Java: The Good Parts

Colophon

The animal on the cover of Java: The Good Parts is a black giant squirrel (Ratufa bicolor), formerly known as a Javan squirrel (Sciurus javensis). It is also referred to today as a Malayan giant squirrel or jelerang. This species can be found throughout southeast Asia, though its range has diminished due to deforestation. It lives in the high forest canopy, foraging during the day for wild fruit and nuts.

One of the largest squirrels in the world, the black giant squirrel’s tail is slightly longer than its body. Taking this into account, its average length is two to three feet. There is a clear color separation between the squirrel’s back (deep brown or black) and the cream abdomen, giving rise to the “bicolor” in its Latin name. The squirrels’ long tails are used as a counterweight to help them balance on branches. It is also notable that in their basic posture, the tail hangs limp rather than curling upright (as is the case with other tree squirrels).

Though it lives in the depths of the forest and tends to be reclusive, the black giant squirrel is easily tamed and frequently kept as a pet. It is also a food source for natives; in fact, as of 2008, it is listed as a near-threatened species due to overhunting, as well as habitat loss.

The cover image is from Wood’s Animate Creations. The cover font is Adobe ITC Garamond. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont’s TheSansMonoCondensed.