Mount Kaputar land snail and slug community - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Mount Kaputar land snail and slug community

Conservation status in NSW: Not listed

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Profile last updated: 13 Mar 2024

Description

The Mount Kaputar snail and slug Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) is an assemblage of at least 12 native land snails and one slug known from high elevation and dry rainforests of the Mount Kaputar region.

Species characterising this gastropod community include several endemics (Coenocharopa ‘MtKaputar’, Cralopa kaputarensis, Scelidoropa nandewar, Thersites sp.1, and Vitellidelos kaputarensis) as well as species occurring as isolated populations (Austrochloritis kaputarensis, Discocharopastenomphala, and Kaputarenesta nandewarensis). Other species known to be part of this community may be more widely distributed(e.g. Diphyoropa 'Nandewar'; Austrorhytidanandewarensis, and Brevisentis kaputarensis). There isalso a bright pink slug (Triboniophorus aff. Graeffei), which is likely endemic, that characterises the community.

The unmistakable ‘giant pink slug’ has become the ‘face’ of the TEC. It is florescent pink in colour and grows to around 20 cm long and 6 cm wide. The pink slug feeds in the cover of night on algae and mosses growing in the forest canopy.

While most members of the TEC are vegetarian, three snails are cannibalistic. These predators follow the trail of other snails and slugs and are known to enter the shell of their prey leaving their victim no means of escape.

Distribution

Known from the Mount Kaputar National Park the TEC may also occur elsewhere in the region where suitable habitats exist. The TEC is restricted to higher altitudes (above about 1000m) and dry rainforest (including semi-evergreen vine thicket) areas at lower elevations (above 500m) in and around Mount Kaputar. The area greater than 1000 m ASL consists of about 107km²; estimates of dry rainforest remnants below 1000m ASL are less than 1km²

Habitat and ecology

Tall open forest above 1000m altitude with rough-barked mountain gum (Eucalyptus volcanica), silvertop stringybark (E. laevopinea) and red stringybark (E. macrorhyncha)
Open forests of snow gum (E. pauciflora), ribbon gum (E. viminalis) and white gum (E. dalrympleana)
The land snail and slug EEC tends to occur in habitat with low average temperatures, and high rainfall and humidity, resulting in favorable moisture conditions for the land snails and slugs.
Heathland of Kunzea opposita and Leptospermum polygalifolium in areas with shallow soils above 1300m
Dry rainforest with rusty fig (Ficus rubiginosa.), sandpaper fig (Ficus coronata), sweet pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum) and native olive (Notelaea microcarpa) that occur in isolated patches in rocky gorges and gullies topographically sheltered from wildfire, at elevations down to 400m.
During dry period species from this community may stay in shaded areas and move deep into rock crevices. They can enter aestivation (dormancy) and may seal their shell with a membrane of dry mucus to reduce metabolic rate and prevent water loss.
They shelter among the decomposing leaf litter, forest debris, rocks and logs.
Native vegetation and landscapes at higher elevations above 1000m
Boulder fields and scree slopes above 400m ASL

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Anthropogenic climate change is a major threat through further reduction and fragmentation of geographic extent, change in habitat composition, as well as modification of community's species composition.
Fire kills animals directly and removes essential foraging and shelter microhabitat.
Feral pigs degrade land snail habitats by digging over soil and leaf litter, turning logs and loose rocks and trampling ground vegetation, they also prey directly on larger species.
Predation by black rats (Rattus rattus).
Competition and habitat degradation caused by feral goats.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 0 priority actions to help recover the Mount Kaputar land snail and slug community in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Develop a fire management plan for Mt Kaputar that incorporates protection of high elevation rainforest habitats in consultation with land snail species expert.
Incorporate land snail movement and dispersal patterns in park management planing, avoiding restricting populations with roads, tracks and paths.
Incorporate feral pig control in high elevation dry rainforest into the Northern Plains regional pest control strategy.
Use known habitat limiting factors to identify potential areas to search for additional populations to determine entire distribution.
Incorporate feral goat control in high elevation dry rainforest into the Northern Plains regional pest control strategy.