Reassessment of the subspecific status of the Australian Wet Tropics yellow-bellied glider, Petaurus australis

A new subspecies of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) has been identified within the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. This distinct population, recognized for its smaller size, proportionally shorter face, and paler belly, was found to be genetically isolated from other Australian populations through analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Phylogenetic and molecular clock studies suggest this isolation spans multiple ice age cycles, reinforcing its subspecific status. The findings have significant implications for conservation efforts, particularly for the Endangered Wet Tropics population, necessitating targeted management strategies.

Cooper, S. J. B., Travouillon, K. J., Helgen, K. M., Saint, K., Russell, R., & Winter, J. (2023). Reassessment of the subspecific status of the Australian Wet Tropics yellow-bellied glider, Petaurus australis. Australian Mammalogy, 45(2), 220–236. https://doi.org/10.1071/am22022