Squirrel Glider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Flying squirrel.
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| Petaurus norfolcensis (Kerr, 1792) |
The Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) is a gliding mammal of the marsupial family Petauridae. It is one of the wrist-winged gliders of the Petaurus genus.
Like most of the wrist-winged gliders, the Squirrel Glider is endemic to Australia. It is about twice the size of the related Sugar Glider (P. breviceps). The Squirrel Glider eats mostly fruit and insects. They can glide up to 15 metres from tree to tree. They tend not to glide in captivity.
Similar species are the Sugar Glider and the Mahogany Glider. [3] [4]
[edit] References
- ^ Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 55. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group (1996). Petaurus norfolcensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-05-11.
- ^ Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press (pp. 94-95). ISBN 0-19-550870-X
- ^ Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland (First printed in 2000). Queensland Museum Publication (p. 337). ISBN 0-7242-9349-3
[edit] External links
- Gliders in the Spotlight — Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland
- Keeping squirrel gliders in captivity (Marsupial Society)
- Elizabeth Ann Flaherty: Locomotor performance and cost of transport in the squirrel glider, Petaurus Norfolcensis (Petauridae) (pdf)
