Behavioural Evolution

The sugar glider behaviour towards human presence have changed after it have grown larger in size over a span of 1 month. Initially, the specimen will showed 3 obvious characteristics when anyone tries to approach it. Firstly, it would create noise which is known as “crabbing”. Secondly, it will shiver at one corner until left alone and lastly, it will excrete faeces when being grabbed or taken out from its cage. However, nowadays, when any stranger approaches the cage and opens the cage door, the sugar glider will hop out of the cage onto the hands of the person. When it does so, we will give it treats like fruits and sugar glider food and it will quickly grab it and jump back into its cage. The question now, is the sugar glider approaching us because it knows we provide food or is it just bonded with us. There was also an incident where we left some grapes in a plastic on the top of its cage and it chew throw the plastic and nibble on the grapes until it could drop into the hole of the cage. From this, we can see that the sugar glider have evolved smarter in the attempt of obtaining food.  On the 20^th May 2014, at around 2.47 am, I could hear a new behaviour which was shown by the sugar glider, it made not the usual sound but instead a hissing sound which we have never heard before. 

Eating Habits

This is a video depicting how a sugar glider scavanges for food in the wild. Unfortunately, due to the differences with its natural habitat, the food eaten by the glider was not found but given. It can be seen that the glider smells and examines the food before grabbing it from the owner's hand. This shows that every animal is cautious of their whereabouts no matter living in a jungle or in human presence. Besides that, the glider also tends to hang from the top of the cage in an inverted position similar to that of a sleeping bat. In the wild, sugar gliders perform this manoeuvre to be able to eat as well as keep a lookout for predators on the hunt. 

Tutorial 1

Reverse Bio-Engineering Worksheet (In class Tutorial) 11th April 2014 

1. Examine the biological artifact with the intent of discerning:

a. What does the biological artifact do?

- sleeps

- run

- glide

- eat

- climb

- seeks for human interaction

b. How does the biological artifact work?

- Nocturnal animal

- Mammal

- The male glider has 2 separate genitals

c. What might the biological artifact’s “requirements” have been?

                - Attention and care

      - Optimum temperature

      - Quiet and dark place

2. Relate the biological artifact’s features to the artifact requirements listed in 1.c:

    a. List the biological artifact’s features (geometry, materials, mechanisms, etc.)

    (i) Mammal - attention and care

    (ii) Fur - keeps them warm

    (iii) Eyes - Big so that they can see in the dark

                                - Contain more light sensitive pigments 

             b. How do the biological artifact’s features support the requirements?

Features	Requirements
	(i)                Defensive	(ii)              Offensive	(iii)             Travel
Big Round Eyes	Better vision at night	To hunt and see prey	Find a path
Flaps	Glide from predators	Hunting	To glide
Tail	As a stabilizer	Climbing	Hang around from swing area
Sharp Claws	Protection	Climbing	Swing around

             c. Are there features that don’t map to any requirements?

             No

3. Form and function

a. How do the form (shape) and material of a feature relate to the function that the feature performs?

Features	1.      Function	2.      Form	3.      Material	Relationship Of 1-2-3
Big round eyes	Vision	Big, black, round	Photovoltaic cells	It helps the sugar glider to look around and hunt for prey at night
Flaps	Glide	Loose, flappy, stretchable	Shin membrane	Able to glide from one spot to another
Tail	Climb	Bendable/ long	Ligaments & muscles	Able to access to small places with the tail
Sharp Claws	Hunt/Grip	Sharp & curved pointy	Keratin	Able to stay in places

4. Engineering inspiration

a.      Suggest a new product or process based upon what you’ve learned in 1-3 above.

The product that was the choice is a human gliding suit which utilizes the flaps on the side of the suit.

Week One! Arrival

From left to right : Neeraj Rajwani, Nasharuddin, Yap Lih Ter, Sundrrakannan, Philip Mah, Andrew Yee

Group Photo with the Pet

A sugar glider was chosen to be the subject of study for this module for various reasons. Amongst them, the complexity and difficulty provided a challenge for us as we would have to put in a great deal of effort into the research and care of the pet. Besides that, it is a rather unique and uncommon animal, one which is not usually seen and known by the public.

Initially, a number of different pets were selected as potential choices to be selected. Amongst them were a snake, tarantula, scorpion and the final choice, the sugar glider. All the choices were evaluated based on the criteria of interest, cost, difficulty, and potential to be related to biomimetic engineering. From the evaluation process, the sugar glider trumped the other choices. 

A thorough and definitive background research was performed on the behavioural aspects, required care, handling method amongst other key criteria and information so that we would have all the required materials, knowledge and resources to be able to care for the animal. Before arrival, we prepared a suitable habitat for the sugar glider. A small animal cage, with a water dispenser and a food tray was selected as a basis for the habitat. Additionally, to provide more comfort, a coconut husk was modified to be a 'hanging house' was fabricated by our group. An old t-shirt used from one of our group mates (Sundrrakannan) was selected as a bedding with the purpose of familiarizing the scent of the owner with the animal.

Figure 1.1 Habitat build based on the needs on the pet

Figure 1.2 Handmade coconut by Sundrrakannan 

Figure 1.3 A hanging pole for swinging 

Figure 1.4 For exercise

For food, the sugar glider is omnivorous but as it is only two weeks old, a diet consisting of of apples and pellets (made from honey milk, natural protein and lecithin) was prepared. When it arrived in its new habitat, it was quite distressed as it is in a new environment so we kept it in isolation in a dark room for two days so as to familiarize itself.

Figure 1.5 Snacks for the pet

A sugar glider is an animal which requires a lot of care and attention so once the isolation period was complete, our group had a lot of physical interaction with it during the night because it is primarily a nocturnal animal.

Figure 1.6 The sugar glider is familiarizing to his new owner (take 1)

Figure 1.7 (take 2)

Figure 1.8 The sugar glider finds the shoulder as a comfort spot

Figure 1.9 It feeds on apples (take 1)

Figure 1.10 (take 2)

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