Feathertail Glider

Acrobates pygmaeus

The feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) is a tiny Australian marsupial named for the stiff-fringed tail that helps it steer while gliding between shrubs and trees. It is among the smallest gliding mammals, with a narrow body, large eyes, and a membrane stretching between the limbs. Feathertail gliders feed on nectar, pollen, small insects, and plant exudates, and they use tree hollows, nest boxes, and woven leaf nests in forests, woodlands, and gardens with suitable cover.

This is a native wildlife species, not a normal pet animal. Human care usually involves licensed rehabilitation after cat attacks, tree clearing, storms, or orphaning, with careful temperature support and small frequent feeds under specialist guidance. Habitat stewardship is practical: retain hollow-bearing trees, plant flowering native shrubs, keep cats contained, and use nest boxes only when they can be monitored and maintained. Zoos that display them need fine mesh, escape-proof nocturnal housing and diets that reflect their nectar and insect feeding.