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Taxonomy:
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordate
Class - Mammal
Family - Petauridae
Order - Diprotodontia
Genus - Petaurus
Species - Petaurus breviceps
Evolution
Evolution
All Subspecies - Petaurus breviceps, Petaurus notatus, Petaurus ariel
How long has this species been in existence - The genus Petaurus is believed to have originated in New Guinea during the mid Miocene epoch, approximately 18 to 24 million years ago.
Closest living relative to this species - kangaroos and koalas
3 ancestors of this species - Sinodelphys szalayi and Oligocene
Description
Description
Sugar Gliders’ fur is thick, soft, and is usually an ash-grey to brown-grey above, with a dark stripe that extends from the middle of the head to the mid-back region. The belly, throat and chest are cream in colour, and the bushy tail, which can average about 19cm, is darker and in some cases may have a white tip.
Point key characteristics of species - they have a soft membrane of skin (called the patagium) that stretches from their wrist to their back leg on either side.
Size - Can grow up to be around 24-30 cm in length
Weight - About 115 grams
Life Span - Up to 9 years
Differences between Males and Females - In general males are slightly larger and heavier than females. Behavior may also help. Male sugar gliders tend to be more vocal and territorial than females. Females also have a pouch that is more present than the males.
Description of the habitat:
How much rainfall - annual rainfall in north-east of Australia is around 2000-4000 mm and in New Guinea they get around 250-350 mm of rainfall monthly
Plants - 2 Major plants are eucalyptus and acacia forests
Animals - Some animals that live in the same habitat with the sugar glider are monkeys, koalas, sloths, possums, rodents, bats, kangaroos, etc.
Temperature - around 26-28 degrees celsius
Terrain - Coastal forests
Distribution
Distribution
Continents found - Australia and New Guinea
Invasive at all - They are not native to the Australian island of Tasmania, but were introduced to Tasmania in the 1800's and are considered to be an invasive species there.
Diet
Diet
What exactly does it eat - In the wild sugar gliders feed on tree sap, nectar and insects
How often does it eat - they eat about 15-20% of their weight everyday
How does it get its food - they eat the sap and gum of the eucalyptus and acacia tree, plus pollen, nectar, honeydew (sugar secreted by sap-sucking insects), and a wide variety of insects and spiders.
Any special foods - nothing out of the ordinary
Social Structure:
Live in packs or solo - They are usually happier in groups of 3 or more
Roles within the community - There are scouts, hunters, gatherers, builders, and babysitters. Scouts lookout for the safety of the colonie. Hunters, gatherers, and builders of course look for food and materials for nest building. That isn't just their job but that is the majority of what they do. The babysitters look after the joes when the parents are out or it's another female that never has joeys and helps take care of the other females joeys or it's a neutered male that you kept that acts as the babysitter
Male or Female led groups - males
Individuals that make up the group - up to seven adult males and females and their young
How do they interact with each other - They use a wide variety of yapping, barking, buzzing, droning, hissing, and screaming sounds. One is called “crabbing,” which they make when frightened, threatened, or woken from a nap. They make a barking noise when communicating with other gliders
Reproduction
Reproduction
How often do they mate - Sugar Gliders will mate year round, provided they have enough protein. They usually have 2 babies at a time, 4 to 6 babies a year,
How many mates do they have - 1
Time of year for mating - year round
Mating rituals - Sugar gliders will often mate in the open. When a female is in heat, the male will mount the female's back and groom her neck.
Number of offspring produced at a time - 1 to 2 at a time
Any unique characteristics of their mating - Sugar gliders are very prolific, and can get pregnant again as soon as their joeys are OOP (out of pouch). Females have a pouch and 2 uterus. Males have a bifurcated penis (two pronged). When a female comes into heat (every 28 days) they will mate.
Development
Development
Stages of development -
Birth - no fur, pinkish in color, no skin pigments
12 to 14 days
External indicators of sex present
30 days
Fine fur begins to grow
40 days
Release of mother’s nipple
60 days
Young become too large for pouch
70 days
Young leave pouch, remains in group nest, while mother forages, for an additional 40 to 50 days
Full development of fur
New behavior: “curl into a ball,” as observed in adults (reduces heat loss on less furred underside)
About 80 days
Eyes open
About 90 days
Young show defensive behaviors towards non-group members
Juvenile
By 110 days
Transition to juvenile stage of development
Body covered in fur
Improved coordination
110 to 120 days
Young leave nest and forage alongside mother
Soon independent
Adult
About 250 days
Reach adult body size
7 to 10 months
Young displaced from family group
How old before sexual maturity - They are sexually mature at the age of 12-14 months
Activities and environment of stages - Sugar gliders are nocturnal, snoozing through the day until night falls, then they begin using their leap-glide-grab means of getting food. During periods of frigid cold or unavailable food, sugar gliders may lapse into torpor for up to 16 hours per day to conserve energy.
Difference between males and females - Male sugar gliders possess a scent gland located in the center of their forehead, just above their nose. This gland appears as a small bald spot, which is absent in females.
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