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Blythe River Freshwater Snail

SPECIES MANAGEMENT PROFILE

Beddomeia petterdiBlythe River Freshwater Snail

Group:Mollusca (shellfish), Gastropoda (snails and slugs), Hypsogastropoda, Tateidae
Status:Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: endangered
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Not listed
Endemic
Status:
Endemic in Tasmania and restricted
Click to enlarge
​Beddomeia petterdi is a tiny (2-4 mm) freshwater snail found in only one tributary of Blythe River, near South Riana, in central northern Tasmania. The principal identified threats to B. petterdi are associated with agricultural practices and altered flow dynamics in the immediate catchment from where the species is known, resulting in habitat modification or degradation. B. petterdi may also be vulnerable to competition with the exotic snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (New Zealand hydrobiid). The principal management objectives for B. petterdi include preventing the loss or degradation of habitat supporting known populations, increasing public awareness of the species, and improving the species' reservation status.

Key Points

  • Important: Is this species in your area? Do you need a permit? Ensure you’ve covered all the issues by checking the Planning Ahead page.
  • Important: Different threatened species may have different requirements. For any activity you are considering, read the Activity Advice pages for background information and important advice about managing around the needs of multiple threatened species.
  

​Habitat

  • 'Habitat’ refers to both known habitat for the species (i.e. in or near habitat where the species has been recorded) and potential habitat (i.e. areas of habitat with appropriate characteristics for the species and within the species' potential range which have not yet been adequately surveyed).
  • If in doubt about whether a site represents potential habitat for this species, contact the Threatened Species Section for further advice.
  • The known range of B. petterdi is only a single site on a tributary of the Blythe River at South Riana Road, Upper Natone, in central northern Tasmania (see distribution map, above). The potential range for B. petterdi may extend the species beyond this range.
  • Habitat for B. petterdi includes the following elements: woody debris and rocks in stream channels, occurring on the underside of rock ledge in slow-flowing water.

What to avoid

  • Damage to the habitat through upstream agricultural, hydrological and forestry practices
  • Damage to stream habitat through altered flow regimes (e.g. due to land clearing, establishment of impoundments etc)

Surveying

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Key Survey reliability more info
M Peak survey period
M Potential survey period
M Non-survey period

To ensure you follow the law - check whether your survey requires a permit. Always report any new records to the Natural Values Atlas, or send the information direct to the Threatened Species Section. Refer to the Activity Advice: Surveying page for background information.

Species Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Beddomeia petterdi S S O O N N D D J J F F M M A A M M J J J J A A

  

  • B. petterdi is a very small, hard to find species which can be difficult to tell apart from other species of Beddomeia and some other hydrobiid snails. Identification to species level normally requires a specialist.
  • For further information on surveying or identifying this species, contact the Threatened Species Section.
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Helping the species

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  • ​If you live or work in the area where the species occurs (see distribution map, above), look out for and record any observations of the species. All records of this species can provide important information on distribution and abundance.
  • Important! Always report any observations of the species to the NRE Natural Values Atlas, or else provide the data direct to the Threatened Species Section. Records stored on the NVA are a permanent record and are accessible to other people interested in this species.
  • Consider the needs of the whole habitat. Preserving a threatened species' habitat is the best way to manage both the species and the environment in which it lives.
  • For long-term protection of populations on private land – consider protection of habitat through a vegetation management agreement or conservation covenant. See the NRE Private Land Conservation Program for more details.

Cutting or clearing trees or vegetation

  • ​Activities which result in habitat degradation are the principal threat to B. petterdi, including clearing of streamside vegetation.
  • To avoid damage to stream habitat – do not remove streamside vegetation around the known localities.
  • To avoid downstream impacts – do not clear streamside vegetation upstream of the known localities.

Burning

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  • Activities which result in habitat degradation are the principal threat to B. petterdi, including burning of streamside vegetation.
  • To avoid damage to stream habitat – do not burn streamside vegetation around the known localities.
  • To avoid downstream impacts – do not burn streamside vegetation upstream of the known localities.​

Agriculture

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  • ​Activities which result in habitat degradation are the principal threat to B. petterdi, including permanent clearing of native streamside vegetation.
  • To avoid downstream impacts do not clear and convert (e.g. to pasture or plantation) streamside vegetation upstream of the population.
  • To avoid crushing the species and its habitat – fence stock away from the stream known to contain the species.

Stock grazing

  • To avoid damaging habitat – protect streamside habitat from stock by fencing and provide alternative access to water.

Construction

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  • Activities which result in habitat degradation are the principal threat to B. petterdi, including alterations to flow conditions within stream habitat.
  • To avoid damage to stream habitat – avoid alterations to stream flow conditions, for example through construction of water impoundments upstream of population.

Subdivision

Earthworks

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Changing water flow / quality

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  • Activities which result in habitat degradation are the principal threat to B. petterdi, including alterations to flow conditions within stream habitat and pollution of the waterway.
  • To avoid damage to stream habitat – avoid alterations to stream flow conditions, for example through construction of water impoundments upstream of known localities.​

Use of chemicals

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Activities which result in habitat degradation are the principal threat to B. petterdi, including pollution of the waterway. Sources of chemical pollution include pesticides and herbicides, and fertiliser runoff into waterways

To avoid damage to stream habitat – do not use herbicides and pesticides in the vicinity of populations known localities where this could lead to input of chemicals into the waterway

To avoid damage to stream habitat – avoid application of fertiliser in the vicinity of populations known localities where this could lead to runoff of fertiliser into the waterway.​

Recreation

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Further information

​Check also for listing statement or notesheet pdf above (below the species image).

​​Cite as: Threatened Species Section (). (): Species Management Profile for Tasmania's Threatened Species Link. ​ ​Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. Accessed on .

Contact details: Threatened Species Section, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania​, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 7001. Phone (1300 368 550).

Permit: A permit is required under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 to 'take' (which includes kill, injure, catch, damage, destroy and collect), keep, trade in or process any specimen or products of a listed species. Additional permits may also be required under other Acts or regulations to take, disturb or interfere with any form of wildlife or its products, (e.g. dens, nests, bones). This may also depend on the tenure of the land and other agreements relating to its management. ​​​​​