Photo of Pen-tailed Tree Shrew - Ptilocercus lowii

Happy hours all night long for the Shrew

A research has revealed that the pen-tailed tree shrew (Ptilocercus lowii), commonly referred to as tupai ekor kembang, can drink the equivalent of a case of 3.8% beer every night but does not get drunk.

According to the scientists, the tree shrew has been living on a diet that is the equivalent of nothing but beer for up to 55 million years.

Humans only discovered the art of brewing and distilling alcoholic beverages some 9,000 years ago.

According to scientists, seven mammalian species in their study area consume alcoholic nectar daily from flower buds of the bertam palm (Eugeissona tristis), which they pollinate.

The 3.8% maximum alcohol concentration that they recorded is among the highest ever reported in natural food.


Photo: TheStar.com.my. Notice the feather pen-tailed.


Graphics: TheStar.com.my

Original article: Chronic intake of fermented floral nectar by wild treeshrews