Four species of treeshrews (Tupaia spp.) studied in the field in Sabah, Malaysia, show intense frugivory concentrated on small, soft, bird-dispersed fruits. Observations of a wild individual and captives of two species show that treeshrews reject indigestible fibers and other parts of fruits before swallowing the pulp. Transit times of fruit through the gut are rapid and body-size dependent, with mean times to first defecation of marker dye of 20 min (range, 13-29 min) for Tupaia minor (-60 g mass), and 57 min (range, 38-73 min) for Tu4paia tana (220 g mass). The intestine of Tupaia species consists of a long small intestine, rudimentary or no cecum, and a greatly reduced, narrow, smooth colon. The fruit-processing method, rapid food transit time, and gut morphology of treeshrews resemble those of frugivorous bats but are unlike those of small primates. Ecologically, treeshrews (Scandentia, Tupaiidae) are one of the most poorly known orders of mammals. Despite extensive morphological description and be- havioral studies in captivity (mostly related to their former placement in the order Primates), their ecological roles have not been defined on a scale that allows comparison with those of other mammalian orders. My current field studies sug- gest that some traditional notions about them are incorrect. Treeshrews have primarily been thought of as insectivores, and there are lists of invertebrate taxa eaten by several species (Davis 1962; Lim 1965; Langham 1982). The many accounts of fruit in the stomach contents of treeshrews (see, e.g., Harrison 1954; Davis 1962; D'Souza 1972; Langham 1982) have usually shown fruit to be a minor component, and little notice has been given to the kinds of fruit eaten. During a radiotelemetry study of five species of Tupaia in Sabah, Malaysia, I recorded intensive frugivory in four. Here I report on the nature of frugivory and its associated characters in the genus Tupaia.