Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps).

What is a Sugar Glider?

Class: Mammalia

Subclass: Eutheria

Order: Diprotodontia

Suborder: Phalangeriformes

Family: Petauridae

Genus: Petaurus

Species: breviceps

Sugar Gliders are Marsupials that originate from New Guinea, Tasmania, Indonesia and of course Australia. They are nocturnal so sleep all day and awaken at night. Their natural diet would consist of insects, nectar, pollen, manna, plant exudates and small mammals. Their scientific name translates to 'shortheaded rope dancer' which given their highly nimble acrobatics in the forest canopies is very apt.

Gliders are approximately 12 inches in length, half of which is tail. A membrane stretches from the wrists to the ankles called a patagium which allows them to glide or 'volplane' up to 100M with the tail acting as a rudder.

The front paws are very much like hands with sharp claws, the back feet have an opposable thumb and four fingers (toes) two of which are fused together to provide a grooming tool - this is known as syndactylus.

Male gliders have 3 main scent glands, one on their head which causes a bald spot, one on the chest between the front legs and an anal scent gland. He will use all of these to claim territory, other gliders and you. The testicles look like a small pom pom and are situated almost on the belly, his penis is bifurcated, which means it is split into two at the end and will often show when toileting - they have apparently been mistaken for worms before - so be aware. When a glider is on new territory he will scent everything which can smell quite strong, but once he has settled in and claimed everything the odor will fade.

Females carry their young in a pouch or 'marsupium', this shows as a small slit on the belly area. They have 2 main scent glands, one in the pouch, and an anal scent gland. The one in the pouch is to scent the young and the anal scent gland is often used to scent owners.

Minor scent glands in both male and females are on the bottom of the feet, at the side of the mouth and inside the external ear.

A healthy glider should be a grey/silver colour. It is normal for the white bellies to discolour from urine and from male scent glands. But a glider should not appear orange or brown. The quality of the diet directly affects the colour of your glider, a healthy, happy glider can live upto 16 years.