Pygmy mouse lemur

Pygmy 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. myoxinus
Binomial name
Microcebus myoxinus
Peters, 1852[3]
Distribution of M. myoxinus[1]

The pygmy mouse lemur (Microcebus myoxinus), also known as Peters' mouse lemur or dormouse lemur, is a primate weighing only 43–55 g (1.5–1.9 oz); it is the second smallest of the mouse lemurs.[4] Its dorsal side is a rufous-brown colour, and creamy-white ventrally. It lives in dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar. It has been captured in the Tsingy de Bemaraha Nature Reserve, the Andramasy forests north of Belo sur Tsiribihina,[1] and the border of heavily degraded deciduous forest and savanna at Aboalimena.[5] It has also been found in other habitats, in mangroves in two localities.[1]

Accounts and descriptions of this species are frequently confounded with those of Microcebus berthae, the smallest primate in the world. This is because specimens of M. berthae captured in Kirindy Forest, 60 km north of Morondava, were erroneously named M. myoxinus.[5] Apparently, the rufous color of M. berthae (not described at the time) matched the description by Peter[6] as M. myoxinus. Most articles on the web report information on M. myoxinus that correspond to studies made in Kirindy Forest on M. berthae.

The behavior and ecology of Microcebus myoxinus remains to be studied in the wild.[7]

The pygmy mouse lemur measures around 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in) (head-body length).[4]

  1. ^ a b c d Baden, A.; Blanco, M.; Chikhi, L.; Cooke, A.; Davies, N.; Dolch, R.; Donati, G.; Ganzhorn, J.; Golden, C.; Groeneveld, L.F.; Irwin, M.; Johnson, S.; Kappeler, P.; King, T.; Lewis, R.; Louis, E.E.; Markolf, M.; Mass, V.; Mittermeier, R.A.; Nichols, R.; Patel, E.; Rabarivola, C.J.; Raharivololona, B.; Rajaobelina, S.; Rakotoarisoa, G.; Rakotomanga, B.; Rakotonanahary, J.; Rakotondrainibe, H.; Rakotondratsimba, G.; Rakotondratsimba, M.; Rakotonirina, L.; Ralainasolo, F.B.; Ralison, J.; Ramahaleo, T.; Ranaivoarisoa, J.F.; Randrianahaleo, S.I.; Randrianambinina, B.; Randrianarimanana, L.; Randrianasolo, H.; Randriatahina, G.; Rasamimananana, H.; Rasolofoharivelo, T.; Rasoloharijaona, S.; Ratelolahy, F.; Ratsimbazafy, J.; Ratsimbazafy, N.; Razafindraibe, H.; Razafindramanana, J.; Rowe, N.; Salmona, J.; Seiler, M.; Volampeno, S.; Wright, P.; Youssouf, J.; Zaonarivelo, J.; Zaramody, A. (2014). "Microcebus myoxinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T13325A16113437. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T13325A16113437.en. Retrieved 19 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. p. 113. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  4. ^ a b Mittermeier, R.A.; Konstant, W.R.; Hawkins, F.; Louis, E.E.; et al. (2006). Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (2nd ed.). Conservation International. ISBN 1-881173-88-7. OCLC 883321520.
  5. ^ a b Rasoloarison, Rodin M.; Goodman, Steven M.; Ganzhorn, Jörg U. (2000). "Taxonomic Revision of Mouse Lemurs (Microcebus) in the Western Portions of Madagascar". International Journal of Primatology. 21 (6): 995. doi:10.1023/A:1005511129475. S2CID 24593160.
  6. ^ Peters, W. C. H. (1852). Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique. Berlin: Georg Reimer Verlag.
  7. ^ Baden, A.; et al. "Peters' Mouse Lemur Microcebus myoxinus". iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 16 April 2022.