<i>Acrobates pygmaeus</i>(Diprotodontia: Acrobatidae)

Harris, Jamie M

doi:10.1093/mspecies/sev003

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Regardless of which family the novel apicomplexan belongs to, the glider is most likely an intermediate host in a predator–prey heteroxenous life cycle. The list of possible definitive hosts for the feathertail glider parasite is a long one ( Harris, 2015 ) and includes avian predators such as owls, kookaburras, ravens and currawongs, snakes, monitor lizards, dasyurids, introduced foxes and cats and even ghost bats ( Macroderma gigas ). Feathertail gliders consume nectar, pollen and insects ( Harris, 2015 ) and could become infected by ingesting food or water that is contaminated with the definitive host's faeces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The list of possible definitive hosts for the feathertail glider parasite is a long one ( Harris, 2015 ) and includes avian predators such as owls, kookaburras, ravens and currawongs, snakes, monitor lizards, dasyurids, introduced foxes and cats and even ghost bats ( Macroderma gigas ). Feathertail gliders consume nectar, pollen and insects ( Harris, 2015 ) and could become infected by ingesting food or water that is contaminated with the definitive host's faeces. Alternatively, invertebrates, such as cockroaches, flies and earthworms can act as paratenic hosts for the organism and the glider may have been secondarily infected by consuming an infected arthropod ( Bettiol et al, 2000 ; Dubey, 2010 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The feathertail glider is the world's smallest gliding mammal, weighing between 10 and 15 g. It is widely distributed in the forests of eastern Australia ( Harris, 2015 ). While fleas and mites have been recorded for this species ( Harris, 2015 ), published reports of disease are uncommon and refer predominantly to pulmonary infections, a high incidence of transponder-associated neoplasia and a single case of granulomatous pneumonia caused by Mycobacterium avium ( Johnson and Hemsley, 2008 ; Tong, 2019 ). This is the first report of a disseminated protozoal infection caused by a novel protozoan species in a wild feathertail glider.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Disseminated protozoal infection in a wild feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) in Australia

Holz

Koehler

Gasser

et al. 2020

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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This is the first report of a disseminated protozoal infection in a wild feathertail glider ( Acrobates pygmaeus ) from south-eastern Australia. The glider was found dead in poor body condition. Histologically, large numbers of zoites were seen predominantly in macrophages in the liver, spleen and lung, with protozoal cysts present in the liver. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses inferred that the protozoan parasite belongs to the family Sarcocystidae and is closely related to previously identified apicomplexans found in yellow-bellied gliders ( Petaurus australis ) in Australia and southern mouse opossums ( Thylamys elegans ) in Chile.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Disseminated protozoal infection in a wild feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) in Australia

Holz

Koehler

Gasser

et al. 2020

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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“…An absence of records for the Eastern Pygmy Possum and other arboreal possums such as the Feather-tail Glider, Squirrel Glider and Sugar Glider (all known nectar feeders of other Banksia spp.) in fauna databases was postulated to correlate with an observed low abundance of the hollow-bearing trees they require (Smith 1973;Harris 2008Harris , 2015. Although numerous records for Sugar Gliders (but few for the other three species) existed for surrounding areas, none was present within Coorabakh National Park.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lack of fire rather than pollinator absence may drive population decline in the critically endangered

2022

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Context and aim. Stands of the critically endangered Banksia conferta in north-eastern New South Wales show low recruitment and were examined to elucidate whether pollinator absence or fire history best explained this. Methods. Motion-detection cameras were deployed at three sites to identify potential pollinators, and age structure within stands and past follicle production were assessed through tree measurements and follicle counts. Key results. In total, 691 faunatriggered image sequences were recorded between June and December 2019. Six mammal and 10 bird species were detected, but only 10 of these were observed probing inflorescences. White-cheeked Honeyeater and Sugar Glider combined comprised 66% of all fauna interactions, and of all 400 Banksia probes, 45% were from White-cheeked Honeyeaters and 18% were by Sugar Gliders. Different size structures of B. conferta were evident at each site, consistent with older and younger populations post-fire. Significantly more Banksia individuals (5×) were present at the younger site, likely governing pollinator composition through interspecific competition within pollinator guilds, and past follicle production was also greater here. Conclusions. Pollinator absence is not the cause of low recruitment in this population, and current stand structure and follicle production reflect past fire history. The three sites differed in their dominant fauna foragers, suggesting that B. conferta is a pollinator-generalist. Birds appear to operate as the key pollinating species during the day but are replaced by small mammals at night. Follicle production is higher in younger post-fire plants. Implications. The absence of fire from older populations for over 55 years is of concern, and population decline seems likely without fire intervention.

