Propithecus coquereli
Coquerel's sifaka

Propithecus coquereli can be found on the northwest and west-central coasts of Madagascar (Nowak, 1999). (Nowak, 1999)

Propithecus coquereli lives in the lower tiers (1 to 6 m) of dry to humid forests near ponds or rivers. These forests shed their leaves in the dry season, between the months of September and December (Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Nowak, 1999). (Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Nowak, 1999)

The head and body length is between 230 and 250 mm, and the tail adds an addtional 280 to 320 mm to the toal length. These animals weigh between 280 and 335 g.

Greater mouse lemurs have a small, round head with a short, pointy muzzle. Ears are small, and eyes are and large and yellowish-gray. The nails are pointed, and the second digit has a claw rather than a nail. The tail is long; it is especially thick and bushy at its base (Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Nowak, 1999; Swindler and Erwin, 1986).

Propithecus coquereli has no distinct facial markings. However, the cheeks, chin, throat, breast, belly, and inside of the legs are grayish-whitish-yellow, while the upper parts of the body are a dark, grayish-red. Because many of the soft fur hairs have golden tips, the coloring of the fur appears olive-brown. This lemur's coloring is darkest along its midline (Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Nowak, 1999; Swindler and Erwin, 1986).

The dentition reflects this lemur's diet. The upper incisors are small, the canines are large, and the molars are monocuspid with sharp conical cusps. The dentaries are long, slender, and unfused. The masseter and ptyerygoid are relatively small in this animal (Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Nowak, 1999, Swindler and Erwin, 1986). (Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Nowak, 1999; Swindler and Erwin, 1986)

Mouse lemurs may live past 15 years of age (Duplaix and Simon, 1976; Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Nowak, 1999). (Dupaix and Simon, 1976; Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Nowak, 1999)

Greater mouse lemurs live in loosely knit colonies and share a 0.1 square km home range with conspecifics, but individuals lead solitary lives. Each home range is composed of a well-defined central zone, of about 0.02 square km, which is fiercly defended and a less-defined peripherial zone. Individuals build 25-30cm spherical nests made of woven leaves and twigs in the central zone of the home range. These nests are usually built in the lower tiers of foliage. The central area is used for solitary activities such as grooming, feeding and scent marking during twilight hours. The peripheral zone is a more social area and the lemurs can be found there after midnight. These patterns are followed very strictly. If two males encounter each other within the central zone, they will attack. However, if two males encounter each other in the peripheral zone, they will simply retreat. If intersexual contact does occur in the central region, it is between two strongly bonded or related individuals (Duplaix and Simon 1976, Haltenorth and Diller 1977, Mitchell and Erwin 1986, Nowak and Paradiso 1983) .

P. coquereli are most vocal in times of aggression. When moving about singly, they emit quiet, soft calls. When they are expressing anger, loud chattering is used (Duplaix and Simon 1976, Haltenorth and Diller 1977, Mitchell and Erwin 1986, Nowak and Paradiso 1983) .

P. coquereli have several scent glands. Males have a circumgenital scent gland and they may also have one on their neck. There is evidence that these animals rely on scent markings for communicating what individuals were at a certain place at what time and the reproductive state of those animals (Duplaix and Simon 1976, Haltenorth and Diller 1977, Mitchell and Erwin 1986, Nowak and Paradiso 1983) .

Propithecus coquereli are primarily frugivorous and insectivorous; they also eat flowers and sap. They use their sharp cusped molars and large canines to puncture, crush, and shear their food (Haltenorth and Diller 1977, Nowak and Paradiso 1983, Swindler and Erwin 1986).

Diet varies with the seasons in Madagascar. During the wet season, P. coquereli eat mostly fruit, flowers, sap, and insects. During the dry season, their meals consist of the sweet liquids secreted onto branches by insect larvae. They must eat continuously throughout the year, because they do not accumulate fat reserves (Haltenorth and Diller 1977, Nowak and Paradiso 1983, Swindler and Erwin 1986).

Propithecus coquereli live in an area of humid forest that is not very expansive. This habitat is threatened by long-term drying trends and by human destruction of forests (Nowak and Paradiso 1983).