“Extreme Mammals”

Mammal: Sugar gliders
What makes them x-treme: These tiny marsupials may look cute, but they possess a superhero’s ability: They can fly. “A membrane that extends from wrists to ankles allows them to glide from one tree to another,” says curator John J. Flynn. See the furry aerialists do their thing live at the exhibit.

Mammal: Platypus
What makes them x-treme: More like extremely weird: It lays eggs, has venom coursing through its body, and sports a beakish snout and a beaveresque tail. In other words, it’s doomed to an endless awkward phase.

Mammal: Tasmanian wolf
What makes them x-treme: The Tasmanian wolf—exctinct since 1936—was once the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world, snacking frequently on kangaroos and wallabies. But even it was no match for huntin’-hungry humans.

Mammal: Koala
What makes them x-treme: Growing a baby in a human body is easy compared with what koalas go through: “Marsupials are born immaturely, crawl up to a nipple and anchor on,” says Flynn. Every time someone complains of morning sickness, a pregnant koala laughs.

Mammal: Spectacled bear
What makes them x-treme: The spectacled bear, native to South America, is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) bear. It feasts on vegetation and small animals, but our rule of thumb is to avoid pissing off a wild teddy that can drop out of a tree.

CHECK IT OUT! “Extreme Mammals”: American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St (212-769-5100, amnh.org). Daily 10am–5:45pm. Suggested donation $15, seniors and students $11, children 2–12 $8.50, children under 2 free. Sat 16–Jan 3.

See more in Own This City

Time Out New York / Issue 711 : May 14–20, 2009

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