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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 15 years (captivity) Observations: One wild born specimen was at least 15 years when it died in captivity (Richard Weigl 2005).
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Behavior

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Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Conservation Status

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Since Petaurus australis is strongly tied to certain species of eucalypt trees, removal or damage to these trees results in habitat reduction. Eucalypt forests in Australia are cut for timber or cleared for agricultural purposes. It is also apparent that removal of old growth elements from unlogged forests or from previously lightly-logged forests results in a decline in density of these animals. Because the species requires a variety of trees to feed on in mixed forest over large home ranges, and because it needs hollow trees for nesting, its conservation requires the preservation of large tracts of forests.

Besides reduction of habitat from logging, there is evidence that expansion of rainforest into the wet sclerophyll forests preferred by Petaurus australis also has diminished its range. Rainforest expansion is believed to be due to a reduction in the intensity of fires along the western margins of rainforests, possibly caused by controlled burning of undergrowth by cattle ranchers. (Environment Australia Biodiversity Group; WIRES NSW; Harrington and Sanderson 1994; Lindenmayer et al., 1999)

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Trophic Strategy

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The diet of Petaurus australis consists largely of nectar, pollen, and the sap of eucalypts. Sap is obtained by incising the bark on the upper branches and trunks of Eucalyptus resinifera trees and drinking the ooze. Some individual trees are clearly favored and become very heavily scarred. Its diet also includes insects, arachnids, grubs, and possibly small vertebrates. (WIRES NSW; Craig, 1985)

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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Distribution

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Petaurus australis occurs in native eucalypt forests along the eastern and southeastern coasts of Australia in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. It ranges inland as much as several hundred kilometers and has an extensive, but patchy distribution. It is generally found in low densities and considered rare throughout most of its range, although it can be locally common (e.g. as in east Gippsland). (Environment Australia Biodiversity Group, 1999)

Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native )

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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Habitat

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Petaurus australis lives in coastal and open foothill forest and woodland, and in wet eucalypt forests. In eastern Australia it lives only in tall, mature eucalypt forests in regions of high rainfall, with temperate to subtropical climates. The northern Queensland population lives in forests at high altitudes with lower temperatures. It occurs in greatest numbers in coastal and foothill forest and woodland, and in lesser numbers in wet eucalypt forests. Winter flowering eucalypts (e.g. Eucalyptus maculata) may be important in habitat preference in southern Queensland. High densities seen in New South Wales may correlate to a continuous supply of nectar due to a greater diversity of eucalypts. (Environment Australia Biodiversity Group; WIRES NSW)

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Life Expectancy

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Average lifespan
Status: captivity:
10.0 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild:
10.0 years.

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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Morphology

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Body length in Petaurus australis ranges from 27 to 30 cm, and tail length ranges from 42 to 48 cm. Its pouch has two incompletely divided compartments divided by a well developed septum, a feature unique among marsupials. The fur is fine and silky. Its tail is prehensile and fully covered in fur. Its coloration is dusky gray-brown dorsally and creamy to yellowish-orange ventrally, with black feet and an oblique dark strip on its thigh. It has semi-naked ears and a pink nose. A gliding membrane is connected from its wrists and ankles. Males are larger than females. (WIRES NSW; Nowak, 1991)

Range mass: 435 to 710 g.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Reproduction

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Mating has been observed while pairs were clinging to the underside of a branch. Females have two nipples in the incompletely divided pouch. Typically, females bear a single young, although twins have been observed. Breeding is limited to August through December in Victoria but occurs throughout the year in Queensland. Young are carried in the mother's pouch for about 100 days, after which time they are left in a nest for an additional 60 days. Both parents provide care for the young, which become independent after 18 to 24 months, and become sexually mature at about 2 years of age. (WIRES NSW; Nowak, 1991; Craig, 1985, Goldingay, 1992).

Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual

Average number of offspring: 1.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female:
725 days.

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Secord, R. 2000. "Petaurus australis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html
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Ross Secord, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Yellow-bellied glider

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The yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis), also known as the fluffy glider, is an arboreal and nocturnal gliding possum that lives in native eucalypt forests in eastern Australia, from northern Queensland south to Victoria.[3][4][5][6]

Habitat

The yellow-bellied glider inhabits forests and woodlands in eastern Australia and is found at a range of altitudes from sea level to 1400 metres.[7][8]

In North Queensland, the sub-species occurs at altitudes over 700 m above sea level.[9] With natural discontinuities and habitat clearings, there are 13 different populations in three distinct places to find this glider in North Queensland. 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.[9] With their habitat in danger, the yellow-bellied glider is classified as uncommon to rare and is named vulnerable to the tropics. This species is more widespread in southern Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

