Questions and Answers
What is the scientific classification of a Sugar Glider? (Select all that apply)
What is the typical body weight range of Sugar Gliders?
95-160 grams
Sugar Gliders are nocturnal.
True
What behavioral traits do Sugar Gliders exhibit? (Select all that apply)
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What is the common terminal end for the urinary, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts in Sugar Gliders?
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Which of the following foods should a Sugar Glider's diet include? (Select all that apply)
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The gestation period for Sugar Gliders is typically _____ days.
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What is a common disease seen in captive Sugar Gliders due to insufficient calcium and vitamin D in their diet?
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What behavior is often linked to stress in Sugar Gliders?
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What is the environmental temperature range required for husbandry of Sugar Gliders?
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What are the potential venipuncture sites for Sugar Gliders? (Select all that apply)
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Study Notes
Scientific Classification
- Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Infraclass: Marsupialia (non-placental, premature young).
- Order: Diprotodontia, named for "two front teeth" and features syndactyly (fused 2nd & 3rd digits).
- Family: Petauridae; Genus Species: Petaurus breviceps – "Petaurus" refers to a springboard for acrobats, "breviceps" means short-headed.
General Info
- Sugar gliders are native to Australia and New Zealand.
- They are arboreal, meaning they live in trees.
- Typical body weight ranges from 95-160 grams.
- Normal body temperature is between 96.5-97.9°F.
- Heart rate varies from 200-300 beats per minute; respiratory rate is 16-40 breaths per minute.
- Gestation lasts 15-17 days, with young residing in the pouch for 70 days post-gestation.
Anatomy and Physiology
- Characterized by blue-gray fur and a dark line from nose to lower back.
- Each foot has five digits.
- The patagium is a membrane that extends from the forelimb to the tarsus, facilitating gliding.
- Males possess a pendulous scrotum; females have a ventral pouch opening cranially.
- Sugar gliders have a cloaca, serving as a common end for urinary, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts.
Behavior
- Sugar gliders are nocturnal and typically live in groups of up to 12 in the wild.
- They are social animals, ideally kept in pairs or groups.
- In extreme weather or food scarcity, they can enter torpor, a state of reduced metabolic activity lasting up to 16 hours.
- Appropriate husbandry practices prevent torpor in captivity.
Husbandry
- Require spacious enclosures equipped with branches, nesting boxes, and hiding spots.
- Ideal environmental temperature ranges from 64-75°F.
- In the wild, their diet includes eucalyptus sap, gum, nectar, blossoms, and insects.
- In captivity, they benefit from a varied diet of fruits, commercial sugar glider pellets, insectivore diets, insects, vitamins, minerals, and small invertebrates.
Nutritional Osteodystrophy
- The most common disease seen in captive sugar gliders.
- Symptoms include sudden hind limb paresis or paralysis.
- Resulting from a diet low in calcium and vitamin D, and excessively high in phosphorus.
Dental Disease
- Characterized by tartar buildup and periodontal disease.
- Feeding insects with hard exoskeletons can help reduce tartar accumulation.
Stress-Related Behavior Problems
- Common issues include alopecia, self-mutilation, coprophagia, hyperphagia, pacing, and cannibalism.
Restraint and Venipuncture
- Restraint technique involves holding the head between the thumb and middle finger, using the index finger to stabilize the top of the head.
- The body is cradled in the palm.
- Venipuncture sites: Jugular, cranial vena cava, medial tibial artery, ventral coccygeal vein, with a maximum total volume of 1% of body weight for blood collection.
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Description
Explore the scientific classification of sugar gliders, covering their taxonomic hierarchy from phylum to species. Learn about their unique characteristics and classification within the marsupial family. This quiz provides detailed insights into the biology of these fascinating animals.
