With about 800 species distributed worldwide in the
tropics and subtropics, Ficus (Moraceae) is one of the
largest genera ofwoody plants (Berg 1989, Janzen 1979).
Fruits of figs have been recognized as important ‘keystone’
food resources, as they provide large and sustained
amounts of food to many frugivorous animals in tropical
forests (Kannan & James 1999, Kinnaird et al. 1996,
Kissling et al. 2007, Lambert&Marshall 1991, Leighton&
Leighton 1983, Terborgh 1986). The fruit characteristics
of figs, a soft pulp and numerous tiny seeds, make it
suitable forconsumptionbymanybirdsandotheranimals
(Janzen 1979, McKey 1975, Shanahan et al. 2001). A
comprehensive review indicated that animals known to
eat figs include over 10% of the world’s bird species (18%
of genera) and over 6% of the world’s mammals (14% of
genera) (Shanahan et al. 2001).
Fig species vary greatly in their morphology, such as
the fruit traits (size and colour, etc.),ways of fruit display,