The sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) [Here as Lesser Flying Phalanger] is a small, omnivorous, arboreal, and nocturnal gliding possum belonging to the marsupial infraclass. The common name refers to its predilection for sugary foods such as sap and nectar and its ability to glide through the air, much like a flying squirrel. They have very similar habits and appearance to the flying squirrel, despite not being closely related—an example of convergent evolution. The scientific name, Petaurus breviceps, translates from Latin as "short-headed rope-dancer", a reference to their canopy acrobatics.
The sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) [Here as Lesser Flying Phalanger] is a small, omnivorous, arboreal, and nocturnal gliding possum belonging to the marsupial infraclass. The common name refers to its predilection for sugary foods such as sap and nectar and its ability to glide through the air, much like a flying squirrel. They have very similar habits and appearance to the flying squirrel, despite not being closely related—an example of convergent evolution. The scientific name, Petaurus breviceps, translates from Latin as "short-headed rope-dancer", a reference to their canopy acrobatics. from ' A hand-book to the marsupialia and monotremata ' by Richard Lydekker, Lloyd's Natural History Series edited by R. Bowdler Sharpe Published in 1896 by E. Lloyd, London
Size: 5298px × 3303px
Location: Australia
Photo credit: © Historic Illustrations / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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