Hairy-eared dwarf lemur  (Allocebus trichotis)

Classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List (1) and listed on Appendix I of CITES (3). This species was previously listed as Endangered but this has been updated to Data Deficient as the species is very poorly known, and there is very limited information available on its distribution and population size (1).

The incredibly elusive hairy-eared dwarf lemur, the only species in the genus Allocebus, is one of the most rarely seen lemurs on the island of Madagascar (2) (4). Until 1990, it was known from only a few specimens and thought likely to be extinct (2) (4). Its fur is brownish-grey on the back, whitish-grey on the underparts, and it has a reddish-brown tail. The ears are short and, as its name suggests, there are tufts of long hair in front and on the internal side of the ear lobe (2).

Occurs in central- to north-eastern Madagascar, including the Andasibe region (5) (6) (7), Zahamena National Park (8) (9), the Mananara region (10) (11), the Masoala peninsula (7), Anjanaharibe-sud Special Reserve (12) (13), and Marojejy National Park (14).

The hairy-eared dwarf lemur inhabits dense rainforest in lowland and highland areas (2) (4). It is not entirely restricted to primary rainforest, and may be tolerant of a low level of habitat disturbance (15).

The nocturnal and cryptic lifestyle of the hairy-eared dwarf lemur renders it a difficult species to detect (4), and thus little is known about its biology and ecology. Until 1990, when this species was rediscovered near Mananara, knowledge of this animal was confined to just five museum specimens, of unclear and unreliable origin, and it was believed to be extinct (4).

This arboreal primate constructs nests of fresh leaves in small holes of dead or living trees, usually three to five meters above ground (2) (4). During the cold season, which extends from early May to mid-October, it is thought to reduce activity, making detection even more difficult (2) (10) (11). Hairy-eared dwarf lemurs have been encountered in groups of two to six individuals, most likely one or more adult pairs with their offspring (2) (15), and it feeds upon flying insects, gum, new leaves and small fruits (2) (15) (10).

The continued destruction of the rainforests of eastern Madagascar poses a serious threat to this tiny forest-dwelling primate (2) (4). Highland rainforest within the hairy-eared dwarf lemur’s range is being logged at an increasing rate by local villagers for slash-and-burn agriculture and by mining companies (2) (4) (15). The hairy-eared dwarf lemur is also reportedly killed and eaten regularly by local people; an additional pressure that this species may not be able to withstand (2)

The hairy-eared dwarf lemur occurs in several protected areas, including Analamazaotra Special Reserve and Forest Station (15), Mantadia National Park (15), Zahamena National Park (8) (9), Anjanaharibe-sud Special Reserve (12) (13), Marojejy National Park (14) and in the area surrounding Verezanantsoro National Park (1), which may offer this endangered species some degree of protection. It is also listed on Appendix I of the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meaning that trade in this species is only permitted in exceptional circumstances (3). To ensure this species’ continued survival it is proposed that three conservation actions are undertaken simultaneously; increased protection of important areas, long term field studies to obtain information regarding its distribution and status, and breeding programs to enable studies in captivity (4). Captive breeding may also protect against the loss of this species if the population was to become extinct in the wild. Hopefully, this scenario will never materialise, and instead we will have infinite years to discover more about this mysterious primate.

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

For further information about the hairy-eared dwarf lemur and its conservation see:

• EDGE of Existence:
  www.edgeofexistence.org
• Lemur News:
  www.dpz.gwdg.de/index.php?id=53&L=1