Natural Diet


Different Species of Gliders have particular adaptations associated with the physiology of thier digestives systems relating to thier different diets,

A Sugar Gliders diet include:

Anthrapods
Spiders, Moths, Insects, Beetles, Small Birds and their eggs, Small Mammals.

Honeydew
A white, carbohydrate rich chrystalline sustance that is found on Eucalypt leaves.

Manna
A sweet tasting honeydew like liquid secreted by sap-sucking insects, that when dried forms manna;

Eucalyptas Sap
This is obtained by stripping of the bark.

Pollen
The powdery substance found on flowers.

Nectar A sugar rich liquid produce by flowers.

Acacia (Wattle) Gum
The Gum is produced in response to damage or wound to the wattle tree. Sugar Gliders chew the trunk of the wattle tree to stimulate the flow of its gum, which in then eats. Wattle Gum is not easily digestible because of its high Tannin properties. Because Sugar Gliders consume a great deal of wattle gum it has an elarged ceacum, larger than other, similar feeding species, the enlarged ceacum helps to faciliatate microbial fermentation of these types of foods.

Acacia (Wattle) Seeds

The digestive tract of the sugar glider is shown in the picture below.



  Showing revision 15
Last Edited May 14, 2007



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