The squirrel
glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) is a nocturnal gliding possum, one of the wrist-winged gliders of the genus Petaurus.
This species' home range extends from Bordertown near the South
Australian/Victorian Border through south-eastern Australia to northern Queensland. This species was thought to be extinct in South Australia since 1939 until a genetic test confirmed their presence in the area.
The squirrel glider lives in dry sclerophyll forest and woodlands in south-eastern Australia. In Queensland, however, they occupy a wetter eucalypt forest.
The glider sleeps in a leaf-lined den in a hollow tree. It usually lives in groups of one male, 2 females, and offspring.
The squirrel glider's closest relatives come from the same genus, Petaurus and they include the sugar glider (P. breviceps), mahogany glider (P. gracilis), northern glider (P. abidi), biak glider (P. biacensis) and yellow-bellied glider (P. australis). It is not yet known which species the gliders diverged from. The squirrel glider most likely evolved from a marsupial like a possum that had membranes for gliding. Other animals that have this same ancestor include Striped possum and Leadbeaters possum.