In the family Lemuridae there are both common, widespread, and very rare species. Some are widely known to scientists and the general public, others have been poorly studied. In this article we will talk about the smallest representatives of the family - mouse and dwarf lemurs, which, due to their timidity and secretive lifestyle, are difficult to study.
Mouse and dwarf lemurs are the smallest primates in Madagascar. They live throughout the island, including rainforests in the east, dry deciduous forests in the west, and thorny forests in the south.
Habitats of various species of dwarf and mouse lemurs
The family of dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleidae) is represented by the following species.
Mouse lemurs
Most small mouse lemurs of the family Cheirogaleidae belong to the genus (Microcebus). Scientists are constantly reviewing the taxonomic status of these species.
The gray mouse lemur is found in deciduous forests in northwestern and southern Madagascar.
Gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)The brown mouse lemur lives in thickets along the edges of clearings in the eastern part of Madagascar.
Brown mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus) The pygmy mouse lemur can be found in the central part of the island.
Dwarf mouse lemur (Microcebus myoxinus) The golden-brown mouse lemur inhabits northwestern Madagascar.
Golden-brown mouse lemur (Microcebus ravelobens) There are 5 known species of dwarf lemurs belonging to four genera.
Coquerel's dwarf lemur has chosen the coastal forests in the west and north-west of the island.
Coquerela's dwarf lemur (Mirza coquereli) A hairy-eared lemur in a small area in the primary rainforest of northeastern Madagascar.
Hairy-eared lemur (Allocebus trichotis) The rat lemur is an inhabitant of primary and mature secondary forests on the eastern part of the island.
Rat lemur (Cheirogaleus major) The fat-tailed lemur is found in primary and mature secondary forests in northwestern, western and southern Madagascar.
Fat-tailed lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) The fork-banded lemur is a resident of mature coastal forests in the west, northwest and east of the island.
Fork-banded lemur (Phaner furcifer) The body length of animals of this family ranges from 9-11 (dwarf mouse lemur) to 23-30 cm (fork-striped lemur). They weigh respectively from 25-38 g to 350-500 g. They have an elongated body and short limbs. The head is small, with protruding eyes, the ears are relatively large, slightly pubescent. The tail is long and can store fat reserves. The coat is short and dense, mostly gray-brown on the back and white to cream on the undersides.
Features of the lifestyle of dwarf lemurs
All species live on trees, bushes and vines. Some may descend to the ground to catch small animals.
Both dwarf and mouse lemurs are active only at night. They run and jump on all fours. Like many other nocturnal mammals, these animals have a “mirror” in the eye behind the retina - a layer of light-reflecting crystals.
During the daytime, mouse and dwarf lemurs rest in cozy, self-built nests or use hollow trees or some other shelter. They often compete for tree hollows, especially during the period of preparation for long hibernation. Cockerell's dwarf lemurs build ball-shaped nests from leaves high in the canopy of trees. Sometimes they are occupied by fork-banded lemurs.
Some species of these lemurs have a unique feature for primates: during the dry season, they can hibernate or torpor for several weeks or even months. Interestingly, in gray mouse lemurs only females go into suspended animation, while males remain active all year round.
Recent research suggests something complex social behavior some types. For example, adult Cockerell's dwarf lemurs usually sleep alone, but sometimes adult males are found sleeping in pairs. Thick-tailed and fork-striped species always sleep in pairs with permanent partners of the opposite sex. And gray mouse lemurs prefer to sleep in large groups consisting of males and females. Sometimes there are more than 15 individuals in one hollow, but more often there are 4-5.
In fork-nosed and thick-tailed dwarf lemurs, pairs claim their territory by staging grand duet concerts and marking boundaries with feces.
Diet of small primates
Miniature lemurs feed on fruits, small arthropods, and gum. All representatives of this family diversify their diet with flowers and nectar. Fat-tailed dwarf lemurs prefer fruit. And the diet of the Cockerel dwarf lemur, among other things, includes vertebrates - chameleons and snakes. There are also those who eat almost only gum (forked lemurs). These animals have a long tongue and teeth adapted to cut the bark of trees and lick the flowing tree sap.
