THE MOUSE LEMURS AND SPORTIVE LEMURS
Mouse Lemurs (genus Microcebus)
Madagascar's tiny, and very lively, mouse lemurs are the most abundant of the island's primates. The grey mouse lemur, Microcebus murinus, lives in the drier forests of the south and west, while the brown mouse lemur, Microcebus rufus (see pictures below), prefers the wetter cast.
The pygmy mouse lemur, Microcebus murinus, has so far only been observed in Kirindy and the nearby reserve of Analabe. As recently as 1998 a fourth species was discovered. The golden-brown mouse leinur (Microcebus ravelobensis) is only known from the forests around Lac Ravelobe (from which it takes its name) at Ampijoroa in the northwest.
WEASEL OR SPORTIVE LEMURS: FAMILY MEGALADAPIDAE
The generic name, Lepilemur, is more appropriate for general use than the choice of vernacular names: lepilemurs don't look like weasels and are not very sportive. They are most often seen during the day, peering dozily out of their sleeping holes in tree trunks or, where there no holes, from a fork in the branches. At night, however, they are often very vocal and active. Despite their small size, lepilernurs are related to some of the large extinct lemurs frorn the genus Megaladapis, although they differ enough to warrant their own subfamily, Lepilernurinac. Seven species are known, their ranges forming an almost continuous ring around Madagascar. Many are very similar in appearance so geographical location is usually the most reliable rneans of identification.
Text: Madagascar Wildlife A visitor's guide
Foto's: (c) Wery Hegge
