The Australian sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps s.l., is widely distributed across eastern and northern Australia. Examination of historical and contemporary collections of Petaurus specimens and phylogenetic analyses have revealed considerable taxonomic diversity within the genus. We aimed to utilize an integrative taxonomic approach, combining genetic and morphological evidence, to resolve the taxonomy of Australian gliders currently recognized as Petaurus breviceps. Herein, we confirm the existence of three distinct species: P. breviceps, P. notatus comb. nov. and P. ariel comb. nov.. Petaurus breviceps and P. notatus are each represented by major mtDNA lineages in P. breviceps, while P. ariel forms a sister-lineage to P. norfolcensis and P. gracilis. Subtle morphological differences distinguish P. breviceps from the closely related P. notatus, while the morphological distinctions between P. ariel and its genetically similar sister-taxa, P. norfolcensis and P. gracilis, are more obvious. Given the purported broad geographic distribution of the taxon, P. breviceps s.l. was not listed as threatened, but dividing this taxon into three species has important conservation implications for all taxa in the group, particularly given the lamentable record for mammal extinctions in Australia. Concerted and targeted conservation efforts are necessary to preserve these distinct, newly described species.

中文翻译：

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Petaurus breviceps (Marsupialia: Petauridae) 的综合分类学调查揭示了三个不同的物种

澳大利亚糖滑翔机 Petaurus breviceps sl 广泛分布于澳大利亚东部和北部。对 Petaurus 标本的历史和当代收藏的检查和系统发育分析揭示了该属内相当大的分类多样性。我们旨在利用综合分类学方法，结合遗传和形态学证据，解决目前被认为是短尾鹱的澳大利亚滑翔机的分类问题。在此，我们确认了三个不同物种的存在：P. breviceps、P. notatus comb。十一月 和体育阿里尔梳子。nov.. Petaurus breviceps 和 P. notatus 分别由 P. breviceps 中的主要 mtDNA 谱系代表，而 P. ariel 与 P. norfolcensis 和 P. gracilis 形成姐妹谱系。细微的形态差异将 P. breviceps 与密切相关的 P. notatus 区分开来，而 P. ariel 与其遗传相似的姐妹类群 P. norfolcensis 和 P. gracilis 之间的形态差异更为明显。鉴于该类群据称具有广泛的地理分布，P. breviceps sl 并未被列为受威胁物种，但将该类群分为三个物种对该类群中的所有类群具有重要的保护意义，特别是考虑到澳大利亚哺乳动物灭绝的可悲记录。为了保护这些独特的、新描述的物种，需要协调一致和有针对性的保护工作。但是将这个分类群分成三个物种对该类群中的所有分类群具有重要的保护意义，特别是考虑到澳大利亚哺乳动物灭绝的可悲记录。为了保护这些独特的、新描述的物种，需要协调一致和有针对性的保护工作。但是将这个分类群分成三个物种对该类群中的所有分类群具有重要的保护意义，特别是考虑到澳大利亚哺乳动物灭绝的可悲记录。为了保护这些独特的、新描述的物种，需要协调一致和有针对性的保护工作。