Fauna
Mammal · GBIF taxon 2440043

Sugar Glider

Petaurus breviceps

Also known as Lesser Glider, Short-Headed Glider

Sugar gliders are gregarious nocturnal marsupials that live in family clans of up to seven adults, nesting together in tree hollows lined with fresh leaves. A gliding membrane called a patagium stretches from each wrist to ankle, allowing them to sail up to fifty meters between canopy branches steered by their long, bushy tails. Scent glands on the forehead and chest enable dominant males to mark territory and clan members with unique chemical signatures.

NocturnalArborealMarsupial
Sugar Glider reference1 / 7
Licensed referenceWikimedia Commons / Public domain · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Tree crickets
  • Moths
  • Beetles
Predators
  • Powerful Owl
  • Feral Cat
  • Lace Monitor
ThreatsHabitat loss, fragmentation of mature tree hollows, and predation by feral cats
HabitatsEucalypt forests, woodlands, and coastal rainforest fringes
Life span9–12 years in the wild; up to 15 years in captivity
Classification
  1. OrderDiprotodontia
  2. FamilyPetauridae
  3. GenusPetaurus
  4. SpeciesPetaurus breviceps
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Possesses sharp claws and teeth; maintain distance and never attempt to handle wild individuals.
Responsible observation
  • Use red light: Switch to a red-filtered headlamp when spotlighting in forests to avoid blinding their nocturnal vision.
  • Listen for chatter: Scan high hollow branches at dusk when clans produce shrill barking calls before taking flight.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…