| Mahogany Glider[1] | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Petauridae |
| Genus: | Petaurus |
| Species: | P. gracilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Petaurus gracilis (de Vis, 1883) |
|
The Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis) is an endangered possum. The Mahogany Glider is a similar species to the Sugar Glider, Squirrel Glider and Yellow-bellied Glider.[3][4][5][6][7]
The Mahogany Glider is restricted to a very small area, between Ingham and Tully in North Queensland, Australia [4][5] [8]. The reason for the Mahogany Glider being one of Australia's threatened species is loss of habitat, with over 80% of habitat having been cleared for the growing of sugar cane, pine trees and banana crops, and also cleared for cattle.[2][9][6]
The Mahogany Glider was lost to science for over 100 years, until it was rediscovered in 1989.[10][3][11]
Unfortunately, the Mahogany Glider continues to live a precarious existence, as some farmers are continuing to clear the glider's habitat for farming purposes.[2][8][7]
The diet of the Mahogany Glider is Eucalypt sap and gum, acacia sap and acacia seeds, Grass tree sap, pollen, nectar, and insects.[3][4][5][12][13]
The Mahogany Glider's main predators are scrub pythons and owls.[14]
Recovery plan
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service enacted a recovery program for the Mahogany Glider (2000-2004) [15]. Also, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland have a recovery program for the preservation of gliders, including the Mahogany Glider.[16]
References
- ^ Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M.. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 55. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
- ^ a b c Burnett, S., Winter, J. & Martin, R. (2008). Petaurus gracilis. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as endangered
- ^ a b c Jones, C. and Parish, S. (2006). Field Guide to Australian Mammals. Steve Parish Publishing Pty. Ltd (pp. 86, 89). ISBN 1-74021-743-8
- ^ a b c Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press (pp. 94-95). ISBN 0-19-550870-X
- ^ a b c Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland (First printed in 2000). Queensland Museum Publication (p. 337). ISBN 0-7242-9349-3
- ^ a b Mahogany Glider - Arkive]
- ^ a b Mahogany Gliders - Chakoro Nature Reserve
- ^ a b The Mahogany Glider - Stephen Jackson - James Cook University
- ^ Mahogany Glider - Queensland Museum - Endangered Species - Queensland's vanishing wildlife
- ^ Van Dyck, S.and Strahan, R. (2008) "The Mammals of Australia". ISBN 9-781-87706-925-3
- ^ Mahogany Glider - Australian Fauna
- ^ Mahogany Glider - Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland
- ^ Mahogany Glider - Animal info
- ^ "Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis)". http://www.australianfauna.com. 2004-2006. http://www.australianfauna.com/mahoganyglider.php. Retrieved 2007-03-04.
- ^ *Mahogany Glider Recovery Plan — Department of Environment and Heritage - Australian Government
- ^ Gliders in the Spotlight — Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland
Bibliography
- The Australian Faunal Directory
- Van Dyck, S. (1993). The taxonomy and distribution of Petaurus gracilis (Marsupialia: Petauridae), with notes on its ecology and distribution status, Mem. Queensland Museum 33: 77-122
- Van Dyck, S. (1995). Mahogany Glider Petaurus gracilis. Pp. 232-233 in Strahan, R. (ed.) The Mammals of Australia. The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney: Reed New Holland 2nd Edition 756 pp.
- Jackson, S.J. (2000). Home range and den use of the Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis). Wildlife Research 27: 49-60.
- Tisdell, C., Wilson, C. and Swarna Nantha, H. (2005). Policies for saving a rare Australian glider: economics and ecology. Biological Conservation 123(2): 237-248.
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