Flying opossum (SciiFii)

The flying opossum (Petaurodelphis megahallux), also known as the American glider and the glider opossum, is a species of opossum of the Didelphinae subfamily that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, swamps, forests, and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The flying opossum is a rather large gliding animal with the head and body length of between 39 to 43 centimetres (15 to 17 in) long when fully grown. The flying opossums are solitary herbivores feeding mainly on the leaves and buds of many tree species. Like the similar-looking greater glider (Petauroides volans) of Australia, the flying opossums are found in two forms: a sooty brown form, or a grey-to-white form. However, the flying opossum can be distinguished in appearance from greater gliders by its smaller ears, slightly larger eyes, and a slightly pointy nose. The flying opossums are primarily nocturnal, spending the night foraging in the highest parts of the forest canopy. During the day, they spend most of their time denning in hollowed trees, with each animal inhabiting up to twenty different dens within its home range. The dens are often lined with leaves and strips of bark. This is why spotlighting has become a popular way of locating members of a population. When a strong light is directed at the eyes of a flying opossum, the observer will see two bright red orbs reflecting back. Within forests, males and females will have home territories and set borders between other individuals. For males, home territory ranges from 1.4 to 4.1 hectares (3.5 to 10.1 acres) while that of females is only 1.3 to 3.0 hectares (3.2 to 7.4 acres). Although home ranges may overlap, the animals remain generally solitary outside of the breeding season, and only rarely interact. In large and small patches of forest, the home territories will respectively be larger and smaller. The gliding posture of the flying opossums is unique among marsupials. The forelimbs are folded so that the wrists are tucked under the chin, giving the patagium a triangular outline when outstretched. These animals regularly glide between high trees, and are able to use their tails to assist in steering. Flying opossums do not make any loud sounds, and communicate through scent marking. The animal's cloacal glands give it a generally musty smell. Due to its nocturnal lifestyle, a main predators of the flying opossums are many owl species and predatory bats. The conservation status of the flying opossum is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the flying opossum's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.