Pygmy mouse lemur  (Microcebus myoxinus)

The pygmy mouse lemur holds the title of being the smallest known primate in the world (2). Formally considered a subspecies of the grey mouse lemur (Microbus murinus), it now has full species status (2) (4). The short, dense fur on the head, upperparts and tail of the pygmy mouse lemur is rufous brown with an orange tinge, which distinguishes it from the similar grey mouse lemur (2) (5), and the underparts are creamy white (2). A dark stripe runs down the middle of the back, and a short, whitish stripe extends from the forehead to the muzzle tip (2). The pygmy mouse lemur has small ears and a relatively long tail, which is darker towards the tip (2) (5).

Endemic to Madagascar, the pygmy mouse lemur occurs in the west-central region (1), although its precise range is yet to be determined (2). It shares its range with the grey mouse lemur and is found in Kirindy Forest, between Beroboka and Maronfandilia. However, museum specimens obtained in the late 1840s suggest a distribution which includes the south-west and north-west of Madagascar, making it likely that the pygmy mouse lemur occupies a wider range than is currently known (2).

The pygmy mouse lemur is found in dry deciduous secondary forest (1) (2), and has also been found to inhabit coastal mangrove forest (2).

Due to a lack of records until 1994, the pygmy mouse lemur has only recently been studied and little is known still about its behaviour and habits (2). The pygmy mouse lemur is nocturnal and, like other mouse lemurs, omnivorous, feeding on insects, spiders, fruit, flowers, nectar, leaves and small frogs and lizards (1) (2). This active lemur runs and jumps quadrupedally through the trees, differing from other Microbus species by freezing when caught in a torch beam (2). A solitary species, the pygmy mouse lemur forages alone (6).

The pygmy mouse lemur is able to enter daily and seasonal torpor to conserve vital body resources (2), which is spontaneous during the cool dry season with an average duration of 9.6 hours (7). This species of mouse lemur sleeps in nests and dense tangles of climbing plants rather than tree holes, and is thought to have a large home range (2). Male home ranges overlap with each other during the mating season and are larger than female home ranges (6). The pygmy mouse lemur has a polygynous mating system (6).

Many of Madagascar's endemic species are threatened due to the rate of deforestation, a consequence of the island's rapidly growing human population and the need for agricultural land (8), and this is the major threat facing the pygmy mouse lemur (2). Due to its localised range and exact distribution being undetermined, the pygmy mouse lemur is particularly vulnerable to habitat loss (2) (4).

The pygmy mouse lemur occurs, and is protected in, three National Parks and one Strict Nature Reserve (3) (5). It is also protected against international trade under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (3). However, further studies of the ecology, behaviour and distribution of this species of mouse lemur are required before conservation initiatives can be put in place (5).

For further information about lemur conservation see:

• Lemur Conservation Foundation:
  www.lemurreserve.org
• Madagascar Fauna Group:
  www.savethelemur.org

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk