Thie following information brought to you by BMXGirl's anatomy page

Warning!

Some of the images on this site are quite graphic. If you get embarrassed easily then please, look away. And by all means, if you see something that looks like a worm hanging out of your Glider... DO NOT try to pull it off/out! ;-)





The models - Tiny Tony Cuddlebug and Bitty Mya Bugaloo are the owners of this sites webmaster.
"They are in complete control & loved unconditionally (spoiled brats!)." - BMXgirl

*Mya and Tony agreed to pose for the purpose of education.
(or rather, agreed to the treats being handed out...LOL.)


Ears



Glider ears...Like two little radar dishes perched on either side of the head. Gliders
have amazing hearing and can often hear things we can not. Dont be surprised if you
hear your Glider barking at night, and think they must be crazy because you cant find
any good reason for such racket, they might be trying to tell/warn you all about a noise
they hear in the distance! :-) (Other barking reasons- wants attention, warnings, hungry,
scared). Gliders tell alot with their ears...for instance:
Sticking straight up - happy/playful/ALERT, cocked in a certain direction - listening intently to a noise comming from a certain direction, layed/slicked back against the head - stealth / or reeeally alert mode, laying down or drooped - sleepy/waking/ill...etc...etc...
You gotta' love those little radar dishes perched on their fuzzy little heads! So when you hear them bark in the middle of the night over some noise they hear in the distance, while your trying like mad to catch some Zzzzz's... go whisper to them that you love them and tell them how much you love their little ears. ;-)

*If you notice your Glider/s pawing/itching their ears alot, or shaking their head alot, and
you also notice tiny white moving flecks in their ears/fur, they may have Mites. A vet
can easily diagnose and treat Mites.
(If their exhibiting any of the above mentioned behaviors frequently...
a Vet check-up might be good. ;-)

Eyes




Those big beautiful deep dark brown eyes...who can resist their bug-eyed look!

Gliders have avascular retinae, with only a small residual tuft of fluoresceinimpermeable
vessels projecting from the optic disc into the vitreous, suggesting superior night vision.

Due to the number of rods and cones in the eye, the Sugar Glider only sees in shades of
greys (like an old black & white movie) and the color red.

*Eyes should always be bright, sparkly and clear....
There should never be a discharge or they shouldnt
look dull. If you notice any change in their eyes...
have a vet check it out.



(I have heard of several Gliders that are completely blind :-( , due to one reason or
another (ie: genetics, diet, accidents...), and they get around just fine, are very
happy and healthy, and some even live quite happily with a cagemate and
even have little fur-babys of their very own...and they do just fine with life.
Gliders really are amazing creatures!
These Gliders I hear, have some very special Humans (owners) who take extra
special care to make sure their lives are as comfortable and happy as possible,
by making their cage/home easy to navigate, by leaving it the same for the
most part, so that their blind little buddy can remember where things are. ;-)
(they also know too that change is important for stimulation, even if the Glider
cant see... so, they change things around...but only a little bit at a time.)
In situations like this where the Glider is blind, if treated properly, they do
very well and learn rather quickly to adapt, using all their other senses (smell,
taste, touch, sound...)... they can still be very good little friends/pets
even though they have a slight handicap! ;-)
(Someone once said to me "what would be the use of a blind Glider?"... ???)

Nose


(Mya would like to remind everyone to take time out to smell the roses! Life is short! Hug Someone!)

Ahhhhh, the Nose knows.... :-) Gliders have an extremely acute sense of smell, and smells are
extremely important to a Glider! A glider will go around marking everything that he/she thinks
belongs to them...so that any other Gliders nearby will realize whatevers marked is taken...so Stay
Away, unless they smell the same!

* If you ever notice your Glider has a runny nose or is sneezing frequently (not grooming, but
actually sneezing with no grooming) then you might want to get him/her to a vet, especially
if their acting ANY differently, it is possible for a Glider to catch a cold.








Noses are also good for being nosey! LOL!
Mya digging through Christmas presents!

Teeth/Tongue



The Sugar Glider uses its sharp incisor teeth to gouge holes in trees to expose the sugary sap
and uses its tongue to lap nectar from blossoms. The Glider has 40 teeth, and unlike rodents,
Gliders teeth do not continue to grow. Gliders are sap suckers by nature. (They will
chew/suck the good stuff out of their food and spit out the rest. If you watch them eat, you
will see them do this, its perfectly normal. :-)

Fur

Gliders have a beautiful grey coat with dark interesting markings. Their fur is
extremely soft and silky feeling (comparible to a Chinchilla or a Bunny Rabbit.)
(Gliders do come in a few different coat colors... Blondes, Cinnamons,
Platinums (silvery color), & Albinos....)

