Malayan Colugo

Description: Differs from the Philippine Colugo in having a lighter pelage and more spots. Most individuals are mottled greyish-brown with heavy black and white markings, but some are tinged reddish-brown or totally reddish-brown with few markings. Its underside is paler, and not spotted. Like the Philippine Colugo, its gliding membrane extends between the front and hind legs to fully enclose the tail; it also has small membranes between the fingers. It has no teeth at the front of the upper jaw and the two lower front teeth look like finely-toothed combs.

Distribution: Occurs throughout much of South-East Asia including southern Indochina from Burma, southern Thailand, southern Cambodia, southern Vietnam, Malayan peninsula, Singapore, Borneo, Java, Sumatra and numerous islands throughout this region. There are also dwarf forms in central Laos and on many of the smaller islands of the Sunda Shelf. The diversity of the animals from mainland South-East Asia, Java and Borneo suggests that these should be recognised as distinct species. Within this region they inhabit both lowlands and mountainous regions, living in primary and secondary forests, coconut plantations and rubber estates.

Reproduction: The gestation period is uncertain, but may be as long 180 days. Usually only one young is born at a time. The young lacks fur and is under-developed at birth. It stays with its mother for about six months and reaches maturity at two to three years of age.

Diet: Although colugos appear to live entirely on leaves, they also feed on the budding flowers of coconut palms, causing considerable damage to plantations. The Malayan Colugo has been observed at Poring in Borneo licking fluid oozing from a cut in the trunk of a coconut tree during heavy rain.

In Singapore they have been recorded to consume leaves of Hamtangen (Campnosperma auriculatum), Golden Flame (Peltophorum pterocarpum), Yellow Saraca (Saraca cauliflora) and Ash Malletwood (Rhodamnia cinerea). They have also been observed to feed on the leaves and fruit from three species of Syzygium, which constitutes up to 50 per cent of the diet.

Ecology: Mostly nocturnal, it is sometimes active in the morning and late afternoon. Totally arboreal, it seldom if ever comes to the ground, where it is quite helpless. It is usually noticed when climbing up the side of a tree or when gliding. When resting it retires to a tree hole or in the crowns of a tree about 35–50 metres above the ground. In a coconut plantation, it may spend the day curled up in a ball or hanging from a palm frond, with all four feet close together.

Sometimes several colugos will inhabit the same tree, but little is known of its social organisation. They can occur in densities of 55–60 animals per square kilometre. Known or potential predators of the Malayan Colugo include the changeable Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus), Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela), Reticulated Pythons (Python reticulatus), Crab-eating Macaques (Macaca fascicularis), Sumatran Tigers (Panthera tigris) and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa).

Status: Least Concern.