Sugar Glider
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ID#43
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Classification: mammal
Endangered Status: common Habitat: forests with small clearings and very dense parts Sugar Gliders are marsupials that have a silky coat of gray to brown fur. They have a very long tail that is 6 to 8 inches long, just as long as the head and body. They have a furry gliding membrane, which stretches from the ankle of the hind legs to the wrist of the forelegs. They have a black to dark brown stripe that starts at the nose, runs all down the back and stops at the tail. Sugar Gliders live in colonies of 15 to 30. They are nocturnal so they would not be the best pets because they would keep a person up all night. They also have very sharp teeth, so it would not be wise to get one worked up. Sugar Gliders eat pollen, insects, spiders, nectar, honeydew, eucalyptus sap, acacia gum, and the seeds of the plant golden wattle. To get their food they glide to tree to tree if they see a tasty insect, or some other food item. Sugar Gliders start mating at the age of 7 to 10 months. If a male wants to mate then he will rub his forehead scent gland on her belly. If she wants to mate too, then she will rub her forehead on his belly in return. Their gestation period is 16 to 20 days. Gliders usually breed every 3 to 4 months in captivity, but in the wild they breed the same amount of months, but only from June to November. They usually have 1 to 3 babies at a time. The babies are called Joeys and when newborn are the size of a grain of rice. The Sugar Glider is a pretty small but incredible animal. First of all, they glide through the air, and not very many animals can do that. They are very social and love to spend time together. They do love their colonies but will attack an intruder. They are omnivorous. At a maximum they can glide 150 feet in one push off and they make cool sounds like chirps, barks, and they chatter. Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals and during the day they sleep in leaf nests up in trees. They spend most of their time gliding or crawling in trees, but when they do land on the ground they are small so they are able to run fast to avoid being stepped on or crushed. These social marsupials can be pets, but it is up to humans to make sure that stay alive in our houses and that we protect their habitat in the wild. |