* Gliders do not need to be bathed. They usually do an excellent job of keeping themselves
groomed and clean. If for some reason however, your Glider has something in/on the fur that they
dont seem to be able to clean, or for some reason there is an accident and your Glider needs to be
cleaned, you can take a washcloth or q-tip dipped in comfortably warm water, and gently rub the
areas that need cleaning. When your done, make sure you bundle your little Furry friend up in a
warm blankie/pouch and pat/rub them dry a little. Keep them warm and cozy until dry! :-)

Tails

A Glider's furry tail helps it balance when gliding and climbing. Its weakly prehensile- meaning it is
capable of grasping and carrying nesting materials curled up in its tail. Most Glider tails are equal to
or a little longer than the length of their body.

Hands/Feet/Nails






Gotta' love those little grabbing hands and feet!
Their hands have 4 fingers and a thumb.
Their feet have 4 fingers and an opposable thumb.
*Opposable- Capable of being placed against one or more
of the remaining digits of a hand or foot.

The first two fingers closest to the opposable thumb on the feet are fused together,
^^^ See picture insert ^^^ If you can gently handle their feet, you can see how the first
two fingers are fused together, with a small web of skin joining the two fingers. The
reason the two toes are fused together is, they use this as a grooming tool/comb.
These are the grooming claws. (While grooming, a Glider may spit/sneeze into their
hands....this is normal.) On both the hands and the feet every digit has a claw/nail,
except for the opposable thumb on the feet. The claws/nails allow the Glider to grip
an object for better climbing/landing. (In the wild, while gliding a Glider will sink its
claws into a tree at the moment of impact to keep itself from being bounced off by

                                      the impact of hitting the tree for landing.)

 

Glider Scratches...


Gliders nails can be very irritating to some people when they come in contact with skin.
(sometimes the scratches turn red, burn, swell, etc...just plain painful!) This is due
to the bacteria and saliva on/under their nails they pick up that causes the irritation. Sometimes
people with Gliders look like they lost a battle with a big upset cat...LOL! :-) Usually
over time your skin sort of becomes immune to the scratches and they no longer do this.
Also, as your glider gets more comfortable with you, they will loosen their
grip somewhat, less scratching. (if at all. :-)
When your done playing with them it helps if you wipe down the areas of your skin they
came in contact with, with Rubbing Alcohol. Also, it may help a bit if you keep the nails

                                   trimmed. (or wear long sleeves and pants ;-)

How do I trim nails?

I only trim my little ones nails when I see that they are getting hung up or snagged on
something, and then I watch and only trim the nails I see getting snagged/stuck. I figure
if the other nails arnt getting snagged, then dont worry about it. (If it aint broke, dont fix
it!) I do take a quick look at their nails regularly, just to make sure none are too long.
They can get so long that they curl around back into the toe, and can be quite painful for

                                   the Glider.

Usually I can just give my fuzzys a treat and they will sit still long enough for me to
quickly but carefully trim the nail/nails. Sometimes you may have to hold a glider still for
few a seconds while you clip the nail/nails, sometimes two people help make it easier, or
gently wrapping the Glider in a towel with the head covered, and gently pull out one
hand/foot at a time. (make sure and give lots of affection and a treat or two afterwards!)


Picture shows where to trim


Important: DO NOT CUT THE GROOMING CLAWS.
(the two fused fingers on the feet...they need them to groom.)

To trim- look carefully at the nail. You can see where the quick is...the pink area of the
nail. At the very very tip of the nail/nails clip off a tiny bit where its white/clear (I use
baby nail clippers.). Be sure and AVOID cutting into the quick (pink area), it will be
painful and bleed. Its good to have some Styptic Powder (available at most big petstores,
drugstores, etc...) on hand in case you accidentally cut to far and it bleeds. If you do not
have access to Styptic powder, applying flour or mud (from a clean area outside) will
work in an emergency. The point is to stop the bleeding.

*If you are afraid to trim the nails yourself, most vets are willing to trim them for a very
reasonable price, and they can show you how. This is a good option if the Glider is hard
to work with and your afraid to get bit.:-)



*Model- Basil, owner of Tracy (his human)
(I took this pic when I babysat him for Tracy...and I must say...Basil is such a good boy!)

Patagium/Gliding Membrane








The Patagium, or whats commonly called the Gliding Membrane, or what I call "wings" :-),
stretch from wrist to ankle on each side. It is folded close to the body when not in use.
They can Glide (volplane) at least 50 meters (or 150 ft.) Give or take a few feet.!

                     1. Leap... The sugar Glider leaps from a branch, thrust by its hind legs.
                     As it does, the gliding membranes spread out to support it.

                     2.Glide... By altering the shape and tension of the membranes and angle
                     of its tail, it is able to adjust the flow of air and steer a course.

                     3.Swoop... About 10' from its target and a split second before landing on
                       the tree trunk, the Sugar Glider swoops upward to slow down.

                     4.Touchdown... It makes a fourpoint landing on the tree trunk, sinking
                      claws into the bark to avoid being bounced off by the forceful impact.

