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= Sugar Gliders =

Physical Characteristics

 * around 16-20 cm in length
 * tail almost as long as body & thick as human thumb
 * weighs 90-150 g (3-5.3 oz)
 * fur generally pearl grey with black & cream patches @ base of black/grey ears
 * tail tapers only moderately
 * last quarter is black, often dark tipped
 * twin skin membranes called patagium extend from 5th finger of forelimb back to 1st toe of hind foot
 * short, rounded muzzle
 * northern forms: brown & smaller
 * patagium just look flabby when Sugar Glider is @ rest
 * membranes used like wings to glide
 * gliding membranes mainly used to get food resources
 * secondary use of membranes: escaping predators
 * can glide farther than 50 m (55 yd)
 * steers by curving patagium
 * uses hind legs to thrust powerfully away from a tree

Habits and Behaviors

 * noctournal
 * adult males mark territory with saliva & scent glands
 * adult males also mark members of group with scent produced by separate glands on forehead & chest
 * visitors lacking scent are expelled violently
 * dominant male mates more frequently with female of group than other males & does most of scent marking
 * competition for territory is fierce

Food, Feeding, and Hunting

 * main food items are sap of acacias & certain Eucalyptus, nectar, pollen, & arthropods

Birth and Growth

 * in more temperate south, breeding starts in mid-winter (June or July)
 * in north, there seems to be no particular breeding season
 * 2 young/female
 * young normally ejected from group territory @ 7-10 months of age

Habitat

 * lives anywhere where there are tree hollows & food
 * adaptable & capable of living in surprisingly small patches of bush

Optional

 * predators include foxes & dogs
 * lives in groups of up to 7 adults & current season's young
 * when adult member of group dies, it is normally replaced by one of group's offspring if female or outsider if male
 * young sometimes form new groups if an area is vacant
 * not endangered
 * protected by law in Australia

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