Mouse lemur explained

The mouse lemurs are nocturnal lemurs of the genus Microcebus. Like all lemurs, mouse lemurs are native to Madagascar.

Mouse lemurs have a combined head, body and tail length of NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) and weigh NaNg,[1] making them the smallest primates[2] (the smallest species being Madame Berthe's mouse lemur); however, their weight fluctuates in response to daylight duration.[3] Lemurs and mouse lemurs were announced by the IUCN as the most endangered of all vertebrates. There were two known mouse lemur species in 1992; by 2016, there were 24.[4] It was estimated that the 24 mouse lemur species evolved from a common ancestor 18–11 million years ago.[5]

Mouse lemurs are omnivorous; their diets are diverse and include insect secretions, arthropods, small vertebrates, gum, fruit, flowers, nectar, and also leaves and buds depending on the season.[6]

Mouse lemurs are considered cryptic species—with very little morphological differences between the various species, but with high genetic diversity. Recent evidence points to differences in their mating calls, which is very diverse. Since mouse lemurs are nocturnal, they might not have evolved to look differently, but had evolved various auditory and vocal systems.

Mouse lemur brains can weigh less than while their testes can weigh .[7]

As written in Genetics, mouse lemurs help to provide a more extensive understanding of the biology, behavior, and health of primates. Mouse lemurs are categorized as prosimian primates. They are among the smallest and most rapidly developing primates and are becoming more abundant in Madagascar and around the world. These tiny creatures are helping to prove valuable information about the biology and evolution of primates through the analysis of their phenotypes and mutations, especially as a model organism for human medical research.[8]

Reproduction and evolution

Mouse lemurs are also known for their sperm competition. During breeding seasons, the testicles of male mouse lemurs increase in size to about 130% of their normal size. This was speculated to increase the sperm production thereby conferring an advantage for the individual to bear more offspring. There are various hypotheses relating the rapid evolution of mouse lemur species to this sperm competition.[9] In sexually inactive females the vulva is sealed, during the reproductive cycle the vulva is open. The vaginal morphology is also based on the time of day.[10] Analysis of the genomes of five different mouse lemur species revealed that Madagascar’s biogeography had been undergoing change before the arrival of humans.[11]

