SUGAR GLIDER
Petaurus breviceps
My first introduction to these beautiful
little creatures was many years ago after moving to Rosebank.
Late one night we could hear what sounded like a very small dog
barking. We hurried outside, as we live fairly secluded and had
no knowledge about any tiny dog in the area. We investigated and
in a tree close by the house, we discovered a Sugar glider, very
agitated and by the sound of things upset.
What a sight that was, the first time you see one of these it
is wondrous.
We did not find out what the glider was upset about, as it hurried
away seeing us, and we did not hear it again.
Sugar gliders live in dense to medium
eucalypt forests, having a home range of about 3 hectares. It
can volplane for at least 50 meters through the trees, not a bad
effort when we consider the size of this animal.
It sets off with its hind legs leaping from
tree to tree, spreading membranes, which extends on each side
of the body from the fifth finger to the first toe of the foot.
It steers and maintains stability by varying the curvature of
the left or right membrane. When it is about 3 meters from target
tree it brings its hind legs in towards the body and with an upward
swoop lands with four feet on the bark.
Unfortunately they do not always estimate the distance quite right,
and are sometimes found at the base of a tree, dead, or with head
injuries, due to collision of a branch or the trunk of the tree.
The Sugar Glider has a variety
of calls, a shrill yapping that is a warning to others of danger.
Obviously what we heard on our first encounter with the Sugar Glider.
They will also emit a sharp threatening growl, which you may hear
when they are fighting. Chatter also
takes place in the nest, this
is usually not heard by us, it is a gurgling sound, heard by carers
when we are lucky enough to have the pleasure of caring for one of
these species.
They nest in tree hollows,
once again we are reminded how important the old trees are for our
native animals, as they are used by so many species for nesting and
shelter. The nest is called a den and is lined with gum leaves.
ocial groups are made up
of up to 7 adults and their young sharing a common nest. The male
uses his scent glands to mark all members of the group, and intruders
are shown no mercy.
Mating takes place in June so young is emerging in spring when food
is abundant. The female will normally produce 2 young, they remain
in the pouch for 70 days, then stay in the common nest for another
30 days.
At about 3-4 months old they will venture out at night usually on
the mothers back, or close behind her. At the age of 7-10 months old,
both male and female young have to leave the home territory, if there
has been a loss of a female, they will allow a young female to stay
with the family group.
Males will have to find vacant territory, mortality rate at this stage
is high, especially as clearing, loss of habitat, introduction of
cats and dogs take place in area where these animals are found.
The Sugar glider lives on gum
produced by acacias, sap of certain eucalypts, new tips of eucalypt
leaves, native flowers such a Grevillia, Bottlebrush and insects.
If the weather is very cold they will conserve energy by huddling
together or by becoming torpid for up to 16 hours at a time, they
may also do this if food supply is short.
Head and body length for both
male and females are 17centimeters on average, the long bushy tail
measure about 19 centimeters. Males are a bit broader and weigh in
at 140gram females 120gram average.
They are bluish grey above, and underneath a pale brown colour, black
stripe runs from the eyes to mid back. Tail is grey to almost black
and can have a white tip.
Sugar gliders are found along the coastal strip of Eastern Australia
from Tasmania through to Northern territory.
Predators include owls, feral and domestic cats, kookaburras, lace
monitors and foxes.
Main reason for Sugar gliders coming in to care with WIRES is due
to cat attacks.
Images
by Katrina Ulyatt
Reference: The Australian Museum. 1996.
"The Complete book of Australian Mammels."
STOP
POACHING OF THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS
IF
YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE ANIMALS AS A PET YOU ARE AIDING THEIR EXTINCTION!!