WikiAdmin: WikiAdmin moved page Yellow-bellied Glider to Yellow-bellied glider

2014-10-05T18:17:35Z

WikiAdmin moved page Yellow-bellied Glider to Yellow-bellied glider

← Older revision	Revision as of 18:17, 5 October 2014
(No difference)

WikiAdmin: Created page with "{{Taxobox | name = Yellow-bellied Glider{{MSW3 Groves|pages=54-55}} | image = Petaurus australis.jpg | status = LC | status_system = iucn3.1 | status_ref..."

2014-10-05T16:50:48Z

Created page with "{{Taxobox | name = Yellow-bellied Glider<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=54-55}}</ref> | image = Petaurus australis.jpg | status = LC | status_system = iucn3.1 | status_ref..."

New page

{{Taxobox
| name = Yellow-bellied Glider<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=54-55}}</ref>
| image = Petaurus australis.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = iucn3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{IUCN2008|assessors=Menkhorst, P., Winter, J., Elis, M., Denny, M., Burnett, S. & Lunney, D.|year=2008|id=16730|title=Petaurus australis|downloaded=28 December 2008}}</ref>
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| infraclassis = [[Marsupial]]ia
| ordo = [[Diprotodontia]]
| familia = [[Petauridae]]
| genus = ''[[Petaurus]]''
| species = '''''P. australis'''''
| binomial = ''Petaurus australis''
| binomial_authority = [[George Shaw|Shaw]], 1791
| range_map = Yellow-bellied Glider.JPG
| range_map_caption = Distribution of the Yellow-bellied Glider
}}

The '''Yellow-bellied Glider''' (''Petaurus australis'') is an [[arboreal]]<ref name="environment.nsw.gov.au">http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/pnf/07355ybglider.pdf</ref> and [[nocturnal]]<ref>http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Diprotodontia/Petauridae/Petaurus/Petaurus-australis.html</ref> [[gliding possum]]<ref>[http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/GlidingPossums.htm Gliding Possums] — Environment, New South Wales Government</ref> that lives in a narrow range of native eucalypt forests<ref name=adw>http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Petaurus_australis.html</ref> down eastern Australia, reaching from northern [[Queensland]] to [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]].

==Habitat==
The Yellow-bellied Glider is found at altitudes over 700m above sea level.<ref name=biodiv>http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/66668-conservation-advice.pdf</ref> With natural discontinuities and habitat clearing there are 13 different populations in three distinct places to find this glider in North Queensland. One population resides on Mount Windsor Tableland, another on Mount Carbine Tableland, and the third lives in a linear habitat going from Atherton to Kirrama on the Atherton Tableland. These three populations together are estimated to contain around 6000 individual gliders.<ref name=biodiv/> With their habitat in danger the Yellow-bellied Glider is classified as uncommon to rare and is named vulnerable to the tropics. This species is more widespread in southern Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

==Appearance and behaviour==
The Yellow-bellied Glider is a [[marsupial]] about the size of a [[rabbit]]. It typically has grey-brown fur on its back and has an off-white to [[orange (colour)|orange]] or yellow belly. It has large pointed ears and a long tail that can grow to reach 48 cm in length.<ref name=biodiv/><ref>{{Cite book| author = Cronin, Leonard and Westmacott, Marion (illustrator) | title = Key Guide to Australian Mammals | year = 1991 | pages = 64–65 | publisher = Reed Books Pty. Ltd. | isbn = 0-7301-0355-2}}</ref> Its body length is smaller reaching to about 30 cm long and the marsupial weighs a total of 700g.<ref name=biodiv/> The males are usually bigger than the females.<ref name=adw/>

There are two subspecies:
* ''P. a. australis'' in the south (which is locally common)
* ''P. a. reginae'' in northern Queensland (which is rare and threatened with logging)

The Yellow-bellied Glider is the largest species of ''[[Petaurus]]'', the wrist-winged gliders, a group of [[arboreal]] marsupials, and can glide up to 150m.<ref>{{Cite book| author = Jones, Cath & Parish, Steve | title = Field Guide to Australian Mammals | pages = 86, 88 | publisher = Steve Parish Publishing Pty. Ltd. | isbn = 1-74021-743-8}}</ref> The Yellow-bellied Glider has be observed to jump up to 100m<ref name=fluffy>http://www.australianfauna.com/fluffyglider.php</ref> or 114m <ref name=adw/>

It is similar in appearance to the [[Mahogany Glider]], although slightly larger in size. It is also similar in appearance to the [[Greater Glider]], a species that is more closely related to the [[Lemur-like Ringtail Possum]] than to the other members of the ''Petaurus'' genus.<ref>{{Cite book| author = Menkhorst, Peter and Knight, Frank | title = A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia | year = 2001 | pages = 94–95 | publisher = Oxford University Press | isbn = 0-19-550870-X}}</ref>

The Yellow-bellied Glider is [[Wiktionary:gregarious|gregarious]] and spends the day in a leaf-lined tree hole, which is usually shared with other members of the same species. It is also one of the most vocal possum gliders. It has a distinctive growling call that it uses as means of communication.<ref name="environment.sa.gov.au">http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/southeast-bcp/pdfs/gliders.pdf</ref> It has been recorded to have been heard up to 500m away.<ref name=fluffy/>

