The sugar glider is the Australian marsupial that glides between trees using a membrane called a patagium.
Sugar gliders are small, nocturnal possums found in Australia and New Guinea. A furry membrane stretches from each wrist to the ankle. When the animal leaps, it spreads its limbs and uses this patagium to control a long, directed glide between tree trunks or branches.
Sugar gliders do not fly under their own power. Gliding helps them cross gaps efficiently, escape predators, and reach food without descending to the ground. Their long, bushy tails act as stabilizers and help with steering.
The species eats a varied diet that includes nectar, pollen, tree sap, insects, and other invertebrates. It lives socially, often in family groups that share a nest in a tree hollow. The name “sugar glider” refers both to its preference for sweet foods and its aerial movement.