Turns Out, These Adorable Australian Greater Gliders That Can Glide Up To 100 Meters Are Actually 3 Different Species
It might be hard to believe, but the year 2020 has brought some great things too. Let’s take this adorable creature that you can see in the photos below as an example.
Recently, while analyzing the genetic makeup of the greater glider—an incredibly adorable nocturnal animal native to Australia—Australian scientists discovered that this creature is actually three different species. Apparently, the animal was not recognized as separate species for 228 years.
The greater glider is a possum-sized marsupial that can glide up to 100 meters
Image credits: David Cook
Image credits: David Cook
For years, scientists have been noticing that some greater gliders look quite different from one another. “There has been speculation for a while that there was more than one species of greater glider, but now we have proof from the DNA. It changes the whole way we think about them,” said James Cook University’s PhD student Denise McGregor, according to Australian National University.
The creature was being recognized as a single species for 228 years, until now
Image credits: Denise McGregor and Jasmine Vink
After analyzing the mammal’s DNA, Australian researchers came to the conclusion that there are actually three different species we’re dealing with. You can see all three of the in the picture above. After running tests, researchers found evidence of three operational taxonomic units representing northern (top left), central (bottom left) and southern groups (right).
New study identifies, that the animal is actually 3 different species
Image credits: Vee-kayy
“This year Australia experienced a bushfire season of unprecedented severity, resulting in widespread habitat loss and mortality. As a result, there’s been an increased focus on understanding genetic diversity and structure of species to protect resilience in the face of climate change,” said Dr. Kara Youngentob, a co-author from Australian National University.
“Australia’s biodiversity just got a lot richer”
Image credits: Steven Kuiter
“The division of the greater glider into multiple species reduces the previous widespread distribution of the original species, further increasing conservation concern for that animal and highlighting the lack of information about the other greater glider species,” Dr. Kara Youngentob added, as reported by the Australian National University.
Here’s what people are saying about this discovery
11Kviews
Share on Facebook
Don't be fooled! It's Australian! It probably can strip a dingo to its bones and suck out the marrow in under 7 seconds!
....and God created world where one creature takes life of another in order to preserve its own. And like that wasn't cruel, senseless enough, "He" created men who perfected this abhorrent way of life: men murder defenseless sentient beings for fun, to entertain themselves, to profit of their unconscionable pain and suffering, to indulge themselves in an insatiable appetite for the animal flesh. ---"For I tell you truly, he who kills kills himself, and whosoever eats the flesh of slain beasts, eats the body of death." - Jesus Christ, The Essene Gospel of Peace (taken from the Dead Sea Scrolls). ----- some of us get it.
Load More Replies...
Good heavens, something in Aus that cannot kill you (besides koalas)- how unique :-) They are beautiful though, and great news that they are individual species.
Being Australian wildlife they probably WANT to kill you. They just can't.
Load More Replies...
Don't be fooled! It's Australian! It probably can strip a dingo to its bones and suck out the marrow in under 7 seconds!
....and God created world where one creature takes life of another in order to preserve its own. And like that wasn't cruel, senseless enough, "He" created men who perfected this abhorrent way of life: men murder defenseless sentient beings for fun, to entertain themselves, to profit of their unconscionable pain and suffering, to indulge themselves in an insatiable appetite for the animal flesh. ---"For I tell you truly, he who kills kills himself, and whosoever eats the flesh of slain beasts, eats the body of death." - Jesus Christ, The Essene Gospel of Peace (taken from the Dead Sea Scrolls). ----- some of us get it.
Load More Replies... Good heavens, something in Aus that cannot kill you (besides koalas)- how unique :-) They are beautiful though, and great news that they are individual species.
Being Australian wildlife they probably WANT to kill you. They just can't.
Load More Replies...
169
25