Opinions and declarations Rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

Opinions and declarations Rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

Opinions and declarations Rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

Opinions and declarations Rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

Activity budget, travel distance, sleeping time and height of activity of two wild East Bornean grey gibbon (Hylobates funereus) groups and travel order of one group were investigated during the dry and wet season at the Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia. One male showed seasonal change in his behaviors between the dry season (August) and wet season (December). He spent more time engaged in moving, playing and grooming, traveled longer and entered the sleeping tree later in the dry season when fruit was abundant but did the opposite in wet season. On the other hand, another male gibbon whose family had a new-born baby did not show a similar seasonal behavioural change between the dry season (May–June) and wet season (December).

Some squirrel species can adapt to areas of extensive human activities. However, few studies have compared the behaviour of such squirrels in human activity areas with that in their natural forest areas in the tropics. This study describes the activity pattern and resource use of Callosciurus finlaysonii and C. caniceps in a small residential area located in the dry evergreen and dry dipterocarp forests in Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Thailand, by using route census survey. Both species were active in the morning and evening, just as they are in the forests, but the frequency of detection of C. finlaysonii was higher than that of C. caniceps. Intraspecific interactions were frequently observed in C. finlaysonii; however, interspecific interactions were not observed. Callosciurus finlaysonii used buildings and electric wires located above ground in open areas as pathways, whereas C. caniceps was not observed in open areas. Callosciurus finlaysonii consumed a greater diversity of food items than C. caniceps,including fruits, leaves, flowers, and seeds, whereas C. caniceps fed mainly on fruits/seeds. The present study showed that C. finlaysonii can use human activity areas. Callosciurus finlaysonii probably use the human activity area owing to the presence of fewer natural predators, its ability to survive in different type of environments, as well as its wide feeding habits, and the presence of fewer competitors. However, it was observed that C. caniceps scarcely used human modified areas.

Opinions and declarations Rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

Opinions and declarations Rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature