Palmistry 

Dwarf mouse. Smallest primate: Dwarf mouse lemur. Lemur Habitat

About 10 centimeters in height and 10-13 centimeters of tail - these are the average sizes of the smallest primate living on Earth, the Dwarf Mouse Lemur (Microcebus myoxinus). Despite their modest height, these animals also have a modest weight, on average 50 grams, which is comparable to the size of a rat.

The animals are distinguished by a large and thick tail. They have a red-brown back, a cream-colored belly, and large eyes with dark rings around them. Dwarf lemurs live in large groups, making nests out of grass and moving by jumping through trees.

Scientists discovered and described this species for the first time in 1852, but the animals turned out to be so jumping and elusive that biologists were able to rediscover them and begin studying them in 1993. Due to the fact that dwarf lemurs are very small and lead night look life, and during the day they sleep curled up in a ball; it is difficult to establish their habitat. It can be argued that they live in Kirindy Park in western Madagascar, but they may be found throughout the island.

In the summer, it is absolutely impossible to count dwarf mouse lemurs - they hibernate, but in rainy times they actively walk, storing fat. “Reserves” appear at the base of their tail. Zoologists encountered the same problem when they tried to make a “population census” among.

The smallest primates prefer to eat spiders, other insects, green leaves, fruits and flower nectar. Cubs appear in winter or spring. Females bear offspring for 2 months, usually giving birth to 1-3 small, helpless and blind cubs.

Lemurs and lorises are small, furry creatures with thick fur and large, expressive eyes. The search for an exotic pet for most owners of an indoor zoo begins with questions: how much does a lemur cost, where to buy it and how to keep it. You can hardly find lemurs in pet stores in Russia, only in online stores and nurseries.

Lemurs: poppies, wari and others

Exotic animals living on the “island of lemurs” - Madagascar - increasingly began to appear in Russian families. It is preferable for a lemur born in captivity to be in the house; the price in such cases will be from 40 to 100 thousand rubles. The cost of the animal depends on the type, size, coat color, and health status.

Exotic animals are able to reproduce at home when purchased in pairs. In captivity, a young lemur adapts better; it is better to buy a pair to have babies. Males and females get along better in early age, in a mature state they more often develop territorial and food claims against each other.

The species of wet-nosed primates most popular for captive breeding are the 5 families:

  1. Lemurs themselves: ring-tailed ring-tailed lemur (kata, maki), black, red-bellied, mongoose, ruffed lemur, rufous ruffed lemur.
  2. Dwarf: gray mouse and dwarf mouse lemur s.
  3. Indri lemurs: indri, sifaka.
  4. Loris: great fat loris, pygmy loris.
  5. Galagos: fat-tailed galago and Senegalese galago.

Almost all species of wet-nosed primates are considered endangered, many are listed in the Red Book. It is difficult to say how much the aye-aye is worth - a lemur that has become one of the rarest. It is easier to find red (red) varnish in online stores. The price of the largest individuals of this species reaches up to 400 thousand rubles and above.

How to tame a lemur

Feline ring-tailed lemur(Lemur catta) belongs to the family of lemurs proper. In Madagascar it is known as maki, in Russia it is often called katta. The ring-tailed one is the most studied and popular of the lemurs; the price of one individual is 100–250 thousand rubles. The length of the catta's body together with the tail is more than 1 m. The color of the coat is gray, sometimes brown, the belly is white, there are dark spots around the eyes on the muzzle.

The weight of the ring-tailed lemur reaches 3.5 kg, almost half of the weight comes from a luxurious black and white striped tail. The catta feeds mainly on fruits and sometimes insects. For this active lemur, you will have to buy a spacious cage, an aviary, or allocate a room where the animal will curiously explore all the nooks and crannies. The life expectancy record for a catta in captivity is 37 years.

The lemur (Varecia variegata) feels quite tolerable in the house, shows developed intelligence and canine devotion to its owner. Many fans of exotic animals are interested in how much lemurs cost - ruffed and red - the largest of the family. The length of large individuals is more than 1 m, weight - 4 kg. The diet includes fruits, leaves and flowers, and the life expectancy in captivity on a “fruit diet” reaches 25–30 years.

Problem for the owner who gave it away almost 300 thousand rubles for the lemur vari or 420 thousand rubles for a red lemur, buy or build a large enclosure in the house. You can consider other options: placing the animal in a separate room or in a building on a personal plot. Letting a lemur run around rooms is not a good idea. Primates do not have “toilet” habits; there is an irresistible desire to swing on curtains and chandeliers.

The length of the graceful body of the dwarf mouse lemur is 20 cm, 10 of which are in the tail. Almost half of the sharp fox face is occupied by large eyes, which are set off by dark rings. The dwarf lemur is the smallest of the lemurs; the price of the animal reaches 50 thousand rubles. The tiny animal willingly eats insects and spiders, and does not disdain fruits and nectar. The lemur is kept in a cage equipped with tree branches and a shelter in the form of a nest.

