The sugar glider is a small, nocturnal marsupial that glides between trees. It lives in family groups in tree hollows and feeds on sap, nectar and insects.
Interesting facts
- It uses its bushy tail to steer while gliding.
- Sugar gliders feed on sweet tree sap and gum, which gives them their name.
- Groups share tree-hollow nests and huddle together to keep warm.
- In Tasmania, introduced sugar gliders prey on the eggs and chicks of the endangered swift parrot.
- They mark group members with scent.
- They are popular exotic pets but have complex needs in captivity.
Behaviour
Sugar gliders are nocturnal and highly social. In cold weather, they can enter torpor to save energy.
Breeding and young
After about 16 days, one or two tiny young crawl into the pouch, where they stay for about 70 days.
Threats and conservation
Loss of old trees with hollows, predation by cats and foxes, and collisions with barbed-wire fences.
Where to see it
- Spotlighting walks in eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia
- Lamington National Park, Queensland
- Atherton Tablelands, Queensland
- Blue Mountains, New South Wales
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
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