Mammals Active at night

Greater Glider

Petauroides volans

iNaturalist Wikipedia

Meet the 'flying teddy bear' of the Australian bush. With its oversized ears and incredibly long, bushy tail, the Greater Glider is the largest and most majestic of all gliding marsupials.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Head and body 35–46 cm (14–18 in), plus a long bushy tail of 45–60 cm (18–24 in); weight 1–1.7 kg (2.2–3.7 lbs)

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Colors

Highly variable from sooty charcoal or dark grey to creamy white; usually has a pale cream or white underside; ears are fringed with dark fur

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Key Features

Oversized, furry, rounded ears
Extremely long, bushy non-prehensile tail
Gliding membrane extending from elbow to ankle
Largest gliding marsupial in the world

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active at night

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Peak hours 8 PM - 3 AM

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Season Year-round

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Diet A specialized folivore, feeding almost exclusively on the young leaves and flower buds of specific Eucalyptus species.

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Habitat Moist eucalypt forests and tall woodlands with a high density of mature, hollow-bearing trees.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Greater Glider Live?

Native to the continent of Australia, the Greater Glider is found along the eastern coastline and the Great Dividing Range. Its core range extends from the humid, high-rainfall forests of Queensland through New South Wales and into the cooler, high-altitude woodlands of Victoria. Within this region, it is restricted to pockets of mature forest that have remained relatively undisturbed by fire or logging.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 Countries

150K km² Range

Endangered Conservation

AU Australia

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Greater Glider is a silent and solitary acrobat of the Australian canopy. Unlike its smaller, more social cousins like the Sugar Glider, this species is almost exclusively arboreal and rarely descends to the forest floor. It is a master of the air, capable of gliding up to 100 meters in a single flight, using its massive tail as a rudder to navigate through the dense network of branches. During the day, it retreats into large tree hollows to sleep, emerging after dusk to begin its nightly foraging.

These marsupials are surprisingly docile and slow-moving when not in flight, often spending hours in a single tree carefully selecting the best leaves to eat. Because they have a highly specialized diet and require old-growth trees for nesting, they are very sensitive to habitat changes. They are not known to interact much with humans, and because they don't vocalize loudly, they are often missed by casual observers despite their relatively large size.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Greater Glider on a trail camera requires thinking vertically. Since these animals almost never touch the ground, you must mount your camera high—ideally 3 to 6 meters up a tree trunk. Look for 'den trees,' which are large, old eucalypts with visible hollows. Aim your camera at a nearby 'launch branch' or the hollow entrance itself. Using a tree-climbing mount or a sturdy ladder is essential for this kind of placement.

Traditional food baits like peanut butter or oats will not work for Greater Gliders because they are strict leaf-eaters. Instead, focus on water sources during dry spells or simply rely on their habitual travel routes. They tend to use the same 'highway' of branches every night to move between their nesting hollow and their favorite feeding trees. Look for vertical scratch marks on smooth-barked gums as a sign of a frequently used tree.

Because they are strictly nocturnal, a camera with a high-quality infrared (IR) flash is mandatory. However, since Greater Gliders have very large, light-sensitive eyes, 'no-glow' or black LED IR is preferred to avoid startling them. Set your camera to video mode or high-speed burst; their glides are incredibly fast, and you’ll want to capture the motion of them spreading their membranes or steering with their massive tails.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Greater Glider.

Yellow-bellied Glider

Much more vocal with loud shrieks; has a distinct yellow/orange belly and smaller ears.

Sugar Glider

Significantly smaller (about 1/5th the size) with a dark stripe running down its forehead and back.

Squirrel Glider

Smaller than the Greater Glider with a more pointed face and lacks the huge, round, fluffy ears.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Greater Gliders are strictly nocturnal. They typically emerge from their nesting hollows about an hour after sunset and remain active throughout the night, with peak activity occurring between 9 PM and 2 AM before returning to their dens just before dawn.

You cannot easily attract Greater Gliders with food as they only eat eucalyptus leaves. The best way to encourage them is to preserve old-growth trees with natural hollows. If you live near a forest, installing a large, specialized nesting box high in a gum tree can sometimes provide a home for them.

They are dietary specialists, eating almost nothing but the young leaves and flower buds of certain eucalyptus trees. They are particularly fond of species like the Ribbon Gum and Mountain Grey Gum, which provide the specific nutrients they need.

No, they are rarely seen in typical suburban gardens. They require large, connected patches of mature forest. You are only likely to see them if your property borders a national park or a significant remnant forest corridor with very old trees.

The easiest way is size and ears. Greater Gliders are much larger (cat-sized) and have massive, furry, rounded ears. Sugar Gliders are tiny (hand-sized) and have smaller, more pointed ears. Additionally, a Greater Glider's tail is much longer and shaggier compared to its body.

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