Lori and galago

Among wild animals, the pygmy loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) is especially notable for its cuteness and cleanliness. Fans of rare animals often try to find out how much such a lemur costs if it was raised in a nursery. You can buy loris for 55–80 thousand rubles. If well maintained, it will live 12–15 years in captivity. You will need a cage equipped with all the “conveniences” in the form of tree trunks and a nest.

Senegalese and thick-tailed galagos are primates related to lemurs; prices for these animals are the same (65–100 thousand rubles). Exotic animals are painted in subtle tones - brown, gray, brown. Galagos jump well thanks to the special structure of their hind legs and bushy tail, which acts as a balancer. Huge round eyes help the animal hunt insects at night.

Lemurs, lorises and galagos conquer continents and countries, captivating exotic lovers who are interested in unusual pets. Some conservationists are concerned about the conservation of lemurs; they believe that buying an animal listed in the Red Book is not the most best idea. Others argue that comfortable living conditions in houses and apartments will help increase the number of endangered animals. After all, lemurs tolerate being kept in cages and enclosures well, they are not whimsical and are easily tamed.

Dwarf lemurs (lat. Сheirogaleidae) are mammals belonging to the family of the suborder Wet-nosed primates. This family, endemic to a large part of Madagascar, also includes rat and mouse lemurs.

Description of dwarf lemurs

All living dwarf lemurs have well preserved some primitive features, making such mammals one of the best living evidence of our origins. However, such inhabitants of the tropics of Madagascar are almost completely different from any monkeys well known and studied by people today.

Appearance

Dwarf lemurs are animals with long tails and characteristic, very well developed, bulging eyes. The head of the dwarf lemur is shortened, with a rounded muzzle. Hind legs slightly longer than the forelimbs, but all the fingers of such a mammal are equally well developed and are characterized by the presence of tenacious and sharp claws. The medium-sized ears are covered on the outside with sparse and very thin, numerous hairs.

The fur of small animals is soft, and in some areas it has a pronounced silkiness. The fur on the back is wavy and quite delicate. Dwarf lemurs that inhabit the tropical forest areas of Madagascar are distinguished by red fur with a brownish tint. All animals living in the dry forests of western Madagascar have predominantly gray fur on the back.

This is interesting! The smallest today are mouse dwarf lemurs, and the average weight adult this type is just over 28-30 grams.

The eye color of a primate directly depends on the species, but most often the mammal has orange-red or brown-yellow eyes. Among the thirty species, mouse lemurs are the most famous, since today such animals are most often purchased by connoisseurs exotic pets as a pet.

Character and lifestyle

All representatives of the family Dwarf lemurs belong to nocturnal animals, showing activity exclusively when it gets dark, which is the reason for their large eyes, which can see perfectly at night thanks to special reflective crystals. During the daytime, such mammals sleep, characteristically curling up into a ball. For sleeping or resting, mostly tree hollows and comfortable nests made with grass, small branches and leaves are used.

In zoological parks, dwarf lemurs, along with other nocturnal animals, are kept in special conditions or halls called “Nocturnal Primates”. During daylight hours, sufficient darkness is artificially maintained in such rooms, which allows any nocturnal animals to feel comfortable and maintain natural activity. At night, on the contrary, the lights turn on, so the lemurs go to sleep.

All representatives of the relatively large family can rightfully be classified as unique animals among the known primates. This opinion is easily explained by the ability of animals to spend long periods of time in a state of torpor or suspended animation.

During this period, there is a slowdown in metabolism and a noticeable decrease in body temperature, due to which the animal saves a large number of energy. Fork-banded lemurs, which never hibernate, nest in tree hollows, and sleep and rest exclusively in a characteristic sitting position, with their heads lowered between their forelimbs.

With the onset of the warm season, at the stage of preparation for hibernation, dwarf lemurs begin active feeding, which increases the weight of the animal by about a couple of times. Fat reserves accumulate at the tail base, after which they are gradually consumed by the lemur’s body during the period of suspended animation. In natural conditions, dwarf lemurs prefer to stay alone or can unite in pairs. They move very deftly by jumping or running along branches in tree crowns, using all four limbs for this purpose.

How long do lemurs live?

There is variation among lemurs in overall lifespan. For example, Cockerel's mouse lemurs in nature live for about twenty years, and representatives of the species Gray mouse lemurs in captivity live up to fifteen years or even a little more.

Species of dwarf lemurs

Today, the family of dwarf lemurs includes five genera, and is also represented by three dozen species, among which the most common are the following:

  • Fat-tailed dwarf lemurs (Сheirogaleus medius) - have a body length in the range of 6.0-6.1 cm with a tail length of 13.5-13.6 cm and a body weight of 30.5-30.6 g;
  • Great dwarf lemurs (Сheirogaleus major) - characterized by a fairly short tail, with a noticeable thickening at the base;
  • Coquerel's mouse lemurs (Mirza soquereli) - differ in body length with head within 18-20 cm with a tail no more than 32-33 cm and maximum body weight - 280-300 g;
  • Dwarf mouse lemurs (Microcebus myoxinus) - are one of the smallest primates with a body weight of 43-55 g and a length of 20-22 cm;
  • Gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) - one of the most major representatives kind and weigh between 58-67 g;
  • Rufous mouse lemurs (Microcebus rufus) - characterized by a mass of about 50 g with a body length of 12.0-12.5 cm and a tail of 11.0-11.5 cm;
  • Bertha's mouse lemurs (Microcebus berthae) - endemic to the island state of Madagascar are currently the smallest primates known to science with a body length of 9.0-9.5 cm and an adult weight of 24-37 g;
  • Hairy-eared lemurs (Allosebus trichotis) - have a length of up to 28-30 cm with an average weight of no more than 80-100 g;
  • Fork-banded lemurs (Phaner furcifer) - have a body length of 25-27 cm and a tail length of 30-38 cm.