How do lemurs communicate?
Just as people speak different dialects that reflect their regional affiliation, many representatives of the animal kingdom communicate in special languages. Scientists have found that mouse lemurs also have their own dialects.
To study the structure of the lemur population, zoologists used various methods (multiple repeated captures of animals, radio collars, determination of the genotype of many dozens of individuals and tagging them using microchips). As a result, it was found that a large population may consist of smaller neighboring groups, approximately 35 individuals each. Young females usually stay with the mothers, while young males migrate to other places. Individuals of a community scattered throughout the territory communicate using a wide range of sounds with a frequency of 10-36 kHz (a person hears sounds in the range of 0.02-20 kHz). Sounds with frequencies beyond our audibility were studied using special instruments. It turned out that, like other mammals that live in groups, in lemurs it is possible to identify each individual and its gender by its cry. But it turns out that screams are individual not only for each animal. Neighboring communities speak different dialects.
During the mating season, males make a vibrating sound. This call is an integral part of the breeding process. Screams with a frequency of 13-35 kHz, lasting about a second, consist of musical phrases arranged in a certain order and resemble birdsong. The frequency of repetition of calls depends on the motivation of the male, the degree of interest of the females and the calls of competing males. Animals from one community emit trills that are recognizable in the general chorus and at the same time differ sharply from the calls of males from neighboring communities.
Enemies of miniature lemurs
Due to their miniature size and high population density, mouse and dwarf lemurs are easy prey for predators. Birds of prey alone destroy up to 30% of the mouse lemur population in a year. Civets, mongooses and large snakes also hunt small animals.
Conservation in nature
Population densities of dwarf and mouse lemurs can be very high. Widespread species are not at risk of extinction. However, a species such as the hairy-eared lemur is very rare, and its habitat and biological features are practically not studied.
Some mouse lemurs adapt well to change environment and continue to live in secondary forests, clearings and plantations, but, as observations show, in these conditions the animals are not able to maintain a viable population.
Dwarf and mouse lemurs are barely mentioned in conservation projects, partly because their distribution and lifestyle remain poorly understood.
In contact with
Dwarf mouse lemur (Microcebus myoxinus)
Class - mammals
Order - primates
Family - dwarf lemurs
Genus - mouse lemurs
Appearance
The smallest of the mouse lemurs and one of the smallest primates (the main competitor for this title is the pygmy marmoset). Weight is about 300 grams, body length is about 20 centimeters, of which 10 are in the tail. It has a red-brown back and a creamy-white belly.
The muzzle is short, the ears are almost bare, webbed type. The coat color is brownish-red or gray (some with white markings), and there are dark rings around the eyes, emphasizing the large size of the eyes. Mouse lemurs have elongated navicular and calcaneal bones, like those of African galagos. They move in the same way, by jumping.
Habitat
It 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 range is wider, but there is no confirmation of this.
Lifestyle in nature
Basic food: spiders, insects, fruits, nectar, leaves, less often - small frogs and lizards.
Mouse lemurs themselves 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.
Reproduction
The pregnancy of mouse lemurs itself lasts about 60-70 days, the female gives birth to 2-3 blind cubs weighing 3-5 g, the eyes open already on the 2nd day of life.
At 15 days they begin to climb. They become completely independent after 60 days, and reach sexual maturity at 7-10 months. In captivity they reproduce relatively easily.
To keep a dwarf lemur at home, any container that must contain tree branches is suitable. It is better to make the back of the cage blank. This is how lemurs feel safe. The bedding in the rest box should be made of natural cotton wool or dried hay. The place where your pet's cage will be located should be away from drafts, because lemurs are susceptible to colds. Otherwise, these animals easily tolerate the climate of the middle zone. It is also very important to keep the cage clean: house lemur he won’t do it himself and will smell bad. First of all, light cleaning should be done every day, and once a month, wipe the floor with a damp cloth and sprinkle with a fresh layer of sawdust.
