SPECIES: Adclarkia cameroni — Brigalow Woodland Snail
CLASSIFICATION: Vulnerable
The Brigalow Woodland Snail is a small, ground-dwelling native snail found only in pockets of Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) forest in central Queensland. Its pale, finely patterned shell and secretive habits make it easy to overlook, yet it plays an important role in the forest ecosystem by helping to break down leaf litter and recycle nutrients into the soil. This species is part of an ancient lineage of land snails that evolved in Australia’s dry woodlands, surviving in moist microhabitats beneath logs, leaf litter, and bark.
Sadly, the Brigalow Woodland Snail is listed as vulnerable, with much of its habitat cleared or fragmented for agriculture. The remaining Brigalow forests are now rare and often degraded, leaving the snail vulnerable to drought, fire, and habitat disturbance. Protecting and restoring Brigalow woodland, along with careful land management, is essential to ensure this quiet decomposer continues its slow, steady work in the heart of Queensland’s inland forests.