Dwarf and mouse lemurs. Family Dwarf Lemurs Lifestyle of mouse gray lemurs

The family of dwarf lemurs includes 5 species of small arboreal nocturnal animals leading an extremely secretive lifestyle. In appearance, lifestyle, diet, consisting mainly of insects, these endemics of Madagascar are similar to African galagos and sometimes approach 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 legs are not significantly longer than the front ones. Other external differences between these small animals are big eyes, medium-sized ears, bare inside and covered outside with very thin and sparse hair; unusually graceful limbs with short fingers, as well as delicate, soft, silky and somewhat wavy fur.

Occurs alone and in pairs, but may be kept in captivity large groups. They sleep curled up in tree hollows or in nests made of grass, small twigs and leaves. They are in the same state during the period of hibernation, which they fall into during the dry season. In a favorable (rainy) period, 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 reserves of fat.

In captivity, they behave quite aggressively, but they are also found with a more accommodating character.

Place in the classification:

Superclass Quadrupeds - Tetrapoda
Class Mammals - Mammalia
Detachment Primates - Primates
Suborder Wet-nosed monkeys - Strepsirhini
infraorder Lemur-like - Lemuriformes
FamilyDwarf 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, pygmy lemurs, chirogale
Species: Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus Grandidier, 1868 = Southern dwarf lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus crossleyi A. Grandidier, 1870 = Shaggy dwarf lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus major Geoffroy E., 1812 = Rat poppies
Species: Cheirogaleus medius Geoffroy E., 1812 = Fat-tailed lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus minusculus Groves, 2000 = Small gray dwarf lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus ravus Groves, 2000 = Large gray pygmy lemur
Species: Cheirogaleus sibreei Forsyth Major, 1894 = Sibri's pygmy lemur
Genus: Microcebus Geoffroy E., 1834 = Mouse [dwarf] lemurs, dwarf poppies
Species: Microcebus berthae Rasoloarison et al., 2000 = Bert's mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus bongolavensis, 2006 = Bongolava 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 = Mouse [Miller's] lemur
Species: Microcebus myoxinus Peters, 1852 = Peters' pygmy mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus ravelobensis, 1998 = Golden mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus rufus Geoffroy E., 1834 = Red lemur
Species: Microcebus sambiranensis, 2000 = Sambiranan mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus simmonsi, 2006 = Simmons' mouse lemur
Species: Microcebus tavaratra, 2000 = Northern red mouse lemur
Genus: Phaner Gray, 1870 = Forked lemurs, plywood
Species: Phaner electromontis Groves & Tattersall, 1991 = Amba Plywood
Species: Phaner furcifer Blainville, 1841 = Forked lemur
Species: Phaner pallescens Groves & Tattersall, 1991 = Pale plywood
View: Phaner parienti Groves & Tattersall, 1991 = Phaner parienti
Genus: Mirza
Species: Mirza coquereli = Dwarf lemur Coquerel
Species: Mirza zaza =

Genus Hairy-eared lemurs: (Allocebus, Petter-Rousseaux et Petter, 1967)

hairy-eared lemur(Lat. Allocebus trichotis, eng. 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 as early as 1875, but then they did not meet for 90 years and were already considered extinct. In 1966, they were again discovered in the rainforests of Madagascar.

Hairy-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 cavities. It is not known for certain what they eat, but the arrangement of claws and teeth may indicate that the basis of their diet is plant resins, and long tongue can help drink nectar. The breeding season of allocebus is also not known for certain, but juveniles two times smaller than adults found in March indicate that the estrus period occurs at the beginning rainy season in November and December, and cubs are born in January-February, as in closely related genera of mouse and pygmy lemurs.

Habitat - lowland humid forests 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.

Genus Rat poppies, pygmy lemurs, chirogale(Cheirogaleus, Geoffroy E., 1812)

Southern pygmy lemur(Latin 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, leads a nocturnal lifestyle. The color of the coat on the back is dark, on the abdomen - light gray. There is a strip along the entire back. The muzzle is given expressiveness by a white stripe, eyes in a black stroke. Feet and hands are white.

southern lemur

Recent studies have shown that this species of lemur hibernates, despite the fact that in tropical forests Madagascar, winter temperatures remain quite high. This is the first tropical hibernating mammal ever discovered. Winters in Madagascar are dry, and the lemur seems to avoid drought in this way. Unlike animals that hibernate in temperate regions, the lemur does not control its body temperature during hibernation, and if the hollow in which it sleeps is not well insulated, its body temperature fluctuates according to the outside temperature.

