Petaurus breviceps

(G. R. Waterhouse, 1838)

Sugar Glider

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Marsupialia
Superorder : Australidelphia
Order : Diprotodontia
Suborder : Macropodiformes
Superfamily : Petauroidea
Family : Petauridae
Subfamily : Petaurinae
Genus : Petaurus

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Waterhouse, G.R. 1838. Observations on certain modifications observed in the dentition of the flying oppossums (of the genus Petaurus of authors). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1838:149-156. ]

Authority publication link

https://archive.org/details/sim_athenaeum-uk_1838-12-08_580/page/880/mode/2up

Original name as described

Petaurista (Belidea) breviceps

Other common names

Lesser Flying Phalanger · Lesser Flying Squirrel · Lesser Glider · Short-headed Flying Phalanger · Sugar Squirrel · Tasmanian Sugar Glider

Type material

BMNH:Mamm:1855.12.24.78

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/f711624e-5f3a-4699-af2a-365ae6a9349e

Type locality

New South Wales, Australia.

Biogeographic realm

Australasia

Country distribution

Australia

Taxonomy notes

previously included P. ariel, P. notatus, and P. papuanus (tentatively recognized as a distinct species)

Taxonomy notes citation

Malekian, M., Cooper, S. J., Norman, J. A., Christidis, L., & Carthew, S. M. (2010). Molecular systematics and evolutionary origins of the genus Petaurus (Marsupialia: Petauridae) in Australia and New Guinea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 54(1), 122-135. · Cremona, T., Baker, A. M., Cooper, S. J., Montague-Drake, R., Stobo-Wilson, A. M., & Carthew, S. M. (2021). Integrative taxonomic investigation of Petaurus breviceps (Marsupialia: Petauridae) reveals three distinct species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 191(2), 503-527.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000344

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Petaurista (Belidea) breviceps

(G. R. Waterhouse, 1838)

Family

Petauridae

Root name

breviceps

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1855.12.24.78

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/f711624e-5f3a-4699-af2a-365ae6a9349e

Authority page

880

Authority page URI

https://archive.org/details/sim_athenaeum-uk_1838-12-08_580/page/880/mode/2up

Authority publication

The Athenaeum

Belideus breviceps

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Petauridae

Root name

breviceps

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

189

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:189) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Petaurus breviceps

Corbet & J. Edwards Hill, 1980

Family

Petauridae

Root name

breviceps

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

15

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1980:15) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:40, 41) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  3. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)
  4. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:562) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)
  5. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #16731) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #16731) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000344) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  8. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16731/21959798) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Petaurus breviceps breviceps

Groves, 2005

Family

Petauridae

Root name

breviceps

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:562) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

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