Sugar gliders are marsupials. They are mammals that have a pouch. Sugar gliders spend most of their time in trees in the forests of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Tasmania. Sugar gliders do not fly, but they can glide through the air up to 150 ft. Can a sugar glider be a pet? Find out with these sugar glider facts for kids.
Click here for more animal facts.
What is a Sugar Glider?
A sugar glider is a marsupial. A marsupial is a mammal that has a pouch to develop and carry its babies. Kangaroos and koalas are well-known marsupials.
The scientific name for a sugar glider is Petaurus breviceps which is Latin for short-headed rope dancer.
They are sometimes compared to flying squirrels; however, they are not related. Sugar gliders are in the Petauridae family, which consists of possums.
Where do Sugar Gliders Live?
Sugar gliders are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time in trees.
Sugar gliders are also nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night and sleep during the day.
Sugar gliders live in the forests of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Tasmania.
Sugar gliders can also live in the United States and other countries as exotic pets.
They are sometimes compared to flying squirrels; however, they are not related. Sugar gliders are in the Petauridae family, which consists of possums.
Sugar gliders are social animals and live in groups called colonies.
Colonies can have up to 7 adults and their young.
Sugar gliders in a colony share a nest. Sharing a nest keeps them warm in colder months.
Members of the colony work together to keep each other clean.
What do Sugar Gliders Look Like?
Sugar gliders are small animals. They are about 12-13 inches long from the tip of their nose to the end of their tails.
They weigh, on average, between 3-5 ounces. Their bodies are between 5-6 inches long.
They have thick fur that can be a range of colors between blue-grey, yellow and tan. Their tummies are an off which cream color.
They have a long black strip that runs from their nose to their back and black rings around their eyes.
Characteristics
Sugar gliders are also nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night and sleep during the day.
Sugar gliders can glide from tree to tree using patagium membranes of loose skin attached to their finger and stretches to their toe on each side. They have been known to glide up to 150 ft.
Sugar glides use different sounds to communicate with each other. The sounds include squeaks, barking, and hissing sounds.
Baby Sugar Gliders
Females have a pouch in the middle of their tummy to carry their babies.
Baby sugar gliders develop in their mother’s pouches. Once they are fully developed, they come out of the pouch.
Baby sugar gliders are called joeys.
Joeys are born without fur and with their eyes closed. Their eyes will start to open in 12-14 days.
A Joey stays with its mother for about four months. During that time, its mother teaches it how to survive. After four months, they go out and live independently.
Diet
Sugar gliders are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They eat insects, small vertebrates, bird eggs, and small lizards but prefer the sweet sugary taste of sap and nectar from eucalyptus, acacia, and gum trees.
Predators
Predators of the sugar glider include owls, large birds, and some snakes.
Can you have a pet sugar glider?
The answer is yes, well, sort of. Sugar gliders are small adorable animals. People fall in love with their cute faces. But we shouldn’t purchase animals based solely on appearances. Sugar gliders can live in captivity as a pet. They can live 10-15 years. When thinking of purchasing a sugar glider, you have to ask yourself, is my home a good environment for a sugar glider?
Sugar gliders are nocturnal, so they will be up at night. They live in family groups, and having a sugar glider as a pet will deny them of living in groups they are used to. They like to glide, do I have a large enough space?
Before purchasing a sugar glider, do a lot of research to find out if it should be a pet or left alone in the wild.
