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Wildlife of Madagascar

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Wildlife of Madagascar © Copyright, Princeton University Press. No part of this book may be distributed, posted, or reproduced in any form by digital or mechanical E Cheirogaleidae: MOUSE LEMURS means without prior written permission of the publisher. These tiny nocturnal lemurs include the smallest living primate in the world: Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur Microcebus berthae. They closely resemble the galagos, or 'bushbabies', of Africa’. Modern taxonomy has seen the number of recognized species increase dramatically from two to 18, and more species may yet be described. Although mouse lemurs are occasionally found sleeping during the day (resembling tiny fur balls), most sightings are during the night, usually in the form of a pair of eyes bounding about the forest at remarkable speed. There is some variation in size and colour (from grey to rufous), but all mouse lemurs look very similar, especially with a typical night walk view. According to current information, most can be identifi ed simply by where you are, so refer to the locality and species table on this page. M Tsidy E 1 Mouse lemurs Microcebus spp. [18 species] F Microcèbe DISTRIBUTION: Found throughout the island in forest Length: 23–31 cm | 9–12" and some human-modifi ed habitats such as scrubby Weight: 30–110 g | 1–4 oz secondary forest and plantations. WHERE TO SEE: Almost any ID: Tiny size and near-constant activity separate them Malagasy forest, and many from most other lemurs. When seen at close range, the degraded areas, will support at long tail is conspicuous. See giant mouse lemurs (page 36) least one species. for separation from those species. Most areas of the west hold two species: Grey Mouse Lemur 1b plus one other species (see below). Identifi cation in these cases can be very diffi cult, but compared with Grey Mouse Lemur, Golden-brown Mouse Lemur 1f has warmer brown colour on its back and a longer tail; Grey-brown Mouse Lemur 1e has a rufous stripe along its back, and a more contrasting pale grey-and-rufous facial pattern; and Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur is smaller, with more rufous coloration. VOICE: High-pitched, squeaky and rather rodent-like. BEHAVIOUR: Feed mainly on fruit, supplemented with invertebrates and tree gum. Species that are well studied have been shown to give birth to 1–3 young from September to May. WHICH MOUSE LEMUR AM I LOOKING AT? The most frequently visited sites in Madagascar and the mouse lemur species that can be expected there: Amber Mountain NP Montagne d’Ambre Mouse Lemur M. arnholdi Andasibe-Mantadia NP Goodman’s Mouse Lemur M. lehilahytsara Andringitra NP 1a Rufous Mouse Lemur M. rufus Anjozorobe-Angavo forest Goodman’s Mouse Lemur M. lehilahytsara Ankarana NP 1d Tavaratra Mouse Lemur M. tavaratra Ankarafansika NP 1b Grey Mouse Lemur M. murinus 1f Golden-brown Mouse Lemur M. ravelobensis Berenty 1b Grey Mouse Lemur M. murinus 1e Grey-brown Mouse Lemur M. griseorufus Isalo NP 1b Grey Mouse Lemur M. murinus Kirindy Forest 1b Grey Mouse Lemur M. murinus Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur M. berthae Marojejy NP uncertain; Mittermeier’s Mouse Lemur? M. mittermeieri? Masoala NP undescribed species M. sp. nova Nosy Be / Lokobe NP Nosy Be Mouse Lemur M. mamiratra Nosy Mangabe 1c uncertain; Anjiahely Mouse Lemur? M. macarthurii? Ranomafana NP 1a Rufous Mouse Lemur M. rufus Tsingy de Bemaraha NP Peters’ Mouse Lemur M. myoxinus Toliara / Ifaty 1b Grey Mouse Lemur M. murinus 1e Grey-brown Mouse Lemur M. griseorufus Zombitse-Vohibasia NP 1b Grey Mouse Lemur M. murinus 32 For general queries, contact [email protected] MadWildlife v7.indd 32 29/06/2016 19:09 © Copyright, Princeton University Press. No part of this book may be distributed, posted, or reproduced in any form by digital or mechanical means without prior written permission of the publisher. Mouse lemurs are fond of licking tree gum, or bananas in the case of the famous Rufous Mouse Lemurs of Ranomafana! 1a 1b 1c 1d Mouse lemur of uncertain species from Nosy Mangabe 1e 1f During the day mouse lemurs sleep in tree holes and dense vegetationFor general queries, contact [email protected] MadWildlife v7.indd 33 29/06/2016 19:09.
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