Kingdom Animalia
Has cellular characteristics such as DNA inside a nucleus
Subkingdom Metazoa
Utilizes an extracellular matrix or ECM
Phylum Chordata (Some traits in Chordata are only prenatal)
Has gill-like structures called pharyngeal slits
Has a dorsal nerve cord
Has a notochord
Has a tail
Class Mammalia
Body hair covers the body
Lungs are used to breathe
Newborns ingest milk from the mother ( with a few exceptions )
Warm-blooded
SubClass Theria
Offspring do not hatch from eggs
InfraClass Metatheria
Offspring are not born with a true placenta, it is less developed
Offspring are not well developed at birth
Offspring are born into a marsupium (a pouch inside the belly of the mother)
Bifid reproductive organs
More teeth are present than in placental animals
Order Marsupialia
280 species where traits are not completely agreed upon among experts
Family Petauridae
Arboreal ( live in trees )
Most are native to Australia and surrounding lands
Specific characteristics in genetic material and blood composition
Genus Petaurus
Other species: Breviceps, Norfolcensis, Abidi, Gracilis, Biancensis and Australis
Species Breviceps
The sugar glider.
Subspecies
breviceps (Waterhouse, 1839) Victoria, South Aus, NSW?, Qld & Tasmania (red), Australia
longicaudatus (Longman, 1924) Queensland, Australia
ariel (Gould, 1842) Northern Territory to WA, Australia
flavidus (Tate & Archbold, 1935) Southern New Guinea, Island of NewGuinea
papuanus (Thomas, 1888) Northern New Guinea, Island of NewGuinea
tafa (Tate & Archbold, 1935) Owen Stanley Range, Island of NewGuinea