A shelter should be installed in the cage where the lemurs can hide from annoying eyes and daylight. It is best to use a fur nest envelope, which is convenient to hang in the cage.
Dwarf lemurs are most often fed late in the evening, although it is possible to teach them to feed during the day, but it is better if the animal itself does not want to, do not force it. The most convenient way is in a deep metal bowl (like for parrots), which is suspended from the bars of the cage. Most often, their waking time occurs around eight o'clock in the evening, and around this time they are served food. Some species of lemurs feed on animal food, in which case they have to be fed boiled meat and various insects, which some catch themselves while walking around the apartment. Also baby puree. The main thing is not to overfeed! If you give a lot of bananas, grapes, zofobas, carrots, lettuce, nuts, then the sweetest things (bananas and zofobas) will be eaten. The rest of the necessary things will not be touched. Therefore, you can arrange fasting days and give, for example, only carrots, one almond, and other vegetables. Example of feeding: two zoobass, half a large cockroach (or just one cockroach), one nut, a few pieces of apple, just a little banana, a couple of pieces of dates or figs. If there are more insects, then less of the rest. In general, it’s better if you don’t eat enough a couple of times a week.
Give lemurs commercial food for primates, adding a mixture of fresh (mangoes, apples) and dried fruits, nuts (almonds, hazelnuts), bread, boiled rice, insects (meal beetles, zoobast, cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers), vitamin supplements. Occasionally they are given dairy-free baby porridge (with water and honey can be added).
There should always be fresh water. The drinker can be ball-shaped. To prevent animals from feeling bored and losing their appetite, it is very important to provide them with a varied diet.
In captivity, lemurs show calmness; they never break anything. This is probably the only species of primate that can be allowed to go outside the cage without much control. They easily become attached to their owner and become very bored in his absence.
Distributed in the western and southern parts of Madagascar. You can meet this lemur in dry and wet deciduous tropical forests, on the lower tier of the forest.
The body length is about 6.1 cm, the tail length is 13.6 cm, and the weight is 30.6 g.
It feeds on fruits, flowers and insects. The breeding season is in October. Pregnancy lasts 60 days. The female is capable of giving birth to 2 or 3 cubs.
Great dwarf lemur
Great Dwarf Lemur
(Cheirogaleus major)
Distributed in forests and wooded arid areas of eastern and northern Madagascar, less common in west-central Madagascar.
The body size is like that of a large rat. The tail is shorter (16.5-25 cm) than the head and body and very thick at the base.
It feeds on fruits, flowers and nectar, as well as insects and small vertebrates, and can eat honey. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. Sleeps during the day in a nest built from branches, leaves and grass or tree hollows covered with dry leaves. They live alone, but can rest in a hollow with other lemurs. Owns a territory of less than 200 m in circumference, and the lemurs' possessions overlap. These lemurs do not defend the borders of their possessions. Mark possessions with urine and feces. During unfavorable conditions may fall into a state of torpor for over a month. During this time, lemurs retire to a hollow tree or tree crown and feed on fat reserves stored at the base of the tail.
The female is able to mate for 2-3 days in October or November. Pregnancy lasts 70 days. The female settles in a hollow tree lined with leaves, where she gives birth to 2-3 cubs. After 2 days their eyes open, and by 3-4 weeks they can climb trees and follow their mother. The female feeds them milk for 45 days. A month and a half after birth, the cubs are completely independent and do not need their mother.
Woolly-eared dwarf lemur
Furry-eared Dwarf Lemur
(Cheirogaleus crossleyi)
It lives in the forests of the northern and eastern parts of Madagascar.
Sibri's dwarf lemur
Sibree's Dwarf Lemur
(Cheirogaleus sibreei)
Distributed in the eastern part of Madagascar.
