Malaysian Tree Shrew
The pen-tailed tree shrew of Malaysia subsists mainly on the fermented nectar of bertam palm tree flowers, which contains approximately 3.8% alcohol. Although the rat-sized mammals spend approximately two hours each night drinking the alcoholic nectar, they do not display any signs of drunkenness.1
Fast Facts
- Scientific name: Ptilocercus lowii
- Length: 5-5.5 inches
- Tail length: 7-7.5 inches
- Weight: 1.5-2 ounces
- Tail is tipped with a feather-like plume
- Coat is gray or light brown, shading to white or yellow on the belly
- Nocturnal and arboreal2
Quote
"Over a period of 12 hours they will drink the equivalent to nine small glasses of wine, or four and half pints of beer. That would make you or me legally intoxicated. Indeed, on average, if humans were to drink this amount they would be inebriated every third night."—German researcher, Frank Wiens3
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