Madame Berthe's mouse lemur

Madame Berthe's mouse lemur
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Cheirogaleidae
Genus: Microcebus
Species:
M. berthae
Binomial name
Microcebus berthae
Rasoloarison et al., 2000[3]
Distribution of M. berthae[1]

Madame Berthe's mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae) or Berthe's mouse lemur is the smallest of the mouse lemurs and the smallest primate in the world; the average body length is 9.2 cm (3.6 in) and seasonal weight is around 30 g (1.1 oz).[4] Microcebus berthae is one of many species of Malagasy lemurs that came about through extensive speciation, caused by unknown environmental mechanisms and conditions.[5]

This primate is found chiefly in the Kirindy Forest in western Madagascar.[6] After its discovery in 1992 in the dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar, it was initially thought to represent a rediscovery of M. myoxinus, but comparative morphometric and genetic studies revealed its status as a new species, M. berthae.[7]

This lemur is named after the conservationist and primatologist Berthe Rakotosamimanana of Madagascar, who was the Secretary General of the Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherche des Primates (GERP) from its founding until her death in 2005.[8]

  1. ^ a b Markolf, M.; Schäffler, L.; Kappeler, P. (2020). "Microcebus berthae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T41573A115579496. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T41573A115579496.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  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. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  4. ^ Gron KJ. (11 February 2009). Primate Factsheets: Mouse lemur (Microcebus) Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology . Accessed 2009 August
  5. ^ Rakotondranary, S. J.; Hapke, A.; Ganzhorn, J. R. U. (2011). "Distribution and Morphological Variation of Microcebus spp. Along an Environmental Gradient in Southeastern Madagascar". International Journal of Primatology. 32 (5): 1037. doi:10.1007/s10764-011-9521-z. S2CID 23268852.
  6. ^ Mittermeier, R.A.; et al. (2006). Lemurs of Madagascar (2nd ed.). Conservation International. pp. 104–107. ISBN 978-1-881173-88-5.
  7. ^ Dammhahn, M; Kappeler, P. M. (2008). "Small-scale coexistence of two mouse lemur species (Microcebus berthae and M. Murinus) within a homogeneous competitive environment". Oecologia. 157 (3): 473–83. Bibcode:2008Oecol.157..473D. doi:10.1007/s00442-008-1079-x. PMC 2515545. PMID 18574599.
  8. ^ Gould, Lisa; Michelle Sauther (2006). Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation (1st ed.). University of Chicago. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-387-34586-4.