Goodman’s mouse lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara)

Description

Goodman’s mouse lemur fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Goodman’s mouse lemur description

This tiny primate was only discovered in 2005. Goodman’s mouse lemur has short, dense, bright maroon fur, tinged with orange on the back, head and tail, and blending to creamy-white on the underparts. A distinct white stripe extends along the bridge of its nose. The ears are small and round and the long, uniformly coloured tail can be used for storing fat reserves ⁽²⁾. The eyes of mouse lemurs contain a tapetum lucidum, a light reflecting layer behind the retina, which enhances their ability to see in the dark ⁽³⁾. The testes of the Goodman’s mouse lemur are noticeable large ⁽²⁾, which hints at their promiscuous behaviour. The species name lehilahytsara is a combination of the Malagasy words ‘lehilahy’ and ‘tsara’ which mean ‘man’ and ‘good’, respectively. This name was given in honor of a scientist who conducted much research in Madagascar ⁽²⁾.

Size

Head-body length: 90 - 92 mm ⁽²⁾

Weight

30 – 64 g ⁽²⁾

Goodman’s mouse lemur biology

Goodman’s mouse lemur is an arboreal and nocturnal species. Like other species belonging to the family Cheirogaleidae, it is likely that Goodman’s mouse lemur breeds at about one year of age, and will give birth to two to four offspring each year, after two to three months gestation. They are likely to have a maximum lifespan of five years in the wild. Most mouse lemurs feed on a diet of fruit and small invertebrates ⁽³⁾.

Goodman’s mouse lemur range

Currently, Goodman’s mouse lemur is only known from Andasibe and the surrounding regions, within the Toamasina province of north-eastern Madagascar ⁽²⁾.

Goodman’s mouse lemur habitat

Goodman’s mouse lemur has been found within rainforest ⁽⁴⁾.

Goodman’s mouse lemur status

Classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Goodman’s mouse lemur threats

Due to the lack of information regarding this newly described species, the extent to which it is threatened is difficult to determine. However, its presumably small distribution within rainforest means it is highly likely to be threatened by habitat loss and degradation. Humans have already destroyed over 90 percent of Madagascar’s original forest cover, and the remaining forest continues to be threatened by intentional fires, which are lit to clear land for agriculture. The pressure on remaining forest will increase as human populations grow ⁽⁵⁾.

Goodman’s mouse lemur conservation

Specimens of Goodman’s mouse lemur have been found within two protected areas; Mantadia National Park and Analamazaotra Special Reserve ⁽²⁾, which may offer the species a small degree of protection. However, there are no conservation measures in place specifically for this little known species, and when faced with such intense threats, it is possible that this species could go extinct before we even understand the basics of its biology.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For further information on this species see Roos, C. and Kappeler, P. (2006) Distribution and Conservation Status of Two Newly Described Cheirogaleid Species, Mirza zaza and Microcebus lehilahytsara. Primate Conservation, 21: 51 – 53.

For further information on the conservation of lemurs in Madagascar see the Madagascar Fauna Group:
http://www.savethelemur.org/index.html

Authentication

Authenticated (20/06/07) by Dr Peter M. Kappeler, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen.
http://www.soziobio.uni-goettingen.de/

Glossary

Arboreal

Living in trees.

Invertebrates

Animals with no backbone.

References

1. IUCN Red List (April, 2009)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. Kappeler, P.M., Rasoloarison, R.M., Razafimanantsoa, L., Walter, L. and Roos, C. (2005) Morphology, behaviour and molecular evolution of giant mouse lemurs with description of a new species. Primate Report, 71: 3 - 26.
3. Macdonald, D.W. (2006) The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
4. Ashokan, K.V. (2006) New lemurs discovered in Madagascar. Current Science, 91: 13 - 14.
5. World Wildlife Fund (June, 2007)
   http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/at/at0117_full.html