Northern giant mouse lemur explained

The northern giant mouse lemur (Mirza zaza), or northern dwarf lemur, is a species of lemur discovered in 2005.[1] They are part of the primate order, and classified in the family Cheirogaleidae. Previously, both populations of giant mouse lemurs were believed to belong to one species. The northern giant mouse lemurs are small nocturnal lemurs endemic to Madagascar. They weigh about 300g, and have long, bushy tails and relatively small ears. Their large testicles are an indication of their promiscuous copulation system. These lemurs have been found to use communal sleeping nests including multiple males, which is an uncommon behaviour in lemurs.[2]

Etymology

The word zaza means child in Malagasy. The name was chosen because the northern giant mouse lemur is the smaller of the two giant mouse lemur species, and because of a wish to emphasize the responsibility of the current generation of Malagasy children for the conservation of Malagasy animals for future generations.

Description

The northern giant mouse lemur is relatively small, with juveniles weighing NaNg, subadults NaNg, and fully grown adults NaNg. This species has large testes, among the largest relative testes to body size in the Primate order.

Distribution

M. zaza are found in a strictly limited region in the north-western part of Madagascar, the Ampasindava peninsula.[3] The habitat is split by two rivers, the Mahavavy River to the north and the Maevarano River to the south. In some areas it is further separated by the Sambirano River. This area in Madagascar has a dry and cool season from May to October, and a wet and hot season from November to April. The species can be found in a transition zone which goes to the Sambirano evergreen rainforest that extends to the north.[4] Home ranges cover 0.52– 2.34 ha. There is no substantial overlap in home ranges among individuals.[5] An estimated 385–1,086 individuals per km2 are present throughout the region.

Behavior

The species has a polygynandrous mating system, likely based on the large size of the testes, which engenders strong sperm competition. Breeding is aseasonal.[6]

The northern mouse lemur is nocturnal, feeding predominantly during the second half of the night. On average, individuals stay approximately up in the canopy. During the day they sleep in group-exclusive tree holes. Nesting groups are 2–8 individuals in size, made up of both sexes and any age class, and include unrelated males.

Conservation

The species is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN primarily due to loss of habitat. The deciduous forests that they live in are being logged, fragmented, and degraded.[7] The species is listed in CITES Appendix I.[8]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.dpz.gwdg.de/pr/pr71/1_mirza-gesamt_hp.pdf P.M. Kappeler et al.: A New Mirza Species Primate Report 71, July 2005
  2. Rode. Johanna. Nekaris. Anne-Isola. Markolf. Matthias. Schliehe-Diecks. Susanne. Seiler. Melanie. Radespiel. Ute. Schwitzer. Christoph. Social organisation of the northern giant mouse lemur Mirza zaza in Sahamalaza, north western Madagascar, inferred from nest group composition and genetic relatedness. Contributions to Zoology. 2013. 82. 2. 71–83. 10.1163/18759866-08202001 . free.
  3. Roos. Christian. Kappeler. Peter. Distribution and Conservation Status of Two Newly Described Cheirogaleid Species, Mirza zaza and Microcebus lehilahytsara. Primate Conservation. 2006. 21. 51–53. 10.1896/0898-6207.21.1.51. 67754666 . free.
  4. Hending. Dan. McCabe. Grainne. Holderied. Marc. Sleeping and Ranging Behavior of the Sambirano Mouse Lemur, Microcebus sambiranensis. International Journal of Primatology. October 2017. 38. 6. 1072–1089. 10.1007/s10764-017-9997-2. 29263564 . 5730628.
  5. Hending. Dan. Holderied. Marc. McCabe. Grainne. The use of Vocalizations of the Sambirano Mouse Lemur (Microcebus sambiranensis) in an Acoustic Survey of Habitat Preference. International Journal of Primatology. 19 July 2017. 38. 4. 732–750. 10.1007/s10764-017-9977-6. 28845070. 5550550.
  6. Rode-Margono. E. J.. Nekaris. K. Anne-Isola. Kappeler. Peter. Schwitzer. Christoph. The Largest Relative Testis Size Among Primates and Aseasonal Reproduction in a Nocturnal Lemur, Mirza zaza. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 158. 1. 29 June 2015. 165–169. 10.1002/ajpa.22773. 26119092.
  7. Book: Rode-Margono. E. J.. Schwitzer. C.. Nekaris. K.. Morphology, behaviour, ranging patterns and habitat use of the northern giant mouse lemur Mirza zaza in Sahamalaza, northwestern Madagascar. May 2016. 235–254. 2 March 2018. 10.1017/CBO9781139871822.013. 9781139871822.
  8. Web site: Checklist of CITES Species . CITES . UNEP-WCMC . 18 March 2015.