==Reproduction==
Breeding occurs in spring in the south, but throughout the year in the Queensland in the north. Sexual maturity for the glider is around 2 years of age when the glider will then<ref name=adw/> pair up with another glider, usually in a monogamous relationship and mate August to December.<ref name=adw/> The offspring are normally born between May and September. They then stay in the [[marsupium]] for about 100 days. The young are then left in the den for 2–3 months before they are weaned from the mother and go off on their own.<ref name=adw/><ref name=fluffy/> While in the dens both parents will care for the offspring.<ref name=adw/>

The dens are made in ''[[Eucalyptus grandis]]'' trees<ref name=fluffy/> and are lined with leaves. Their total life expectancy is about 6 years.<ref name=fluffy/>

==Diet==
The Yellow-belled Glider's diet consists of [[nectar]], [[Honeydew (melon)|honeydew]], [[insect]]s, [[pollen]] and a wide spread of tree sap including different [[Eucalyptus|''Eucalyptus'' sap]], ''[[Corymbia]]'' sap, some ''[[Angophora]]'' sap, and ''[[Lophostemon]]'' sap.<ref name="environment.nsw.gov.au"/> It obtains the tree sap by biting a 'V' shape wedge/notch into the bark to promote the flow of gum and sap.<ref name="environment.sa.gov.au"/><ref>{{Cite book| author = Strahan, Ronald | title = A Photographic Guide to Mammals of Australia | year = 1995 | publisher = The Australian Museum, New Holland (Publishers) Ltd. | isbn = 1-85368-583-6 | page = 58}}</ref> It usually incises the bark on the trunks or upper branches of the trees.<ref name=adw/>

==Conservation==
The two primary threats to the species are barbed-wire fences and logging, specifically [[felling]] of old nest trees.<ref>{{Cite book| editor = Ryan, Michelle (General Editor), and Burwell, Chris (Scientific Editor) | title = Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland | publisher = Queensland Museum | isbn = 0-7242-9349-3 | page = 338}}</ref> It is currently listed as a species of "Least Concern" because it has a wide distribution, including several protected areas. While it is a rare species, there is a presumed large population which is unlikely to be decreasing at a rate that would threaten the species under the criteria for current categories.<ref name=iucn/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Cronin, Leonard — "''Key Guide to Australian Mammals''", published by Reed Books Pty. Ltd., Sydney, 1991 ISBN 0-7301-0355-2
* van der Beld, John — "''Nature of Australia — A portrait of the island continent''", co-published by William Collins Pty. Ltd. and ABC Enterprises for the Australian Boadcasting Corporation, Sydney, 1988 (revised edition 1992), ISBN 0-7333-0241-6
* Russell, Rupert — "''Spotlight on Possums''", published by University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Queensland, 1980, ISBN 0-7022-1478-7
* Troughton, Ellis — "''Furred Animals of Australia''", published by Angus and Robertson (Publishers) Pty. Ltd, Sydney, in 1941 (revised edition 1973), ISBN 0-207-12256-3
* Morcombe, Michael & Irene — "''Mammals of Australia''", published by Australian Universities Press Pty. Ltd, Sydney, 1974, ISBN 0-7249-0017-9
* Ride, W. D. L. — "''A Guide to the Native Mammals of Australia''", published by Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1970, ISBN 19 550252 3
* Serventy, Vincent — "''Wildlife of Australia''", published by Thomas Nelson (Australia) Ltd., Melbourne, 1968 (revised edition 1977), ISBN 0-17-005168-4
* Serventy, Vincent (editor) — "''Australia's Wildlife Heritage''", published by Paul Hamlyn Pty. Ltd., Sydney, 1975</ref> of the [[marsupial]] [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Petauridae]].

==External links==
* [http://threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10601 Yellow-bellied Glider] — Threatened species — [[Government of New South Wales]] website
* [http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Yellow-bellied+glider+vulnerable+species+listing Yellow-bellied Glider] — Vulnerable species — [[National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)|National Parks and Wildlife Service]]
* [http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife-gliders.php?page=w-gliders-yellowbellied.html Yellow-bellied Glider] — [[Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland]]
* [http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife.php?page=w-gliders1.html Gliders in the Spotlight] — Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland
* [http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/forest/animals/yell_glider.html Yellow-bellied Glider] - [[Museum Victoria]]
* [http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/PDFs/recoveryplan_final_yellowbellied_glider.pdf Yellow-bellied Glider] — Recovery plan — [[National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)|National Parks and Wildlife Service]] (.pdf file — file is 32 pages long)

{{Diprotodontia|P.1}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yellow-Bellied Glider}}
[[Category:Gliding possums]]

Yellow-bellied glider - Revision history

WikiAdmin: WikiAdmin moved page Yellow-bellied Glider to Yellow-bellied glider

WikiAdmin: Created page with "{{Taxobox | name = Yellow-bellied Glider{{MSW3 Groves|pages=54-55}} | image = Petaurus australis.jpg | status = LC | status_system = iucn3.1 | status_ref..."