Greater Glider

Fascinating facts about the Greater Glider

• The southern greater glider is the largest member of its genus and one of the world's biggest gliding mammals, about the size of a house cat. Adults measure between 35 and 46 cm in body length and sport a furry tail that can grow to 60 cm, although the tail cannot grasp. They weigh between 900 and 1 700 g, with females typically larger than males. A membrane stretches from forearm to tibia, enabling long glides between trees.
• The species shows a striking colour polymorphism, with individuals falling into two extreme forms. The dark morph is almost black on the back while the belly remains white, creating a stark contrast. The light morph displays a blend of grey and white on the upper parts with a white underside, and the thick fur underneath is white or cream. This variation gives the glider a noticeably larger appearance despite its modest size.
• Intensive logging before late 2019 removed vast areas of hollow-bearing trees that the gliders rely on for shelter. In some locations the loss of these trees coincided with population drops of almost 80 %. Because of this severe reduction the southern greater glider is now regarded as the most threatened of the three greater-glider species. The combined impact of logging and subsequent bushfires has left the species with a precarious future.
• The 2019-20 bushfires scorched more than half of the 96,000 acres (39,000 ha) of forest set aside for glider protection in Victoria. The fire-scarred habitat further imperils the already dwindling numbers.
• In 2022, over 200 specialised nesting boxes were installed in Victoria and New South Wales to replace lost tree hollows. The boxes use insulation, air gaps and fire-resistant coatings to keep gliders at optimal temperatures.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Greater Glider

In the moonlit eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia, the Greater Glider unfurls its silken membrane, a gossamer wing that bears it effortlessly across the shadows, its large, round eyes drinking in the faint light as it searches for the sweet sap and leaves that sustain it. With each gentle glide, this nocturnal marsupial weaves a ghostly path through the trees, its soft, woolly fur a mere whisper against the branches as it moves with an ethereal silence. As it floats, a fleeting shadow, the Greater Glider embodies the very essence of the Australian night, a reminder of the magic that still lurks in the darkest, most forgotten corners of our world.

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