Krefft’s Glider, formerly Sugar Glider at Burra, NSW
Identification history
| Petaurus notatus | 17 Nov 2024 | DonFletcher | ||
| Unverified | 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.
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.
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.
I hope we never find a carcass but if we do we’ll be sure to get further identification.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.189453-35.568756
- Altitude 846.8m
- Places Burra, NSW
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 16 Nov 2024 03:40 PM Recorded on
- Safarigirl Recorded by
-
Collections
Safarigirl Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Petaurus notatus Gliders Possums & Gliders Mammals
Additional information
- Alive / healthy Animal health
Species information
- Petaurus notatus Scientific name
- Krefft’s Glider, formerly Sugar Glider Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 953m Recorded at altitude
-
Synonyms
Petaurus breviceps
Record quality
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes