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Sugar Glider Facts & Worksheets

The sugar glider, or the Petaurus breviceps, is a nocturnal gliding possum that is omnivorous and arboreal. The common name refers to its preference for sweet substances like sap and nectar and its ability to glide through the air like a flying squirrel.

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The sugar glider, or the Petaurus breviceps, is a nocturnal gliding possum that is omnivorous and arboreal. The common name refers to its preference for sweet substances like sap and nectar and its ability to glide through the air like a flying squirrel. Despite not being closely related, they have remarkably similar habits and appearance to the flying squirrel—an example of convergent evolution.

See the fact file below for more information about the Sugar Glider, or you can download our 28-page Sugar Glider worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EVOLUTION OF THE SUGAR GLIDER

  • Petaurus is thought to have evolved in New Guinea between eighteen and twenty-four million years ago during the mid-Miocene epoch. 
  • The present Australian Petaurus and New Guinean members of what were formerly thought to be Petaurus breviceps split from their closest living New Guinean relatives.
  • It was previously thought to have a wide range over Australia and New Guinea and separated into seven subspecies, three of which were found in Australia and four in New Guinea.
  • Further research has revealed significant genetic heterogeneity within populations conventionally classed as Petaurus breviceps, enough to justify dividing the species into numerous species. Petaurus biacensis, discovered on Biak Island off the coast of New Guinea, has been reclassified as a distinct species, the Biak glider.
  • A landmark study published in 2020 suggested that Petaurus breviceps consisted of three cryptic species: the Krefft’s glider, found throughout most of eastern Australia and introduced to Tasmania; the Savanna glider, native to northern Australia; and a more narrowly defined Petaurus breviceps restricted to a small section of coastal forest in southern Queensland and most of New South Wales.
  • Petaurus breviceps and Petaurus notatus are thought to have diverged 1 million years ago, possibly due to long-term geographic isolation. 
  • The early-mid Pleistocene saw a raising of the Great Dividing Range, which contributed to and coincided with the aridification of Australia’s interior, notably on the range’s western side. Together with other climatic and geographic variables, this may have isolated Petaurus breviceps’ ancestors to refugia (a location that supports an isolated or once more widespread species) on the Great Dividing Range’s eastern, coastal side.

APPEARANCE OF THE SUGAR GLIDER

  • Sugar gliders have a body length of 5 to 12 inches and a tail length of 6 to 9 inches. Their coat is bluish-gray with a light belly and a dark stripe along the back. 
  • Sugar gliders, like flying squirrels, have gliding membranes that allow for efficient movement. Patagiums are gliding membranes that extend from the wrists to the ankles. Sugar gliders can glide up to 164 feet by steering and balancing with their tails.
  • Sugar gliders are a sexually dimorphic species, with larger males than females. Sexual dimorphism most likely originated due to increased mate competition caused by social group structure, and it is more prominent in higher latitude regions where mate competition is greater due to increased food availability.

How to tell the difference between male and female sugar gliders?

  • Female sugar gliders have stomach pouches where their offspring grow. Mature males have a smell gland on the brow that resembles a bald area.
  • While not a predictor, behavior can help determine whether a sugar glider is male or female. Male sugar gliders are more noisy and territorial, such as marking their area with urine or vocalizing loudly. Conversely, females may demonstrate nurturing behaviors such as carrying nesting supplies or displaying parental instincts.

