What do they look like?
Mahogany Gliders are a relatively large arboreal gliding marsupial with adults weighing up to 500g. Mahogany Gliders vary in colour from mahogany brown to buff to apricot belly. The top of the head is pale and has a dark stripe extending to their rump. The lower half of the Mahogany Glider’s tail is black. The tail is used for stability during glides and especially during landing.
Where do they live?
Mahogany Gliders are endemic to Australia and are restricted to the coastal southern Wet Tropics region of northern Queensland.
Mahogany Gliders are restricted to lowland eucalypt woodlands. The woodland vegetation is shaped and maintained by fire and dominated by eucalypts and Acacias. The gliders need open vegetation structure for gliding.
The Mahogany Glider occurs in areas of high rainfall. Suitable habitat has a sufficient variety of flowering plant species to provide year-round food. The Mahogany Glider feeds mainly on the nectar and pollen from a wide variety of trees and understorey plants, supplemented by arthropods, fruit, plant exudates and honeydew. Important food species are sap from Acacia, Eucalyptus and Melaleuca species and fresh green flower spikes of the Grass-tree.
Fast facts:
1. OUR CONSERVATION STATUS
- National: Endandered
- State: Endangered (QLD)
2. The Mahogany Glider has a long but distinct breeding season with a peak birth time from April to September. Weaning occurs at four to five months and first breeding is at 12–18 months. One litter per year is normal with a second litter produced only if the first is lost. Gliders live for around 5–6 years.
Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis)
OUR CONSERVATION STATUS
- National: Endandered
- State: Endangered (QLD)
HOW MANY OF US ARE THERE?
Unknown
WHERE DO WE LIVE?
Mahogany Gliders are endemic to Australia and are restricted to the coastal southern Wet Tropics region of northern Queensland.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mahogany Gliders are a relatively large arboreal gliding marsupial with adults weighing up to 500g. Mahogany Gliders vary in colour from mahogany brown to buff to apricot belly. The top of the head is pale and has a dark stripe extending to their rump. The lower half of the Mahogany Glider’s tail is black. The tail is used for stability during glides and especially during landing.
OUR HABITAT
Mahogany Gliders are restricted to lowland eucalypt woodlands. The woodland vegetation is shaped and maintained by fire and dominated by eucalypts and Acacias. The gliders need open vegetation structure for gliding.
The Mahogany Glider occurs in areas of high rainfall. Suitable habitat has a sufficient variety of flowering plant species to provide year-round food. The Mahogany Glider feeds mainly on the nectar and pollen from a wide variety of trees and understorey plants, supplemented by arthropods, fruit, plant exudates and honeydew. Important food species are sap from Acacia, Eucalyptus and Melaleuca species and fresh green flower spikes of the Grass-tree.
FAMILY LIFE
The Mahogany Glider has a long but distinct breeding season with a peak birth time from April to September. Weaning occurs at four to five months and first breeding is at 12–18 months. One litter per year is normal with a second litter produced only if the first is lost. Gliders live for around 5–6 years.
Hollows in large eucalypts are used as dens for sleeping and rearing their young. They den either alone or in pairs and can use up to ten dens in a single season. Dens are lined with a thick mat of leaves. Breeding occurs in January and up to four pouch young are carried until about six months old when the female deposits them in one of her dens. Young begin foraging at about eight months and disperse in December.
THREATS TO OUR SURVIVAL
- Habitat loss and fragmentation due to clearance of native vegetation
- Mortality due to dog attacks and vehicle strikes
- Invasive plants
- Climate change – severe weather conditions