This is interesting! In 2012, in the eastern part of the Sahafina forest, located 50 km from the territory of the Mantadia national park area, it was discovered the new kind– Mouse lemur Herpa or Microcebus gerpi.

The genus Cheirogaleus or Rat lemurs includes six species, and the genus Microcebus or Mouse lemurs is represented by two dozen different species. The genus Mirza is considered to be the smallest today.

Area, distribution

Cheirogaleus medius are distributed in the western and southern parts of Madagascar, where they inhabit dry and moist deciduous tropical forests, preferring the lower tier of vegetation. The species Cheirogaleus major lives in forested and wooded arid areas in the east and north of Madagascar, and is sometimes found in west-central Madagascar.

Woolly-eared dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus crossleyi) inhabit the northern and eastern forests of Madagascar, while Sibri's dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus sibreei) are common only in the east of the island state. Representatives of the Mirza coquereli species have chosen the arid forests of Western Madagascar. Discovered by Kappeler only in 2005, the Great Northern Mouse Lemur is an animal common in the north of Madagascar.

Microcebus myochinus is an inhabitant of arid mixed and deciduous forests of the island state and the Kirindy Natural Park, and the natural habitats of the species Microcebus rufus are secondary and primary forests, including forest belts in coastal tropical zones and secondary bamboo forest areas.

Diet of dwarf lemurs

Almost omnivorous representatives of the family Dwarf lemurs eat not only fruits and bark, but also flowers and nectar, being active pollinators of many plants. Some species are characterized by a short-term descent to the ground, which allows them to hunt for all kinds of insects, as well as quite small animals, including spiders and small birds, frogs and chameleons.

This is interesting! The amount of vegetation is not always sufficient to feed the animals, so to replenish their strength, lemurs take long rests or slow down their physical activity.

Among other things, primate mammals often pamper themselves by licking juices various plants using its relatively long tongue. The dwarf lemur has teeth special structure, therefore, they are perfectly adapted for easy cutting of tree bark, which stimulates the active flow of plant nutritional juices.

Reproduction and offspring

Active rut in different species of representatives of the family Dwarf lemurs is confined strictly to a certain type of season, and the mating behavior of most of these primate mammals is represented by loud screams and touching their partner. For example, the breeding season for the fat-tailed dwarf lemur is October. Family relationships can be either monogamous or polygamous. As a rule, the female bears offspring annually, but the total duration of pregnancy varies greatly among representatives of different species.

After about a couple of months of pregnancy, the female gives birth to two or three fairly well-developed cubs. Pregnancy in large dwarf lemurs lasts just over two months, and the offspring that are born are fed with mother's milk for 45-60 days. The Mirza coquereli species bears its young for about three months, after which one to four young are born. The weight of a newborn dwarf lemur is only 3.0-5.0 grams. Babies are born completely blind, but very quickly open their eyes.

After birth, the cubs hang on their mother’s belly, clinging to the female’s fur with their limbs, but adults are able to independently carry their offspring in their mouths. Most often, at the age of one month, dwarf lemur cubs can easily and quickly climb plants or trees, but at first they tirelessly follow their mother.

Important! Once the mammal is weaned from breastfeeding, it immediately acquires complete independence.

Primate mammals reach sexual maturity at one and a half or two years, but even at this age the animal maintains close contact with its parent, so it makes itself known to the mother with loud cries. During the seasonal breeding season, species identity is easily determined by the vocal data of partners, which effectively prevents the process of hybridization between different types with significant external similarity.

The family of dwarf lemurs includes 5 species of small arboreal nocturnal animals that lead an extremely secretive lifestyle. In appearance, lifestyle, diet, consisting mainly of insects, these endemics of Madagascar are similar to African galagos and sometimes come close to them.

Dwarf lemurs have better developed eyes than ears. Their body is compressed, the head is short, the muzzle is rounded, the tail is slightly longer than the body, the limbs are generally evenly developed, since the hind ones are not significantly longer than the front ones. Other external differences of these small animals are large eyes, average size ears, bare inside and covered outside with very thin and sparse hair; unusually graceful limbs with short fingers, as well as delicate, soft, silky and partly wavy fur.

They are found alone and in pairs, but in captivity they can be kept in large groups. They sleep curled up in a ball in tree hollows or in nests made of grass, small twigs and leaves. They are in the same state during hibernation, which they enter during the dry season. During favorable (rainy) periods, they accumulate fat in different places bodies, especially at the base of the tail, and in a state of prolonged torpor they use up these fat reserves.