Appearance and behaviour

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.[9][10] Its body length is smaller reaching to about 30 cm long and the marsupial weighs a total of 700 g.[9] The males are usually bigger than the females.[6]

There are two subspecies:

  • P. a. australis in the south (which is locally common)
  • P. a. reginae in northern Queensland (which is rare and threatened with logging)

The yellow-bellied glider is the largest species of Petaurus, the wrist-winged gliders, a group of arboreal marsupials, and can glide up to 150 m.[11] The yellow-bellied glider has been observed to jump up to 100 m[12] or 114 m.[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 genus Petaurus.[13]

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 family. It is also one of the most vocal possum gliders. It has a distinctive growling call that it uses as means of communication.[14] It has been recorded to have been heard up to 500m away.[12]

A recording of the distinctive call can be heard online.[15]

Reproduction

Yellow-bellied Glider

Breeding occurs in spring in the south, but throughout the year in Queensland in the north. Sexual maturity for the glider is around two 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][12] While in the dens both parents will care for the offspring.[6]

In North Queensland the dens are made in Eucalyptus grandis trees[12] and are lined with leaves. Their total life expectancy is about six years.[12]

Diet

Yellow-bellied Glider

The yellow-bellied 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 shows a strong preference for trees with a smooth bark, possibly relating to the volume of sap flow.[16] It obtains the tree sap by biting a 'V' shape wedge/notch into the bark to promote the flow of gum and sap.[14][17] It usually incises the bark on the trunks or upper branches of the trees.[6]

Conservation

Habitat loss and fragmentation due to timber-harvesting and agriculture are the main threats to this species. The previous felling of old nest trees together with regular proscribed fire regimes and general timber removal have led to a degradation of the remaining habitats.[2][18] Previously it had been listed as a species of "Least Concern" because of a wide distribution, including several protected areas. This listing was changed to "Near Threatened" in the 2016 IUCN Red List publication because of a population decrease of 30% over three generations.[2]

References

  1. ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 54–55. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ a b c Woinarski, J.; Burbidge, A.A.; Johnson, C.N. (2016). "Petaurus australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T16730A21959641. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T16730A21959641.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Yellow-Bellied Glider" (PDF). Environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Yellow-bellied glider – Petaurus australis facts". thewebsiteofeverything.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  5. ^ Gliding Possums – Environment, New South Wales Government
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Ross Secord. "ADW: Petaurus australis: INFORMATION". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  7. ^ Kavanagh, R.P.; Stanton, M.A. (1998). "Nocturnal forest birds and arboreal marsupials of the southwestern slopes, New South Wales". Australian Zoologist. 30 (4): 449–466. doi:10.7882/az.1998.012.
  8. ^ Kavanagh, Rodney P.; Bamkin, Khia L. (1995). "Distribution of nocturnal forest birds and mammals in relation to the logging mosaic in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia". Biological Conservation. 71: 41–53. doi:10.1016/0006-3207(94)00019-M.
  9. ^ a b c d "Approved Conservation Advice for Petaurus australis unnamed subsp. (Fluffy Glider)" (PDF). Environment.gov.au. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  10. ^ Cronin, Leonard & Westmacott, Marion (illustrator) (1991). Key Guide to Australian Mammals. Reed Books Pty. Ltd. pp. 64–65. ISBN 0-7301-0355-2.
  11. ^ Jones, Cath & Parish, Steve (2006). Field Guide to Australian Mammals. Steve Parish Publishing Pty. Ltd. pp. 86, 88. ISBN 1-74021-743-8.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Fluffy Glider". australianfauna.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  13. ^ Menkhorst, Peter & Knight, Frank (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. pp. 94–95. ISBN 0-19-550870-X.
  14. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "Yellow Bellied Glider call - Sherbrooke Forest". Retrieved 15 March 2022 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ Bennett, Andrew F. (2016). "Eucalypts, wildlife and nature conservation: from individual trees to landscape patterns". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 128 (1): 71–86. doi:10.1071/RS16007.
  17. ^ Strahan, Ronald (1995). A Photographic Guide to Mammals of Australia. The Australian Museum, New Holland (Publishers) Ltd. p. 58. ISBN 1-85368-583-6.
  18. ^ Ryan, Michelle (General); Burwell, Chris (Scientific), eds. (June 2000). Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland. Queensland Museum. p. 338. ISBN 0-7242-9349-3.
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Yellow-bellied glider: Brief Summary

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The yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis), also known as the fluffy glider, is an arboreal and nocturnal gliding possum that lives in native eucalypt forests in eastern Australia, from northern Queensland south to Victoria.

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