Sugar Glider- Petaurus breviceps

Size- Sugar gliders are 5-6 inches long with a tail of equal length and weigh an average of 140 grams.

Life span- 12-15 years in captivity.

Diet- Sugar gliders are omnivores and feed upon insects, fruit, pollen, tree sap and honeydew (a sugary liquid produced by insects).

Geographic range- Sugar gliders are native to Northern and Eastern Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia.

Habitat- Dry forests.

Reproduction- Sugar gliders are marsupials which means they are born underdeveloped and finish developing within their mother's pouch. Females give birth to 1-2 offspring after a 16 day gestation and the 'joeys' instinctively crawl to the mother's abdominal pouch, where they attach to a teat (nipple) and finish their development for 10 weeks.

Special adaptations- They are referred to as sugar gliders due to their diet and for the fact that they can glide 150 feet by extending the thin and furry folds of skin or membranes (called the patagium) that connects their wrists and ankles. They also have opposable toes on both hands and feet and a semi-prehensile tail which allows them to climb trees more effectively.

Behavior- These possums are social animals, living in colonies of 20-40 individuals. They also have large ears and eyes for their body-size which is advantageous for their nocturnal lifestyle.