Sugar Gliders edit

Physical Characteristics edit

around 16-20 cm in length
tail almost as long as body & thick as human thumb
weighs 90-150 g (3-5.3 oz)
fur generally pearl grey with black & cream patches @ base of black/grey ears
tail tapers only moderately
last quarter is black, often dark tipped
twin skin membranes called patagium extend from 5th finger of forelimb back to 1st toe of hind foot
short, rounded muzzle
northern forms are brown & smaller
patagium just look flabby when Sugar Glider is @ rest
membranes used like wings to glide
gliding membranes mainly used to get food resources
secondary use of membranes: escaping predators
can glide farther than 50 m (55 yd)
can steer by curving either left or right patagium
uses hind legs to thrust powerfully away from a tree

noctournal
adult males mark territory with saliva & scent glands
adult males also mark members of group with scent produced by separate glands on forehead & chest
visitors lacking scent are expelled violently
dominant male mates more frequently with female of group than other males & does most of scent marking
competition for territory is fierce
Sugar Gliders bred & kept in captivity behave differently to those in the wild

main food items are sap of acacias & certain Eucalyptus, nectar, pollen, & arthropods

predators include foxes & dogs
lives in groups of up to 7 adults & current season's young
when an adult member of group dies, it is normally replaced by one of group's offspring if female or outsider if male
not endangered
protected by law in Australia