The feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) is one of Australia’s smallest marsupials and is widely regarded as the world’s smallest gliding mammal. About the size of a small mouse, it can spread a thin gliding membrane from wrist to ankle and sail between trees in the canopy. Its most distinctive feature is the “feathered” tail: long, stiff hairs along both sides flatten the tail into a feather-like shape that helps with steering and stability in the air.
Feathertail gliders are nocturnal. By day they shelter in tree hollows, crevices or nest boxes, and at night they move through flowering shrubs and trees to feed. Nectar and pollen are key foods, supplemented by small insects and other invertebrates. Because they visit blossoms frequently, they can also act as night-time pollinators in some forest and heath communities. The species is generally widespread and adaptable, but it still depends on hollow-bearing trees, connected canopy pathways and fire regimes that allow understorey structure and food resources to recover.
Taxonomy and naming
This species is a diprotodont marsupial in the family Acrobatidae and the genus Acrobates. The name “feathertail” refers to the tail’s feather-like fringes, while “glider” reflects its ability to glide using a membrane (patagium) between the limbs.
Physical characteristics
Feathertail gliders are tiny and lightweight. Head–body length is typically about 6.5–8 cm, with a tail around 7–8 cm. Body mass commonly falls in the 10–14 g range. The upper fur is usually grey-brown, with paler underparts and inner limbs. Large dark eyes and relatively thin ears suit a nocturnal lifestyle.
The gliding membrane extends between the forelimbs and hindlimbs, forming a stable wing surface when spread. The tail is flattened by two rows of stiff hairs, working like a rudder for direction changes and braking. They are also remarkable climbers: fine foot ridges and moisture can create strong adhesion, allowing them to grip smooth-barked eucalypts and move quickly through the canopy.
Distribution and habitat
The feathertail glider is widespread in eastern and south-eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to parts of south-eastern South Australia. It occurs in many treed habitats, including wet forests, dry sclerophyll forests, woodlands, riparian corridors and well-treed urban parks and gardens.
Daytime refuge is usually in tree hollows, cracks in dead wood or nest boxes. Because gliding works best with connected canopy, heavy clearing and fragmentation can reduce safe movement and increase time spent on the ground. Loss of old hollow-bearing trees and frequent high-intensity fires that simplify understorey structure can also limit local carrying capacity.
Behaviour and lifestyle
Feathertail gliders are mainly active after dusk. They forage at flowers and along fine branches, moving rapidly by climbing and by short to moderate glides; glide distance depends on height, wind and canopy structure and can reach tens of metres. They can be social, with several individuals sharing a hollow or nest box for warmth, especially in cooler periods.
When disturbed, they typically retreat into cover or shelter sites rather than fleeing long distances.
Diet
Nectar and pollen form a major part of the diet, especially when eucalypts and other native plants are flowering. They also eat sap, soft fruits and small invertebrates such as moths, ants and termites. Seasonal shifts in flowering often lead to seasonal shifts in diet, with more invertebrates taken when flowers are scarce.
Reproduction and life cycle
Breeding patterns vary with local climate and resource availability. Females commonly produce litters of 2–4 young. Joeys develop in the pouch and later in the nest, where they continue growing and learning to forage and glide. Because the species is so small, energy demands are high, so steady food and safe nesting sites are important for successful rearing.
Wild lifespan is usually measured in a few years (often around 3–5 years), with occasional longer records under low-threat, resource-stable conditions.
Relationship with humans
Feathertail gliders are harmless and rarely seen during the day, so many people don’t realise they live nearby. In leafy suburbs they may visit flowering native plants at night. The main human-related risks are indirect: loss of hollows, habitat fragmentation, road hazards and predation by introduced predators such as cats and foxes.
Conservation status and threats
The feathertail glider is generally assessed as Least Concern (LC) because it is widespread. However, local declines can occur where hollow-bearing trees are removed, landscapes become highly fragmented, or frequent intense fires reduce understorey cover and flowering continuity. Practical actions include retaining mature trees and hollows (or installing nest boxes), planting native flowering species, maintaining canopy connectivity and keeping cats indoors at night.
