Source and Additional Information

Animal Diversity Web
 
Jason Pasatta
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Sugar gliders are extremely active animals that can glide up to 45 meters. They nest in groups of up to seven adult males and females and their young, all of whom are related. Groups of sugar gliders are mutually exclusive and territorial. Each group defends a certain number of eucalyptus trees which provide the group with its staple food source. The adult males of the group regularly mark this territory with their saliva and with the secretions of their anal, hand, and foot scent glands. Sugar gliders also have scent glands located on the forehead and chest that are used by the males in a group to mark all of the other members. There is usually one dominant male in each group of sugar gliders, who is responsible for most of the marking of the territory and the group. This male is usually heavier, produces more testosterone, and mates more frequently with the females of the group. When another animal is detected that it does not belong to the group because it does not have the group scent, it is immediately and violently attacked. Within groups, no fighting takes place beyond threatening behavior. Sugar gliders can also communicate through the variety of sounds they can produce, such as an alarm call which sounds like the barking of a small dog.

The territory size of a group of sugar gliders is around 2.5 acres.

(Grizmek, 1990; Grove, 1996; Nowak, 1997; Smith, 1982; Stoddart, Bradley, & Mallick, 1994)