v7i1.163

ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i1.163

Submitted date: 7 July 2014
Accepted date: 24 July 2014
Published date: 19 January 2015
Pp. 60–61.

On latex licking in the five-striped palm squirrel (Funambulus pennantii)

S.K. Sharma* & V.K. Koli
*Corresponding author. E-mail: sksharma56@gmail.com

The five-striped palm squirrel, Funambulus pennantii and three-striped palm squirrel, F. palmarum, consume liquid food in the form of nectar and latex in addition to solid food. The latexy secretion from the abaxial surface of the leaves at the junction of petiole and lamina of the leaves of the Banyan, Ficus benghalensis (Moraceae) is licked by both F. pennantii and F. palmarum as food. A scar is seen on the licked site of every leaf which appears to be a result of repeated licking and drying of the residue of the secretion.

Section Editor: Colin P. Groves