Editing Sugar glider (section)

==Appearance and anatomy==
[[File:Petaurus breviceps 1.jpg|thumb|left|This male's forehead bald spot is a scent gland. The eyes are adapted for night vision and the ears swivel.]]
The sugar glider has a squirrel-like body with a long, partially (weakly)<ref name="Hilltop">{{cite web|last=Pye|first=Geoffrey W.|title=A guide to medicine and surgery in sugar gliders|url=http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/sugarglider.htm|publisher=Hilltop Animal Hospital|access-date=2 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321103246/http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/sugarglider.htm|archive-date=21 March 2015}}</ref> [[prehensile tail]]. The length from the nose to the tip of the tail is about {{convert|24|-|30|cm|0|abbr=on}}, and males and females weigh {{convert|140|and|115|g|oz|0}} respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wildlife Queensland – Sugar Glider|url=http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife/speciesprofile/mammals/gliders/sugar_glider.html|publisher=Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland|access-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223183947/http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife/speciesprofile/mammals/gliders/sugar_glider.html|archive-date=23 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Heart rate]] range is 200–300 beats per minute, and [[respiratory rate]] is 16–40 breaths per minute.<ref>{{cite web|title=Basic Health Care Information / General Wellness Exam|url=http://www.sugarglidervetinfo.com/Health-Care-and-Wellness-Exam.html|publisher=Sugar Glider Vet|access-date=27 October 2012}}</ref> The sugar glider is a [[Sexual dimorphism|sexually dimorphic]] species, with males typically larger than females. Sexual dimorphism has likely evolved due to increased mate competition arising through social group structure; and is more pronounced in regions of higher latitude, where mate competition is greater due to increased food availability.<ref name=Quin(1996)>{{cite journal|last1=Quin|first1=DG|last2=Smith|first2=AP|last3=Norton|first3=TW|title=Eco-graphic variation in size and sexual dimorphism in sugar gliders and squirrel gliders (Marsupialia: Petauridae)|journal=Australian Journal of Zoology|date=1996|volume=44|pages=19–45|doi=10.1071/ZO9960019}}</ref>

The fur coat on the sugar glider is thick, soft, and is usually blue-grey; although some have been known to be yellow, tan or (rarely) [[Albinism in biology|albino]].{{efn|Domestic [[in-breeding]] of [[recessive gene]]tic [[phenotype]] defects can produce other colour variations not found in nature, such as an all-white [[leucistic]] [[heterozygote]]}} A black stripe is seen from its nose to midway on its back. Its belly, throat, and chest are cream in colour. Males have four [[scent gland]]s, located on the forehead, chest, and two paracloacal (associated with, but not part of the [[cloaca]], which is the common opening for the intestinal, urinal and genital tracts) that are used for marking of group members and territory.<ref name=smith(73) /> Scent glands on the head and chest of males appear as bald spots. Females also have a paracloacal scent gland and a scent gland in the pouch, but do not have scent glands on the chest or forehead.<ref name=smith(73) />

The sugar glider is nocturnal; its large eyes help it to [[Rod vision|see at night]] and its ears swivel to help locate prey in the dark. The eyes are set far apart, allowing more precise [[triangulation]] from launching to landing locations while gliding.<ref name=Jackson(1999)>{{cite journal|last1=Jackson|first1=S. M.|title=Glide angle in the genus "Petaurus" and a review of gliding in mammals|journal=Mammal Review|date=1999|volume=30|pages=9–30|doi=10.1046/j.1365-2907.2000.00056.x}}</ref> Sugar gliders have demonstrated trichromacy in behavioral testing with sensitivity in the ultraviolet/blue, green, and red ranges. Ultraviolet sensitivity is corroborated by genetic evidence. The physiological source of their middle wavelength sensitivity is not yet confirmed.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nielsen |first1=Leah |date=4 March 2025 |title=Trichromacy and ultraviolet vision in a nocturnal marsupial |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=15 |issue=7585 |page=7585 |doi=10.1038/s41598-025-92039-z|pmid=40038358 |pmc=11880520 }}</ref>

Each foot on the sugar glider has five digits, with an opposable toe on each hind foot. These opposable toes are clawless, and bend such that they can touch all the other digits, like a human [[thumb]], allowing it to firmly grasp branches. The second and third digits of the hind foot are partially [[Syndactyly|syndactylous]] (fused together), forming a grooming comb.<ref name="Hilltop"/> The fourth digit of the forefoot is sharp and elongated, aiding in extraction of insects under the bark of trees.<ref name=smith(73) />

The gliding membrane extends from the outside of the fifth digit of each forefoot to the first digit of each hind foot. When the legs are stretched out, this membrane allows the sugar glider to glide a considerable distance. The membrane is supported by well developed tibiocarpalis, humerodorsalis and tibioabdominalis muscles, and its movement is controlled by these supporting muscles in conjunction with trunk, limb and tail movement.<ref name=Endo(1998) />

Lifespan in the wild is up to 9 years; is typically up to 12 years in captivity,<ref name="Tasmania Online" /> and the maximum reported lifespan is 17.8 years.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = de Magalhaes | first1 = J. P. | last2 = Budovsky | first2 = A. | last3 = Lehmann | first3 = G. | last4 = Costa | first4 = J. | last5 = Li | first5 = Y. | last6 = Fraifeld | first6 = V. | last7 = Church | first7 = G. M. | year = 2009 | title = The Human Ageing Genomic Resources: online databases and tools for biogerontologists | journal = Aging Cell | volume = 8 | issue = 1| pages = 65–72 | pmid = 18986374 | doi=10.1111/j.1474-9726.2008.00442.x | pmc=2635494}} {{cite web|title=AnAge entry for ''Petaurus breviceps''|url=http://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Petaurus_breviceps}}</ref>