General Information
-
Common Name: Sugar Glider
-
Scientific Name: Petaurus breviceps
-
Family: Petauridae
-
Origin/Range: Native to Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and surrounding islands
-
Habitat: Forests and woodlands, especially eucalyptus forests; nest in tree hollows lined with leaves
Physical Description
-
Size: Body length 16–21 cm (6–8 in); tail length 16–21 cm (similar to body)
-
Weight: 90–150 g (3–5 oz)
-
Build:
-
Compact body with a long, bushy tail
-
Large forward-facing eyes for night vision
-
Soft, silky gray-blue fur with a dark dorsal stripe
-
Membrane (patagium) stretches from wrists to ankles, allowing them to glide
-
-
Lifespan: 9–12 years in captivity (rarely longer); ~5–7 years in the wild
Behavior & Lifestyle
-
Activity: Nocturnal (active at night)
-
Social Structure: Extremely social; live in colonies of up to 7–12 individuals in the wild
-
Gliding Ability: Can glide up to 50 meters (160 ft) between trees; tail acts as a rudder
-
Personality: Curious, playful, and highly interactive but can be vocal and demanding
-
Communication: Wide range of vocalizations (barks, hisses, chirps) and scent marking
Diet
-
Type: Omnivores
-
Wild Diet:
-
Sap and gum from eucalyptus and acacia trees
-
Nectar, pollen, honeydew
-
Insects and small invertebrates
-
-
Captive Diet: Must mimic natural diet with:
-
Nectar substitutes (specialized sugar glider diets)
-
Fresh fruits and vegetables (apple, melon, sweet potato, corn in moderation)
-
Insects (mealworms, crickets) for protein
-
-
Note: Improper diet leads to malnutrition, obesity, or metabolic bone disease
Reproduction
-
Maturity: Sexual maturity at 8–15 months (males), 8–12 months (females)
-
Breeding: Can breed year-round
-
Gestation Period: ~15–17 days (short, as with other marsupials)
-
Birth: Tiny, underdeveloped joey crawls into the mother’s pouch
-
Pouch Life: 60–70 days; emerges around 2 months old
-
Weaning: At 4 months, fully furred and independent