In captivity they behave quite aggressively, but they are also found with a more docile character.

Place in classification:

Superclass Quadrupeds - Tetrapoda
Class Mammals - Mammalia
Squad Primates
Suborder Wet-nosed monkeys - Strepsirhini
Infrasquad Lemur-like - Lemuriformes
Family Dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleidae)

Classification of dwarf lemurs:

Family: Cheirogaleidae Gray, 1872 = Dwarf lemurs
Genus: Allocebus Petter-Rousseaux et Petter, 1967 = Hairy-eared lemurs
Species: Allocebus trichotis Gunther, 1875 = Hairy-eared lemur
Genus: Cheirogaleus Geoffroy E., 1812 = Rat poppies, dwarf lemurs, chirogale
Species: Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus Grandidier, 1868 = Southern dwarf lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus crossleyi A. Grandidier, 1870 = Hairy dwarf lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus major Geoffroy E., 1812 = Rat maquis
Species: Cheirogaleus medius Geoffroy E., 1812 = Fat-tailed lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus minusculus Groves, 2000 = Lesser gray dwarf lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus ravus Groves, 2000 = Great gray dwarf lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus sibreei Forsyth Major, 1894 = Sibre's dwarf lemur
Genus: Microcebus Geoffroy E., 1834 = Mouse [dwarf] lemurs, dwarf poppies
Species: Microcebus berthae Rasoloarison et al., 2000 = Bertha's mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus bongolavensis, 2006 = Bongolaven mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus danfossorum, 2006 = Danfoss's mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus griseorufus Kollman, 1910 = Gray-brown mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus jollyae, 2006 = Jolly's mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus lehilahytsara Roos & Kappeler, 2005 = Goodman's mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus mamiratra, 2006 = Claire's mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus mittermeieri, 2006 = Mittermier's mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus murinus Miller J., 1777 = Miller's mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus myoxinus Peters, 1852 = Peters's dwarf mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus ravelobensis, 1998 = Golden mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus rufus Geoffroy E., 1834 = Rufous lemur
Species: Microcebus sambiranensis, 2000 = Sambiran mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus simmonsi, 2006 = Simmons' mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus tavaratra, 2000 = Northern rufous mouse lemur
Genus: Phaner Gray, 1870 = Fork-banded lemurs, phaners
Species: Phaner electromontis Groves & Tattersall, 1991 = Phaner Amba
Species: Phaner furcifer Blainville, 1841 = Fork-banded lemur
Species: Phaner pallescens Groves & Tattersall, 1991 = Phaner pallescens
Species: Phaner parienti Groves & Tattersall, 1991 = Phaner parienti
Genus: Mirza
Species: Mirza coquereli = Coquereli's dwarf lemur
Type: Mirza zaza =

Genus Hairy-eared lemurs: (Allocebus, Petter-Rousseaux et Petter, 1967)

Hairy-eared lemur(Lat. Allocebus trichotis, English. Hairy-eared dwarf lemur, Gunther, 1875)

The hairy-eared lemur is one of the smallest primates, up to 30 cm long and weighing 80-100 g.

Lemurs were described back in 1875, but then were not seen for 90 years and were already considered extinct. In 1966, they were again discovered in the rainforests of Madagascar.

Hair-eared lemurs are nocturnal. They nest in hollows in groups of two to six individuals; the nest is usually lined with straw. From May to September they may hibernate in tree hollows. It is not known for certain what they eat, but the structure of their claws and teeth may indicate that the basis of their diet is plant resins, and their long tongue can help drink nectar. The breeding season of Allocebus is also unknown with certainty, but juveniles found in March, two sizes smaller than adults, indicate that the estrus period occurs at the beginning of the rainy season in November and December, and the cubs are born in January-February, as in related genera of mice and dwarf lemurs.

Habitat: lowland rain forests of eastern Madagascar in the area of ​​the Mananara River; after 1989, subpopulations were also found in a number of national parks and nature reserves in other areas of eastern Madagascar.

Genus Rat poppies, dwarf lemurs, hirogale(Cheirogaleus, Geoffroy E., 1812)

Southern dwarf lemur(lat. Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus, English. Fat-tailed dwarf lemur or lesser dwarf lemur, western fat-tailed dwarf lemur, or spiny forest dwarf lemur, Grandidier, 1868)

The southern dwarf lemur is found only in Madagascar along almost the entire west coast. Lives in the forest and is nocturnal. The coat color on the back is dark, on the belly it is light gray. There is a stripe along the entire back. The muzzle is given expressiveness by a white stripe and the eyes are outlined in black. Feet and hands are white.

Southern lemur

Recent studies have shown that this species of lemur hibernates, despite the fact that in the tropical forests of Madagascar, winter temperatures remain quite high. This is the first species discovered tropical mammals hibernating. Winter in Madagascar is dry, and it seems that the lemur avoids the drought in this way. Unlike animals that winter in regions with temperate climate, the lemur does not control its body temperature during hibernation, and if the cavity in which it sleeps is not well insulated, the body temperature fluctuates in accordance with the outside temperature.

