The ecology of the Common tree shrew, Tupaia glis in peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The Common tree shrew was studied over three and half years in tropical rainforest habitats in West Malaysia, using various trapping methods. It was more terrestrial than arboreal and the overall sex ratio remained close to unity. The main reproductive period was between February and June and the litter size invariably two. Some females bred more than once a season and the age at first pregnancy was seven months. Growth rate was measured from weaning to adult weight. Density varied from about two to five animals per hectare. The monthly survival rate was 0·75–0·93, and the maximum age recorded was over 4 years. The main period of emigration or mortality was during the breeding period or the North East Monsoon. The main food was invertebrates with some vegetable matter.These results support captive studies that T. glis are territorial with about two pairs per hectare prior to breeding. Predation did not seem to be important. Although survival resembled that of temperate insectivores, the litter size was more like lower primates. The annual breeding coincided with the abundance of invertebrates after the dry season, also shown by insectivorous birds. The low production of young was compensated for by the relatively high longevity of adults.