Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics)
Authoritative first-hand species account (Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan). All bullet facts are verbatim from the cited source and C1-substring verified.
Natural History & Origin
- which can be found in the eucalyptus tree.
- the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
Habitat
- Sugar gliders can live in forests of all types, given that there is an adequate food
- forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount
- Smith, A.P., (1982) Diet and feeding strategies of the marsupial sugar glider in temperate
Size
- 120-320mm long and the tail has a length of 150-480mm.
- usually have a litter size of 1-2, each of which weigh about 0.19 grams at birth.
- Sugar gliders are extremely active animals that can glide up to 45 meters.
Lifespan
- Since they have also been found to live insSouthern Australia, they must be able to
- Sugar gliders held in captivity have been found to live up to 14 years.
Behavior & Social Structure
- Groups of sugar gliders are mutually exclusive and territorial.
- body weight, social dominance and scent marking in male marsupial sugar gliders.
Reproduction
- In southeastern Australia, however, the young are born only from
- Gestation usually lasts around 16 days.
- The young first leaves the pouch after 70 days, and after about 111 days, they leave
Diet
- Their diet also includes pollen, nectar,
- and during the fall and winter months they feed on plant products, such as eucalyptus
- animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently