Page 93 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

SUGAR GLIDER 93

A split second before reaching its destination, the sugar glider Sharp claws sink in to the tree trunk, to prevent the force of
folds in its arms and legs to ensure a safe landing. impact from throwing the aeronaut off his perch.

mammals.These young are suckled by milk from the natural habitat has been lost, but the sugar glider has
females’ mammary glands. Marsupials are an infra class adapted, surviving even where little bush remains.
(a subclass) of the mammal group, whose members Sugar gliders can be found in New Guinea, on the
typically give birth to under-developed young that Bismarck Archipelago, in northern and eastern Australia,
continue to develop in an external pouch. Marsupials are in Tasmania and on nearby islands.Their ability to adapt
not unique to Australasia, so this infra class is usually to a wide range of habitats has made them popular pets,
divided further into Australasian and American species. although this trade has now been banned in many parts
However,Australasia’s most famous animals are of the world. In the wild, these animals are tree-dwellers
undoubtedly the marsupials. and inhabit many types of woodland, although they favour
This diverse group includes species such as kangaroos, eucalyptus trees, and love its sweet sap. Like many true
koalas, mole marsupials,Tasmanian devils, bandicoots and survivors, though, they’re flexible in their habits and,
sugar gliders. Unlike many of their fellow marsupials, the depending on the season, will also eat pollen, nectar,
sugar glider is not an endangered animal. Much of its insects, larvae and small vertebrates.

Comparisons

Sugar gliders aren’t the only mammals to have taken to the air.Within
the sugar gliders’ own genus, there are five more Australasian gliders.
South-east Asia has its own gliding mammals known as colugos and
there are 44 species of flying squirrel (family Sciuridae).All get airborne
using a patagium (gliding membrane), which stretches from wrist to
ankle and is opened by spreading out the limbs.

Sugar glider Pel’s scaly-tailed flying squirrel Southern flying squirrel

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.