Head to head
Mahogany Glider vs Greater Glider
The mahogany glider and the greater glider are both Endangered Australian gliding marsupials, but they differ sharply in size, gliding anatomy, and diet, one a much smaller omnivore once feared extinct for a century, the other the largest gliding marsupial in the world and a strict eucalyptus specialist.
| Mahogany Glider | Greater Glider | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Petaurus gracilis | Petauroides volans |
| Size | Smaller | The largest gliding marsupial, cat-sized |
| Gliding membrane | Wrist to ankle | Elbow to ankle, a unique style |
| Diet | Omnivore, sap, nectar, and insects | Almost exclusively eucalyptus leaves |
| Notable history | Believed extinct for over a century before rediscovery | Split into three separate species in 2020 |
| Social behaviour | Not specifically documented | Silent and solitary |
| Range | A narrow strip of Queensland coast | Eastern Australia |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Endangered |
Mahogany Glider vs Greater Glider: common questions
How do the gliding membranes of the mahogany glider and greater glider differ?
The mahogany glider has a more typical membrane running from wrist to ankle, while the greater glider's membrane runs from elbow to ankle instead, an unusual style not shared by most other gliding mammals.
Which of these two gliders eats almost nothing but eucalyptus leaves?
The greater glider, which is an almost exclusive eucalyptus-leaf specialist, unlike the mahogany glider, which is a more varied omnivore eating sap, nectar, and insects.
Which glider was thought extinct for over a century?
The mahogany glider, which was not seen by science for more than a hundred years and was widely assumed extinct before its eventual rediscovery.