Large gliding squirrel bag

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Large gliding squirrel bag
Petaurus australis.jpg

Large flying squirrel bucket ( Petaurus australis )

Systematics
Subclass : Marsupials (Marsupialia)
Superordinate : Australidelphia
Order : Diprotodontia
Family : Glide pouches (Petauridae)
Genre : Gliding squirrel bucket ( Petaurus )
Type : Large gliding squirrel bag
Scientific name
Petaurus australis
Shaw , 1791

The large flying squirrel bucket ( Petaurus australis ) is a tree-living ( arboricoler ) flying squirrel bucket , whose range is in eastern Australia . The population is declining, but due to the large distribution area and the still large population, the IUCN classifies the large flying squirrel bucket as “least concern”. However, an undesignated subspecies in the wet tropics of Queensland is considered endangered.

features

The large flying squirrel bucket is a marsupial the size of a rabbit and the largest species in the genus flying squirrel bucket . It reaches a head-torso length of 25 to 40 cm and a weight of 400 to 750 g. The fur on the back, over which a black line of eel stretches, is typically gray-brown in color and changes from off-white to orange to yellow on the belly. The face, arms, feet, tail, and the edges of the sliding membranes are black. It has large pointed and bald ears, a pink nose and a fluffy tail up to 50 cm long. In contrast to other species, the fifth finger of the large flying squirrel bag is longer than the fourth and the bag is divided into two by a fur-trimmed partition.

The males are usually a little heavier than the females, but their head and body size are only marginally larger. The tail of the female is longer than that of the male.

The species is similar to the mahogany glider ( Petaurus gracilis ), although it is a little larger. There is also a similarity to the Riesengleitbeutler , a species that is more closely related to the Lemur Ringbeutler ( Hemibelideus lemuroides ) than to the other genera of the Petauren.

distribution and habitat

Distribution area of ​​the large flying squirrel bucket according to IUCN .

The distribution area of ​​the Greater Gleithörnchenbeutler is temperate to subtropical, eucalyptus dominated hard deciduous forests in eastern Australia. Along the east coast, from north Queensland , through New South Wales , via Victoria to the south-east of South Australia , the species is widespread but sparsely distributed. There are isolated populations on the borders of their range, in the north of Queensland and on the border of Victoria and South Australia. The large flying squirrel bucket is found in open coastal forests and in foothills with old and tall trees.

The occurrence of the as yet undesignated subspecies of the Wet Tropics is limited to a narrow band of moist, open eucalyptus forests. The area in which three major populations exist is between the Yamanie Creek catchment, 70 km west of Cardwell , and Mount Windsor Tableland . The area is an ecotone between rainforest and drier forest in which two key resources for the species, Eucalyptus grandis for creating the nesting hole and Eucalyptus resinifera as a food source, occur.

Way of life

The large gliding squirrel bag can glide up to 150 m through the air thanks to its sliding membranes . It usually lives in family groups of 4 to 5 animals, although larger populations are known from the far north of Queensland. The animals are nocturnal and spend the day in a tree cavity lined with leaves, which is typically shared with other species. The search for food, typically alone, only begins at dusk.

He is also one of the loudest flying squirrel bucks. The calls with which he indicates his presence to other groups can be heard up to half a kilometer away. The species produces around 17 different vocalizations such as loud screeching, long gurgling calls and soft, buccal clicks.

Reproduction and Life Expectancy

Reproduction takes place in the south in the spring, in the north of Queensland all year round. Sexual maturity occurs at around two years of age, at which point the first mating also takes place. The animals usually live in a monogamous partnership and mate from August to December. The offspring are usually born between May and September. This then remains in the mother's pouch ( Marsupium ) for around 100 days . The cubs then spend two to three months in the cave before they are weaned by the mother and lead their own lives. In the cave there is shared brood care between mother and father. The caves are mostly located in eucalyptus trees ( Eucalyptus grandis ) and are covered with leaves.

It is known that the Great Gleithörnchenbeutler has a life expectancy of at least six years in the wild . In captivity , he can live up to ten years.

nutrition

The diet consists of nectar , honeydew , insects , pollen and various tree saps from species of the genera Eucalyptus , Corymbia , Angophora and Laphostemon . The large flying squirrel bucket gets to the tree sap by biting a "V" -shaped notch into the tree bark. Usually he scratches the tree trunk or higher branches.

