Meet sugar glider, the mammal with a sweet tooth
If someone asks you which animals remind you of Australia, what will you say? Well, most people would think of either the kangaroo or the koala, both of which are native to the continent. But if you are ever visit Australia and end up in a eucalyptus forest, chances are you will also come across another animal, named the sugar glider. Sounds like a dessert, isn’t it? Well, it sure has some very unique and fascinating characteristics. Want to know more about them? Read on.
The nectar lover
A sugar glider is an omnivorous marsupial that is endemic to mainland Australia and New Guinea, and had even migrated to parts of Tasmania in the 19th century. Before you ask what a marsupial is, it refers to a mammal which has a pouch at the front or underside of the body in which it rears its offspring. Their offspring is often born immature and stays under the complete care of their mothers through infancy, such as the koala or the kangaroo.
Although sugar gliders look much like squirrels, they are closely related to kangaroos. However, they are arboreal, or tree-dwelling creatures and are often seen gliding from one tree to another in search of sweet nectar. This is exactly where it derives its name from.
Interestingly, their scientific name, Petaurus breviceps, if literally translated from Latin means ‘short-headed rope-dancer', a reference closely linked to their acrobatic nature.
How did sugar glider get its name?
As you have already understood, these tiny creatures do like sweets. In fact, they eat a variety of things from bugs to fruits and vegetables, all of which need to be sugary. But above everything else, they prefer nectar and derive it from the sweet sap of plants such as eucalyptus and acacia among others.
As for the ‘glider’ part of the name, it comes from the creature’s amazing ability to glide from tree to tree, using its special thin membrane called patagium. It usually extends from the limbs (fingers) along the sides of the bodies, till its toes, almost identical to webbing, or in better terms from its forelegs to hindlegs.
If you know how flying squirrels glide from one tree to another, you can imagine sugar gliders doing pretty much the same. They leap from a higher position to a lower one and use their arms, legs, tail and the special membrane to glide through the air. In fact, believe it or not, they can glide over distances up to 150 feet, where the patagium acts much like a parachute, in case they fall.
Sugar gliders hibernate in extreme temperatures
Like most marsupials, sugar gliders too are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the daytime and actively hunt for food at night. However, when the weather turns too hot or too cold, or when food is scarce, they voluntarily enter an emergency resting phase called torpor. It’s a state similar to hibernation and is mainly characterised by energy-conservation through reduced activity and very deep sleep, up to 23 hours a day in case of sugar gliders. Interestingly, these exotic animals are often kept as pets as they are very low maintenance. However, one must beware of their biting tendencies that can be dangerous for young children. In fact, sugar gliders are often known to only bond with their own species, and do not like close human contact.