Trial Radio-tracking of Feather-tailed Gliders Acrobates pygmaeus

Abstract

ALTHOUGH possibly one of Australia’s commonest gliders, little is known about the den requirements or home range size of the feathertail glider Acrobates pygmaeus. This is not surprising given the inherent difficulties involved in detecting these small gliders (Henry 1995, Ward 2000); head and body length 65 - 80 mm, tail length 70 - 80 mm, weight 10 - 14 g (Woodside 1995). Although aspects of the life history of this species have been studied (Ward 1990) some of the information that will assist the formulation of management strategies for conserving this species is lacking. Gibbons and Lindenmayer (1996, 1997) stressed the importance of considering all hollowdependent wildlife when devising management strategies pertinent to the protection of animal species during native forest harvesting. On the other hand, Goldingay and Kavanagh (1995) suggest that the habitat requirements of A. pygmaeus can probably be secured through management strategies developed to conserve other forest mammals.