Mahogany Glider

Taxobox
name = Mahogany GliderMSW3 Groves|pages=55]
status = EN
trend = down
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = IUCN2006|assessors=Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group|year=1996|id=16727|title=Petaurus gracilis|downloaded=11 May 2006 Listed as Endangered (EN A1b, B1+2abc, C2a v2.3)]


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Diprotodontia
familia = Petauridae
genus = "Petaurus"
species = "P. gracilis"
binomial = "Petaurus gracilis"
binomial_authority = (de Vis, 1883)

The Mahogany Glider ("Petaurus gracilis") is a highly endangered possum. The Mahogany Glider is a similar species to the Squirrel Glider and Yellow-bellied Glider.Jones, C. and Parish, S. (2006). "Field Guide to Australian Mammals". Steve Parish Publishing Pty. Ltd (pp. 86, 89). ISBN 1-74021-743-8] Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2001). "A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia". Oxford University Press (pp. 94-95). ISBN 0-19-550870-X] "Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland" (First printed in 2000). Queensland Museum Publication (p. 337). ISBN 0-7242-9349-3] [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Petaurus_gracilis/more_info.html Mahogany Glider] - Arkive] ] [http://home.austarnet.com.au/davekimble/glider.htm Mahogany Gliders] - Chakoro Nature Reserve]

The Mahogany Glider is restricted to a very small area, between Ingham and Tully in North Queensland, Australia [http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/tbiol/zoology/auxillry/mammals/moggy.htm The Mahogany Glider - Stephen Jackson - James Cook University] ] . The reason for the Mahogany Glider being one of Australia's most threatened species is loss of habitat, with over 80% of habitat having been cleared for the growing of sugar cane, pine trees and banana crops, and also cleared for cattle. [http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/features/endangered/animals/mag_glider.asp Mahogany Glider - Queensland Museum - Endangered Species - Queensland's vanishing wildlife] ]

The Mahogany Glider was thought to be extinct for over 100 years, until it was rediscovered in 1989. [ [http://www.australianfauna.com/mahoganyglider.php Mahogany Glider - Australian Fauna] ]

Unfortunately, the Mahogany Glider continues to live a precarious existence, as some farmers are continuing to clear the glider's habitat for farming purposes.

The diet of the Mahogany Glider is Eucalypt sap and gum, acacia sap and acacia seeds, Grass tree sap, pollen, nectar, and insects. [ [http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife-gliders.php?page=w-gliders-mahogany.html Mahogany Glider - Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland] ] [ [http://www.animalinfo.org/species/petagrac.htm Mahogany Glider - Animal info] ]

The Mahogany Glider's main predators are scrub pythons and owls. [cite web | url = http://www.australianfauna.com/mahoganyglider.php | title = Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis) | year = 2004-2006 | accessdate = 2007-03-04 | work = http://www.australianfauna.com]

Recovery plan

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service enacted a recovery program for the Mahogany Glider (2000-2004) [* [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/mahogany-glider/index.html Mahogany Glider Recovery Plan] — Department of Environment and Heritage - Australian Government] . Also, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland have a recovery program for the preservation of gliders, including the Mahogany Glider. [ [http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife.php?page=w-gliders1.html Gliders in the Spotlight] — Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland]

References

Bibliography

* The "Australian Faunal Directory"
* Van Dyck, S. (1993). The taxonomy and distribution of "Petaurus gracilis" (Marsupialia: Petauridae), with notes on its ecology and distribution status, "Mem. Queensland Museum" 33: 77-122
* Van Dyck, S. (1995). Mahogany Glider "Petaurus gracilis". Pp. 232-233 "in" Strahan, R. (ed.) "The Mammals of Australia". The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney: Reed New Holland 2nd Edition 756 pp.
* Jackson, S.J. (2000). Home range and den use of the Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis). "Wildlife Research" 27: 49-60.
*Tisdell, C., Wilson, C. and Swarna Nantha, H. (2005). Policies for saving a rare Australian glider: economics and ecology. "Biological Conservation" 123(2): 237-248.