The genus (Cheirogaleus) also includes: Southern fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus), Lesser gray dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus minusculus), Great gray dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus ravus).
Coquerel's mouse lemur
Coquerel's Dwarf Lemur
(Mirza coquereli)
It lives in the arid forests of Western Madagascar at an altitude of about 700 m above sea level.
The length of the body including the head is about 20 cm, the tail is 33 cm. Weight is 300 g.
Leads a nocturnal, solitary lifestyle. During the day it settles down to rest in a hollow tree. It feeds on fruits, flowers, gum, insects and their secretions, spiders, frogs, chameleons and small birds.
These are territorial animals, and they are tolerant of trespassing on large properties and are aggressive in defending recreation areas. Several animals sleep in the same hollow or build nests close to each other.
Sexual maturity occurs at 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. Life expectancy is 15-20 years.
Northern Great Mouse Lemur
Northern Giant Mouse Lemur
(Mirza zaza)
Distributed in the northern part of the island of Madagascar. It was discovered in 2005 by Kappeler.
Dwarf mouse lemur
Pygmy Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus myoxinus)
It 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.
Basic food: spiders, insects, fruits, nectar, leaves, less often - small frogs and lizards. 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 a favorable (rainy) period, they accumulate fat in different places of the body, especially at the base of the tail, and in a state of prolonged torpor, they use up these fat reserves.
The pregnancy of mouse lemurs itself lasts about 70 days, the female gives birth to 2-3 blind cubs weighing 18-20 g, the eyes open already on the 2nd day of life.
Gray mouse lemur
Gray Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus murinus)
Lives in the forests of Western and Northern Madagascar.
Weighing between 58 and 67 grams, it is the most major representative genus of mouse lemurs (Microcebus).
Like all mouse lemurs, the gray mouse lemur is a nocturnal arboreal animal. He is very active. It feeds alone, but these lemurs sleep in groups in tree hollows. Dry and cool winter months spends time in hibernation, which is not typical for primates. It feeds mainly on fruits, insects, flowers, and nectar. Natural enemies of this species are owls, snakes, as well as a number of species endemic to Madagascar carnivorous mammals. About one in four gray mouse lemurs are the victim of a predator; in other primates this figure is lower. But these losses are quickly made up due to rapid reproduction. Reproduction is seasonal, partners determine each other's species by voice - this is necessary to prevent hybridization with other species of the genus that are very similar in appearance. Pregnancy lasts approximately 60 days, with a litter usually consisting of 2 cubs. At the age of two months, these cubs are already independent, and starting from the age of one year, they can reproduce. At the age of 6 years, reproduction stops. In captivity they live up to 15 years.
Reddish-gray mouse lemur
Reddish-gray Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus griseorufus)
It lives in the forests of the southwestern part of Madagascar at an altitude of about 250 m above sea level.
Golden brown mouse lemur
Golden-brown mouse lemur
(Microcebus ravelobensis)
Distributed in the northwestern part of Madagascar in nature reserve Ampijoroa. It lives at an altitude of about 500 m above sea level.
The body length without tail is about 12.5 cm, weight - 40-70 g.
Simmons's mouse lemur
Simmons" Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus simmonsi)
Distributed in the northeastern part of Madagascar. It lives at an altitude of about 960 m above sea level.
Red mouse lemur
Brown Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus rufus)
Distributed along the east coast of Madagascar. The natural habitats of this species are primary and secondary forests, including forest belts of coastal tropical forests and secondary bamboo forests.
Body length 12.5 cm. Tail length - 11.5 cm. Body weight about 50 g.
Lemurs feed primarily on plant fruits, although they can sometimes eat insects, young leaves, flowers, tree resin, nectar and flower pollen. The diet varies seasonally, with fruit consumption increasing between December and March.
