Black-tailed Antechinus

Antechinus arktos

Australia's Threatened Species Category

Endangered

Listed since: 11/05/2018

IUCN's Threatened Species Category

Not Listed

Listed since: 0/01/1900

Population trend: 0

Other names: None

Priority Species? No

The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derive from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.

Description

The black-tailed antechinus is a small carnivorous marsupial with a robust body and small ears. The head, neck and shoulders are greyish-brown, merging markedly to an orange-brown rump. The body is covered in long guard hairs, giving the species a shaggy appearance. The tail is evenly black and thick based with short, dense fur.

Threats

As the black-tailed antechinus is restricted to high altitude rainforest habitat and has reached its altitudinal limits within its known distribution, the key threatening process is altitudinal shift of suitable habitat as a result of human induced climate change. The species is also suspected to be threatened by predation from invasive predators and may be threatened by future habitat disturbance.