Nature conservation

Threatened species

Southern Greater Glider - profile

Indicative distribution


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Key:
known
predicted
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Petauroides volans
Conservation status in NSW: Endangered
Commonwealth status: Endangered
Gazetted date: 25 Nov 2022
Profile last updated: 27 Jun 2024

Description

The Southern Greater Glider is the largest gliding possum in eastern Australia. It has a weight range of 900-1700 g. Females are larger than males. It has a head and body length of 350-450mm and a long furry tail measuring 450-600mm. The Southern Greater Glider has thick fur that increases its apparent size. Fur colour is white or cream below and varies from dark grey, dusky brown through to light mottled grey and cream above. It has large ears with hair that projects past the outer ear edge. It has strongly reflective eyeshine in the beam of a spotlight making it easy to detect.
Petauroides volans was formerly the only species in the genus Petauroides. Following recent genetic and morphological work, the previously understood P. volans is now considered to be at least two separate species: P. volans (Southern Greater Glider) and P. minor (Northern Greater Glider). P. volans is the only Greater Glider species that occurs in New South Wales (NSW).

Distribution

The Southern Greater Glider occurs in eastern Australia, in eucalypt forests and woodlands, where it has a broad distribution from around Proserpine in Queensland, south through NSW and the Australian Capital Territory into Victoria.

Habitat and ecology

  • Feeds exclusively on eucalypt leaves, buds, flowers and mistletoe.
  • Shelter during the day in tree hollows and will use up to 18 hollows in their home range. Recorded using hollows with a minimum diameter of 8 cm.
  • Occupy a relatively small home range with an average size of 1 to 3 ha.
  • Give birth to a single young in late autumn or early winter which remains in the pouch for approximately 4 months and is independent at 9 months of age.
  • Usually solitary, though mated pairs and offspring will share a den during the breeding season and until the young are independent.
  • Can glide up to a horizontal distance of 100m including changes of direction of as much as 90 degrees.
  • Very loyal to their territory.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.


Threats

Recovery strategies

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region
Australian AlpsSnowy Mountains Known None
Brigalow Belt SouthLiverpool Range Known None
NandewarInverell Basalts Predicted None
NandewarKaputar Known None
NandewarNandewar Northern Complex Predicted None
NandewarPeel Known None
New England TablelandsArmidale Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsBeardy River Hills Predicted None
New England TablelandsBinghi Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsBundarra Downs Predicted None
New England TablelandsDeepwater Downs Predicted None
New England TablelandsEastern Nandewars Predicted None
New England TablelandsEbor Basalts Known None
New England TablelandsGlenn Innes-Guyra Basalts Known None
New England TablelandsMoredun Volcanics Known None
New England TablelandsNightcap Known None
New England TablelandsNortheast Forest Lands Known None
New England TablelandsRound Mountain Known None
New England TablelandsSevern River Volcanics Predicted None
New England TablelandsStanthorpe Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsTenterfield Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsTingha Plateau Predicted None
New England TablelandsWalcha Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsWongwibinda Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsYarrowyck-Kentucky Downs Predicted None
NSW North CoastBarrington Known None
NSW North CoastCarrai Plateau Known None
NSW North CoastCataract Known None
NSW North CoastChaelundi Known None
NSW North CoastCoffs Coast and Escarpment Known None
NSW North CoastComboyne Plateau Known None
NSW North CoastDalmorton Known None
NSW North CoastEllerston Predicted None
NSW North CoastGuy Fawkes Known None
NSW North CoastKaruah Manning Known None
NSW North CoastMacleay Gorges Known None
NSW North CoastMacleay Hastings Known None
NSW North CoastMummel Escarpment Known None
NSW North CoastRocky River Gorge Known None
NSW North CoastTomalla Known None
NSW North CoastUpper Hunter Known None
NSW North CoastUpper Manning Known None
NSW North CoastWashpool Known None
NSW North CoastYuraygir Known None
NSW South Western SlopesCapertee Valley Known None
NSW South Western SlopesInland Slopes Known None
OceanTwofold Shelf Known None
Other StateACT Known None
Other StateJervis Bay Territory Known None
Other StateQLD Known None
Other StateVIC Known None
South East CornerBateman Known None
South East CornerEast Gippsland Lowlands Known None
South East CornerSouth East Coastal Ranges Known None
South Eastern HighlandsBathurst Known None
South Eastern HighlandsBondo Known None
South Eastern HighlandsBungonia Known None
South Eastern HighlandsCapertee Uplands Known None
South Eastern HighlandsCrookwell Known None
South Eastern HighlandsHill End Known None
South Eastern HighlandsKanangra Known None
South Eastern HighlandsKybeyan-Gourock Known None
South Eastern HighlandsMonaro Known None
South Eastern HighlandsMurrumbateman Known None
South Eastern HighlandsOberon Known None
South Eastern HighlandsOrange Known None
South Eastern QueenslandBurringbar-Conondale Ranges Known None
South Eastern QueenslandClarence Lowlands Known None
South Eastern QueenslandClarence Sandstones Known None
South Eastern QueenslandScenic Rim Known None
South Eastern QueenslandSunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands Predicted None
South Eastern QueenslandWoodenbong Known None
Sydney BasinBurragorang Known None
Sydney BasinCumberland Known None
Sydney BasinEttrema Known None
Sydney BasinHunter Known None
Sydney BasinIllawarra Known None
Sydney BasinJervis Known None
Sydney BasinKerrabee Known None
Sydney BasinMoss Vale Known None
Sydney BasinPittwater Known None
Sydney BasinSydney Cataract Known None
Sydney BasinWollemi Known None
Sydney BasinWyong Known None
Sydney BasinYengo Known None