Mammals
Mahogany Glider
Petaurus gracilis · also called mahogany gliders
Gliding silently between trees under cover of darkness, a mahogany glider survives in one of the smallest and most threatened ranges of any Australian mammal, a species once believed extinct for over a century before its eventual rediscovery.
Overview
The mahogany glider, Petaurus gracilis, is an Endangered mammal native to a narrow strip of lowland forest along the coast of northeastern Queensland, Australia. Its dramatic rediscovery after a century of presumed extinction, gliding membrane for covering distance between trees, and extremely restricted natural range make it one of the most conservation-significant gliding mammals in Australia.
Found again after a century of silence
For more than a hundred years, the mahogany glider existed only as a historical record, presumed extinct until its eventual rediscovery confirmed a small population still clung on within a narrow, fast-shrinking strip of Queensland forest.
Status
Endangered, with a declining population confined to a small and fragmented strip of lowland forest in northeastern Queensland.
Mahogany Glider: common questions
Was the mahogany glider really thought to be extinct?
Yes, it was not seen by science for more than a hundred years and was widely assumed to be extinct, until its eventual rediscovery confirmed the species still survived.
How does the mahogany glider move between trees?
It has a furred membrane stretching between its front and hind legs, allowing it to glide considerable distances between trees rather than having to climb down and back up.
Why is the mahogany glider endangered?
It is confined to one of the smallest and most threatened natural ranges of any Australian mammal, a narrow strip of lowland forest in northeastern Queensland that has been heavily fragmented by land clearing.
What does the mahogany glider eat?
It is an omnivore, eating sap, nectar, insects, and plant matter.