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“…The feathertail glider ( Acrobates pygmaeus ) is the world's smallest gliding mammal (Harris, 2015) and represents one of six independently emerged modern groups of mammalian gliders (Jackson, 2012; Jackson & Thorington, 2012). They are tiny arboreal creatures highly adapted for climbing both smooth trunks and thin branches of trees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Running of the feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) on level ground: Gaits

Makarov

Panyutina

2021

J Exp Zool Pt A

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Gliding is a crucial adaptation to arboreal habitats in several groups of mammals.Along with certain advantages it imposes limitations on the quadrupedal running since it affects the locomotor apparatus. To estimate the impact on quadrupedal running in gliders, the feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) was chosen considering that the small size allows minor morphological modifications for aerial locomotion.The gaits were studied on horizontal flat substrate which made it possible to compare running technique of the glider with that of terrestrial mammals. In all analyzed plots the footfall sequence was found to be asymmetrical; in most cases the bound was used, in contrast, the gallop occurred only occasionally. The half-bound with the fore lead, the most usual asymmetrical gait in quadrupedal marsupials, was much less common in A. pygmaeus than the bound; the rare among mammals half-bound with the hind lead was also found. The bound was not only the most common gait but also the steadiest one; therefore we can conclude that A. pygmaeus uses all other asymmetrical gaits as transitional forms associated with changes in speed, direction, etc. The bound with extended suspension is probably preferred by A. pygmaeus because it most closely resembles gliding by posture. | INTRODUCTIONGliding is an efficient way of locomotion for inhabitants of the complex three-dimensional arboreal environment. It allows the cost of transport to be reduced compared to terrestrial locomotion (Alexander, 1982;Scholey, 1986) and besides, increases the chance to avoid predators (Byrnes & Spence, 2011;Emmons & Gentry, 1983). However, gliding entails a loss of altitude and the need to compensate for this by climbing tree trunks (Panyutina, 2020;Scholey, 1986). Thus, the quadrupedal performance (at least climbing) has a crucial influence on total energy expenditures for locomotion (Dial, 2003) and either promotes the survival and positive selection of relevant forms, or, conversely, leaves no chance to win in the evolutionary race.The proportions of the locomotor apparatus of gliding mammals differ from those of their nonaerial relatives (Essner, 2007;Peterka, 1936;Thorington & Heaney, 1981). There are no clear biomechanical explanations as to the negative impact of changes in the skeletal proportions and the locomotor muscles design in gliders on the efficiency of their quadrupedal running, whereas, direct energy measurements show the existence of such an impact.Gliders spend more energy on quadrupedal running than nongliders (Flaherty et al., 2010;Shaw, 2004). However, studies on this subject are still fragmentary, and little is known about how the acquisition of gliding affects running technique. Of interest is not only the structural modification of the locomotor apparatus in gliders, but also a degree of modification of their type of quadrupedal locomotion, in case it in fact differs.In this context, it is especially intriguing to study such alterations in the smallest gliders, in which the development of aerial locomotion can be achie...

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Acrobates pygmaeus(Diprotodontia: Acrobatidae)

Cited by 7 publications

References 100 publications

Disseminated protozoal infection in a wild feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) in Australia

Disseminated protozoal infection in a wild feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) in Australia

Lack of fire rather than pollinator absence may drive population decline in the critically endangered

Running of the feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) on level ground: Gaits

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