[4] The species has declined across its former range since European settlement due to changes in land management practices and introduced predators.

During the day it shelters in a burrows in hollow logs, beneath grass tussocks, at the base of shrubs and trees or cracks in the soil.

The hind legs are designed for a bipedal or hopping style movement,[7] used to evade predators and catch prey such as insects.

[5] Originally collected by Sir Thomas Mitchell in New South Wales, it was subsequently described as Phascogale lanigera by John Gould in 1856.

In 1981 it was proposed that Antechinomys was not distinct enough from Sminthopsis; subsequent isozyme and mitochondrial analysis proved the theory to be incorrect.

[3] The kultarr occurs across a vast area of semi-arid and arid Australia but has since declined from parts of its former range[5] and is now uncommon with populations suffering seasonal fluctuations.

[5] Kultarr populations around Cobar in western New South Wales continue to persist, being regionally important for conservation of the species.

The young are carried in the pouch for up to 20 days, after this they hold on to the mother's back whilst she forages or are left in the burrow.

[5][15] Kultarrs migrate between different locations throughout the year, meaning local populations numbers can vary depending on seasonal fluctuations.

Kultarrs disperse and negotiate a variety of different habitat types to forage from vegetated areas and open bare ground.

[10] The kultarr is predominantly insectivorous, its diet consisting largely of species including spiders, cockroaches, crickets and beetles.

[4] The benefits of torpor include having an extended lifetime; this is advantageous in the harsh arid environment enabling recovery of populations after stochastic weather events such as flooding or drought.

[20] Changes in land management practices since European settlement has resulted in catastrophic declines of terrestrial fauna species throughout arid Australia.

[21][22] Habitat degradation occurs through overgrazing by introduced species such as rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), sheep (Ovis aries), and cattle (Bos taurus).

[10] The cessation of indigenous fire-stick farming and the reduction of patch-mosaic burning in arid Australia since European colonisation have caused increased severity of large-scale wildfires.

[22][28] Contributing to the decline of suitable habitat and refuges for the kultarr including tree hollows, fallen logs, Triodia spp.

[5] A detailed recovery plan has been developed for the kultarr by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service under the 'saving our species' program.