Systematics

There are that have not yet designated subspecies in the north of Queensland included, three subspecies:

  • P. a. australis - in the south, is more common locally.
  • P. a. reginae Thomas , 1923 - Relic population in northern Queensland. Rather rare and threatened by deforestation, the fur on the belly is lighter.
  • Petaurus australis unnamed subsp., The Yellow-bellied Glider (Wet Tropics) - Wet Tropics Bioregion of Queensland . Smaller and lighter subspecies, may be darker in color on the back.

Existence, endangerment and protection

The main threat is habitat destruction through deforestation and conversion into agricultural land. The population is declining due to the large and fragmented distribution area. The IUCN classifies the large flying squirrel bucket as not endangered (“least concern”), as nature conservation measures in relation to forestry and fire management are sought.

An as yet undesignated subspecies in the wet tropics of Queensland , the Yellow-bellied Glider (Wet Tropics), is considered endangered and is listed in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . It is threatened mainly by changing vegetation due to changing fire activity (fire regime) and other factors, as well as loss and fragmentation of its habitat. A plan for the protection of the species provides for fire management, the protection of the habitat and the investigation of further influences on the population.

literature

  • Leonard Cronin: Key Guide to Australian Mammals. Reed Books, Sydney 1991, ISBN 0-7301-0355-2 .
  • John van der Beld: Nature of Australia - A portrait of the island continent. William Collins / ABC Enterprises for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sydney 1988, ISBN 0-7333-0241-6 .
  • Rupert Russell: Spotlight on Possums. University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Queensland 1980, ISBN 0-7022-1478-7 .
  • Ellis Troughton: Furred Animals of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney 1941. (Revised edition: 1973, ISBN 0-207-12256-3 )
  • Michael and Irene Morcombe: Mammals of Australia. Australian Universities Press, Sydney 1974, ISBN 0-7249-0017-9 .
  • WDL Ride: A Guide to the Native Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press, Melbourne 1970, ISBN 0-19-550252-3 .
  • Vincent Serventy: Wildlife of Australia. Thomas Nelson, Melbourne 1968. (Revised edition: 1977, ISBN 0-17-005168-4 )
  • Vincent Serventy (Ed.): Australia's Wildlife Heritage. Paul Hamlyn, Sydney 1975.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d National recovery plan for the yellow-bellied glider (Wet Tropics) Petaurus australis unnamed subspecies. ( Memento of March 22, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 456 kB) Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management, 2010
  2. ^ A b c David Lindenmayer: Gliders of Australia: A Natural History. University of New South Wales Press, 2003, ISBN 0-86840-523-X , p. 7.
  3. ^ A b Lee Curtis: Queensland's Threatened Animals. Csiro Publishing, 2012, ISBN 978-0-643-09614-1 , p. 370.
  4. ↑ a b c d e Ross Secord: Petaurus australisellow-bellied glider. animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
  5. ^ Leonard Cronin, Marion Westmacott (Ill.): Key Guide to Australian Mammals . Reed Books, 1991, ISBN 0-7301-0355-2 , pp. 64-65 .
  6. ↑ a b c d e Stephen Jackson: Gliding Mammals of the World. CSIRO Publishing, 2012, ISBN 978-0-643-09260-0 , p. 34.
  7. ↑ a b Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 , p. 139.
  8. ^ Peter Menkhorst, Frank Knight: A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia . Oxford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-19-550870-X , pp. 94-95 .
  9. ^ A b Wilfried Westheide, Reinhard Rieger: Special Zoology . Part 2: vertebrates or skulls . Spectrum, 2004, ISBN 3-8274-0900-4 , pp. 497 .
  10. ↑ a b Large flying squirrel bag on the IUCN Red List
  11. ↑ Cath Jones, Steve Parish: Field Guide to Australian Mammals . Steve Parish Publishing, ISBN 1-74021-743-8 , pp. 86, 88 .
  12. ^ Hugh Tyndale-Biscoe: Life of Marsupials. Csiro Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0-643-06257-2 , pp. 213-218.
  13. ↑ Meredeth Brown: Socioecology and phylogeography of the Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis). Dissertation (Ph.D.), University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2006.