Plantain Squirrel feeds on Jackfruit

YC Wee
on 26th June 2016

The image below shows a Plantain Squirrel (Callosciurus notatus) feeding on the ripening fruit of the Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus).

PlantainSquirrel-Jackfruit [LianYeeMing]

Flowers are grouped in heads, with the male and female flowers on separate heads. The female flowers develop into large, barrel-shaped fruits, borne on the larger branches and main trunk.

The fruit is compound, made up of numerous individual fruits, each consisting of a large seed and its yellow, fleshy parts that are sweetish The unripe fruit has a white latex. This obviously discourages animals like the squirrel from biting into it. On ripening the latex in the fruit mostly disappears.

The image above shows the squirrel tearing off the fleshy edible parts after breaking into the outer warty green covering.

Lian Yee Ming
Singapore
15th July 2016

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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