breviceps actually comprised three cryptic species: the Krefft's glider ( Petaurus notatus), found throughout most of eastern Australia and introduced to Tasmania, the savanna glider ( Petaurus ariel) native to northern Australia, and the true P. biacensis, from Biak Island off New Guinea, was reclassified as a separate species, Biak glider ( Petaurus biacensis).In 2020, a landmark study found that P. breviceps, sufficient enough to split into multiple species. However, genetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA indicated that the morphological subspecies may not represent genetically unique populations.įurther studies found significant variation within populations classified in P. These seven subspecies were designated by small morphological differences such as colour and body size. It was formerly thought to have had a wide range across Australia and New Guinea, the only glider to have this distribution, and to be divided into seven subspecies three occurring in Australia, four in New Guinea, although debate regarding current species delineation continues. The taxonomy of the species has changed over time. Members of Petaurus are popular exotic pets and are frequently also referred to as "sugar gliders", but these are now thought to likely represent another species from West Papua, tentatively classified in Krefft's glider ( P. The sugar glider is native to a small portion of southeastern Australia, in the regions of southern Queensland and most of New South Wales east of the Great Dividing Range. The animal is covered in soft, pale grey to light brown fur which is countershaded, being lighter in colour on its underside. Gliding serves as an efficient means of reaching food and evading predators. The sugar glider is characterised by its pair of gliding membranes, known as patagia, which extend from its forelegs to its hindlegs. The scientific name, Petaurus breviceps, translates from Latin as "short-headed rope-dancer", a reference to their canopy acrobatics. They have very similar habits and appearance to the flying squirrel, despite not being closely related-an example of convergent evolution. The common name refers to its predilection for sugary foods such as sap and nectar and its ability to glide through the air, much like a flying squirrel. Natural selection independently adapted both lineages for similar lifestyles: leaping from treetops (hence, the gliding “wings”) and foraging at night (hence, the big eyes).The sugar glider ( Petaurus breviceps) is a small, omnivorous, arboreal, and nocturnal gliding possum belonging to the marsupial infraclass. So why do they look so similar then? Their gliding “wings” and big eyes are analogous structures. After birth, a baby marsupial crawls into its mother’s pouch and is nourished by her milk as it continues to grow and develop.įlying squirrels and sugar gliders are only distantly related. Marsupial mammals may only spend a short time developing inside the mother’s body and are very tiny when born. Sugar gliders are marsupial mammals, like kangaroos.Placental mammals spend a long time developing inside the mother’s body being nourished by a placenta before they are born. Flying squirrels are placental mammals.Most importantly, they reproduce and bear their babies in fundamentally different ways: Flying squirrel photo courtesy of Mona Rutger, Sugar glider photo courtesy of The Mouses House, Queensland, Australia.īut sugar gliders and flying squirrels also have some key differences. Information on controversies in the public arena relating to evolutionīeyond being cute and cuddly, flying squirrels and sugar gliders have many striking similarities: big eyes, a white belly, and a thin piece of skin stretched between their arms and legs, a trait which helps them “glide” and remain stable when leaping from high places. Alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards.The big issues – Pacing, diversity, complexity, and trends.Macroevolution – Evolution above the species level.Microevolution – Evolution within a population.Mechanisms: the processes of evolution – Selection, mutation, migration, and more.The history of life: looking at the patterns – Change over time and shared ancestors.An introduction to evolution: what is evolution and how does it work?.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |