Lesser known predators of Sungei Buloh Nature Park

Hunting for food will never be
the same again with Halilah Ahmad's

Lesser Known
Predators

Animals and plants evolved through generations to survive in the natural environment that they are in. Unlike animals that have the ability to move freely, plants are restricted in their movement. In places where food is scarce, some plants "evolved" into carnivorous plants to exploit available resources.

Carnivorous plants are those that have the ability to trap insects, digest their tissues and absorb the nutrients in the process. One such plant that can he found in Sungei Buloh Nature Park is the Slender Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes gracilis), a climber that grows on land. Nepenthes is derived from Greek, meaning the wine cup of Helen of Troy, referring to the jar at the tip of a modified leaf while gracilis means slender.

Insects are attracted to the sugary secretions or nectar produced by the glands or nectaries. Usually the nectaries are located at the lid or at the lip of the jar. Once an insect loses its foothold and drops into the pitfall, it is trapped. It will struggle to climb out of the pitcher plant. However, the inner wall of the jar is covered with loose scales of wax and is very slippery. Eventually, it dies by drowning due to exhaustion. The plant will then absorb the nutrients released by the decomposed body.

Another interesting carnivorous plant is the Common Yellow Bladderwort (Utricularia bifida L.). Utricularia in Latin means a little bag, probably referring to the little trap bags that the plant develops. The transparent bladder trap is equipped with a trap door and stiff trigger hairs.

When a small prey such as a protozoa or small insect larvae touches the trigger hair, it activates the door to contort and open for water to be sucked in with the prey. Digestive juices are then secreted and the prey is broken down.

Moving on to the true predators of the Park, the Archer Fish is one with a very unique way of catching its prey. It feeds on insects that can be found on the water surface as well as those that are flying or perching close to the water surface. It can shoot a powerful jet of water at an insect, and knock it off its perch.

The Archer Fish forms a narrow tube in its mouth by pressing its tongue against a groove along the top of its mouth. It then snaps its gill covers shut, shooting a jet of water out of its mouth and through the air to hit its target. An adult can bit its prey up to about 1.5 meters above the water surface. However, it seems that the younger Archer Fish often misses! There goes the saying practice makes perfect.

In the quiet and serene mudflat, another harmless-looking but deadly shellfish lurks around finding its way to its next victim. The Drill (Thais gradata) will move ever so slowly towards its victim, either barnacles or shellfish, sit on them and drill a hole into the hard surface of its victim using its proboscis which is actually a boring organ under their foot. The organ produces a carbonic acid that will soften the shell of its prey. Being a slow-moving animal, the Drill eventually gets its food only after several hours of drilling. It inserts its proboscis into the hole and consumes its hard-earned meal.

So do visit the Park as life is definitely exciting here with so much action-packed activities going on.

Vol 6 No 3 Dec 99 Common Tailorbird Lesser Known Predators of Sungei Buloh Butterfly Monitoring and Introduction at Sungei Buloh Why we should NOT feed the monkeys Bird Ringing at Sungei Buloh Sluice Gate Management International Coastal Cleanup Sep 99 Care for Nature Family Hunt 99		Hunting for food will never be the same again with Halilah Ahmad's Lesser Known Predators Animals and plants evolved through generations to survive in the natural environment that they are in. Unlike animals that have the ability to move freely, plants are restricted in their movement. In places where food is scarce, some plants "evolved" into carnivorous plants to exploit available resources. Carnivorous plants are those that have the ability to trap insects, digest their tissues and absorb the nutrients in the process. One such plant that can he found in Sungei Buloh Nature Park is the *Slender Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes gracilis), a climber that grows on land. Nepenthes* is derived from Greek, meaning the wine cup of Helen of Troy, referring to the jar at the tip of a modified leaf while gracilis means slender. Insects are attracted to the sugary secretions or nectar produced by the glands or nectaries. Usually the nectaries are located at the lid or at the lip of the jar. Once an insect loses its foothold and drops into the pitfall, it is trapped. It will struggle to climb out of the pitcher plant. However, the inner wall of the jar is covered with loose scales of wax and is very slippery. Eventually, it dies by drowning due to exhaustion. The plant will then absorb the nutrients released by the decomposed body. Another interesting carnivorous plant is the *Common Yellow Bladderwort (Utricularia bifida L.). Utricularia* in Latin means a little bag, probably referring to the little trap bags that the plant develops. The transparent bladder trap is equipped with a trap door and stiff trigger hairs. When a small prey such as a protozoa or small insect larvae touches the trigger hair, it activates the door to contort and open for water to be sucked in with the prey. Digestive juices are then secreted and the prey is broken down. Moving on to the true predators of the Park, the Archer Fish is one with a very unique way of catching its prey. It feeds on insects that can be found on the water surface as well as those that are flying or perching close to the water surface. It can shoot a powerful jet of water at an insect, and knock it off its perch. The Archer Fish forms a narrow tube in its mouth by pressing its tongue against a groove along the top of its mouth. It then snaps its gill covers shut, shooting a jet of water out of its mouth and through the air to hit its target. An adult can bit its prey up to about 1.5 meters above the water surface. However, it seems that the younger Archer Fish often misses! There goes the saying practice makes perfect. In the quiet and serene mudflat, another harmless-looking but deadly shellfish lurks around finding its way to its next victim. The *Drill (Thais gradata)* will move ever so slowly towards its victim, either barnacles or shellfish, sit on them and drill a hole into the hard surface of its victim using its proboscis which is actually a boring organ under their foot. The organ produces a carbonic acid that will soften the shell of its prey. Being a slow-moving animal, the Drill eventually gets its food only after several hours of drilling. It inserts its proboscis into the hole and consumes its hard-earned meal. So do visit the Park as life is definitely exciting here with so much action-packed activities going on.
		© Sungei Buloh Nature Park