Subclass : Marsupialia
Order : Diprotodontia
Suborder : Phalangerida
Superfamily : Petauroidea
Family : Petauridae
Sugar gliders are little marsupials that have been taken as exotic pets in many countries. These creatures are different from normal pet rodents like hamsters, mice and rats. They have character, mood swings, emotional bonds and the sweetest nature for a pet that comes in such a small package. Commonly mistaken as flying squirrels, sugar gliders can be both easy and hard to take care. Their general care is much more complicated than pet rodents and they require a lot of affection and attention from its owners. Look at it this way, gliders are like 3 year old kids. They act cute and can annoy us sometimes while at the same time need our total attention and bond.
What is a sugar glider ?
A sugar glider is a small marsupial possum from Australia, and parts of Indonesia and New Guinea. They are not related to flying squirrels, and are considered exotic animals in the United States. Sugar Gliders are nocturnal, meaning they are active during the night, and asleep during the day.
Where did they get that name ?
Their name comes from their two obvious characteristics. Sugar or Honey because of their preference of sweet things, and Gliders for their gliding membrane called a patagium.
What does a sugar glider look like ?
An adult sugar glider head and body measure about 5 to 6 inches in length with a tail equal in length to aid in balance and gliding. An adult male in proper body condition weighs about 100g to 130g, where as an adult female will be around 90g.
The tail is fluffy, often curls on the end and usually is longer than the body length.
Sugar gliders have hairless ears that can be moved independently in order to pick up the smallest sounds.
A "wild type" or "standard" color sugar glider is gray or brownish in color with a long black stripe that runs from its’ nose to the end of the back. The underside of a sugar glider is a cream or white color. The last inch or so of the tail is black or brown.
They have large protruding eyes, like most nocturnal animals, to allow for a wider field of vision.
A sugar glider has five digits on each forefoot, with sharp claws to help grip branches. The hind feet also have 5 digits, and include a partially fused together 2nd and 3rd digit used for a grooming comb. There is also an enlarged, clawless, opposable big toe.
The sugar glider has a patagium, a furred membrane of skin that connects to the wrists and ankles on each side of the glider, used for gliding.
Sugar glider joeys are normally a nice slivery grey but as they age, they will shed away this soft joey coat and replace with their true colours. Some glider colours that we have here are the normal grays and a few shades of browns. Some would turn brown if they constantly stay in coconuts because of staining to the fur. You should not worry about the colours, for each sugar glider is unique in its own little way.
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