Dwarf mice. How much does a lemur cost?

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, medium-sized ears, naked inside and covered on the outside with very thin and sparse hair; unusually graceful limbs with short fingers, as well as delicate, soft, silky and partly wavy fur.

Found alone and in pairs, but can be kept in captivity 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, into which they fall dry time of the year. 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.

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 = Sambiranensis 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.

Hairy-eared lemurs lead night look life. 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 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. Gives expressiveness to the muzzle white stripe, eyes with black rims. Feet and hands are white.

Southern lemur

Recent studies have shown that this species of lemur hibernates, despite the fact that tropical forests Madagascar, winter temperature remains quite high. This is the first species of hibernating tropical mammal discovered. 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, the thumbs are 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. Chest, belly and inner part thighs - 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. The lemur has 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. During the 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 deciduous forests 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.

(lat 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 larger. 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 a unique ability to hold the body in horizontal position, holding onto the branch with only the 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 natural park Kirindi, 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 nature reserve Ampijoroa. 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. A white stripe runs from the forehead to the tip of the muzzle. 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. Natural places The habitats of this species are primary and secondary forests, including forest belts of coastal tropical forests 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 ahead. 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 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 dark reddish-brown in 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 small sizes. 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.

Lemurs are mammals belonging to the infraorder Lemuridae.

The latter has 101 species, all animals are united into 5 families, each of which has General characteristics and its own characteristics.

In the photo of the lemur you can see a medium-sized primate.

The smallest representative of lemurs is the dwarf mouse lemur. The weight of the animal can reach up to 50 g, and the body size with tail does not exceed 22 cm.

Rat lemur

Extinct lemurs were found in Madagascar that weighed approximately 200 kg. Today, the short-tailed indri is recognized as the largest lemur.

The body length varies from 50 to 70 cm. The weight of the largest primates is 7.5 kg.

Description of representatives of the lemur family

Primates have a dense and long body, the size of the head is small, with a rounded or flattened shape. The muzzle resembles a fox, it is pointed and elongated. Animals have 4 or 5 groups of vibrissae, which they need for touch.

Those around him are captivated by the lemur’s large eyes, close-set and saucer-like. They showed a wary expression of curiosity.

Nocturnal primates have wider eye orbits than diurnal primates. The eyes of animals can be different, even a blue-eyed lemur is found.

The animal lemur has widely spaced incisors and lower incisors adjacent to the fangs. All limbs have 5 fingers on which nails grow. But there are some exceptions - there is a long claw on the second toe.

The Madagascar monkey does not have this characteristic. Lemurs need their nails to comb their fur.

As for the Madagascar bat, the fingers of its limbs are equipped with claws, and its nails are located only on the big toes.

An attractive feature of primates is their gorgeous tail. It can be longer than the body.

Lemurs communicate with each other using their tail. It allows animals to maintain balance when they jump from one branch to another. The short-tailed indri has the smallest tail, its length is only 3-5 cm.

Coat color varies, with individuals having red fur or bright white fur.

There are species with a protective gray-brown color.

Particularly noteworthy is the ring-tailed lemur - its tail, curved in a spiral, is decorated with wide stripes of black and white.

Lemur Habitat

Millions of years ago, lemurs lived in Africa, but 165 million years BC. e. a break occurred. After this, representatives of the population ended up in Madagascar and the islands that are located next to it.

The places where the lemur lives in the wild are considered a unique zone. Animals have adapted to all biotopes in Madagascar and the Comoros Islands.

Discussions regarding the classification of lemurs

On this moment the final classification has not yet been determined.

Loris are considered by some to be lemurs, but this opinion may not be accurate.

Loriformes, according to most scientists, rather represent a separate infraorder.

Lemur families

The Madagascar bat is the only species of the bat family. The nocturnal lifestyle of the lemur and its appearance give every reason to compare the animal with a night spirit.

There are 5 genera and 34 species in the family of dwarf primates. All animals resemble mice or rats.

Miniature representatives of lemurs are active at night.

The slender-bodied lemur family includes animals with a slender build. It includes 1 genus and 26 species. The maximum body weight of an individual is 1.2 kg. These primates are characterized by a nocturnal lifestyle.

The lemur family is represented by species that are the most studied.

This includes the most beautiful primates - ring-tailed lemur with stripes on the tail, the crowned lemur, which has a dark mark on its head, and ruffed lemurs. There are 5 rods and 21 species in this family.

In the Indriaceae family you can find both small and large representatives.

For example: avagis are less than 30 cm, and the short-tailed indri grows up to 70 cm. A peculiarity of animals from this family is the absence of hair on the face.

How does a lemur spend its life?

Mostly primates live in trees. However, there are species that descend to the ground and stay there for quite a long time.

Most lemurs are social or territorial animals. They live in family groups, each of which can number from 3 to 30 individuals.

When communicating with each other, they use sounds similar to grunting or purring. They sleep in trees and eat plant foods.

Each species of lemur has its own mating season. At this time, you can hear animals screaming loudly. Females give birth to offspring every year, except for the Madagascar bat, which gives birth once every 2 or 3 years.

The lemur is easy to train: the animal does not have an aggressive character. An obedient primate needs comfortable conditions for accommodation. He needs a spacious cage with branches or vines for him to climb.

A domestic lemur needs a house with a bedroom. There should always be fresh food in his home drinking water. The diet includes plant foods and animal products.

Lemur photo

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 type of gray lemur was singled out, but when crossed different types does not produce fertile offspring.

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.

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), there are dark rings around the eyes, emphasizing big size eye. 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 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.

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: the domestic lemur will not do this itself 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 more insects, then less than 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 primate species that can be allowed to go outside the cage without special control. They easily become attached to their owner and become very bored in his absence.

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 nocturnal, and sleep curled up during the day, 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.