Like other species of lemurs, it is able to accumulate fat in the tail, and this serves as a source of energy during its rest period.

Lemur hairy pygmy(Latin 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. Lives in the forest, leads a nocturnal lifestyle.

The color of the coat on the back is red-brown, on the abdomen - light gray. There are black spots around the eyes, the ears are painted black outside and inside.

Moves on four limbs, jumps not very well.

Rat maki(lat. Cheirogaleus major, eng. Greater dwarf lemur, Geoffroy E., 1812)

Rat maquis 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 fluffy, very thick at the base. The hairline is thick and dense. The muzzle is elongated with well-developed vibrissae. The eyes are large, closely spaced. The ears are medium in size, thin-skinned, covered with sparse down.

grasping limbs, thumbs opposed to the rest. Nails grow on all fingers, and on the second toe there is a claw, which serves for grooming and combing wool.

Coloration varies from gray to reddish brown on the head, back and tail. The chest, belly and inner thighs are white with a yellow tint. Black circles around the eyes. Pale stripe between eyes.

Because of the nocturnal lifestyle mouse lemurs pretty quiet animals. Soft calls are issued to inform other members of the group about their location. The whistle is pronounced at high frequencies, inaudible to humans, and is used in territorial conflicts, as well as for contact with neighbors. When a lemur is worried, it can make loud trills, and when something threatens it, it makes sounds similar to grunting.

Rat poppies are omnivorous, eating fruits and fruits, flowers and nectar, less often insects and small vertebrates. Perhaps, sometimes they regale themselves with honey. When poppies eat the nectar of flowers, they stretch the petals of the flower with their hands and then slowly lick the nectar. One flower takes from two to seven minutes.

They are nocturnal and arboreal. During the day they sleep curled up in hollows of trees covered with dry leaves or in nests made of grass, small twigs and leaves. In the dry season they fall into a stupor. During the rainy season they accumulate fat in different parts of the body, especially at the base of the tail, and in a state of prolonged stupor they use up these reserves of fat. Pretty slow animals moving on four limbs.

fat tailed lemur(Latin Cheirogaleus medius, English Fat-tailed dwarf lemur, Geoffroy E., 1812)

Lives in Western and southern parts Madagascar.

The eyes are large and shiny. The tail is long, not grasping. The fur is thick, dense and soft to the touch. The head is spherical. The auricles are relatively large, thin-skinned, naked. The terminal phalanges of the fingers are widened. Colour: Body reddish-brown, pale brown or grey, underparts white with a yellowish tinge. There is a dark ring around the eyes. There is a white stripe between the eyes.

Lesser gray pygmy lemur(Latin Cheirogaleus minusculus, English 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, leads a nocturnal lifestyle.

The color of the coat is gray with a brown tint, a blurry stripe runs along the back. The tip of the tail is painted white.

Moves on four limbs, jumps not very well.

Lemur large gray pygmy(lat. Cheirogaleus ravus, eng. Large Iron-gray Dwarf Lemur, Groves, 2000)

The large gray dwarf lemur is found only in Madagascar in the regions of Tamatave, Tampira, Mahambo, Ancaya, Ambodivoangi and Fesy Malendo.

Lives in the forest, leads a nocturnal lifestyle. The color of the coat is gray with a brown tint, a blurry stripe runs along the back. The tip of the tail, feet and hands are painted white.

The ears are darker and may or may not be hairy.

Moves on four limbs, jumps not very well.

Sibri's pygmy lemur(Latin Cheirogaleus sibreei, English Sibree's dwarf lemur, Forsyth Major, 1894)

This species of lemur was considered extinct until they were rediscovered in 2010 in the central part of Madagascar.

Genus Mouse [dwarf] lemurs, dwarf poppies(Lat. Microcebus Geoffroy E., 1834)

Bertha's mouse lemur(Latin Microcebus berthae, English 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 Berta 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 coloration 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 in color, lighter than the rest of the body. The muzzle is short, there is a white spot above the nose, the eye ring is cinnamon, big ears and bare fingers. It has very large, forward-facing eyes that have a shiny layer behind the retina that reflects light, thereby greatly improving night vision.

