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Aim  The mesic biome, encompassing both rain forest and open sclerophyllous forests, is central to understanding the evolution of Australia’s terrestrial biota and has long been considered the ancestral biome of the continent. Our aims are to review and refine key hypotheses derived from palaeoclimatic data and the fossil record that are critical to understanding the evolution of the Australian mesic biota. We examine predictions arising from these hypotheses using available molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographical data. In doing so, we increase understanding of the mesic biota and highlight data deficiencies and fruitful areas for future research.

Location  The mesic biome of Australia, along the eastern coast of Australia, and in the south‐east and south‐west, including its rain forest and sclerophyllous, often eucalypt‐dominated, habitats.

Methods  We derived five hypotheses based on palaeoclimatic and …