Southern Hairy Red Snail

​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 the Southern Hairy Red Snail in Tasmania is the northern two thirds of the eastern side of King Island. The potential range for the species may extend to other areas of suitable habitat on King Island. It is unlikely this snail occurs anywhere on mainland Tasmania.
• Habitat for the Southern Hairy Red Snail corresponds to 'Tea-tree and paperbark wet scrub and forest’ in the NRE ​Bushcare Toolkit. See 'Other bush types'​ in the NRE Bushcare Toolkit​ for more information on managing this vegetation type.
• Habitat for Southern Hairy Red Snail includes the following elements: well developed scrub and wet forest at least 6 m tall containing species of Eucalyptus, Banksia, Leptospermum or Melaleuca; scrub with twig piles, logs or a deep litter layer (often all three); habitat excludes areas prone to regular inundation.

What to avoid

• Major wildfire
  
• Clearing habitat

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• Surveys for the Southern Hairy Red Snail are undertaken by hand-searching in large twig or bark piles and deep leaf litter patches, or inside rotting logs. Both live and dead shells can be identified so there is no specific timing of survey required.
• Surveys can be unsystematic (i.e. targeting suspected good habitat) or systematic (e.g. time and area limits), depending on the purpose of the survey.
• Specimens can be identified by inspecting the shape and patterns on the shell using a hand lens or microscope. A specialist or training may be required for identification.

• ​In order to recognise the species if it occurs on your property, learn to identify the Southern Hairy Red Snail by patterns on its shell. If in doubt, seek expert assistance with identification.
• 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.
• Habitat for the Southern Hairy Red Snail corresponds to 'Tea-tree and paperbark wet scrub and forest’ in the NRE ​Bushcare Toolkit. See 'Other bush types'​ in the NRE Bushcare Toolkit​ for more information on managing this vegetation type.
  
• For long-term protection of localities on private land – consider protection of habitat through a vegetation management agreement or conservation covenant.

• The Southern Hairy Red Snail depends on mature scrub with a well-developed layer of debris; only small, remnant pockets of this vegetation remain on King Island. 
• To prevent loss of habitat - avoid clearing habitat for the species in areas where the species has the potential to occur.

Grazing

• Grazing can kill individual snails and degrade the scrub habitat.
• To avoid impacts from grazing - fence off areas of habitat from stock. 

• ​Major bushfires kill individual snails and render burnt areas of habitat unsuitable for the species.  The recovery time from bushfire is unknown, but populations are unlikely to recover quickly.
• To avoid killing snails and destroying habitat - do not light fires in or near areas of habitat. Avoid lighting fires under conditions of high fire risk.
• Always seek advice and/or obtain permits from relevant authorities (e.g.  Tasmanian Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife Service, NRE) prior to undertaking burning in areas where the Southern Hairy Red Snail is known to occur.