| Yellow-bellied Glider[1] | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Petauridae |
| Genus: | Petaurus |
| Species: | P. australis |
| Binomial name | |
| Petaurus australis Shaw, 1791 |
|
| Distribution of the Yellow-bellied Glider | |
The Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) is an arboreal[3] and nocturnal[4] gliding possum[5] that lives in a narrow range of native eucalypt forests[6] down eastern Australia, reaching from northern Queensland to Victoria.
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The Yellow-bellied Glider is found at altitudes over 700m above sea level.[7] With natural discontinuities and habitat clearing there are 13 different populations in three distinct places to find this glider. One population resides on Mount Windsor Tableland, another on Mount Carbine Tableland, and the third lives in a linear habitat going from Atherton to Kirrama on the Atherton Tableland. These three populations together are estimated to contain around 6000 individual gliders.[7] With their habitat in danger the Yellow-bellied Glider is classified as uncommon to rare and is named vulnerable to the tropics.
The Yellow-bellied Glider is a marsupial about the size of a rabbit. It typically has grey-brown fur on its back and has an off-white to orange or yellow belly. It has large pointed ears and a long tail that can grow to reach 48 cm in length.[7][8] Its body length is smaller reaching to about 30 cm long and the marsupial weighs a total of 700g.[7] The males are usually bigger than the females.[6]
There are two subspecies:
The Yellow-bellied Glider is the largest species of Petaurus, the wrist-winged gliders, a group of arboreal marsupials, and can glide up to 150m.[9] The Yellow-bellied Glider has be observed to jump up to 100m[10] or 114m [6]
It is similar in appearance to the Mahogany Glider, although slightly larger in size. It is also similar in appearance to the Greater Glider, a species that is more closely related to the Lemur-like Ringtail Possum than to the other members of the Petaurus genus.[11]
The Yellow-bellied Glider is gregarious and spends the day in a leaf-lined tree hole, which is usually shared with other members of the same species. It is also one of the most vocal possum gliders. It has a distinctive growling call that it uses as means of communication.[12] It has been recorded to have been heard up to 500m away.[10]
Breeding occurs in spring in the south, but throughout the year in the Queensland in the north. Sexual maturity for the glider is around 2 years of age when the glider will then[6] pair up with another glider, usually in a monogamous relationship and mate August to December.[6] The offspring are normally born between May and September. They then stay in the marsupium for about 100 days. The young are then left in the den for 2–3 months before they are weaned from the mother and go off on their own.[6][10] While in the dens both parents will care for the offspring.[6]
The dens are made in Eucalyptus grandis trees[10] and are lined with leaves. Their total life expectancy is about 6 years.[10]
The Yellow-belled Glider's diet consists of nectar, honeydew, insects, pollen and a wide spread of tree sap including different Eucalyptus sap, Corymbia sap, some Angophora sap, and Lophostemon sap.[3] It obtains the tree sap by biting a 'V' shape wedge/notch into the bark to promote the flow of gum and sap.[12][13] It usually incises the bark on the trunks or upper branches of the trees.[6]
The two primary threats to the species are barbed-wire fences and logging, specifically felling of old nest trees.[14] It is currently listed as a species of "Least Concern" because it has a wide distribution, including several protected areas. While it is a rare species, there is a presumed large population which is unlikely to be decreasing at a rate that would threaten the species under the criteria for current categories.[2]