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
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
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
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
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
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