A magistrate has refused to grant bail to a man who is accused of murdering his four-month-old daughter.

Police say the girl may have been dead for up to a week before authorities found her body in a home unit at Brooklyn Park in Adelaide last November.

The baby's 18-year-old mother, who was a minor at the time of the death, and the 20-year-old father are in custody, charged with murder and failing to immediately report the death.

The dead infant's father asked Adelaide Magistrates Court to release him on home detention bail to a property at Port Augusta West.

But Magistrate Bob Harrap declined the application citing the seriousness of the charge and fearing the man might abscond because of a lack of ties to South Australia.

The case was adjourned until next month to give time for an overseas specialist to provide information for post-mortem examination report.