They perform ritual courtship before mating, which consists of using a soft, sonorous squeak and tail whipping to attract the female to mate. Females notify males of their sexual receptivity through frequent rubbing of the genitals and wiping the mouth. Several females usually live in the territories of males. Dominant males may mate with multiple females, creating a harem of sorts.
Mating occurs between September and October. Pregnancy lasts about 60 days. The young are born in November-December; there are from 1 to 3 cubs in the litter. Lactation lasts 2 months; the cubs wean from mother's milk in February, when food becomes readily available. Sexual maturity occurs after 1 year of life. Life expectancy in nature is from 6 to 8 years, but in captivity they can live up to 10-15 years.
Bertha's mouse lemur
Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus berthae)
Endemic to Madagascar. It was found in the western part of the island in Kirindy National Park. The area is no more than 900 km². The habitat is dry deciduous forest.
This is the smallest known to science primate The length of the body is only 9-9.5 cm, and the lemur weighs 24-38 g. The lemur has a long tail 13-14 cm long. The fur is short and thick.
Active at night, prefers to stay in trees. During the daytime, it sleeps in nests made of leaves, built on vines and other climbing plants. Leads a solitary lifestyle.
Goodman's mouse lemur
Goodman's Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus lehilahytsara)
Distributed in the eastern part of Madagascar in the region national park Andasibe-Mantadia.
MacArthur's mouse lemur
MacArthur's Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus macarthurii)
Distributed in the northern part of Madagascar.
Danfoss mouse lemur
Danfoss" Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus danfossi)
It was found in the northwestern part of Madagascar between the Sofia and Maevaran rivers.
The length of the body is 25-29 cm, the length of the tail is 15-17 cm.
Arnhold's mouse lemur
Arnhold's Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus arnholdi)
It was found in the northern part of Madagascar in the area of the Montagne d'Ambre National Park in 2005.
Body length is about 8 cm, tail - 12 cm, body weight - 49.7 g.
Mouse Lemur Margot Marsh
Margot Marsh's Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus margotmarshae)
It was found in northern Madagascar in 2006. Named after Margot Marsh, known for her work in the field of primate conservation.
Body length is about 8.4 cm, tail - 14 cm, body weight - 41 g.
Mouse lemur Herpa
Gerp's Mouse Lemur
(Microcebus gerpi)
It was discovered in 2012 in the eastern part of Madagascar in the Sahafina forest area, which is located 50 km from Mantadia National Park.
Body weight is about 68 g, tail length is about 15 cm.
The genus of mouse lemurs (Microcebus) also includes: Northern rufous mouse lemur (Microcebus tavaratra), Sambiran mouse lemur (Microcebus sambiranensis), Jolly's mouse lemur (Microcebus jollyae), Mettermeyer's mouse lemur (Microcebus mittermeieri), Claire's mouse lemur (Microcebus mamiratra) , Bongolav mouse lemur (Microcebus bongovaensis).
Hairy-eared lemur
Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur
(Allocebus trichotis)
Reliably confirmed habitat - lowland rainforests of eastern Madagascar in the area of the Mananara River; Since 1989, subpopulations have also been found in a number of national parks and reserves in other areas of eastern Madagascar. Hair-eared lemurs are under threat of complete extinction, as their native forests are being actively cut down, and they themselves are used as food by local residents.
The hairy-eared lemur is one of the smallest primates, up to 30 cm long and weighing 80-100 g.
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.
Fork-banded lemur
Masoala Fork-crowned Lemur
(Phaner furcifer)
Lives in the tropical rain forests of the northern and western coasts of 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.
Western fork-banded lemur
Western Fork-crowned Lemur
(Phaner pallescens)
Distributed in western Madagascar from the Fiherenana River north to the Soalala region. It lives in forests at an altitude of about 800 m above sea level.
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Amber Mountain Fork-crowned Lemur
(Phaner electromontis)
Inhabits the Montagne d'Ambre region, which is located in the northern part of Madagascar. It is located at an altitude of 50-1500 m above sea level.
