DistributionRead full entry
Range DescriptionThis species is endemic to Australia, where it is patchily distributed in southern South Australia (Garnett and Crowley 2000, Garnett et al. 2011). A. m. merrotsyi occurs in four subpopulations between Mt Neil in the north and Nelshaby in the south, and A. m. pedleri has at least three subpopulations in the central and western Gawler Ranges (Higgins et al. 2001). The largest subpopulation, in the south-east of Flinders National Park, is estimated to number 1,000 pairs, with another c.3,000 individuals in three other subpopulations of A. m. merrotsyi. A. m. pedleri numbers c.900 mature individuals, thus the total global population size has been estimated at c.6,000 mature individuals (Garnett et al. 2011). The nominate subspecies may no longer occur at the southern extremity of the range, and the species is inferred to be declining owing to an increase in the extent and frequency of fires within its range (Garnett et al. 2011).