It was found in the western part of the island in the Kirindi National Park. The area of ​​\u200b\u200bno more than 900 km². The habitat of the species is dry deciduous forest.

The species is active at night, preferring to stay in trees. During the daytime, lemurs sleep in nests of leaves arranged on vines and other climbing plants. They lead a solitary life.

An omnivore that eats fruit and other fruits along with insects. plant material. To conserve energy, it falls into a torpor every day for a short time.

(lat. Microcebus bongolavensis, eng. Bongolava Mouse Lemur, 2006)

Mouse lemur Bongolava - found in the western part of Madagascar in deciduous forests Bongolava and Ambodimahabibo between the rivers Sofia and Mahajamba.

This is a relatively large mouse lemur, with a total length of 26 to 29 cm, including a tail of 15 to 17 centimeters.

(lat. Microcebus danfossorum, eng. Danfoss "Mouse Lemur, 2006)

It was found in the northwestern part of Madgascar between the Sophia and Maevarano 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 gray-brown mouse lemur, was found in the western part of Madagascar in the Beza Mahafaly reserve area north of Lamboharana.

Jolly mouse lemur(Latin Microcebus jollyae, English Jolly's mouse lemur, 2006)

Found in 2006 in the Mananjary and Kianjavato regions of southeastern Madagascar.

Named after biologist Alison Jolly.

(lat. Microcebus lehilahytsara, eng. Roos & Kappeler, 2005)

Found near the city in Andasib in a very small habitat. The species is named after biologist Stephen Goodman.

"Lehilahytsara" is a combination of the Malagasy words for "good" and "man".

It is believed that Goodman's mouse lemur separated itself from other lemurs about 2 million years ago.

(Latin Microcebus mamiratra, English Claire's mouse lemur or Nosy Be mouse lemur, 2006)

Mouse lemur Claire 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(Latin Microcebus mittermeieri, English Mittermeier's mouse lemur, 2006)

It was discovered in 2006 in the Anjanaharibe nature reserve in the northeast of Madagascar.

The Mittermeier mouse lemur is the smallest on the east coast. Its body is light brown with 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 [Millerian] lemur(lat. Microcebus murinus, eng. Gray mouse lemur Miller J., 1777)

The body of a 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 muzzle with huge eyes sticks out of the hands of a man who clasped his hands with his fingers. The fur of these species is thick, fluffy, brown in the Muller lemur, and gray in the second species. There is a light stripe on the nose, 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 the microcebus has the unique ability to keep the body in a horizontal position, holding on to a branch only with its hind limbs. The animals are active at night, during the movement they periodically make shrill sounds. They feed on plant and animal food, the ratio of which in their diet varies depending on the season. From February to March, mainly fruits, berries, leaves and flowers are eaten. In the dry period, animal food is mainly preferred: 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. The pregnancy of Miller's lemur lasts 59-62 days. In each brood there are two cubs (each weighing 3-5 g). The female carries the cub by mouth, as he never clings to her fur, as happens with other primates. At the age of 7-10 months, young animals reach puberty.

In the cell, both types of microcebus retain their 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' pygmy mouse lemur(Latin Microcebus myoxinus, English Pygmy mouse lemur, Peters, 1852)

It 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, 10 of them are on the tail.

Golden mouse lemur(lat. Microcebus ravelobensis, eng. Golden-brown mouse lemur or Ravelobe Mouse Lemur, 1998)

The golden mouse lemur lives in the northwestern part of Madagascar in nature reserve Ampijoroa. It occurs in the upper tier 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 color of the coat 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 for mating 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 their possessions. Moves by jumping. Builds nests from branches and fallen leaves.

(Latin Microcebus rufus, English Brown mouse lemur, Geoffroy E., 1834)

Brown mouse lemurs are common in rainforest areas in northern and eastern Madagascar. The natural habitats of this species are primary and secondary forests, including coastal rainforest forest belts and secondary bamboo forests.

The upper body of lemurs is reddish-brown to light brown in color, while the lower body is white to cream. The wool is soft. There is a white or cream stripe between the eyes and below the nose. Cheeks brown-red. Ears are medium in size. Body length 12.5 cm. Tail length - 11.5 cm. Body weight about 50 g, although in February and March it is slightly larger.

Lemurs perform pre-mating ritual courtship, which consists of using a soft, ringing squeak and tail whipping to attract a female to mate.

