Nutritional Composition of Wild Fruits and Flowers Eaten by Lion Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) at Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, India


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Authors

Keywords:

flowers, Ficus species, calcium, Lion Tailed Macaque, proximate composition, phosphorus, wild fruits, flowers, Ficus species

Abstract

Lion-tailed Macaque is listed as an Endangered (IUCN, 2020) species and endemic in the rain forests of the Western Ghats and found mainly in silent valley national park located in southern part of Western Ghats in the border of Mannarkkad Taluk of Palakkad district, Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala and Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. During field survey, it was found that Lion-tailed Macaques preferably eaten flowers and seeds of  Cullinea exarillata (Wild durian), flowers of Litsea  floribunda (Pattuthali), fruits of  Ficus rescimosa (Cluster Fig ) and Ficus exasperate (Sand paper),  ripened and un-ripened fruits of  Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jack fruit), Artocarpus hirsutus (Wild Jackfruit), Mangifera indica (Mango) and Psidium guajava (Guava). The items consumed by Lion-tailed Macaque was analysed for its chemical composition and found that highest per cent of fibre (42.01), crude protein (21.79 ), crude fat ( 5.09  ), calcium ( 6.09  ) and phosphorus (8.66  ) were found in Ficus  microcarpa, Artocarpus hirsutus, Ficus beddomei,Ficus exasperata respectively.

Author Biographies

  • S. Murugan, College of Veterinary and Animal SciencesKerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences UniversityPookdoe Wayanad Kerala

    Assistant Professor

    Department of Animal Nutrition

    College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

    Pookode, Wayanad

  • V. Monisha, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

    Principal Investigator

    Department of Animal Nutrition

    College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

    Pookode

  • Sabin, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

    Associate Professor

    Department of Livestock Production and Management

    College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

    Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala

  • Balusami, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

    Professor and Head

    Department of Livestock Production Management

    College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

    Pookode

  • John, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

    Professor

    Department of Livestock Production Management

    College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 

    Pookode

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Submitted

26-06-2022

Published

03-09-2022

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Non-Ruminants

License

Copyright remains with the society and author jointly. However, material can be used for research, teaching and to achieve goals of the society.

How to Cite

S. Murugan, Monisha, V., , Sabin George, BALUSAMI C, John Abraham, & Biju Chacko. (2022). Nutritional Composition of Wild Fruits and Flowers Eaten by Lion Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) at Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, India. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition, 39(2). https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJAN/article/view/125190