The Sugar Glider (scientifically known as Petaurus Breviceps) is a small Australian marsupial about the size of a hamster, weighing 4-6 ounces when they are full grown. Being arboreal Sugar Gliders live under the canopy of leaves of the Australian rain forest. Their natural habitat ranges from Tasmania to northeastern Australia to Papa New Guinea and neighboring islands. Currently they are on the endangered species list as the number of acres that these marsupials live in is decreasing everyday due to deforestatio

The best way to describe these wonderful animals in general is to relate them to the American Flying Squirrel. The Sugar Glider is similar in size, shape, and two main differences. One is that their color is a silver/gray; the other is that they are marsupials. Even some of the sounds that the two make are similar. It is amazing to know that the Sugar Glider is actually a type of possum and is most closely related to the Lead beaters possum than our own American Flying Squirrel.

Sugar Gliders have a thin furred membrane that is called the Patagium and stretches from their front wrist to their rear ankle and allows them to glider for travel and to gather food (similar to the North American flying squirrel). When the Sugar Glider is ready to take flight, they tend to lean left and right to judge the distance of their anticipated travel and then jump, pushing off with their back legs and having their arms and legs outstretched creating a type of wing that allows them to glide. While in flight they use their front arms and tail as a means of directing flight. Their flights have been documented in length of 150 feet from tree to tree. Some Sugar Gliders even glide to catch flying insects as a source of food. Since they spend most of their time feeding and have a high metabolism rate, they have been known to cover up to 7 acres of land in one night trying to forage for food.

Sugar Gliders are nocturnal and communal animals. This means that they sleep during the day in colonies of 10-12 gliders and are usually hidden away in high nests that keep them protected from the sun and from other predators. They are awake at night to feed, play, and care for their young.