Gnaraloo Worm-lizard

Aprasia litorea is a small, legless lizard belonging to the family Pygopodidae, a group of reptiles that superficially resemble snakes but are more closely related to geckos. Like other members of its genus, it has a slender, worm-like body, reduced or absent limbs, and a small head adapted for a burrowing lifestyle. It spends most of its life underground or beneath surface debris, feeding primarily on the eggs and larvae of ants and termites.

Its fossorial habits make it rarely seen, and it likely plays a role in soil turnover and invertebrate population regulation within its ecosystem.

This species is endemic to Western Australia, restricted to a narrow coastal strip near Gnaraloo Station on the state's central-west coast. It inhabits marine coastal and supratidal habitats, typically associated with sandy or loamy soils supporting sparse vegetation near the shoreline, where it shelters under surface debris such as leaf litter, rocks, or timber.

The species is classified as Endangered, with a decreasing population trend. Its restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation from livestock farming and ranching, which compacts soil, removes vegetation cover, and disturbs the surface debris the species depends on for shelter. Invasive species also pose an ongoing threat, potentially through predation, competition, or further habitat alteration.

Conservation attention has focused on monitoring populations within its limited known range and assessing habitat condition in areas affected by grazing. Given the narrow geographic distribution, protection of remaining habitat patches is considered important for the species' persistence. The outlook remains uncertain, with continued habitat pressure from agricultural land use and invasive species suggesting further decline unless mitigating measures are implemented.