Galago alleni
Allen's squirrel galago

Galago alleni lives in the rainforest of west-central Africa. It has been found nearly as far north as southern Nigeria, west to the delta of the Niger river, as far east as the southwestern corner of the Central African Republic, and south to southern Congo. (Flannery, 2001; Nowak, 1991; Wolfheim, 1983)

Galago alleni is most frequently found in the understory of mature primary wet forests. This species is rarely present in secondary growth forests. (Muller and Grzimek, 1990; Wolfheim, 1983)

Galago alleni has thick fur that can range from grey to brown in color with a rust tint on the limbs. The ventral fur tends to be lighter ranging from grey to a yellowed white. This species has distinct dark patches of fur around its eyes. The tail is long and bushy. Head and body length ranges from 155 to 240 mm and mass from 200 to 445 grams.

Like other members of the genus, G. alleni has unusually large eyes, which help to adapt this species to a nocturnal life style. These large eyes have a reflective retina, the tapetum, which facilitates light detection. Interestingly, these animals are color-blind, with only rods in the retina and no true macula.

Like many of their relatives, Allen's bush babies have flexible, naked ears that can moved backward, and be bent down to the base. The nose has a specialized leather-like covering with slits. Galago alleni has the characteristic toothcomb common in galagos, made up of the four incisors and two canines. They are known for their strong hindlimbs and leaping ability. (Muller and Grzimek, 1990; Napier, 1967; Nowak, 1991)

In captivity G. alleni has been found to live about 12 years. This species has been known to live 8 years in the wild. (Nowak, 1991; Rowe, 1996)

Galago alleni is nocturnal. Males are primarily solitary and are aggressive towards other males. Females often stay in small groups with infants. Males and females may share nest sites during the day. Individuals sleep in nests built in tree hollows in groups of about 1 to 4. The males live alone or in small groups of 2 or 3 until the opportunity to be a dominant male arises. Dominant males cover a large territory. They tend to be quite territorial, and there is intense competition for proximity to female home ranges. These more dominant males may go between many female groups. Male aggression is signaled by an upright, bipedal posture, an open mouth, and a hissing vocalization.

Allen's bush babies mark their territory by "urine wiping." They urinate on the soles of their feet and then march around their territory until the scent is well entrenched. This urine marking behavior is common in most galagos. On average there are 15 G. alleni per square mile.

Galago alleni participates in social grooming, using the toothcomb and specialized grooming second toe. Grooming is also a courtship behavior. The toothcomb cleans soiled areas of the fur and a second tongue in the mouth of the bush baby cleans the toothcomb. This is a behavior that is common in galagos. (Bearder et al., 1986; Flannery, 2001; Muller and Grzimek, 1990; Napier, 1967; Nowak, 1991; Rowe, 1996)

Home Range

Females have a home range of 8 to 16 ha, while males have a larger range of 30 to 50 ha. (Muller and Grzimek, 1990; Napier, 1967; Nowak, 1991)

Allen's bush babies communicate through 3 categories of sound--social, aggression, and defense. Social communication tends to be in the form of clicking noises from young to mother, sounding something like "tsic." A maternal call to the group sounds something like a soft croak. More powerful noises are for large groups to assemble. If an alarm call is heard, it can cause G. alleni to gather and mob a predator such as a cat. The aggressive call sounds like "quee, quee, quee."

There is also olfactory communication through urine which marks the territory of G. alleni. This urine territory marking was found to increase by about four times when the territory overlapped with another galago. Galago alleni is very territorial and aggression is frequently seen between males. The aggressive behavior is communicated through an upright posture, on the hind legs, and a vocal hissing sound. Courtship is communicated by mutual grooming and chasing.

Galago alleni has the ability to make many facial expressions, which can communicate a great deal. Facial expressions can be defensive, threatening, or protective, and are also associated with maternal clicks.

Galagos use tactile communication. Upon first encounter with a conspecific, they may sniff each other nose to nose. Then they will touch nose to face. Social grooming is their most important form of touch, and this helps them bond with one another. (Flannery, 2001; Napier, 1967; Nowak, 1991; Rowe, 1996)

Galago alleni has an exceptionally well-developed sense of vision (though lacking color vision) at night. They also have acute hearing, sense of smell, and use tactile cues to sense their environment. (Napier, 1967; Nowak, 1991)

Allen's bush babies are primarily frugivores, especially eating fallen fruit. Fruit makes up an estimated three quarters (75%) of their diet. They also eat insects and occasionally small mammals, which may function as protein supplements. (Muller and Grzimek, 1990; Nowak, 1991; Rowe, 1996)

When feeling threatened, G. alleni has the ability to move more quickly by running on its hind legs. When it spots a predator it quickly jumps great distances from branch to branch. Galago alleni uses alarm calls to alert conspecifics of the danger.

Little is known about their predators, although arboreal and volant predators, such as cats and owls, are likely to be their main threats. Humans pose the greatest known threat through habitat destruction. (Muller and Grzimek, 1990; Napier, 1967; Nowak, 1991; Wolfheim, 1983)

G. alleni is an important predator of insects and possibly disperses the seeds of the fruits that they eat.

There do not seem to be any negative impacts of G. alleni on humans.

There is no significant demand for G. alleni, and it is not routinely hunted or captured. It is also rare that Allen's bush babies are exported for the pet trade or research. (Napier, 1967)

Galago alleni is on the IUCN Red List as a lower risk threatened species, and is on the CITES Appendix II list. The greatest threat to Allen's bush babies is human impact on their habitat. Expanding human populations, and a civil war in Nigeria, have drastically decreased the extent of available habitat. Because G. alleni so strongly prefers primary forests to secondary forests this destruction of their habitat is a major concern for this species.

Even though human hunting does not appear to be a significant problem for the species, laws protect G. alleni from being hunted or captured without authorization. A reserve also exists in Cameroon where G. alleni has been reported, but many more reserves are needed. (Nowak, 1991; Rowe, 1996; Wolfheim, 1983)

Bush babies get their common name from their alarm call, which sounds like a baby lost in the bushes. (Napier, 1967)