Introduction

 

 

Full Taxonomy
KINGDOM: 
Animalia
PHYLUM: 
Chordata
CLASS: 
Mammalia
INFRACLASS: 
Marsupialia
ORDER: 
Diprotodontia
FAMILY: 
Petauridae
GENUS: 
Petaurus
SPECIES: 
P. Brevicips

 

 

Sugar Gliders (also commonly known as Sugar Bears and Honey Gliders) are small marsupials similar in appearance to a flying squirrel. They are native to Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea – and have become extremely popular pets in the United States, Europe, Canada, Japan and the former Soviet Union.1 They were first imported into the United States in 1993. For the last 16 years, they have been domestically bred in licensed USDA facilities as companion animals.2 At the present time, they are legal to own as domestic pets in 46 of the 48 contiguous states; with Pennsylvania and California being the only exceptions.

 

 

Due to their small stature, and the fact that they enjoy cuddling and curling up with their owners in shirt pockets or pouches,