The Pygmy Glider, also known as the Feathertailed Glider, is the world's smallest gliding animal. They are native to Australia. Found primarily in the canopy of forests in Eastern and Southeastern Australia, the Pygmy Glider does most of its feeding in the Eucalyptus trees, in which many of the species make their homes. They feed primarily off of insects and fruit, although they are equipped for, and do sometimes eat, nectar and pollen. Pygmy Gliders reproduce primarily between July and January, during which time females usually produce two litters. As many as four babies are born in a litter, although at least one usually dies before reaching maturity. After being born, baby Pygmy Gliders enter their mother's pouch, where they stay and suckle for about nine weeks. When raising young, the female Pygmy Glider feeds and drinks during the late afternoon. Most of the time, however, Pygmy Gliders are nocturnal. Pygmy Gliders, while most content nesting in trees, will make a home in any enclosed space. They form spherical nests, called "dreys," of leaves, bark, and fibers. Pygmy Gliders build their dreys in everything from trees, to telephone interchange boxes, to the abandoned homes of other animals. Pygmy Gliders live in groups of as many of 20 animals. However, these groups are not stable and undergo a large amount of flux as members of the group move away, and others join. Mothers and their young communicate through high-frequency sounds and by marking regions with urine. While the animals live together, they feed together only in captivity. The Pygmy Glider can live in a variety of habitats. They will forage on the ground, in large trees, and in tall grasses. They have been observed feeding in trees as much as 40 meters off the ground! Like other gliders, the Pygmy Glider glides by means of a membrane that extends from the elbows to the knees. They use their tail to steer and brake. The Pygmy Glider is the smallest of the gliders. It is about the size of a mouse around 80mm. Their tail is the same length as their body, adding another 80mm to the total length. Pygmy Gliders only weigh about 13 grams. They have a gray-brown back and a white belly. Another common name for the Pygmy Glider, the Feathertailed Glider, originated because their tail resembles a small feather. The Pygmy Glider is perhaps the species of glider most affected by the deforestation of parts of Australia. |