They feed primarily on the fruits of plants, although sometimes they can eat insects, young leaves, flowers, tree resin, nectar and pollen from flowers. The diet changes seasonally, with increased fruit consumption between December and March.

Sambiran mouse lemur(Latin Microcebus sambiranensis, English 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 abdomen are light gray. The tail is amber in color, the inside is ocher yellow. The top of the head and ears are colored amber, between the eyes there is a red-brown spot. Hands and feet are reddish with a touch of beige-white. Antennae-vibrissae are dark.

(Latin Microcebus simmonsi, English Simmons "mouse lemur 2006)

Simmons' mouse lemur is the largest mouse lemur on the East Coast.

It lives in the reserves of Betampona and Zahamena.

The fur is dark reddish-orange with a black hair tip at the top of the head and sometimes a stripe down the middle of the back.

Northern red mouse lemur(lat. Microcebus tavaratra, eng. Northern rufous mouse lemur, 2000)

The northern red 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 in color - dark brown, medium brown and yellow ocher (the color of the back) and beige-white (the color of the chest, sides and abdomen. A dark brown stripe runs along the back. The top of the head and ears are red, the area greyish white between eyes, dark brown patch around eyes, dark to medium brown tail, greyish white hands and feet, dark vibrissae.

Genus Forked lemurs, plywood(lat. Phaner)

Genus Lemurs forked - Phaner includes up to 4 species; however, possibly monotypic. Homeland - coastal forest areas of Northern and Western Madagascar.

Plywood live in the tropical rainforests 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 heads lowered between their forelimbs, like lemurs.

They are larger than other members of the mouse lemur subfamily. The body length of these lemurs is 23-28 cm, the fluffy tail is 29-36 cm long and weighs from 300 to 500 grams. The tail is fluffy and longer than the head and body. The limbs are quite long, which is necessary in order to reach a place in a tree with an immobile trunk, where lemurs feed on the juice secreted from the trunk. The head is rounded, the muzzle is blunt, large dark eyes look forward. The coat is brownish-gray, the tail is very dark, from it a dark, almost black stripe runs along the ridge, which bifurcates at the crown, 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.

Forked-striped lemur(Latin Phaner furcifer, English Masoala Fork-crowned Lemur, Blainville 1841)

Lives in the tropical rainforests of the northern and western coasts of Madagascar.

Body length is 25-27 cm, tail length is 30-38 cm. The color reaches its greatest brightness on the head and on the neck. On the head from the eyes to the back of the head there are two black stripes, which are connected 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 rufous or yellowish. The hands and feet are brown, and the tail is covered with long thick hair dark reddish-brown with a black or white tip.

Leads a nocturnal lifestyle, feeds on insects, fruits, honey. It nests in hollows of trees, rests and sleeps in a sitting position, with its head lowered between the forelimbs. They usually keep 2-3 individuals together. Very mobile, able to make long jumps. Does not hibernate. There are 2-3 cubs in a litter.

Plywood pale(Latin Phaner pallescens, English Pale fork-marked lemur, Groves & Tattersall, 1991)

Parient Plywood(lat. Phaner parienti, eng. Pariente "s fork-marked lemur, Groves & Tattersall, 1991)

Distributed in the Sambirano region in the northwest of Madagascar. This lemur has light brown fur. A light stripe runs from the tip of the tail to the head.

Lives in lowlands and middle heights of humid forests. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. It is an omnivore that feeds on tree resin, sap, buds, insects and larvae. Sleeps in nests that have been abandoned by other lemurs. Little studied.

Genus Mirza

Lemurs are small. Distributed in deciduous forests of the western part of Madagascar; are 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 with reddish fur on the back and tail was discovered in the vicinity of Berevo-Ranobe.

Dwarf lemur Cockerela(Latin Mirza coquereli, English Coquerel's giant mouse lemur, 2005)

The Kokrela mouse dwarf lemur or pygmy walnut lemur is found in arid forests from Ankazoabo in the north to Antsalov and further north in the Sambirano region. This is a squirrel-sized animal. The length of the body with the head is 20 cm, the tail is 33 cm. Weight is 300 g. The coat is brownish-gray with light abdominal and chest regions. The tail is thin and woolly, the hair on it is long, which makes the tail look shaggy. The ears are big.

