The pre-European and present distributions of Antechinus godmani (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), a restricted rainforest endemic.

Abstract

New capture localities for the Atherton Antechinus (Antechinus godmani), a restricted endemic in north Queensland rainforest, help clarify the northern limits of its geographic range. I summarise these records, then use recent knowledge of the habitat and altitudinal requirements of A. godmani to estimate both its pre-European and present distributions, as well as the impact of deforestation on this species. Before European settlement, the total range of A. godmani may have encompassed an area of 2900 km2. Since then, its range has been reduced by more than 820 km2, resulting in extensive fragmentation of populations in the northern half of its range. The current distribution of A. godmani may exceed 2000 km2, a figure that easily triples earlier estimates for this species.