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Microcebus murinus
gray mouse lemur


By David Alvarado

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cheirogaleidae
Genus: Microcebus
Species: Microcebus murinus

Geographic Range

Microcebus murinus is found throughout Madagascar in dense forest regions.

Biogeographic Regions
ethiopian (Native )

Habitat

Gray mouse lemurs are extremely arboreal.They move by leaping from the branches of trees. They generally forage close to ground level. They inhabit a wide variety of forest types throughout Madagascar, and are found mostly in the dry deciduous forests of southern and western Madagascar in the regions between Fort-Dulphin and the Sambirano River.

Habitat Regions
tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes
forest ; scrub forest

Physical Description

Average mass
60 g
(2.11 oz)

Average mass
64.8 g
(2.28 oz)
[External Source: AnAge]

Range length
12 to 12 cm
(4.72 to 4.72 in)

Gray mouse lemurs are one of the smallest living primates. They are characterized by short limbs and large eyes. The head and body length is 12 to 14 cm and tail length of 13 to 14.5 cm. They have long, thin lower incisors and canines, making a dental comb used for grooming. They have a brownish-grey coat with reddish tones and a pale underside.

Other Physical Features
endothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism
sexes alike

Reproduction

This species is polygynous; males mate with females in their home ranges.

Mating System
polygynous

Breeding season
Microcebus murinus reproduce between September and March.

Average number of offspring
2

Average number of offspring
2
[External Source: AnAge]

Range gestation period
54 to 69 days

Average birth mass
6 g
(0.21 oz)
[External Source: AnAge]

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female

243 days
[External Source: AnAge]

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male

243 days
[External Source: AnAge]

Microcebus murinus reproduce between September and March. The gestation period varys from 54-69 days. They usually give birth to twins.

Key Reproductive Features
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous

Labor takes about 45 to 60 minutes and the infants begin to suckle after about 12 minutes. The infants weigh from 5.5-7g and are carried in the mother's mouth.

Parental Investment
pre-fertilization (Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)

Lifespan/Longevity

Average lifespan
Sex: male
Status: captivity

14.0 years
[External Source: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research]

Average lifespan
Sex: male
Status: captivity

15.5 years
[External Source: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research]

Average lifespan
Status: captivity

14.0 years
[External Source: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research]

Behavior

Microcebus murinus are nocturnal foragers. They congregate at a common nest site during the day to sleep. The males sleep in pairs separate from the females. The females sleep in groups of up to fifteen. Females are dominant over males.

Key Behaviors
arboreal ; scansorial; nocturnal ; sedentary ; social ; dominance hierarchies

Food Habits

Microcebus murinus are mostly insectivorous. They occasionally eat small reptiles such as chameleons and tree frogs. They also feed on plants, leaves, fruits and flowers.

Primary Diet
carnivore (Insectivore )

Animal Foods
amphibians; reptiles; insects

Plant Foods
leaves; fruit; flowers

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Even though it is illegal to hunt and trade lemurs, mouse lemurs are often trapped and sold as pets.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [Link]
Least Concern
More Information

US Federal List [Link]
Endangered

CITES [Link]
Appendix I

Microcebus murinus is one of the least threatened of all lemur species. Their abundance is most likely due their small size and variable diet. All lemurs are protected by laws that make them illegal to hunt or capture, except for research and breeding in zoos. Loss of habitat is the largest current threat to lemur populations. In particular, deforestation poses the greatest risk to this species. Over 250 mouse lemurs can be found in captivity worldwide.

For More Information

Find Microcebus murinus information at

Contributors

David Alvarado (author), University of Michigan, Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.

References

Accessed (Date Unknown) at http://mommensj.web2010.com/.

July 25, 1999. "Grey Mouse Lemur" (On-line). Accessed October 12, 1999 at http://www.duke.edu/web/primate/mouse.html.

Kappeler, P., J. Ganzhorn. 1993. Lemur social systems and their ecological basis. New York: Plenum Press.

Wild Life preservation Trust International, 1998. "The Wild Ones" (On-line). Accessed (Date Unknown) at http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/lemur.html.

To cite this page: Alvarado, D. 2000. "Microcebus murinus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed May 22, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Microcebus_murinus.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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