Petaurus breviceps

Habitat. In New Guinea this glider inhabits most forest types, from floodplain-forest to savanna woodland and to lower montane forest, and even secondary regrowth in disused garden areas; absent from highest montane areas. Habitat preferences in Australia are broad and include rainforests, moist eucalypt forests, dry eucalypt forests, and woodlands; some authors suggest that optimum habitat is tall open eucalypt forest or woodland. The species’ occurrence is often associated with various species of Acacia (Fabaceae) and Banksia (Proteaceae). Found from sea level to 3000 m elevation. The Sugar Glider is sympatric with nearly all other Petaurus species, in Australia including the Yellow-bellied Glider (P. australis), the Mahogany Glider (P. gracilis), and the Squirrel Glider, and in New Guinea the Northern Glider (P. abidi) in North Coastal Ranges.

Sumber: Petauridae

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges are typically between 0 - 5 ha and 4 - 7 ha in size. Sugar Gliders live in social groups of up to seven adults and their young of the current season, sharing a nest in the hollow of a eucalypt tree. They show little social interaction when not in the nest. The sex ratio of these groups in the wild is generally female-biased, and all females in the group breed; a polygynous mating system has been proposed. Sugar Gliders utilize several calls, including a shrill yapping that warns other individuals of danger, a sharp threatening scream that can occasionally be heard when they fight, and a gurgling chatter when handled or disturbed in the nest.

Sumber: Petauridae

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. This species has the widest distribution of any of the marsupial gliders, indeed of any marsupial in the Australasian region. In addition, it has a large population size, occurs in a number of protected areas, and is tolerant of a broad range of habitats, including degraded ones. Its population numbers are probably stable. Within ideal habitat it can be locally common, with 6 ind / ha recorded, but in other areas (such as northern Australia) it has been recorded at much lower densities of less than one animal per hectare. In South Australia it is known only from the south-east, and two records near Adelaide; it is considered rare in that State. In Tasmania, where it is widespread, it is thought to have been introduced. There are no major threats facing this petaurid, although, as with many other species, it is susceptible to bushfires and to habitat clearance for expanding agriculture.

Sumber: Petauridae

Descriptive notes. Head-body 16 - 21 cm, tail 16.5 - 21 cm; weight 68 - 160 g (males) and 60 - 135 g (females). This species is highly variable in size and color throughout its range. In Australia it conforms to Bergmann’s Rule: animals from more tropical regions are smaller in size than those from temperate regions. Ventral fur varies from pale creamy to medium gray and may be tinged with yellow, but is never pure white or creamy white, as base of fur is gray. Tail is furred evenly, dusky gray, darkening to black distally. Northern subspecies are smaller and have shorter fur than the nominate subspecies. One of the smallest species of Petaurus, it is usually recognized by its small size and often its white tail tip (which ¢. 20 - 50 % of individuals possess). It can be hard to distinguish from the Squirrel Glider (P. norfolcensis), but is typically identified byits smaller body size, shorter blunter face, shorter and more oval ears, less bushy tail at base, gray base of ventral fur, and frequently white tip of tail.

Sumber: Petauridae

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc). Common.

Sumber: Order Diprotodontia

Distribution: SE South Australia to Cape York Peninsula (Queensland), Tasmania (introduction), N Northern Territory, NE Western Australia; New Guinea and adjacent small islands, including Bismarck Arch.; Aru Isls and N Moluccas (Indonesia).

Sumber: Order Diprotodontia