The sugar glider

Sugar Glider, scientifically called Petaurus breviceps "short-headed rope-dancer" is a small arboreal gliding possum, and a type of marsupial mammal.

Name: Their name came from early bushman who found they liked sweet things like honey and sugar and from their ability to glide between trees.

DESCRIPTION:

Color: silvery blue grey (dark stripe on back) ,
Weight: 100 to 160gweight less creature.
Length: It is around 200mm long with a similar length tail.
Life span: Sugar gliders live for 9 years in their natural habitat. Noise: The sugar glider makes a variety of noises ranging from shrill yapping (predator is near), a sharp shriek (when fighting) to a "gurgling chatter" when in their nest.

PHYSICAL STRUCTURE:

They have sharp teeth and though not aggressive, will bite if they feel threatened or frightened. If not acquired tame and used to being handled, it may take a great deal of time and patience to get them to the point where they are cuddly.
The gliding membrane (a very thin skin) extends from the fifth finger to the ankle. By scattering this membrane they can slither a distances of 50 to 100 meters from tree to tree.Their tails are used for stability and navigation as well as "tilting" the left or right membrane, and lands successfully on its outstretched feet.

Among these are the structure of their reproductive organs, dentition and a short gestation period followed by a long developmental period for their young. Like most marsupials, the female has a pouch in which the baby glider is carried.

HABITAT:

It is Found where there is plenty of rainfall (both cool and tropical climate) in wet and dry forests and woodland, usually with acacia gum plants.

BEHAVIOUR:

They are kind of Nocturnal creature, active at night and during the day sleep in a nest made of leaves in tree-hollows.Anywhere from 7 and 12 gliders will co-habitat in these nests, some say to help keep them warm by sharing body heat.They are playful amongst their own "clan" group but will fiercely attack any intruder whether it is another Sugar Glider or a totally different animal.Dominant male sugar gliders will scent other clan members and the territory around the nest.

FEEDING:

Wild sugar gliders are indeed "sap suckers" for at least part of the year. They remove the bark of trees with their long teeth and suck the sap for nourishment. They will also eat bugs, small animals such as mice, birds, and all sorts of other naturally occurring things in the Australian forests.This feeding and foraging takes place after dusk.

BREEDING:

They normally breed from July to November so the young are taken care during the season of spring and summer when there are plenty of food stuffs.Being Marsupials the young one remain in a pouch usually for just over 2 months. The pouch is forward facing with two teats, and the special feature is here often twins are born. By the end of these two months young ones are then left for a further month or so in the nest.They then leave the nest to scavenge for food under the guidance of either their father or mother.