Microcebus myoxinus, Peters, 1852

Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Cheirogaleidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 28-65 : 52

4.

Peters’s Mouse Lemur

Microcebus myoxinus

French: Microcebe pygmée / German: Zwergmausmaki / Spanish: Lémur ratén de Peters

Other common names: Pygmy Mouse Lemur

Taxonomy. Microcebus myoxinus Peters, 1852 ,

Madagascar, St. Augustine’s Bay.

In 1852, W. K. Peters returned from a collecting expedition to Madagascar with three western mouse lemur specimens that he named M. myoxinus , but in 1931, E. Schwarz declared them to be synonymous with M. murinus . In 1994, J. Schmid and P. Kappeler concluded that two mouse lemur species occurred in the Kirindy Forest north of Morondava, one of them a smaller rufous animal for which they resurrected the name M. myoxinus . Reexamination of the specimens collected by Peters indicated that the Kirindy animals were not M. myoxinus , but M. berthae , and that the name M. myoxinus actually applied to populations found farther north. Monotypic.

Distribution. WC coastal Madagascar, reported to range in scattered localities from the N bank of the Tsiribihina River N to Baie de Baly.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 12-13 cm,tail 14-15 cm; weight 42 g. Peters’s Mouse Lemur is one of the smallest mouse lemurs. Its pelage is short and rufous-brown above with an orange tinge and pale yellow-brown to pale gray underneath. There is a distinct, dark median stripe down the back and a white stripe running from the forehead to the nose. A light cinnamon patch between the eyes darkens to reddish behind the orbits and to a tawny crown and ears. Dark eyebrows are prominent. Furred portions of hands and feet are whitish-gray to whitish-beige. The tail is relatively long, densely furred, and darker toward the tip. Ears are relatively short.

Habitat. Tropical dry deciduous lowland forest from sea level to 900 m in the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park and in the Andramasy forests north of Belo-sur-Isiribihina. Peters’s Mouse Lemur also occurs along the border of heavily-degraded deciduous forest and savanna at Aboalimena and in mangrove forests in the Baie de Baly region. It is sympatric with the Gray Mouse Lemur ( M. murinus ) in Tsingy de Namoroka and Baie de Baly national parks and one other Microcebus (as yet to be identified) in Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. It also may be sympatric with other mouse lemur species, although more research is needed.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but undoubtedly fruits and insects are eaten, and possibly other items identified in the diets of other members of the genus.

Breeding. Breeding season of Peters’s Mouse Lemur is from September to October, during which males’ testes increase in size.

Activity patterns. Peters’s Mouse Lemur is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. However, at the IUCN/SSC Lemur Red-Listing Workshop held in July 2012, Peters’s Mouse Lemur was assessed as vulnerable due to an ongoing reduction in population size of more than 30% over ten years. There is insufficient information to determine the conservation status of Peters’s Mouse Lemur . It is known to occur in Tsingy de Bemaraha and Tsingy de Namoroka, and likely in Baie de Baly national parks.

Bibliography. Ausilio & Raveloarinoro (1998), Groves (2001), Hawkins et al. (1998), Mittermeier et al. (2010), Rakotoarison et al. (1993), Rasoloarison et al. (2000), Schmid & Kappeler (1994), Schwarz (1931), Thalmann & Rakotoarison (1994).

Figures

1. Gray Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus), 2. Gray-brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus griseorufus), 3. Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus berthae), 4. Peters’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus myoxinus), 5. Golden-brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis), 6. Bongolava Mouse Lemur (Microcebus bongolavensis), 7. Ambarijeby Mouse Lemur (Microcebus danfossi), 8. Margot Marsh’s Mouse Lemur (Mucrocebus margotmarshae), 9. Sambirano Mouse Lemur (Microcebus sambiranensis), 10. Nosy Be Mouse Lemur (Microcebus mamaratra), 11. Tavaratra Mouse Lemur (Microcebus tavaratra), 12. Montagne d’Ambre Mouse Lemur (Microcebus arnholdi), 13. Rufous Mouse Lemur (Mucrocebus rufus), 14. Jolly’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus jollyae), 15. Gerp’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus gerpi), 16. Goodman’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara), 17. Simmons’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus simmonsi), 18. Anjiahely Mouse Lemur (Mucrocebus macarthuri), 19. Mittermeier’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus mittermeieri)

Distribution. WC coastal Madagascar, reported to range in scattered localities from the N bank of the Tsiribihina River N to Baie de Baly.