This species is treated as synonym of Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis (see Groves in Wilson and Reeder (1993), but recognised as a valid species by Kitchener (1991), and subsequently is generally accepted (e.g., Maxwell et al. 1996).

The Carpentarian Antechinus is assessed as Near Threatened because it is very close to meeting criteria for VU B2ab(iii): its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated at 544 km², the number of locations may not greatly exceed 10 and there is ongoing decline in habitat quality (due to fire and invasive grasses) and possibly in population size. Formerly a very poorly known species, recent research has helped clarify some aspects of its status.

The Carpentarian Antechinus is endemic to Australia. It occurs on some islands (Vanderlin, North, Centre and South-west in the Sir Edward Pellew group) in the Gulf of Carpentaria (Woinarski et al. 2011). In the adjacent mainland, it occurs in rugged ranges through much of the Mount Isa Inlier bioregion (mostly in north-western Queensland), extending north-west to Pungalina – Seven Emu in the Northern Territory) (Sanders and Slater 2004; Baker and Griffiths 2005; Kanowski et al. 2010, 2011; Woolley 2011; Moran and Kanowski 2012; Lloyd et al. 2013; Barnes et al. 2024). There may be a marked disjunction between ranges in the Mount Isa Inlier and those further north-west in the Northern Territory (Barnes et al. 2024). Recent records provisionally attributable to this species, from remains in pellets of Eastern Barn Owls (Tyto delicatula), extend the known range further south in Queensland, into the Simpson Desert (Kutt et al. 2020, Schoenefuss et al. 2024). There are also three recent (2022) records from the Beetaloo Basin, to the west and inland of previous recent records from the Northern Territory (A. Kutt, 4/10/2024).

The location of the original record from Alexandria Station in 1905 is considered unreliable or at least vague (Woinarski 2004, Johnson et al. 2008): a recent review considered it most likely that the actual location was the Mittiebah Range (Woolley 2011). However, recent sampling in this area failed to detect this species (Barnes et al. 2024).

There are no reliable estimates of density, population size or trend. In extensive recent camera-trap sampling of suitable habitat mostly on the Queensland mainland, Barnes et al. (2024) detected it at a rate of 7.1% of trap-nights. Using box (Elliott) traps in surveys of the Pellew Islands, Woinarski et al. (2011) reported <1% trap success.

The Carpentarian Antechinus is a nocturnal, generalist predator of invertebrates and small vertebrates. When food is plentiful, fat is stored in the tail. There is little information on dispersion, home range or movement patters, but one marked individual moved a straight-line distance of 2 km in 24 hours (Burnett et al. 2023).

It occurs across a range of rugged rocky areas, across varied geologic types, but especially metamorphic (Lloyd et al. 2013, Barnes et al. 2024). The species has been recorded from a range of vegetation types, but always at rocky sites (Johnson and Kerle 1991, Woolley 2011, Ward 2012).

Breeding is seasonal, with young born mostly in August and September (Woolley 2011). Litter size is up to 6 (Burnett et al. 2023).

The magnitude of impacts of possible threats are not known. Some sites, especially in Queensland, are subject to mining. Increasing intensity and severity of wildfires may be a problem in some areas, in part fuelled by expansion of invasive Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris). Feral Cats (Felis catus) probably take some individuals, however the rugged nature of its habitat may reduce such predation impacts (Woinarski 2004, Burnett et al. 2023).

The Carpentarian Antechinus is present in at least two protected areas (North Island, which is Barranyi National Park; and Pungalina - Seven Emu sanctuary). A recovery plan was developed for the 2004-2008 period (Woinarski 2004). Recommendations from this plan include: establishing a recovery team; communicating information about the species to stakeholders; targeting research in order to make informed decisions (e.g., towards total number and distribution, population trends, habitat suitability, and threatening processes); minimize the impacts of feral cats; and improve fire management. The Carpentarian Antechinus was formerly listed as Vulnerable under Australian environmental law, but was delisted in 2019.