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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(3)

Gliding performance in the inland sugar glider in low-canopy forest

Ross L. Goldingay https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6684-9299 A * , Darren G. Quin A and Karen J. Thomas B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.

B PO Box 181, Mandurang, 3551, Australia.

* Correspondence to: ross.goldingay@scu.edu.au

Handling Editor: Karl Vernes

Australian Mammalogy 46, AM24004 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM24004
Submitted: 2 February 2024  Accepted: 3 October 2024  Published: 22 October 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.

Abstract

Knowledge of the gliding performance of gliding mammals provides important insight into how these species have evolved to use their environment but it can also be used to guide tree retention and habitat restoration. We investigated the glide performance of the inland sugar glider (Petaurus notatus) in central Victoria. We measured 40 glides from untagged individuals during nest box monitoring. On average, gliders launched into a glide from a height of 14.7 m above the ground and landed at 6.2 m above the ground. The average horizontal glide distance was 18.1 m (range 8–41 m). The glide ratio (horizontal glide distance/height dropped) and glide angle averaged 2.2 and 26.4°, respectively. These values represent a better average glide performance than any previously measured for an Australian gliding mammal. These data are contrasted with those of other gliding mammals to explore the hypothesis that smaller species may be more capable gliders than larger related species.

Keywords: animal movement, glide ratio, gliding behaviour, gliding mammal, more capable glider hypothesis, Petaurus australis, Petaurus breviceps, Petaurus norfolcensis.

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