v4i2.81

Submitted date: 16 June 2012
Accepted date: 3 July 2012
Published date: 14 November 2012
Pp. 117.

Cannibalism of Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum)

G.M. Edirisinghe* & B.S.A.T.H. Sudasinghe
*E-mail: hsudasinghe@gmail.com

The palm squirrel is one of the common small mammals in Sri Lanka and the Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) is the commonest of all being distributed throughout the island. All palm squirrels are essentially herbivores, however diet varies depending on the species. F. palmarum has a broad, opportunistic diet, consuming a range of foods that vary depending on season. Its diet includes nuts, a range of seeds, fruits, flowers, young shoots, barks, lichens and it occasionally eats insects such as termites and beetles.

Section Editor: Colin A. Chapman