Walnut lemur feeds alone at night, during the day it settles down to rest in a tree hollow in a group of 5 individuals. Has holdings 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 timed to October, pregnancy lasts 3 months, cubs (1-4) are born in January. The female brings offspring annually. The female takes care of the cubs and carries them in her teeth. A month later, the cubs already leave the nest. They begin to feed on their own, but with cries they let their mother know about themselves, maintaining close contact with her.

Lemurs are territorial animals, and they are tolerant of violations of the boundaries of large possessions 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.

(Latin Mirza zaza, English Northern giant mouse lemur, 2005)

The northern giant mouse lemur - Mirza zaza - was discovered in 2005 by Kappeler of the German Center for Primatology and the University of Gottingham. Until then, the population of Hmgant mouse lemurs was considered to belong to one species.

The northern giant mouse lemur is a small animal, endemic to Madagascar, leading a nocturnal lifestyle.

Weight 300 g, tail long, bushy, ears small. The name "zaza" means children in Malagasy. The northern species of giant mouse lemurs is inferior in size to Mirza coquereli.

Even from school biology lessons, we remember how diverse the fauna of our planet is. On the general background the fauna of Madagascar stands out in particular. The nature of this island has formed an independent zoogeographic region in which great amount insects, reptiles and mammals. Moreover, more than half of all animals found here cannot be seen in any other corner of the Earth. After reading this article, you will learn about the most interesting inhabitants Madagascar - pygmy lemurs.

Short description

Representatives of this family have retained many primitive features, so they can be used as the best living models of ancient primates. This group of animals also includes the smallest lemur, first discovered in the 90s of the last century. Its mass does not exceed 30 grams, which is not much more than the weight of a conventional

Dwarf lemurs, whose elongated body is only 20 centimeters long (half of which falls on the tail), are covered with short thick hair. They have a white belly and a brown, gray or brown-red back. The short-faced head of the animal is decorated with bare webbed ears and around which black rings are located.

Lifestyle

Interestingly, dwarf lemurs live in pairs or alone. During the day, they sleep curled up in a ball, in tree hollows or in nests. With the onset of night, hunger forces them to leave their shelters and go in search of food. In the rainy season, when there is enough food for them, these babies try to accumulate more body fat that accumulates in various parts body including tail. With the onset of the dry period, the mouse lemur hibernates.

It should be noted that these miniature animals are considered hardworking builders. They build their own spherical nests by climbing to the top of the trees. All kinds of twigs and leaves are used as building materials.

Up to fifteen lemurs can gather in one nest at the same time, and most of them are females. Males can hardly stand each other's company and constantly conflict with each other.

Reproduction and nutrition

Dwarf lemurs are developing at a rapid pace. Individuals that have reached one year of age are considered sexually mature. Almost all representatives of this species give birth to two to four blind babies. The duration of pregnancy is about two or three months. The mass of newborn cubs does not exceed five grams. Already on the second day, their eyes begin to open. Fifteen-day-old babies are already able to climb trees. The mouse lemur becomes completely independent after he is two months old.

Many people who have visited the island of lemurs have these miniature animals at home. To keep in captivity, you need to purchase any cage that is suitable in size, in which there must be tree branches. It is desirable that the back of the house is deaf so that the animal feels more secure. It is recommended to line a box intended for animal rest with dried hay or natural wool.

When choosing a place where a cage with a pet will be located, it must be taken into account that pygmy lemurs are afraid of drafts and catch cold easily. It is interesting that the animals living in captivity do not monitor the cleanliness of their house, so you will have to deal with this issue. In order to avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor, it is necessary to carry out light cleaning in his cage daily. At least once a month, it is recommended to wipe the floor of the house with a damp cloth and renew the layer of sawdust.

It is desirable that the cage has a shelter in which the animal can hide from daylight and prying eyes. For these purposes, you can use a fur envelope that looks like a nest.

What to feed

Food must be poured into a deep metal dish, suspended on the bars of the cage. It is better to feed the animals in the evening, but you can teach them to eat during the day. If the animal refuses to eat, do not force him. As a rule, the lemur wakes up at eight o'clock in the evening. It is at this time that you need to time the meal.

Some species of animals eat animal food. It is recommended to give boiled meat to such pets. But they can also independently catch insects flying around the apartment. You can also use baby food as food.

