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)
🤓 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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