Range

Australia is the native home of the feathertail glider. Here they can be found along the east coast in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Habitat

They make their home in forests, rainforests, and woodlands. Near human settlements they may live in parks and gardens.

Where they live alongside humans they may make use of telephone boxes along with the roofs and walls of houses which provide warmth.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place from late winter to summer in the south of their range. In the north they are able to breed year round. Females will breed with multiple males and each litter may have different fathers for the different individuals.

Females produce multiple litters of 3-4 young each breeding season. These are raised in a pouch on the underside of the mother.

Joeys will spend 9 weeks in the pouch.

A female is sexually mature by 8 months old while males do not mature till 12 months old.

Behavior

Feathertail gliders are best known for their ability to glide. They will jump off from a tree and stretch out their legs and arms which stretches the folds of skin turning them in to a parachute. These glides will allow them to travel up to 28m (91ft) though 14m (45.5ft) is the average.

By gliding they are able to avoid predators on the ground by remaining in the trees. They are almost entirely arboreal though they may forage on the ground occasionally.

These animals have special toe pads with serrated pads which help them to grip on to smooth surfaces such as leaves and even glass.

Feathertail gliders form groups of between 20 and 30 members which will feed and nest together.

When it is cold the group will huddle together for warmth. During periods of cold weather they may enter a torpor. This is a period of reduced activity which conserves their energy.

Their nest is a sphere of ferns, bark and leaves. It is called a drey.

They are primarily nocturnal and will emerge at night to feed.

Feathertail gliders are mostly silent but will hiss if threatened and they also make a ticking and popping sound.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the feather-tailed glider include birds such as kookaburras, owls and currawongs, bats, antechinus along with reptiles such as snakes.

Introduced predators such as the red fox and the domestic cat will also hunt them.

When threatened by a predator they may drop to the ground and freeze.

While their numbers are stable in some areas they face a localized threat from logging.

Quick facts

Their scientific name means pygmy acrobat.

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