It is important to ensure that the animal does not overeat. He needs to periodically arrange fasting days. Vegetables, carrots, almonds, salads, grapes, dates and figs must be present in the diet of the animal.

Those who plan to feed their lemur with commercial food should add vitamins, grasshoppers, crickets, cockroaches, mealybugs, boiled rice, bread, dried fruits and nuts to it. Sometimes they can be treated to dairy-free baby cereals.

How do these animals communicate?

Lemurs emit a fairly wide range of sounds, the frequency of which is about 10-36 kHz. Scientists who analyzed the vocalization features of pygmy lemurs revealed a lot of interesting things. So, by the cry of animals, each individual can be identified. Studies have shown that neighboring communities of lemurs communicate in different dialects.

During the breeding season, males make characteristic vibrating sounds, consisting of musical phrases. They are very reminiscent of birdsong. The frequency of their repetition depends on the degree of interest of the females and on the motivation of the male himself.

conservation in nature

If we want to preserve the animal world, then we must protect all its representatives. dwarf lemurs living in vivo, quite high. Fortunately, the widespread species of these animals are not threatened with extinction. But there is more rare representatives of this family, including hairy-eared lemurs, which are on the verge of extinction.

Lemurs and lorises are small furry creatures with thick fur and large expressive eyes. The search for an exotic pet for most owners of an indoor zoo begins with questions: how much does a lemur cost, where to buy and how to keep it. It is almost impossible to find lemurs in pet stores in Russia, only in online stores and in nurseries.

Lemurs: poppies, vari and others

Exotic animals living on the "island of lemurs" - Madagascar - increasingly began to appear in Russian families. It is preferable that a captive-born lemur be in the house, the price in such cases will be from 40 to 100 thousand rubles. The cost of the animal depends on the type, size, coat color, health status.

Exotic animals are able to breed at home when they are purchased in pairs. In captivity, a young lemur adapts better, it is better to buy a pair for acquiring babies. Males and females get along better at an early age, in a mature state they often have territorial and food claims to each other.

The strepsirrhine primate species most popular for captive breeding are the 5 families:

1. Actually lemurs: feline ring-tailed (kata, maki), black, red-bellied, mongoose, lemur vari, red vari.
2. Dwarf: gray mouse and pygmy mouse lemurs.
3. Indriya lemurs: indri, sifaka.
4. Loris: big fat loris, pygmy loris.
5. Galagidae: fat-tailed and Senegalese galagos.

Almost all species of strepsirrhine primates are recognized as endangered, many are listed in the Red Book. It is difficult to say how much the ah-ah is worth - the lemur, which has become one of the rarest. It is easier to find red (red) vari in online stores. The price of the largest individuals of this species reaches up to 400 thousand rubles and more.

How to tame a lemur

Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) belongs to the family of lemurs proper. In Madagascar it is known as maki, in Russia it is often called katta. Feline - the most studied and popular of lemurs, the price of one individual is 100–250 thousand rubles. The body length of the catta together with the tail is more than 1 m. The coat color is gray, sometimes brown, the belly is white, there are dark spots around the eyes on the muzzle.

The weight ring-tailed lemur reaches 3.5 kg, almost half of the mass falls on a luxurious black and white striped tail. Catta feeds mainly on fruits, sometimes insects. For this mobile lemur, you will have to buy a spacious cage, an aviary, or allocate a room where the animal will inquisitively explore all the nooks and crannies. The record lifespan for a catta in captivity is 37 years.

Lemur vari (Varecia variegata) in the house feels quite tolerable, shows a developed intellect and canine devotion to the owner. Many fans of exotic animals are interested in how much lemurs cost - vari and red - the largest of the family. The length of large individuals is more than 1 m, weight - 4 kg. The diet includes fruits, leaves, and flowers, and life expectancy in captivity on a "fruit diet" is as high as 25–30 years.

Problem for the owner who gave away almost 300 thousand rubles for lemur vari or 420 thousand rubles for the red lemur - buy or build a large aviary in the house. You can consider other options: place the animal in a separate room or in a building on a personal plot. Letting a lemur run around is not a good idea. Primates have no "toilet" habits, there is an irresistible desire to swing on curtains and chandeliers.

