding places and occupied habitat

Species-specific breeding places are poorly documented. If an animal is found with eggs, young, repeated use of one shelter or other evidence of breeding, stop work in the immediate area and contact the project ecologist.

The ecologist must assess the site against permit and approval conditions and decide whether a breeding place, refuge or exclusion area is present. Resume work only after the area has been formally released or the required management action is in place.

Treat a cluster of animals or repeated observations in one habitat patch as a higher-risk area, even if a breeding place has not been confirmed.

• Do not remove, fill or damage the suspected breeding place.
• Do not relocate eggs or young unless specifically authorised and directed by a suitably qualified person.
• Record the location, condition, photographs, habitat and actions taken.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured animals and incidents

Place an injured animal in a secure, ventilated and shaded container with minimal disturbance. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator, veterinarian or the nominated fauna specialist as soon as possible, following the project fauna procedure.

Do not provide food, water or medication unless directed by a qualified wildlife professional. Do not release an injured animal without professional advice.

Report any death, injury, unauthorised handling, fauna escape or breach of an exclusion area to the site supervisor and project ecologist immediately.

• Record the time, location, cause if known, people involved and photographs where appropriate.
• Preserve the scene for assessment if a death or serious incident has occurred.
• Complete any regulator notification required by the permit, approval or management plan.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Close out each work area with a fauna check and a clear record of what was found. Use the results to improve later clearing stages and to guide any required reporting or monitoring.

Inspect the completed disturbance area for trapped, injured or stranded skinks, damaged refuge features and animals isolated by trenches, fencing or spoil.

Check retained habitat edges for displaced animals and confirm that exclusion fencing, escape points and access controls remain effective.

Do not declare an area complete until the fauna spotter catcher or ecologist has completed the required inspection under the project procedure.

• Check trenches, pits and other excavations at the frequency required by the approval or fauna management plan.
• Provide safe escape routes or cover excavations when they are not actively being worked.
• Remove temporary hazards, waste and unused materials from retained habitat.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Reporting and data management

Prepare a fauna report that summarises survey effort, detections, animals handled, relocations, injuries, deaths, breeding observations, stop-work events and any permit breaches.

Map every record and relocation point accurately enough to support future management. Include habitat photographs and details of the weather and site conditions.

Send required reports to the relevant regulator, land manager and project records system within the specified timeframe.

• Reconcile field records with permit and approval conditions.
• Keep records of nil detections as well as confirmed detections.
• Update the project risk assessment if the species is found in an area previously assessed as low risk.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated animals and monitoring

Inspect approved release areas for suitable shelter, shade, food resources and freedom from immediate construction hazards. Do not add animals to a release area that is already unsuitable or disturbed.

Monitor relocated animals only where required by an approval, management plan or risk assessment. Use low-disturbance methods and avoid repeatedly removing ground cover.

Review monitoring results with the ecologist. Adapt future clearing, exclusion and habitat retention measures if animals are found to be moving back into work areas.

• Record the release location, date, habitat condition and outcome for each relocated animal.
• Keep relocation and monitoring data separate from unconfirmed sightings.
• Use the results to refine the next clearing stage before it begins.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Hold a short review after each clearing stage where an animal was injured, killed, relocated unexpectedly or found in a suspected breeding place.

Identify whether the cause was survey timing, inadequate exclusion, machinery movement, poor communication or an unrecognised habitat feature.

Update the work method, induction and supervision arrangements before the next stage proceeds.

• Share the findings with operators, supervisors, fauna spotters and subcontractors.
• Escalate repeated incidents to the project manager and regulator where required.
• Retain evidence of corrective actions and close out each action before final completion.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Habitat restoration

Rehabilitation should restore the ground structure used for shelter and movement, rather than focus on structures designed for birds or bats. Because breeding and shelter requirements are poorly documented, use local reference habitat and monitor outcomes where the species is recorded.

Retain and reinstate natural ground cover such as leaf litter, fallen timber, loose bark, rocks and low vegetation where these features occur naturally in the local habitat.

Use locally appropriate native species and soil materials. Reconnect retained habitat patches where practical and avoid creating isolated strips or exposed edges.

Prevent compaction and maintain natural drainage. Keep heavy vehicles off rehabilitation areas until the ground is stable and vegetation is established.

• Replace salvaged habitat features in stable positions that provide shade and shelter.
• Avoid arranging rocks or timber in ways that create hazards for workers or concentrate predators.
• Use local ecological advice to match the structure and plant community of nearby undisturbed habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Breeding and shelter structures

Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nest sites or roost structures as a default measure for this skink. Those structures are designed for other animal groups and are not known to replace the species' ground habitat.

Where a site-specific assessment identifies a loss of natural shelter or a suitable ground refuge requirement, the ecologist may design a trial replacement using locally occurring materials. Obtain approval before installation if it involves handling animals or changing an approved rehabilitation measure.

Document the design, location and maintenance requirements of any trial structure, and remove it if it becomes a trap, dries out, overheats or attracts predators.

• Prioritise natural ground cover over manufactured structures.
• Do not create deep gaps, sharp edges or unstable piles that could trap fauna or people.
• Inspect any trial refuge during monitoring and record animal use without repeatedly disturbing it.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and site conditions

Control weeds using methods that protect retained ground cover, shelter and fauna. Avoid broad disturbance of leaf litter and soil during weed treatment.

Provide water only where it is part of an approved habitat design and can be maintained without creating erosion, disease, drowning or predator risks. Do not assume an artificial water point is needed for this terrestrial skink.

Manage erosion, sediment, dust, fire risk and invasive predators across the rehabilitation area.

• Use fauna-safe exclusion measures around chemicals and freshly treated areas.
• Keep rehabilitation free of rubbish, surplus materials and construction wash water.
• Inspect after heavy rain, fire or other events that could remove shelter or cause erosion.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Lighting and disturbance

Keep lighting directed away from retained and rehabilitated habitat. Use the lowest practical intensity and duration for safe construction and operations.

Avoid unnecessary night work, vibration, vehicle movement and disturbance around occupied habitat. Reduce edge lighting where it could alter shelter use or attract predators.

Maintain access controls so recreational use, stock, vehicles and domestic animals do not damage recovering ground cover.

• Use shields, timers and motion controls where appropriate.
• Keep temporary lighting out of exclusion and rehabilitation areas.
• Include lighting and disturbance controls in the operations and maintenance plan.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Long-term monitoring

Set monitoring triggers according to the approval, risk assessment and conservation listing. Monitoring should check habitat condition, shelter persistence, weed cover, erosion, predator activity and any Western Three-lined Skink records.

Use consistent methods and locations so results can be compared over time. Avoid intensive searches that damage the habitat being assessed.

Continue management when monitoring shows declining habitat condition or repeated animal injury, mortality or displacement.

• Record both detections and survey effort without detections.
• Review results with the land manager and relevant ecologist.
• Use monitoring outcomes to guide supplementary habitat works, weed control and future project design.

Sources

• Microsoft Word - 1463 Northern and Central Fauna ARI_Rev0.docx, Western Australian Government: https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/PER_documentation2/Appendix%20H%20-%20Targeted%20Fauna%20Assessment.pdf
• Occurrence records for the distribution map, Atlas of Living Australia: https://biocache.ala.org.au/