Petaurus breviceps

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Family

Petauridae

Genus

Petaurus

Species

breviceps

Common name/s

Sugar Glider, Sugar Squirrel, Lesser Flying Squirrel, Short-headed Flying Phalanger, Lesser Flying Phalanger, Lesser Glider

Distinguishing Features

The Sugar Glider is the smallest relative of the possum (Petauridae) family, weighing 140 grams at maturity, with a body measuring between 15-20cm and a tail length of up to 19cm. The Sugar Glider is typically grey with a white chest. A distinguishing black stipe runs from just above the nose down the middle of the back to the tail, which may have a white tip. It has big dark eyes, dark coloured ears and a pink nose. When gliding, the flap of skin reaching from the front paws to the hind paws gives the outstretched Sugar Glider a square shape. The flap of skin extending from the fifth digit of the front paw to the first digit of the hind paw enable this small marsupial to glide between trees up to 50 metres apart (usually in search of food or nesting sites).

Similar Species

Squirrel Gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) look quite similar, but are around twice the size of the Sugar Glider, with a body length up to around 50cm. The Squirrel Glider's tail is also larger and thicker and is never white tipped. The fur on the entire belly of the Squirrel Glider is white.

Distribution

The Sugar Glider is found across northern Australia and down through eastern Australia to western Victoria and Tasmania. It is also found in Papua New Guinea.

Country of Origin

Australia and Papua New Guinea

Survey Techniques

Spotlighting surveys and call identification.

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - National

Secure, not listed under the EPBC Act 1999.

Associated vegetation community

The Sugar Glider is found in eucalypt forest and woodland areas.

Limiting Resources

This species requires tree hollows for nesting.

Breeding

Sugar Gliders are arboreal (tree dwelling) marsupials, with young born after a short gestation period and nurtured in the mothers pouch for around 70 days after which the mother will leave the young in the nest for another 30-40 days. At around 110 days old young typically venture out of the nest, following their parents to forage. During favourable seasons, wild females may breed twice. Captive females have been known to produce three litters in a year. Between two and four young are produced per litter.

Behaviour

Gliders are social, typically living in family groups of up to seven adults. Research at the University of Tasmania indicates that father and son may cooperate in caring for young and maintaining family connections. Gliders are nocturnal, foraging during the night and spending the day sleeping in their nest. They are not timid and will aggressively defend a food source from Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and members from another Ringtail family group, even killing others who enter their territory.

Functional Group

Omnivore

Food Species

Sugar Gliders eat a range of natural foods depending on the season and food availability, including insects, pollen, nectar, sap from eucalypts and the gum produced by wattles. Gum from the wattle species (Acacia mearnsii) is thought to be an important source of food during autumn and winter.

Predators

Feral and domestic Cats (Felis catus ), predatory birds like the Boobook Owl (Ninox novaeseelandiae), Kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae) and Goannas (Varanus varius) will all predate this species, especially in their first 12 months.

Interesting Fact

Sugar gliders have a particular fetish for Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus abnormis). In one year, a colony of eight gliders can consume in excess of 200kg of beetles. These beetles are a major cause of dieback in eucalypts, making the gliders an important species for maintaining tree health.