Sugar Glider
Petaurus breviceps
🌍 Overview
Sugar gliders are small marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and eastern Indonesia - more closely related to koalas and kangaroos than to flying squirrels, which they superficially resemble. They possess a membrane (patagium) stretching from wrist to ankle that allows them to glide up to 165 feet between trees. Highly social in the wild, they live in groups of 10-15 individuals and communicate through a range of calls, barks, and crabbing sounds.
📋 Quick Facts
Native Range
Northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, eastern Indonesia
Natural Habitat
Tropical and temperate forest and woodland
Adult Size
5-6 inches (13-15 cm) body; 4-5.5 oz
Wild Diet
Nectar, pollen, tree sap, insects, and small vertebrates
Wild Lifespan
3-9 years (up to 12-15 years in captivity)
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN)
⚖️ Compare
Sugar Glider
Human
Adult Size
5-6 inches (13-15 cm) body; 4-5.5 oz
5-6 feet (150-185 cm); ~135-200 lbs
Wild Lifespan
3-9 years (up to 12-15 years in captivity)
~73 years (global average)
Wild Diet
Nectar, pollen, tree sap, insects, and small vertebrates
Omnivorous - eats just about anything
Native Range
Northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, eastern Indonesia
Global - originated in Africa roughly 300,000 years ago
Natural Habitat
Tropical and temperate forest and woodland
Everywhere from arctic tundra to tropical megacities
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN)
Least Concern (8+ billion and counting)
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🤓 Did You Know?
Sugar gliders can glide up to 150 feet in the wild using a membrane called a patagium. They steer with their tails and can even do mid-air turns!
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