Krefft’s Glider, formerly Sugar Glider at Forde, ACT
Identification history
| Petaurus notatus | 10 Jun 2026 | DonFletcher | ||
| Petaurus norfolcensis | 9 Jun 2026 | DougT |
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User's notes
I think squirrel glider but potentially Krefft's glider as well? About 20cm from head to tail, bushy grey tail.
6 comments
DougT
wrote:
10 Jun 2026
Hi @DonFletcher, I don't disagree with your ID but I was wondering what the differences are from this photo that I can tell them apart with?
DonFletcher
wrote:
10 Jun 2026
Hi @DougT I have verified as Krefft's because I think there has never been a confirmed norfolcensis in the ACT. The two species are mostly extremely difficult to separate from photos, unless it is one of the Krefft's individuals with a white tail tip, contrary to the confidence displayed by some people on the internet. The two very old norfolcensis records shown in ALA as being in Queanbeyan (specimen backed in Aust Museum) were at the Post Office/Railway Station, therefore were likely to have been in transit from elsewhere. However norfolcensis has been recorded from fairly close, ie north of Yass, so could turn up here, but as far as I know it has not done so. Measurements of teeth are needed to definitively confirm the ID beyond doubt. Fluffiness of the tail base is often quoted but is not a reliable guide.
DonFletcher
wrote:
10 Jun 2026
@DougT Squirrel Gliders never have a white tail tip, are larger on average than Krefft's, have a slightly different shaped nose in profile, and have longer fur at the base of the tail so their tail base looks even more 'fluffed out' than the tail base of Krefft's (allegedly). Also in some areas there are other local differences, for example I have seen people saying that their local Squirrels have different coloured/ shaped stripes on their heads to their local Squirrels.
DougT
wrote:
10 Jun 2026
@DonFletcher Awesome thanks Don! It does look slightly different especially in the face patterns and shape to one which I am fairly confident was a Squirrel Glider, in Monga.
DonFletcher
wrote:
10 Jun 2026
Squirrels are threatened and can theoretically block development, at least in NSW, so that, plus the scarcity of local records, is an incentive to claim Squirrels from sightings alone. Maybe someone at Mulligans (where they are abundant due to the lack of foxes and cats) or somewhere else in our region, will find a dead one, or capture one, that can be properly checked and it will turn out to be a Squirrel, but until that day comes, I will tend to default to Kreffts as the simplest explanation.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.167689-35.163057
- Maps Mulligans Flat
- Places Forde, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 7 Jun 2026 06:58 PM Recorded on
- DougT Recorded by
-
Collections
DougT NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Latest Petaurus notatus Gliders Possums & Gliders Mammals
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