Mouse Lemur

Mouse Lemur The Latin word lemures means "ghost." Malagasy people have traditionally associated these primates with spirits because they are active at night, and perhaps because of their eerie, large-eyed stare. There are eight species of mouse lemurs, and several have been identified only in the past few years. This is a rarity in primate research, and illustrates just how much remains to be known about these fascinating animals. Like all lemurs, mouse lemurs inhabit the island of Madagascar off the east coast of Africa. The pygmy mouse lemur is the smallest primate in the world. Its head and body are less than two and a half inches (six centimeters) long, though its tail is a bit more than twice that length. These endangered nocturnal lemurs live in the dry forests of western Madagascar and rarely leave the forests' trees. Little is known of these rare primates. Mouse lemurs are forest dwellers that live in female-dominated groups of up to 15 animals. They spend most of their time in trees, and can move nimbly from branch to branch and tree to tree. Mouse lemurs sleep aloft during the day and forage at night for insects, fruit, flowers, and other plants. These adaptable primates store fat in their tails and hind legs, burning it when forage is lean. They may store up to 35 percent of their body weight. Female lesser mouse lemurs enter a dormant state during Madagascar's dry season, from April or May to September or October. Females are inactive during this time and may not leave their tree holes. During the same season, however, males are more active. They may be establishing breeding hierarchies for the coming mating season. Mouse lemurs are protected from hunting, but they are still captured for the exotic pet trade. They are most threatened by loss of the limited woodland habitat of their Madagascar home.......Mouse lemur From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mouse lemurs Microcebus myoxinus.jpg Pygmy mouse lemur (M. myoxinus) Conservation status CITES Appendix I (CITES)[1] Scientific classification e Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Suborder: Strepsirrhini Family: Cheirogaleidae Genus: Microcebus É. Geoffroy, 1834[2] Diversity About 21 species Microcebus range map.svg Combined distribution of Microcebus[3] Synonyms[2][4] Murilemur Gray, 1870 Scartes Swainson, 1835 Myscebus Lesson, 1840 Azema Gray, 1870 Gliscebus Lesson, 1840 Myocebus Wagner, 1841 The mouse lemurs are nocturnal lemurs of the genus Microcebus. Like all lemurs, mouse lemurs are native to Madagascar.[4] Mouse lemurs have a combined head, body and tail length of less than 27 centimetres (11 in), making them the smallest primates[5] (the smallest species being Madame Berthe's mouse lemur); however, their weight fluctuates in response to daylight duration.[6] Lemurs and Mouse Lemurs were announced by the IUCN as the most endangered of all vertebrates. There are about 21 mouse lemur species identified by 2015. There were only 2 known mouse lemur species by 1992.[7] It was estimated that the 21 mouse lemur species evolved from a common ancestor 10 million years ago. Evolution of mouse lemurs is an example for adaptive radiation.[citation needed] Mouse lemurs are omnivorous; their diets are diverse and include insect secretions, arthropods, small vertebrates, gum, fruit, flowers, nectar, and also leaves and buds depending on the season.[citation needed] Mouse lemurs are considered cryptic species - with very little morphological differences between the various species, but with high genetic diversity. Recent evidence points to differences in their mating calls, which is very diverse. Since the mouse lemurs are nocturnal, they might not have evolved to look differently, but had evolved various auditory and vocal systems.[citation needed] Contents [hide] 1 Reproduction and Evolution 2 Species 3 References 4 External links Reproduction and Evolution[edit] Mouse lemurs are also known for their sperm competition. During breeding seasons, the testicles of male mouse lemurs increases in size about 30% of their normal size. This was speculated to increase the sperm production thereby conferring an advantage for the individual to bear more offspring. There are various hypotheses relating the rapid evolution of mouse lemur species this sperm competition.[8] Species[edit] .