BEHAVIOR OF THE SUGAR GLIDER

  • The sugar glider is one of Australia’s gliding tree-living species. It glides with its fore and hind limbs extended at right angles to the torso and its feet flexed upwards, which produces an aerofoil capable of gliding 50 meters (55 yards).
  • Gliding is a type of arboreal locomotion typically used to migrate from tree to tree; the species never descends to the ground. Gliding allows for three-dimensional avoidance of arboreal predators and limited contact with ground-dwelling predators, as well as the potential benefit of reducing time and energy consumption spent hunting for nutrient-poor foods that are irregularly distributed.
  • Sugar gliders can withstand temperatures as high as 40 °C by licking their coat, revealing the wet area, and consuming very little. 
  • In cold weather, sugar gliders may snuggle together to reduce heat loss and will enter torpor to preserve energy. However, huddling is less effective than torpor as an energy-saving method.
  • Due to energy limits, the sugar glider will enter daily torpor for 2-23 hours while resting. When food is scarce, such as in the winter, heat output is reduced to save energy. 
  • Because of its low energy and heat output, the sugar glider must peak its body mass by fat content in the autumn to survive the following cold season. Sugar gliders in the wild enter daily torpor more frequently than sugar gliders in captivity.
  • Sugar gliders are seasonal omnivores with a diverse diet that forage primarily in the lower layers of the forest canopy. They will tear the bark of trees or open bore holes with their teeth to access stored liquid to extract sap or gum from plants. 
  • Sugar gliders are opportunistic feeders and carnivores, primarily preying on lizards and small birds. They consume nectar, acacia seeds, bird eggs, pollen, fungus, and natural fruits when available.
  • Regarding sexual development, the age of sexual maturity differs slightly between males and females in sugar gliders. Males mature at 4 to 12 months, whereas females take 8 to 12 months. Sugar gliders reproduce in the wild once or twice a year, depending on climate and habitat circumstances. Still, they can breed numerous times a year in captivity due to constant living conditions and sufficient feeding.
  • Sugar gliders are highly gregarious creatures. They dwell in family groups or colonies of up to seven adults and the current season’s young. 
  • Within each group, up to four age groups may exist, while some sugar gliders are solitary and do not belong to a group. They engage in social grooming, which serves to unite the colony and build a collective identity while enhancing cleanliness and health.
  • Within social communities, two codominant males oppress subordinate men but do not attack one other. These codominant pairs are more linked to each other than to the group’s subordinates, and they share food, nests, mates, and responsibility for scent-marking community members and territory.

BEHAVIOR OF THE SUGAR GLIDER

  • The sugar glider is a popular exotic pet in many countries and is frequently called a pocket pet. In Australia, the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES), Australia’s largest wildlife rehabilitation organization, is opposed to keeping native animals as pets, as are Australian wildlife conservation organizations concerned about animal welfare risks such as neglect, cruelty, and abandonment. 
  • Sugar gliders can be kept in Victoria, South Australia, and the Northern Territory in Australia. Pets are prohibited in Western Australia, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, or Tasmania.

Sugar Glider Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Sugar Glider across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Sugar Glider. The common name refers to its preference for sweet substances like sap and nectar and its ability to glide through the air like a flying squirrel.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Sugar Glider Facts
  2. Dig In
  3. Fact or Bluff?
  4. Sugar Glider
  5. What is a Sugar Glider?
  6. Trivia Time
  7. Care for Me
  8. Glide it!
  9. Which is Which?
  10. Same or Different?
  11. Cute or Not?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sugar glider?

A sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) is a small, nocturnal gliding possum native to Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. It is characterized by its large eyes, gliding membrane (patagium) that extends from its wrists to its ankles, and a prehensile tail.

What do sugar gliders eat?

Sugar gliders are omnivores with a varied diet. In the wild, they consume a combination of nectar, sap, fruits, insects, and the sweet sap from certain trees. In captivity, their diet often includes a mix of fresh fruits, vegetables, a specially formulated sugar glider diet, and protein sources like insects or small amounts of lean meat.

Do sugar gliders make good pets?

Sugar gliders can make affectionate and entertaining pets for those willing to invest time and effort in their care. However, they have specific needs, including a proper diet, a large cage with plenty of vertical space, and social interaction. They are highly social animals and generally do best when kept in pairs or small groups.

How do sugar gliders glide?

Sugar gliders have a patagium, a thin membrane of skin stretching from their wrists to their ankles and sometimes the tip of their tail. When they leap or glide, they spread their limbs, creating a parachute-like effect. While they cannot truly fly, they can cover considerable distances, helping them navigate between trees and locate food sources in the wild.

What are some common health concerns for sugar gliders?

Sugar gliders can be susceptible to health issues such as obesity, dental problems, and calcium deficiency. Providing a balanced diet, including calcium supplements when needed, regular veterinary check-ups, and maintaining an appropriate environment can help prevent these issues. Additionally, they require mental stimulation and social interaction to thrive in captivity.

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Link will appear as Sugar Glider Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 31, 2024

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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