Anatomy
& Physiology

 

QUIK FACTS™: Physiology
LIFESPAN: 
4-7 yrs in wild
12-15 yrs in captivity
w/proper husbandry.
HEART RATE: 
200-300 beats/min.
Respiratory 
RATe:  		16-40 breaths/min.
FOOD
CONSUMPTION:		 15-25% BWt
BASE METABOLIC 
RATE: 
2.54 W kg
HEAD / BODY 
LENGTH: 
13-19cm / 5-7.5 in.
TAIL LENGTH: 
approx. same
* WEIGHT: 
male: 113-170g /
4-6oz
female: 85-142g /
3-5oz
CLOACAL
TEMPERATURE:
 32C / 89.6F
RECTAL 
TEMPERATURE: 
36.3C / 97.3F (+/- .7F)
THERMONEUTRAL
ZONE: 
24-31C / 75-88F

 

 

Eyes:

 

The eyes of a Sugar Glider are large, widespaced and protrude from each side of the head. This gives them a large field of vision. As nocturnal animals by nature, they have avascular retinae, with a tiny residual tuft of fluoresceinimpermeable vessels projecting from the optic disk into the vitreous.5 Th is indicates they have excellent night vision. Although their eyes look black in color, they are actually a dark brown. The number of rods and cones in their eyes suggests that Sugar Gliders see in only shades of gray – and the color red. They can excrete a whitemilky substance from their tear ducts to help them with grooming. For more information, see Ocular Disorders on page 98.