Editing Sugar glider (section)

===Gliding===
The sugar glider is one of a number of [[Gliding possum|volplane (gliding) possums]] in Australia. It glides with the fore- and hind-limbs extended at right angles to the body, with feet flexed upwards.<ref name=Jackson(1999) /> The animal launches itself from a tree, spreading its limbs to expose the gliding membranes. This creates an [[aerofoil]] enabling it to glide {{convert|50|m|yd|abbr=off}} or more.<ref name="Strahan-1983">{{cite book|author=Strahan, the Australian Museum|editor=Ronald|title=Complete book of Australian mammals : the national photographic index of Australian wildlife|year=1983|publisher=Angus & Robertson|location=[Sidney]|isbn=0207144540|edition=1. publ.}}</ref> For every {{convert|1.82|m|abbr=on}} travelled horizontally when gliding, it falls {{convert|1|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Jackson(1999) /> Steering is controlled by moving limbs and adjusting the tension of the gliding membrane; for example, to turn left, the left forearm is lowered below the right.<ref name=Jackson(1999) />

This form of [[arboreal locomotion]] is typically used to travel from tree to tree; the species rarely descends to the ground. Gliding provides three dimensional avoidance of arboreal predators, and minimal contact with ground dwelling predators; as well as possible benefits in decreasing time and energy consumption<ref name=Nagy(1985)>{{cite journal|last1=Nagy|first1=K. A.|last2=Suckling|first2=G. C.|title=Field energetics and water balance of sugar gliders, "Petaurus breviceps" (Marsupialia: Petauridae) |journal=Australian Journal of Zoology |date=1985 |volume=33 |issue=5|pages=683–691 |doi=10.1071/ZO9850683}}</ref> spent foraging for nutrient poor foods that are irregularly distributed.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Byrnes |first1=G |last2=Spence |first2=A |title=Ecological and biomechanical insights into the evolution of gliding in mammals|journal=Integrative and Comparative Biology |date=2011 |volume=51 |issue=6 |pages=991–1001 |doi=10.1093/icb/icr069 |pmid=21719434|doi-access=free }}</ref> Young carried in the pouch of females are protected from landing forces by the [[septum]] that separates them within the pouch.<ref name=Jackson(1999) />