Like other species of lemurs, it is capable of storing fat in its tail, and this serves as a source of energy during its resting period.

Hairy dwarf lemur(lat. Cheirogaleus crossleyi, English. Furry-eared dwarf lemur, A. Grandidier, 1870)

The hairy dwarf lemur is found only in Madagascar (Imerima, Lake Alaotra, Perinet, Malevo, Antsianaka and Vogima. It lives in the forest and is nocturnal.

The color of the fur on the back is red-brown, on the belly it is light gray. There are black spots around the eyes, the ears are painted black on the outside and inside.

It moves on all fours and does not jump very well.

Rat Maki(lat. Cheirogaleus major, eng. Greater dwarf lemur, Geoffroy E., 1812)

Rat poppies live in the eastern and northern parts of Madagascar (less common in the west-central region of the island).

The tail of rat maquis is long and bushy, very thick at the base. The hairline is thick and dense. The muzzle is elongated with well-developed vibrissae. The eyes are large and closely spaced. The ears are medium-sized, thin-skinned, covered with sparse down.

The limbs are grasping, thumbs opposed to the others. Nails grow on all the toes, and on the second toe there is a claw, which is used for grooming and combing the fur.

Coloration varies from gray to reddish-brown on the head, back and tail. The chest, belly and inner thighs are white with a yellow tint. There are black circles around the eyes. There is a pale stripe between the eyes.

Due to their nocturnal lifestyle, mouse lemurs are fairly quiet animals. Soft calls are issued to inform other group members of their location. Whistling is pronounced at high frequencies, inaudible to humans, and is used in territorial conflicts, as well as for contact with neighbors. When the lemur is worried, it can make loud trills, and when something threatens it, it makes sounds similar to grunting.

Rat poppies are omnivores, eating fruits and vegetables, flowers and nectar, and less often insects and small vertebrates. Perhaps they sometimes enjoy honey. When poppies eat nectar from flowers, they stretch the flower's petals with their hands and then leisurely lick the nectar. One flower takes from two to seven minutes.

They lead a nocturnal and arboreal lifestyle. During the day they sleep, curled up in tree hollows covered with dry leaves or in nests made of grass, small twigs and leaves. In the dry season they fall into torpor. During the rainy season, they accumulate fat in different places of the body, especially at the base of the tail, and in a state of prolonged torpor, these fat reserves are used up. Quite slow animals, moving on four limbs.

Fat-tailed lemur(lat. Cheirogaleus medius, eng. Fat-tailed dwarf lemur, Geoffroy E., 1812)

Lives in Western and southern parts Madagascar.

The eyes are large and shiny. The tail is long and not grasping. The fur is thick, dense and soft to the touch. The head is spherical in shape. The auricles are relatively large, thin-skinned, and bare. The terminal phalanges of the fingers are widened. Colour: Body reddish-brown, pale brown or grey, underparts white with a yellowish tint. There is a dark ring around the eyes. There is a white stripe between the eyes.

Lesser gray dwarf lemur(lat. Cheirogaleus minusculus, eng. Lesser Iron-gray Dwarf Lemur, Groves, 2000)

The small gray dwarf lemur is found only in Madagascar in the town of Ambositra.

Lives in the forest and is nocturnal.

The coat color is gray with a brown tint, with a blurry stripe running along the back. The tip of the tail is painted white.

It moves on all fours and does not jump very well.

Great gray dwarf lemur(lat. Cheirogaleus ravus, English. Large Iron-gray Dwarf Lemur, Groves, 2000)

The great gray dwarf lemur is found only in Madagascar in the areas of Tamatave, Tampira, Mahambo, Ancaya, Ambodivoanga and Fesi Malendo.

Lives in the forest and is nocturnal. The coat color is gray with a brown tint, with a blurry stripe running along the back. The tip of the tail, feet and hands are painted white.

The ears are darker and can be either covered with hair or hairless.

It moves on all fours and does not jump very well.

Sibri's dwarf lemur(lat. Cheirogaleus sibreei, eng. Sibree's dwarf lemur, Forsyth Major, 1894)

This species of lemur was thought to be extinct until they were rediscovered in central Madagascar in 2010.

Genus Mouse [dwarf] lemurs, dwarf poppies(Lat. Microcebus Geoffroy E., 1834)

Bertha's mouse lemur(lat. Microcebus berthae, eng. Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, Rasoloarison et al., 2000)

The smallest known to science a primate found only on the island of Madagascar. The specific epithet is given in honor of the Malagasy anthropologist Bertha Rakotosamimanan.

The body length is only 9-9.5 cm, and the lemur weighs 24-38 grams. At the lemur a long tail 13-14 cm long. The fur is short and thick. The color of the upper body is reddish-brown with a dark stripe along the back from the shoulders to the tail, while the fur on the belly is cream or pale gray. The head is round, orange, lighter than the rest of the body. The muzzle is short, there is a white spot above the nose, a cinnamon-colored eye ring, large ears and bare toes. It has very large, forward-facing eyes that have a shiny layer behind the retina that reflects light, thereby significantly improving night vision.

Was found in the western part of the island in national park Kirindi. The area is no more than 900 km². The habitat of the species is dry deciduous forest.

