Petaurus notatus

Krefft’s Glider, formerly Sugar Glider at Burra, NSW

Petaurus notatus at Burra, NSW - 16 Nov 2024
Petaurus notatus at Burra, NSW - 16 Nov 2024
Petaurus notatus at Burra, NSW - 16 Nov 2024
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Identification history

Petaurus notatus 17 Nov 2024 DonFletcher
Unidentified 17 Nov 2024 Safarigirl

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User's notes

Not sure if sugar glider or squirrel glider. Glided about 100m

4 comments

DonFletcher wrote:
   17 Nov 2024
Hi @Safarigirl, many thanks for this report. This is the only example of the species reported on Nature Mapper for many kilometres in all directions, so well done. I have recorded it as a Krefft's Glider (Petaurus notatus), for these reasons. 1. There have been just a few claimed sightings of Squirrel Gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) in the entire Canberra Region, but no example of the species has ever been confirmed by the definitive measurements, and confusion between Sugar/
Squirrel species based on sightings is notorious. 2. What we previously called 'Sugar Gliders' are in fact three species and our local one is Krefft's Glider (Petaurus notatus). True Sugars are near the coast and to our north.

It is most unusual to see them in daylight like this, except when their nest is disturbed. Maybe you disturbed its hiding place somehow.
Safarigirl wrote:
   17 Nov 2024
Thanks @DonFletcher. Unfortunately it’s home was in an over 300 year old yellow box that had died this year. Yes we disturbed it by having the canopy removed for safety reasons but are leaving the barrel and all possible (numerous) nesting hollows for habitat. It did seem to have a white underbelly and was quite large compared with sugar gliders seen previously at this location.
DonFletcher wrote:
   17 Nov 2024
Hi again @Safarigirl, Then maybe its worth installing a nest box. Excellent local information here https://nestboxtales.com/

If you measured its upper tooth row to be >18.8 mm (thus showing it was a Squirrel Glider) or showed it was a Squirrel from a DNA sample, it would be a red letter day. If you ever get a carcass, don't discard it.
Safarigirl wrote:
   18 Nov 2024
Thanks @DonFletcher I’ve added a photo of the habitat tree, hopefully it will return to its hollow there (of which many if not all remain).
I hope we never find a carcass but if we do we’ll be sure to get further identification.

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