Sugar Glider

gus

I opened a meter box today to see this. She had 2 babies in her pouch underneath (they are a pouched marsupial) but i didnt like to disturb her too much so i didnt get a photo of them.

They are about the size of a flying squirrel and are also excellent flyers between trees...they can glide up to 200 feet between trees. This nest had mum/dad & the 2 kids in it. It was hot in there...as it was 37c (99f) outside the box. They are strictly nocturnal.

If you pick one up they fit in your hand & their skin is just endless to open & make a wing for flight.They eat nectar/flowers & insects. Unfortunatly with urban sprawl, domestic cats take their toll on them.

marlof

You've got the weirdest animals over there. Thanks for sharing these!

gus

marlof wrote:

You've got the weirdest animals over there. Thanks for sharing these!

Tks mate but the REALLY REALLY weird ones im not that keen on getting close to.

devbobo

Hey Gus,

Guess it would make a pretty good nesting box. Great shots.

Dave

gus

devbobo wrote:

Hey Gus,

Guess it would make a pretty good nesting box. Great shots.

Dave

Best part is that these fella's keep the giant huntsmans population down. They really disturb me when they run up inside my sleeve.

Tks for looking mate.

rahmonster

Oh she's so cute. When I was little we used to watch them all gliding between the trees in our paddock at sunset. They really are great little things.

Thusie

What wonderful pictures! What type of leaves are those? Looks like she is nesting in a bunch of Bay Laural:):

ehughes

Very cool Gus but what is a giant huntsman?

davidryan

Whatever it is, it can't be good. Giant, meaning big...hunt meaning to kill...and man...meaning....humans. Can't be good.

gus

Thanks for looking guys...huntsman are a type of bush spider we have here. Not really dangerous but they are very big & hairy & blend in with their surroundings & they will often startle & run up your sleeve when you start working around them.

They will grow to 6" in dia & i have seen them the size of a mans hand. Nothing they like better than a wooden box in the bush. If you dont have insect screen on your house then they will make home inside. They eat a lot of insects so i always leave them be but they can give you a fright when you are on your bike at 60mph & one appears from inside your jacket.

gus

rahmonster wrote:

Oh she's so cute. When I was little we used to watch them all gliding between the trees in our paddock at sunset. They really are great little things.

When i 1st opened the box i didnt take a lot of notice ...just assumed it was a baby possum & i asked him where his mother was & then i saw the tails & feet of 2 babies trying to get back inside her pouch & realised it was a glider.

gus

Thusie wrote:

What wonderful pictures! What type of leaves are those? Looks like she is nesting in a bunch of Bay Laural:):

Just gum/eucalyptus leaves Thusie...the entire country is covered in them.

rahmonster

Humungus wrote:

Thanks for looking guys...huntsman are a type of bush spider we have here. Not really dangerous but they are very big & hairy & blend in with their surroundings & they will often startle & run up your sleeve when you start working around them.

They will grow to 6" in dia & i have seen them the size of a mans hand. Nothing they like better than a wooden box in the bush. If you dont have insect screen on your house then they will make home inside. They eat a lot of insects so i always leave them be but they can give you a fright when you are on your bike at 60mph & one appears from inside your jacket.

Last year I had one in my bedroom that was 9" leg to leg. By far the biggest I had ever seen. I don't like to kill them, so I tried to put y lunch box over her and she didn't fit. They may not be deadly but I've seen my Dad cop a nasty bight that left him ill. Ahhhh Australia.....Don't you love it. I wish I had a few of them there to get rid of it for me...:uhoh And I agree the feeling of them walking on you is extremely disturbing.

I showed my 18 month old son your glider pictures and he said "Ohhhhhh Coooool!":D

gus

rahmonster wrote:

Last year I had one in my bedroom that was 9" leg to leg. By far the biggest I had ever seen. I don't like to kill them, so I tried to put y lunch box over her and she didn't fit. They may not be deadly but I've seen my Dad cop a nasty bight that left him ill. Ahhhh Australia.....Don't you love it. I wish I had a few of them there to get rid of it for me...:uhoh And I agree the feeling of them walking on you is extremely disturbing.

I showed my 18 month old son your glider pictures and he said "Ohhhhhh Coooool!":D

Glad he liked them RM. I consider it the worst juju possible to kill a spider. I will always relocate them if they are near where im working. Had a bloke step on a redback on purpose the other day & i let him have it. They do far more good than harm & they have more right to be here than us.

I have met many a human that i would rather drop my size 12 boot on than the worst spider.

jmlapoint

Great eyes.

gus

jmlapoint wrote:

Great eyes.

yep...seriously nocturnal marsupial.

Shakey

Ok we now need a MIF! Marsupial in Flight! Gus this is your assignment.(background Mission impossible music going) You and your hand picked team must photograph these marsupials and any other fur bearing critter that is featherless that flys.
This message will self destruct in 10 seconds.


MI Central
Mr T

gus

Shakey wrote:

Ok we now need a MIF! Marsupial in Flight! Gus this is your assignment.(background Mission impossible music going) You and your hand picked team must photograph these marsupials and any other fur bearing critter that is featherless that flys.
This message will self destruct in 10 seconds.


MI Central
Mr T

Mate !!

They are about 4" long & fly 50 feet up at night in total silence. You need a better man than me gunga din !



...i suppose i could always chuck a roo off a cliff & get that in day light.

Thusie

Humungus wrote:

Mate !!
...i suppose i could always chuck a roo off a cliff & get that in day light.

:lol4

AKKK spit coffee on monitor

rahmonster

Thats classic

Shakey

Humungus wrote:

Mate !!

They are about 4" long & fly 50 feet up at night in total silence. You need a better man than me gunga din !



...i suppose i could always chuck a roo off a cliff & get that in day light.

I did not say it was the (mission possible) theme playing in the background.
If you or your MI team fail or get captured MI will deny all knowledge .
This message will self destruct in 10 seconds.

Roo off a cliff

Cheers
Tim