Sugar glider Facts
The sugar glider is a small gliding possum, a marsupial that lives in trees, comes out at night and loves sweet foods like nectar and sap.
- Class
- Mammal
- Scientific name
- Petaurus breviceps
- Conservation status
- Least concern (IUCN)
About the sugar glider
Skin flaps called patagia stretch from its front legs to its back legs, letting it glide between trees to reach food and escape predators. Its soft fur runs from pale gray to light brown and is lighter on the belly. It looks and acts a lot like a flying squirrel, even though the two are not closely related, a classic case of convergent evolution.
Under a strict definition, the species is native only to a small slice of southeastern Australia: southern Queensland plus most of New South Wales on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range. A broader group of related populations covers much of Australia's northern and eastern coast, along with New Guinea and nearby islands. It eats both plants and animals.
Did you know?
- The scientific name Petaurus breviceps means short-headed rope-dancer.
- Gliders in the genus Petaurus are popular exotic pets.
- The IUCN lists the sugar glider as least concern.
Questions about the sugar glider
Where do sugar gliders live?
Strictly defined, in a small area of southeastern Australia, with related populations in northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea.
Why is it called a sugar glider?
It likes sweet foods like nectar and sap, and it can glide through the air.
Sources
- Wikidata Q723435, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Sugar glider, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.