admin Site Admin
Posts: 18
|
Posted: 07 Feb 2023 23:28 initial question | |
|
Like all marsupials, sugar gliders are true omnivores. They adjust their diets based on their surroundings, eating insects, larvae, spiders, sap, gum, pollen, and plant blossoms.
Their natural environment consists of rainforests and forests where they can climb from tree to tree and use their rudder-like tails to navigate. When frightened, sugar gliders will emit a smell that can help them avoid predators.
They are very small mammals that measure about 6 inches long from nose to tip of tail and weigh between four and five ounces (80 to 160 grams). The rudder-like tail is prehensile, helping them carry leaves to their nest.
These tiny, pocket-sized marsupials live in the rainforests of Australia (the Eastern part), Papua New Guinea, Tasmania, and multiple surrounding islands. The short, silky fur is grayish on the top and creamy white underneath.
The sugar glider’s fur is covered with a thick layer of glands that secrete a scented secretion to protect it from predation. This gland is found on their chests, under their ears, on their backs, and on their hind legs.
In the wild, sugar gliders forage in tree hollows, catching insects and small animals to eat. They also eat flowers, honeydew, and tree sap.
Gliders in captivity are often fed a commercially available glider-specific pellet and nectar supplement. In addition, they may be given fresh fruits and vegetables. They also eat mealworms on a daily basis, preferably in small amounts. |
|