Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel (Ratufa Macroura)

-


Sinhalese: Dandulena

Tamil: Mali’anil

Description: There are three races of this squirrel, each differing in color and size. The largest is the Highland Grizzled Squirrel, and has an overall length of up to 81cm. the next is a black and yellow giant squirrel which is similar in color to the one above but is pure black with no frizzling, and has an overall length of up to 78 cm. the smallest is the Common Giant Squirrel which is also depicted and has an overall length of up to 70 cm.

Distribution: Found in the forests and jungles throughout the island. The Highland Grizzled Squirrel is found in the higher mountains, the Black and Yellow Giant Squirrel frequents the remaining wet zone and the Common Giant Squirrel is found in the low country dry zone.

Habits: These squirrels are entirely arboreal and diurnal, and are most active during the early mornings and late afternoons. They are found singly or in pairs and have their own territories where they build 4 or 5 of their large nests. They have excellent eye-sight and smell, but do not seem to have very acute hearing. Their food consists of leaves, bark, fruits, berries, nuts and possibly, insects, grubs and bird’s eggs. They probably live for 5 or 6 years.

Breeding: Not much is known apart from the fact that usually one young is born in a large nest or ‘dray’ which is constructed of twigs and leaves and lined with green leaves and fibres. This is placed high in heavily foliaged trees. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sri Lanka Python (Python Molurus Pimbura)

-
Image
Sinhalese: Dhara Pimbura, Ran Pimbura, Pimbura Tamil: Periya Pambu, Malai Pambu, Kaloodai Viriyan. Description: A huge snake which can grow to 8 meters, but usually average about 5.5 meters. Pythons have teeth, a very sensitive tongue, and jaws which can separate to enable them to swallow large prey. Distribution: Found in the jungles of the low country; occasionally in the lower hills hills and often near water. Habits: The python is diurnal, nocturnal and solitary. They swim well, can climb trees and are not venomous. Their food consists of small to medium sized animals which they catch using their teeth, kill by constriction and swallow whole once once the prey is dead. If the meal is substantial the python does not need to feed again for 4 or more months. They have good sight over short distances, are deaf, but can feel vibrations through the ground. Their extremely sensitive tongues can sense loud noises and convey smells to the scent organ in the roof of t
Read more

Sri Lanka Small Civet-Cat (Viverricula Indica Mayori)

-
Image
Sinhalese:  Urulava Tamil: Poolu poona, Veeregu Description: The civet-cat is easily identified by its black and white ringed tail and dark spotted grey body. The adult male, which is slightly larger than the female, has an overall length of about 84 cms. Distribution: found in jungles and scrub throughout the island except in the highest hills. Habits: The civet-cat is mainly nocturnal but not entirely so, usually spending the day living up in some patch of undergrowth. Its food consists of birds, small animals, insects, frogs etc, and also some roots and fruits. Breeding: The birth takes place in a cavity at the end of a short tunnel which is often dug in a bank, or under some large rocks or tree. 3 to 5 young are born.
Read more

Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper – Black gram Syn. Phaseolus mungo L.

-
Image
Taxonomic classification           Kingdom: Plantae             Division: Magnoliophyta             Class: Magnoliopsida             Subclass: Asteridae             Order: Solanales             Family: Leguminosae             Genus: Vigna             Species: V.mungo V.mungo is one of the most highly-priced pulses of India, especially in the vegetarian diet. It is a diffusely branched, herbaceous annual with reddish brown hairs.     Various cultivars are recognized 1. Early-maturing cultivars, which have larger, black seeds 2. Late-maturing cultivars, which have smaller, olive-green seeds   Morphological characters     Stem: This is a diffusely branched, erect or sub-erect plant. The height ranges from 20-80cm. Leaves: The leaf is trifoliate with a long petiole. The stipules are ovate.   Flowers: The inflorescence is borne axillary and may have 2-3 branches. Five to six flowers are clustered at the top of the short hairy peduncle. The
Read more