Acrobatidae

Acrobatidae is a small family of marsupials in the order Diprotodontia, commonly referred to by the name of its extant members, the feathertail gliders. The family currently contains a single living genus, Acrobates, and its sole described species, Acrobates pygmaeus, known as the feathertail glider. The group is part of the glider clade within the broader Petauroidea grouping and is related to other gliding marsupials such as the sugar gliders and their kin.

The feathertail glider is a tiny arboreal mammal characterized by a slender body, a long tail with a distinctive feather-like tip, and a highly developed patagium that stretches between the front and hind limbs to enable gliding between trees. Adults are small, with a head-body length of roughly 7 to 12 centimeters and a total weight around 9 to 14 grams. The tail’s feathered tip aids steering in flight, and the animal is adapted to nocturnal, tree-dwelling life in tropical and subtropical forest canopies.

Distribution and habitat are concentrated in Australia, particularly in eastern coastal and near-coastal habitats where forest structure provides abundant trees for roosting and foraging. Feathertail gliders are nocturnal and primarily arboreal, roosting in hollows, foliage, or shredded bark by day.

Ecology and behavior include a diet that comprises nectar, pollen, fruit, and small invertebrates. They reproduce seasonally, giving birth to a single joey that continues development in the pouch for several weeks. The conservation status of Acrobatidae is generally not considered threatened, though regional habitat loss can impact local populations.