Sugar Glider are small, nocturnal mammals that are usually active at night and sleep during the day. Like kangaroos, they are marsupials and as such, possess a pouch in which the female sugar glider raises her young. In the wild, they live in New Guinea and the eastern coast of Australia in coastal or rainforests. They are social animals who usually live in groups of 6-10. They should not be kept as single pets. Sugar gliders have unique nutritional requirements which must be properly met to maintain good health (see our handout "Sugar gliders - feeding").

The Sugar Glider measures 36cm (14.1in) for its full body length. 17cm (6.7in) of this is made up of the tail. Males are slightly larger than the females; they weigh 140g (4.9oz) on average while females are generally 115g (4oz)

The most prolific sugar gliders are the blue-grey ones. In some rare cases yellow, tan and albino morphs can occur. The belly, throat and chest are coloured cream. From the nose to halfway along the back is a black stripe. On the male this parts on the forehead and a patch of exposed skin is visible. This is the scent gland.

Between the fifth toe and the first finger these gliders have a membrane or patagium. This membrane is what the gliders use to fly through the air.

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