#acrobatidae

[all-mammal-creechur]

Narrow-toed Feather-tail Glider Acrobates pygmaeus

A marsupial from eastern Australia and the world's smallest gliding mammal. They are omnivorous, feeding on nectar, pollen, and arthropods such as moths, ants, and termites. They spend as much as 87% of their time over 15 m (50 ft) above the ground, particularly in eucalyptus trees.

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[sheerdarwinism]

ACROBATIDAE

Infraclass: Marsupialia --> Order: Diprotodontia --> Family: Acrobatidae

Here's a Family name that just fits so perfectly. Acrobatidae includes the Feathertail Glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) from Australia and the Feather-tailed Possum (Distoechurus pennatus) from New Guinea, both little gliding marsupials.

Due to their small size, these marsupials lose body heat very quickly, and when temperatures drop or food becomes scarce, they have difficulty maintaining their body temperature. As such, they enter a state known as torpidity (not to be confused with hibernation), where their breathing rate drops, their temperature drops to almost match their surroundings, and they become unresponsive.

The feathertail glider is the world's smallest gliding possum, though it can leap and glide for up to 25 metres, which is more than 300 times its own maximum body length - that's incredible!

Photo Credits: (1: Feathertail Glider) (2: Feather-tailed Possum)