Madame Berthe's mouse lemur

Area of ​​distribution of ' Berthe mouse lemur '

The Berthe mouse lemur, also ( Madame ) Berthe's mouse lemur ( Microcebus berthae ) is a living primate in Madagascar from the kind of mouse lemurs within the group of lemurs. He is the smallest known primate. The specific epithet honors the Malagasy anthropologist Berthe Rakotosamimanana.

Features

Berthe - mouse lemurs reach a body length from 9 to 9.5 centimeters, to which another 13 to 14 centimeters long tail comes. The weight is 24 to 38 grams. Their coat is short and dense, it is reddish-brown on the top and yellowish - white on the underside. The tail is also reddish brown, it is comparatively long and densely hairy than in other mouse lemurs. The head is rounded, it is orange and visibly brighter than the trunk. The muzzle is short, the ears are large. There is a whitish spot between too big eyes.

Distribution and habitat

Berthe - mouse lemurs are so far only known from the Kirindy Forest and adjacent areas on the west coast of Madagascar. How far does their actual distribution area is not known. Their habitat is dry deciduous forests.

Way of life

This mouse lemurs are nocturnal and usually stay up in the trees. During the day they sleep in nests leaves, which are fixed in lianas and other hanging plants. They inhabit areas of around 1.2 hectares, the territories of the males, however, are larger than those of females. The areas overlap, the animals go but a loner in search of food.

Berthe - mouse lemurs are probably omnivorous, which also take in addition to fruits and other plant material to insects themselves. To save energy, they fall daily, but not very long, in a torpor (rigid state).

Endangering

Berthe - mouse lemurs are partly present in great density, in places up to 100 animals share a square kilometer. Its distribution area is however small - perhaps no more than 900 square kilometers - and dismembered. The IUCN lists the species as " critically endangered " ( endangered ).