* Gliding is not flying: Sugar gliders don't use their "wings" (patagium) to generate lift like birds. They simply use the patagium to slow their descent and control their direction while gliding from one tree to another.
* Limited flight: Their glides are short and controlled, not sustained or powered flight like birds or bats. They rely on momentum and gravity for their gliding movement.
* Terrestrial lifestyle: Sugar gliders spend most of their time on the ground or in trees, not in the air. They primarily use gliding for short-range travel.
Therefore, while sugar gliders can glide, they are not considered aerial animals due to their limited flight capabilities and predominantly terrestrial lifestyle.