The species is active at night and prefers to stay in trees. IN daytime Lemurs sleep in leaf nests built on vines and other climbing plants. They lead a solitary lifestyle.

An omnivore that, in addition to insects, also feeds on fruits and other plant material. To conserve energy, it goes into torpor for a short time every day.

(lat. Microcebus bongolavensis, eng. Bongolava Mouse Lemur, 2006)

Bongolava mouse lemur - found in western Madagascar in the deciduous forests of Bongolava and Ambodimahabibo between the Sofia and Mahajamba rivers.

It is a relatively large mouse lemur, with a total length of 26 to 29 cm, including a tail of 15 to 17 centimeters.

(Latin: Microcebus danfossorum, English: Danfoss" Mouse Lemur, 2006)

It was found in the northwestern part of Madgascar between the Sofia and Maevaran rivers.

The length of the body is 25-29 cm, the length of the tail is 15-17 cm.

Gray-brown mouse lemur(lat. Microcebus griseorufus, eng. Reddish-gray mouse lemur, Kollman, 1910)

It lives in the forests of the southwestern part of Madagascar at an altitude of about 250 m above sea level.

The reddish-gray mouse lemur, also known as the gray-brown mouse lemur or the tawny mouse lemur, was discovered in western Madagascar in the Beza Mahafaly nature reserve north of Lamboharana.

Mouse Lemur Jolly(lat. Microcebus jollyae, eng. Jolly's mouse lemur, 2006)

Found in 2006 in the areas of Mananjary and Kianjavato in southeastern Madagascar.

Named after biologist Alison Jolly.

(lat. Microcebus lehilahytsara, eng. Roos & Kappeler, 2005)

Found near the city in Andasibe in a very small habitat. The species is named after biologist Stephen Goodman.

"Lehilahytsara" is a combination of the Malagasy words for "good" and "person".

It is believed that Goodman's mouse lemur diverged from other lemurs about 2 million years ago.

(Latin Microcebus mamiratra, English Claire's mouse lemur or Nosy Be mouse lemur, 2006)

Claire the mouse lemur lives on the island of Nosy Be, and on the mainland near the village of Manehoka, including in the Lokobe Nature Reserve.

The scientific name mamiratra means "clear and bright." A small animal weighing 60 grams. The fur on the upper part is reddish-brown, darkening in the middle of the back. The total length is from 26 to 28 centimeters, including the tail - from 15 to 17 centimeters.

Mittermier's mouse lemur(lat. Microcebus mittermeieri, eng. Mittermeier's mouse lemur, 2006)

It was discovered in 2006 in a nature reserve on Anjanaharibe in northeastern Madagascar.

The Mittermeier mouse lemur is the smallest on the east coast. Its body is light brown with an orange tint. The belly is whitish-brown and there is a distinctive white patch on the muzzle at eye level. The tip of the tail is black.

Mouse [Miller's] lemur(lat. Microcebus murinus, eng. Gray mouse lemur Miller J., 1777)

The body of the mouse microcebus is about 13 cm in size, the tail is 17 cm. Body weight is 40-60 g, the weight of females is slightly more. It is so small that only a monkey's face with huge eyes sticks out from the hands of a person who has wrapped his fingers around it. The fur of these species is thick, fluffy, the Müller's lemur is brown, and the second species is gray. There is a light stripe on the nose and a dark stripe along the spine. They live in groups with a strict hierarchy.

They move by jumping with the help of four limbs, while microcebus has the unique ability to hold the body in a horizontal position, holding onto a branch only with its hind limbs. The animals are active at night and periodically emit shrill sounds while moving. They feed on plant and animal food, the ratio of which in their diet varies depending on the season. From February to March they eat mainly fruits, berries, leaves and flowers. During the dry period, they mainly prefer animal food: tree frogs, small chameleons, beetles and other insects, as well as bird eggs.

They build nests in trees from leaf balls. The breeding season is from August to February. During this time, two broods appear. Miller's lemur pregnancy lasts 59-62 days. Each litter contains two young (weighing 3-5 g each). The female carries the baby with her mouth, as it never clings to her fur, as is the case with other primates. At the age of 7-10 months, young animals reach sexual maturity.

In the cage, both types of microcebus retain their inherent seasonal feeding rhythm. In addition, they love honey, bread, rice and millet milk porridge, condensed milk, etc. In captivity they live up to 14 years.

Peters' dwarf mouse lemur(lat. Microcebus myoxinus, eng. Pygmy mouse lemur, Peters, 1852)

Lives in arid deciduous and mixed forests in the west of Madagascar, in the Kirindy Natural Park, where it was discovered. It is believed that the habitat is wider, but there is no confirmation of this.

This is one of the smallest primates. Weight is about 43-55 g, body length is about 20 cm, of which 10 are in the tail.

Golden mouse lemur(lat. Microcebus ravelobensis, English. Golden-brown mouse lemur or Ravelobe Mouse Lemur, 1998)

The golden mouse lemur lives in the northwestern part of Madagascar in the Ampijoroa Nature Reserve. Found in the upper layer of arid forests.