The genus Phaner also includes the Fork-banded lemur Parinta (Phaner parienti), which lives at an altitude of about 800 m above sea level in the northwestern part of Madagascar in the Sambirano region.
Gray mouse lemurs are small lemurs native to Madagascar, also called Miller's lemurs. These lemurs got their name due to their similarity to mice in color and size.
All mouse lemurs are very similar to each other, so previously one species of gray lemur was isolated, but when different species are crossed, fertile offspring are not obtained.
Gray lemurs weigh 58-67 grams, with such a small mass they are the largest in their genus, which includes the smallest primates.
Lifestyle of mouse gray lemurs
Like other mouse lemurs, the gray lemur is arboreal and nocturnal. These animals are very active. They sleep together in groups, but feed alone. They wait out the dry months in hibernation, and this is not a typical behavior for primates.
Gray mouse lemurs live in the forests of the northern and western parts of the island of Madagascar. They are found in scrubland, tropical dry forests, floodplain forests, deciduous forests, clearings and agricultural plantations. These lemurs live at altitudes of up to 800 meters. They prefer to climb thin branches whose diameter does not exceed 5 centimeters. In forests they keep to the lower tier and undergrowth.
Gray mouse lemurs spend almost half of their time without rising to a height of more than 3 meters. This behavior is observed at the end of the dry season, when there is not much food and lemurs have to actively hunt insects. Their diet consists mostly of fruits, flowers, and insects. Most often they attack beetles, but they also eat praying mantises, butterflies, lanternflies, spiders, etc. In addition, small vertebrates, such as frogs and geckos, can become their prey. They also feed on nectar, making them considered potential pollinators of local vegetation. This omnivorous nature allows gray lemurs to adapt to seasonal changes.
Enemies of mouse lemurs
Natural enemies of these small lemurs: snakes, owls and various predators of Madagascar.
The main enemies are the long-eared owls of Madagascar. The following snakes also attack them: ring-tailed mungo, narrow-striped mungo. Domestic dogs also kill lemurs.
Predators kill approximately every fourth individual, which is high compared to other primates. But such losses are quickly replenished thanks to the rapid reproduction of gray mouse lemurs. Most often, lemurs flee from predators, but sometimes they can collectively defend themselves.
Behavior of gray mouse lemurs
During the day, gray mouse lemurs rest in hollows lined with leaves. They can also make spherical nests from small branches, moss and leaves. Up to 15 lemurs can rest in one hollow. Most often, females prefer to sleep in groups, and males prefer to sleep alone.
At night, the animals are very active, they rush quickly, like mice. They can jump up to 3 meters, with the tail acting as a balancer. Moving along thin branches, they hold on to them with all four limbs. And they jump on the ground like frogs. They rarely come to the ground to cross any area or catch an insect.
Gray mouse lemurs eat often and slowly. Before attacking the victim, their location is determined using hearing, while the ears are moved separately in relation to each other. The lemur suddenly jumps on the insect and climbs with it to a tree, where it calmly eats it. Vision is also an important organ for hunting.
Reproduction of gray mouse lemurs
Reproduction in these animals is seasonal. Gray mouse lemurs find partners by voice, which helps them avoid the risk of hybrids with other species of mouse lemurs, which are very similar in appearance.
Reproduction of lemurs is seasonal, partners determine each other's species by voice - this is necessary to prevent hybridization with other species of the genus. Pregnancy in gray mouse lemurs lasts almost 60 days, usually 2 babies are born. At two months, the cubs already become independent, and they can begin breeding as early as one year. At the age of six, the ability to produce offspring disappears. In captivity they can live up to 15 years.
Conservation status of Miller's lemur
In 1975, gray mouse lemurs were considered an endangered species and trade in them was banned. But in 2009 they were excluded from the Convention of Endangered Species.
The main threat to gray mouse lemurs is habitat destruction. The forests in which these animals live are rapidly declining. These primates are also captured for the purpose of sale, as they are used as pets.