Species

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: C . Schwitzer . R. A. . Mittermeier . E. E. . Louis Jr. . M. C. . Richardson . Family Cheirogaleidae: Mouse, giant mouse, dwarf and fork-marked lemurs . Mittermeier . Russell A. . Russell A. Mittermeier . Anthony B. . Rylands . Don E. . Wilson . Don E. Wilson . Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 3. Primates . Lynx Edicions . Barcelona . 2013 . 30 . 978-84-96553-89-7.
  2. Web site: Primate Factsheets: Mouse lemur (Microcebus) Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology. wisc.edu.
  3. Andrès . M . Gachot-Neveu . H . Perret . M . 2001 . Genetic determination of paternity in captive grey mouse lemurs: pre-copulatory sexual competition rather than sperm competition in a nocturnal prosimian? . Behaviour . 138 . 8. 1047–63 . 10.1163/156853901753286560.
  4. Web site: Yoder Lab – Research. duke.edu.
  5. 10.1101/gr.7265208 . Development and application of a phylogenomic toolkit: Resolving the evolutionary history of Madagascar's lemurs . 2008 . Horvath . Julie E. . Weisrock . David W. . Embry . Stephanie L. . Fiorentino . Isabella . Balhoff . James P. . Kappeler . Peter . Wray . Gregory A. . Willard . Huntington F. . Yoder . Anne D. . Genome Research . 18 . 3 . 489–499 . 18245770 . 2259113 .
  6. Book: C . Schwitzer . R. A. . Mittermeier . E. E. . Louis Jr. . M. C. . Richardson . Family Cheirogaleidae: Mouse, giant mouse, dwarf and fork-marked lemurs . Mittermeier . Russell A. . Russell A. Mittermeier . Anthony B. . Rylands . Don E. . Wilson . Don E. Wilson . Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 3. Primates . Lynx Edicions . Barcelona . 2013 . 42 . 978-84-96553-89-7.
  7. 10.1093/molbev/msq237 . Adaptive Evolution of Four Microcephaly Genes and the Evolution of Brain Size in Anthropoid Primates . 2011 . Montgomery . S. H. . Capellini . I. . Venditti . C. . Barton . R. A. . Mundy . N. I. . Molecular Biology and Evolution . 28 . 625–638 . 20961963 .
  8. Ezran. Camille. Karanewsky. Caitlin J. . Pendleton . Joseph L. . Sholtz . Alex . Kransnow. Maya R.. Willick. Jason. Razafindrakoto. Andriamahery. Zohdy. Sarah. Albertelli. Megan A.. June 2017. Mark A. Krasnow also contributed as a writer. The Mouse Lemur, a Genetic Model Organism for Primate Biology, Behavior, and Health. Genetics. 206. 2. 651–664. 28592502. 10.1534/genetics.116.199448. 5499178.
  9. Folia Primatol (Basel). 2003 Sep–Dec;74(5–6):355-66. Mating system in mouse lemurs: theories and facts, using analysis of paternity. Andrès M1, Solignac M, Perret M.
  10. Rina Evasoa. Mamy. Radespiel. Ute. Hasiniaina. Alida F.. Rasoloharijaona. Solofonirina. Randrianambinina. Blanchard. Rakotondravony. Romule. Zimmermann. Elke. 2018-05-16. Variation in reproduction of the smallest-bodied primate radiation, the mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.): A synopsis. American Journal of Primatology. en. 80. 7. e22874. 10.1002/ajp.22874. 29767414. 21709451. 0275-2565.
  11. Web site: Golembiewski . Kate . Ridiculously Cute Mouse Lemurs Hold Key to Madagascar's Past . Field Museum of Natural History . 13 January 2022 . 18 July 2016.
  12. Lemur Diversity in Madagascar. Mittermeier. Russell A.. Russell Mittermeier. Ganzhorn. Jörg U.. Konstant. William R.. Glander. Kenneth. Tattersall. Ian. Groves. Colin P.. Rylands. Anthony B.. Hapke. Andreas. Ratsimbazafy. Jonah. Mayor. Mireya I.. Louis. Edward E.. Rumpler. Yves. Schwitzer. Christoph. Rasoloarison. Rodin M.. International Journal of Primatology. 10.1007/s10764-008-9317-y. 1607–1656. 29. 6. December 2008. 10161/6237. 17614597. free.
  13. Revision of the Mouse Lemurs, Microcebus (Primates, Lemuriformes), of Northern and Northwestern Madagascar with Descriptions of Two New Species at Montagne d'Ambre National Park and Antafondro Classified Forest. 2008 . Primate Conservation . 23 . 19–38 . 10.1896/052.023.0103 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090205163701/http://primate-sg.org/PDF/PC23.new.microcebus.V3.pdf. 2009-02-05 . Louis . Edward E.. 84533039 .
  14. Nature News: Lemur boom on Madagascar . . 2006-11-20 . 2007-12-10 . 10.1038/news061120-15 . Stafford . Ned. news061120–15 . 84701328 .
  15. Scott Hotaling . Mary E. Foley . Nicolette M. Lawrence . Jose Bocanegra . Marina B. Blanco . Rodin Rasoloarison . Peter M. Kappeler . Meredith A. Barrett . Anne D. Yoder . David W. Weisrock . 2016 . Species discovery and validation in a cryptic radiation of endangered primates: coalescent-based species delimitation in Madagascar's mouse lemurs . Molecular Ecology . 25. 9. 2029–2045. 10.1111/mec.13604 . 26946180. 43912903 . free . 2016MolEc..25.2029H .
  16. Radespiel . U. . Ratsimbazafy . J. H. . Rasoloharijaona . S. . Raveloson . H. . Andriaholinirina . N. . Rakotondravony . R. . Randrianarison . R. M. . Randrianambinina . B. . 10.1007/s10329-011-0290-2 . First indications of a highland specialist among mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.) and evidence for a new mouse lemur species from eastern Madagascar . Primates . 53 . 2 . 157–170 . 2011 . 22198090. 8473176 .
  17. Web site: New Primate Species Discovered on Madagascar. 2008-07-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719073516/http://www.pressrelations.de/new/standard/result_main.cfm?aktion=jour_pm&r=331600. 2011-07-19. dead.
  18. Rasoloarison . Rodin M. . David W. . Weisrock . Anne D. . Yoder . Daniel . Rakotondravony . Peter M. . Kappeler . 2013. Two New Species of Mouse Lemurs (Cheirogaleidae: Microcebus) from Eastern Madagascar . International Journal of Primatology. 1–15 . 10.1007/s10764-013-9672-1 . 34. 3 . 17860060 .
  19. Web site: Tiny Lemur Twins Are 2 New Species . Stephanie . Pappas . . 26 March 2013.
  20. Schüßler. Dominik. Blanco. Marina B.. Salmona. Jordi. Poelstra. Jelmer. Andriambeloson. Jean B. . Miller . Alex . Randrianambinina . Blanchard . Rasolofoson . David W.. Mantilla-Contreras. Jasmin. Chikhi. Lounès. Louis. Edward E.. Ecology and morphology of mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.) in a hotspot of microendemism in northeastern Madagascar, with the description of a new species . American Journal of Primatology. 2020. 82. 9. en. e23180. 10.1002/ajp.23180. 32716088. 1098-2345. free.

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