The length of the head and body is 12.5 cm, the tail is longer, more woolly and thinner than that of other mouse lemurs because it does not store fat in the tail. Weight 40-70 g. The coat is short and thick. The coat color is golden brown on the back and yellowish-white on the belly. From forehead to tip of muzzle white is coming band. The ears are yellowish-brown, large and hairless.

Males and females are colored the same. Females are ready to mate at the end of August; during this period they are active and aggressive.

The golden mouse lemur is a territorial animal. Shows aggressiveness when defending its possessions. Moves by jumping. Builds nests from branches and fallen leaves.

(lat. Microcebus rufus, eng. Brown mouse lemur, Geoffroy E., 1834)

Brown mouse lemurs are common in areas tropical forests in the northern and eastern parts of Madagascar. The natural habitats of this species are primary and secondary forests, including coastal rainforest forest belts and secondary bamboo forests.

The upper part of the body of lemurs ranges in color from reddish-brown to light brown, while the lower part of the body ranges from white to cream. The wool is soft. There is a white or cream stripe between the eyes and below the nose. Cheeks brownish-red. The ears are medium in size. Body length is 12.5 cm. Tail length is 11.5 cm. Body weight is about 50 g, although in February and March it is slightly larger.

Lemurs perform ritual courtship before mating, which consists of using soft, sonorous squeaks and tail lashing to attract the female to mate.

They feed primarily on plant fruits, although they may sometimes eat insects, young leaves, flowers, tree resin, nectar and flower pollen. The diet varies seasonally, with fruit consumption increasing between December and March.

Sambiranov mouse lemur(lat. Microcebus sambiranensis, eng. Sambirano mouse lemur 2000)

The Sambiran mouse lemur is found only in northwestern Madagascar in the Ankarana Nature Reserve.

It lives in trees and is nocturnal.

The coat is long, the color is reddish-brown, the chest, sides and belly are light gray. The tail is amber in color, the inside is ocher-yellow. The top of the head and ears are amber in color, and there is a red-brown spot between the eyes. Hands and feet are reddish in color mixed with beige and white. The antennae-vibrissae are dark.

(lat. Microcebus simmonsi, eng. Simmons "mouse lemur 2006)

Simmons's mouse lemur is the largest mouse lemur on the East Coast.

Lives in the Betampona and Zahamena nature reserves.

The fur is dark reddish-orange with a black tip on the top of the head and sometimes a stripe down the middle of the back.

Northern rufous mouse lemur(lat. Microcebus tavaratra, eng. Northern rufous mouse lemur, 2000)

The northern rufous mouse lemur is found only in northwestern Madagascar in the Ankarana Nature Reserve.

It lives in trees and is nocturnal. The coat is long, has three shades of color - dark brown, medium brown and yellow ocher (the color of the back) and beige-white (the color of the chest, sides and belly. There is a dark brown stripe along the back. The top of the head and ears are red, the area between the eyes is grayish-white. Around the eyes there is a dark brown spot. The tail is dark and medium brown. The color of the hands and feet is grayish-white. The whiskers are dark.

Genus Fork-banded lemurs, plywood(lat. Phaner)

The genus Fork-striped Lemurs - Phaner includes up to 4 species; however, possibly monotypic. Homeland - coastal forest areas of Northern and Western Madagascar.

Plywoods live in the tropical rain forests of Madagascar, are nocturnal, feed on insects, fruits, and honey. Food is brought to the mouth with the front paws. They find shelter in the hollows of trees, rest and sleep in a sitting position, with their head lowered between the forelimbs, like lemurs.

They are larger than other representatives of the mouse lemur subfamily. The body length of these lemurs is 23-28 cm, the bushy tail is 29-36 cm long and they weigh from 300 to 500 grams. The tail is bushy and longer than the head and body. The limbs are quite long, which is necessary in order to reach a place on a tree with a fixed trunk, where lemurs feed on the sap released from the trunk. The head is round, the muzzle is blunt, large dark eyes look forward. The fur is brownish-gray, the tail is very dark, from it along the ridge there is a dark, almost black stripe, which bifurcates at the top, and each of the branches goes forward and further around the eyes.

Plywood Amba(lat. Phaner electromontis, eng. Amber Mountain Fork-crowned Lemur, Groves & Tattersall, 1991)

Inhabits the Montagne d'Ambre region, which is located in the northern part of Madagascar. It lives at an altitude of 50–1500 m above sea level.

Fork-banded lemur(lat. Phaner furcifer, eng. Masoala Fork-crowned Lemur, Blainville 1841)

Lives in the tropical rain forests of the northern and west coast Madagascar.

The body length is 25-27 cm, the tail length is 30-38 cm. The body is covered with thick, soft hair, its overall color is reddish-gray or brownish-gray. The color reaches its brightest on the head and neck. On the head, from the eyes to the back of the head, there are two black stripes, which join together in the back of the head and then a single black stripe stretches back along the middle of the neck and along the entire back. The throat and belly are pale reddish or yellowish. The hands and feet are brown, and the tail is covered with long, thick hair of a dark reddish-brown color with a black or white tip.

