Golden-brown mouse lemur

The golden-brown mouse lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis), also known as the Lac Ravelobe mouse lemur or the Ravelobe mouse lemur, is part of the family, Cheirogaleidae. These are the smallest species of lemur and are all arboreal, nocturnal, and typically social.[4] All species of Lemur are native to the island of Madagascar. The golden-brown mouse lemur, Microcebus ravelobensis, was first discovered in 1994.

Golden-brown mouse lemur
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Cheirogaleidae
Genus: Microcebus
Species:
M. ravelobensis
Binomial name
Microcebus ravelobensis
(Zimmerman et al., 1998)[3]
Distribution of M. ravelobensis[1]

Geographic range and habitat

The island of Madagascar is located off the South-eastern coast of Africa. All species of lemur are indigenous to the island. The Golden-brown mouse lemur is isolated to the forest reserve of Ankarafantsika National Park, a dry deciduous forest located in northwestern Madagascar.[5] It shares the habitat with the gray mouse lemur,(M. murinus), a sympatric species. Within the habitat that both the golden-brown lemur and gray mouse lemur live, they occupy two very different niches showing divergent regional distribution and different population density patterns.[6] The golden-brown mouse lemur prefers habitat areas in lower latitudes that are humid and in close proximity to water resources. Whereas the gray mouse lemur populations increase with altitude and are located in drier habitats away from water sources.[6]

M. ravelobensis, as well as other species of mouse lemur have been classified as leaf or nest builders.[7][8][9] The golden-brown mouse lemur’s habitat is well dispersed among sexes and family groups, showing little sign of intra- or interspecific competition among overlapping territories.[7][9] In a 2009 study by S. Thoren et al. showed only lactating females were seen building nests, but studies suggest non-lactating females will also.[8] Nest building will take place in the early hours of the night and will take approximately 60 minutes to build. The nests are constructed of small branches and leaves from surrounding vegetation.[8] They will be occupied by lactating or dominant females, their offspring and mixed lineage group members for a period of 36 days.[8]

Anatomy and physiology

The golden-brown mouse lemur has been categorized as a separate species based on morphology [5] and genetics.[10]

Its dorsal side is golden-brown, and yellowish-white ventrally. It has a white stripe running from the lower forehead to the muzzle. It weighs 40-70g depending on the season, and is similar in appearance to the gray mouse lemur, though it has a longer, thinner tail. It is unable to store fat in its tail like other mouse lemurs. It travels through the forest by leaping, unlike the gray mouse lemur. It is a nocturnal species, and builds its nests in dense patches of vines or dead leaves.

Social distribution

There is a great variation in social patterns among nocturnal lemurs; the golden-brown mouse lemur is exceptional with its mixed-sex sleeping groups. M. ravelobensis has a well dispersed, inter-sexual sleeping pattern that promotes promiscuity was first categorized in 2004 by researchers Weidt, et al.[9] The golden-brown mouse lemur sleeps predominantly in tree branches or makes nests.[8] Because of this exposed environment male/female sleeping groups exist to aid in both thermoregulation of nests and decrease the chances of predation.[7][8] This observation has also been noted by Radespiel et al. (2003). Within the sleeping groups, there are several nest locations that individuals will switch between, but the members within the community never change.[7] This social spatial distribution leads to overlapping territories that develop a multi-family community within a given range.[7][9] Within this given range, studies show little or no competition between males during mating season .[9] Though golden-brown mouse lemurs exhibit a social sleeping pattern, their active nocturnal lifestyle is typically solitary.

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References
  1. Blanco, M., Dolch, R., Ganzhorn, J., Greene, L.K., Le Pors, B., Lewis, R., Radespiel, U., Rafalinirina, H.A., Raharivololona, B., Rakotoarisoa, G., Ralison, J., Randriahaingo, H.N.T., Rasoloarison, R.M., Razafindrasolo, M., Sgarlata, G.M., Wright, P. & Zaonarivelo, J. (2020). "Microcebus ravelobensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T39751A115574811. Retrieved 10 July 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Checklist of CITES Species". CITES. UNEP-WCMC. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  3. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 113. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  4. Myers, P.,"Cheirogaleidae" Animal Diversity, Accessed June 01, 2013
  5. Zimmermann, E. S. Cepok, N. Rakotoarison, V. Zietemann, U. Radespiel. “Sympatric Mouse Lemurs in North-West Madagascar: a new rufous mouse lemur species (Microcebus ravelobensis).” Folia Primatologica 69. 2, Mar 1998, 106-114
  6. Rakotondravony, R., U. Radespiel. “Varying Patterns of Coexistence of Two Mouse Lemur Species (Microcebus ravelobensis and M. murinus) in a Heterogeneous Landscape.” American Journal of Primatology 71, 2009, 928–938.
  7. Braune, P., S. Schmidt, E. Zimmermann. “Spacing and group coordination in a nocturnal primate, the golden brown mouse lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis): the role of olfactory and acoustic signals”. Ecology and Sociobiology 58, 2005, 587–596.
  8. Thoren, S., F. Quietzsch, U. Radespiel. “Leaf Nest Use and Construction in the Golden-Brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis) in the Ankarafantsika National Park”. American Journal of Primatology 72.1, 2010, 48–55.
  9. Weidt, A., N. Hagenah, B. Randrianambinina, U. Radespiel, E. Zimmermann. “Social Organization of the Golden Brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis).” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 123, 2004, 40–51.
  10. Pastorini, J., R. Martin, P. Ehresmann, E. Zimmermann, M. Forstner. “Molecular Phylogeny of the Lemur Family Cheirogaleidae (Primates) Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences”. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 19, 2001, 45-56.
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