The length of the graceful body of the dwarf mouse lemur is 20 cm, 10 of which falls on the tail. Almost half of the sharp fox muzzle is occupied by large eyes, which are set off by dark rings. Dwarf - the smallest of the lemurs, the price of the animal reaches 50 thousand rubles. A tiny animal willingly eats insects and spiders, does not disdain fruits and nectar. The lemur is kept in a cage equipped with tree branches and a shelter in the form of a nest.

Lori and galago

Among wild animals, the pygmy loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) stands out especially for its cuteness and cleanliness. Fans of rare animals often try to find out how much such a lemur costs if it grew up in a nursery. You can buy loris for 55–80 thousand rubles. With good maintenance, he will live in captivity for 12–15 years. You will need a cage equipped with all the "amenities" in the form of tree trunks and a nest.

The Senegalese and thick-tailed Galago are primates related to lemurs, the prices for these animals are the same (65–100 thousand rubles). Painted exotic animals in subtle colors - brown, gray, brown. Galagos jump well thanks to the special structure of the hind legs and the fluffy tail, which plays the role of a balancer. Huge round eyes help the animal to hunt insects at night.

Lemurs, lorises and galagos conquer continents and countries, captivate exotic lovers who are interested in unusual pets. Some conservationists are concerned about the conservation of lemurs, they consider it not the best thing to buy an animal listed in the Red Book. best idea. Others argue that comfortable living conditions in houses and apartments will help increase the number of endangered animals. After all, lemurs tolerate cages and enclosures well, they are not whimsical and are easily tamed.

Pygmy 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 pygmy marmoset). Weight about 300 grams, body length about 20 centimeters, 10 of which are tail. It has a red-brown color on the 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), dark rings around the eyes, emphasizing big size eye. In mouse lemurs, the navicular and calcaneal bones are elongated, like in African galagos. They also move in the same way, by jumping.

Habitat

It lives in arid deciduous and mixed forests in the west of Madagascar, in the Kirindi Natural Park, where it was discovered. It is believed that the range is wider, but there is no confirmation of this.

Lifestyle in nature

The basis of nutrition: spiders, insects, fruits, nectar, leaves, less often - small frogs and lizards.

There are actually mouse lemurs alone and in pairs, but in captivity they can be kept in large groups. They sleep curled up in tree hollows or in nests made of grass, small twigs and leaves. They are in the same state during the period of hibernation, which they fall into during the dry season. In a favorable (rainy) period, they accumulate fat in different parts of the body, especially at the base of the tail, and in a state of prolonged stupor they use up these fat reserves.

reproduction

The pregnancy of mouse lemurs proper 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. They breed relatively easily in captivity.

For keeping a dwarf lemur at home, any one is suitable, in which there must be tree branches. It is better to make the back of the cage deaf. So lemurs feel safe. The bedding in the rest box should be made of natural cotton wool or dried hay. The place where the cage with your pet will be located should be away from drafts, because lemurs are prone to colds. Otherwise, these animals easily tolerate the climate. middle lane. It is also very important to keep the cage clean: a domestic lemur will not do this 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 prying eyes and daylight. It is best to use a fur nest envelope, which is convenient to hang in a cage.

Dwarf lemurs are fed most often late in the evening, although it is possible to teach them to eat during the day, but it is better, if the animal does not want to, do not force it. It is most convenient in a deep metal bowl (as for parrots), which is hung on the bars of the cage. Most often, their wake time comes around eight o'clock in the evening, around this time they are served food. Some species of lemurs eat animal food, in which case they have to be fed. boiled meat, various insects, which some themselves catch while walking around the apartment. Also baby food. The main thing is not to overfeed! If you give a lot of bananas, grapes, zofobas, carrots, lettuce, nuts, then the sweetest (bananas and zofobasy) 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. An example of feeding: two zofobas, half a large cockroach (or only one cockroach), one nut, a few pieces of an apple, just a little banana, a couple of pieces of dates or figs. If there are more insects, then less than the rest. In general, it is better to undereat a couple of times a week.

Give lemurs commercial primate food with a mixture of fresh (mango, apples) and dry fruits, nuts (almonds, hazelnuts), bread, boiled rice, insects (meal beetle, zophobas, cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers), vitamin supplements. Occasionally they are given dairy-free baby porridge (placed with water and honey can be added).

There should always be fresh water. The drinker can be ball. So that animals do not feel bored and do not lose their appetite, it is very important to provide them with a varied diet.

In captivity, lemurs are calm, 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 the owner and miss him greatly in his absence.