Head Scent Gland
(Males Only)








Alot of people refer to the Head Scent Gland as "The Bald spot", it is not really a "bald
spot", they actually do have a full head of hair,errr um, fur. The scent gland that is
present on the top of the head produces an oily substance that slicks down a little patch
of hair where the scent gland is, creating that handsome balding look. ;-)

The Male Head Scent Gland, one of a few scent glands, develops during puberty. They
will rub their head all over whatever they think should belong to them. :-) (marking) So
if you get "rubbed", its a good thing! The Head Scent Gland (as well as the Chest Scent
Gland) will disappear and be hardly/not noticeable at all after a male Glider gets
neutered. (Neutering also cuts down on the smell- Males do tend to be a little smellier
than the females.)

* Sometimes the Head may appear to get a little crusty or yucky from the buildup of oils
from the scent gland. If this should happen, you can take a soft clean cloth or Q-tip and
dip it in warm water and gently clean the buildup from the scent gland. :-)

 

Chest Scent Gland
(Males Only)







The Male Chest Scent Gland, one of a few scent glands, develops during puberty. They will rub their chest all over whatever they think should belong to them. :-) (marking) So if you get "rubbed", its a good thing! The Chest Scent Gland (as well as the Head Scent Gland) will disappear and be hardly/not noticeable at all after a male Glider gets neutered. (Neutering also cuts down on the smell- Males do tend to be a little smellier than the females.)

Penis/Testicles
(Males Only ;-)













The Male Glider has a long bifurcated penis...meaning- the tip of the penis is split in two
or forked. (So no, your glider's penis is not mangled or disfigured, it is very normal. :-)
At times the male will let his penis hang out pretty far and some have even seen what
appears to be their Gliders, Ummm, weeell, flossing their teeth with it!!?!!
(both of which are very normal) When a male Glider is relaxed the scrotum
can hang down further appearing as though the testicles are barely attached by a tiny
amount of skin. (this too is normal)

If for some reason you see that your Gliders penis is NOT retracting (going back in) for
a long period of time, then you can use a water soluble lubricant (IE: KY Jelly, etc...) to
keep it moistened until you get them to the vet soon for a check. :-)


      * Both Males & Females have a Cloaca in which the reproductive, urinary, and
      gastrointestinal tracts open. (Meaning - (to put it bluntly :-) They use the same
     hole to urinate/deficate, have sex, and give birth.)

Males - General Info

      Weight- 4-5 oz  (Average adult weight, although some are lighter/heavier.)

      Body Length- 6-8 in.

      Tail Length- 6-8 in.

      Sexual Maturity- 8-15 months (although it could be a little sooner or later)

      Heart Rate- 200-300 Beats per minute

      Respiritory Rate- 16-40 Breaths per minute

      Rectal Temperature- 97.2 F

      Scent Glands- Paracloacal (alongside the cloaca), forehead, sternal (chest),
     surface of the paws, corners of the mouth, inside surface of the external ear.

      Life Span- 4-5 Years in the wild. Up to 15 Years in captivity.


      * Both Males & Females have a Cloaca in which the reproductive, urinary,
      and gastrointestinal tracts open. (Meaning - (to put it bluntly :-) They use
      the same hole to urinate/deficate, have sex, and give birth.)

The Pouch
(Females Only)





Female Gliders have a ventral abdominal pouch that opens forward. There are 4 teats in
the pouch, but most females usually only give birth to 1 or 2 babys (2 being the most
common). After a gestation period of 15-17 days, a female Glider will give birth to tiny embryonic offspring (about 5mm long). After making the trip to the pouch, the tiny embryonic offspring will remain inside the pouch for 60-70 days, where they will continue to develop and grow. Once OOP (out of pouch, after the 60-70 days...) the joey will continue to nurse and grow untill it can safely be weaned.
(It is highly recommended that a joey is weaned no sooner than 8 weeks OOP.)

Vagina
(Females Only ;-)








      * Both Males & Females have a Cloaca in which the reproductive, urinary, and
      gastrointestinal tracts open. (Meaning - (to put it bluntly :-) They use the same
     hole to urinate/deficate, have sex, and give birth.)

Females - General Info

      Weight- 3.5-5 oz  (Average adult weight, although some are lighter/heavier.)

      Body Length- 6-8 in.

      Tail Length- 6-8 in.

      Sexual Maturity- 8-15 months (although it could be a little sooner or later)

      Heart Rate- 200-300 Beats per minute

      Respiritory Rate- 16-40 Breaths per minute

      Rectal Temperature- 97.2 F

      Scent Glands- Paracloacal (alongside the cloaca), pouch, surface of the paws,
      corners of the mouth, inside surface of the external ear.

      Life Span- 5-7 Years in the wild. Up to 15 Years in captivity.


      * Both Males & Females have a Cloaca in which the reproductive, urinary, and
      gastrointestinal tracts open. (Meaning - (to put it bluntly :-) They use the same
     hole to urinate/deficate, have sex, and give birth.)