Abstract:
A brief survey of non-volant small mammals was conducted in Pulau
Perhentian Besar, Terengganu, Malaysia from 13 th to 19th of September 2015. Pulau
Perhentian Besar is well-known as ecotourism island, located on the northeast coast
off Kuala Besut, Terengganu and nowadays is known as the Pulau Perhentian Marine
Park after been gazette as Fisheries Protected Areas. Non-volant small mammals were
captured using cage traps baited with banana and pit fall traps at Teluk Keke area along a
1 km trail. Direct observations were conducted through Visual Encounter Survey (VES)
along existing trails as transects. This study had documented 11 species of non-volant
small mammals from four orders. Tupaia glis (42.4% of total individuals) were recorded
as the most captured species followed by Rattus rattus (25.4% of total individuals).
During VES, Callosciurus notatus, Galeopterus variegatus were among the most
frequently observed species during the daytime and nighttime respectively. Since the last
report published, Trachypithecus obscurus was only species of big mammal frequently
recorded during the survey. This survey also had updated our knowledge of species
diversity by an additional of fie species, namely, Crocidura malayana, Rattus rattus,
Sundamys muelleri, R. tiomanicus and Maxomys whiteheadi. More fild studies are
needed to account for trap-shy species, as there is still a lot of forest cover left untouched
on the island.