It is nocturnal and feeds on insects, fruits, and honey. It nests in tree hollows, rests and sleeps in a sitting position, with its head lowered between its forelimbs. Usually there are 2-3 individuals together. Very agile, capable of making long jumps. Does not hibernate. There are 2-3 cubs in a litter.

Pale plywood(Lat. Phaner pallescens, English. Pale fork-marked lemur, Groves & Tattersall, 1991)

Plywood Parienta(Latin Phaner parienti, English Pariente's fork-marked lemur, Groves & Tattersall, 1991)

Distributed in the Sambirano region in northwestern Madagascar. This lemur has light brown fur. A light stripe runs from the tip of the tail to the head.

Lives in lowland and mid-altitude humid forests. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. This is an omnivore; it feeds on tree resin, sap, buds, and eats insects and larvae. Sleeps in nests that have been abandoned by other lemurs. Little studied.

Rod Mirza

Lemurs are small in size. Distributed in deciduous forests of western Madagascar; usually found near the shores of the ocean or other bodies of water. The fur is olive-brown above and yellowish-gray below.

The genus originally included a single species, Mirza coquereli (named after the French entomologist Charles Coquerel), when it was separated from the genus Microcebus in 1985. In 2005, a second species, Mirza zaza, was described. In 2010, it was announced that another taxon, whose fur on the back and tail is reddish, was discovered in the vicinity of Berevo-Ranobe.

Coquerel's dwarf lemur(lat. Mirza coquereli, eng. Coquerel's giant mouse lemur, 2005)

Cockrela's dwarf mouse lemur or walnut dwarf lemur is found in the dry forests from Ancazoabo in the north to Antsalov and further north in the Sambirano region. This is an animal the size of a squirrel. The length of the body including the head is 20 cm, the tail is 33 cm. Weight is 300 g. The coat is brownish-gray with light abdominal and chest areas. The tail is thin and woolly, the hair on it is long, making the tail appear shaggy. The ears are large.

The hazelnut lemur feeds alone at night, and during the day it rests in a tree hollow in a group of 5 individuals. Has holdings of up to 4 hectares. It feeds on fruits, flowers, gums, insects and their secretions, spiders, frogs, chameleons and small small birds.

Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 2 years. The mating season is confined to October, pregnancy lasts 3 months, cubs (1-4) are born in January. The female bears offspring every year. The female takes care of the young and carries them in her teeth. After a month, the cubs already leave the nest. They begin to feed on their own, but by screaming they make themselves known to their mother, maintaining close contact with her.

Lemurs are territorial animals, and they are tolerant of trespassing on large properties and are aggressive when defending a recreation area. Several animals sleep in the same hollow or build nests close to each other. Life expectancy is 15-20 years.

(lat. Mirza zaza, eng. Northern giant mouse lemur, 2005)

The northern giant mouse lemur - Mirza zaza - was discovered in 2005 by Kappeler from the German Center for Primatology and the University of Göttingham. Until then, the population of GM'an mouse lemurs was considered to belong to a single species.

The northern giant mouse lemur is a small animal endemic to Madagascar that is nocturnal.

Weight 300 g, long, bushy tail, small ears. The name "zaza" means children in Malagasy. The northern species of giant mouse lemurs is smaller in size than Mirza coquereli.

The dwarf mouse belongs to the mouse family and is included in the genus house mice. This species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. The highest concentration of animals is observed in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Their density is 28 animals per hectare. Presumably there are areas of higher density in areas with favorable climate. The habitat includes savannas, grasslands, as well as rocky and mountainous terrain. These rodents are found at altitudes of up to 2.4 thousand meters above sea level.

The length of adult individuals varies from 3 to 8 cm. The length of the tail reaches 2-4 cm. The animals weigh 5-12 grams. Coat color varies from gray to brick red. In some individuals it is brighter, in others it is paler. The fur on the belly is light. The ears have a characteristic triangular shape. The eyes are relatively large, the muzzle is elongated.

Reproduction and lifespan

The duration of pregnancy is about 3 weeks. There are from 2 to 4 cubs in a litter. On average there are 3 of them. The pups are born blind and naked. Eyes open 2 weeks after birth. Milk feeding lasts 4 weeks. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 6-8 weeks. In wild nature dwarf mouse lives 1.5-2 years. In captivity, some individuals live up to 4 years.

Representatives of the species live in the grass in groups or pairs. Required condition is the presence of water nearby. These animals are excellent climbers and can climb both rocks and trees. The main activity occurs at dusk and at night.

Dwarf mice have a number of unique features that are not inherent in other representatives of this species. large family. This is how they stack pebbles in front of their burrow. At night, the pebbles collect dew, and in the early morning, small animals drink it and hide back in the hole. At the genetic level, they have a number of differences from most mammals. This is due to sex determination and the X chromosome.

Representatives of this species feel especially comfortable in protected areas and reserves, where there is no risk of environmental destruction. Currently, the population size is at a stable level and additional measures There is no need to protect these unique little animals.

The nimble rodents live as pets all over the world. They do not require complex and expensive care, and are active both at night and during the day. They are very popular among people as exotic pets.