Northern Glider

Description: Its upper parts are grey, the fur being tipped with light grey and washed with yellowish-brown, especially toward the mid-line of the back and on the rump. It has a black stripe of irregular width down its back extending from between its eyes to the base of its tail.

Its ears are not greatly elongated (about 34–35 mm in length) and are naked on the entire inner surface and also on the distal 15 mm of their outer surface. This species is significantly larger than the Sugar Glider, which occurs in the same area.

Distribution: Found throughout the New Guinea North Coast Ranges, comprising a section of mountain range approximately 100 kilometres in length and a few tens of kilometres wide, from at least Fas Number 2 village near Mount Menawa in the west, to Mount Sapau in the east.

The species is known at elevations above 300 metres, though it is thought to be rare below 800 metres; most animals occur at an elevation of 800–1200 metres. Within this distribution it is patchily distributed and appears to occur within rainforest.

Reproduction: Little is known except that a lactating female has been collected in March; another female was carrying a young in her pouch, which was just getting fur on the head and weighed 6.5 grams.

Diet: Specimens have been collected while they were feeding upon figs (Ficus sp.). Captive animals have thrived on guavas, bananas and the fruit of lilly pilly (Syzygium sp.).

Ecology: The Northern Glider has not been studied in any detail to date. The only anecdotal observations include three adult males and two adult females that were found within a tree hollow, which had been enlarged by chewing, in an isolated, senescent tree (locally known as ‘diri’). Captive animals have been heard to make a series of loud growls and shrieks.

Status: Critically Endangered.