Microcebus gerpi, Radespiel et al., 2012

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 : 56

15.

Gerp’s Mouse Lemur

Microcebus gerpi

French: Microcébe du Gerp / German: Gerp-Mausmaki / Spanish: Lémur ratén de Gerp

Taxonomy. Microcebus gerpi Radespiel et al., 2012 ,

Madagascar, Province of Toamasina, Forest of Sahafina (18° 47 28.7” S, 48° B88’ 56-2” E), in a savoka at about 95 m above sea level, in the rural community of Anivorano-East.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. CE Madagascar, known only from its type locality, the Sahafina Forest (29-230 m above sea level), a lowland rainforest fragment of 15-6 km2, and its surrounding “savoka” (fallow farmland with cultivated trees), about 58 km E of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park and 18 km W of the Indian Ocean. The geographic range is presumably limited to the lowland areas (below 700 m) between the Mangoro River to the S and the Rianila River to the N, an area of about 7600 km?2.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.8:4 cm, tail c.14-8 cm; weight 68 g. A large mouse lemur. Dorsum is grayish-brown with a diffused, broad rufous line along the center. Ventrum varies from light gray to creamy white (including the scrotum). Outer arms and legs are darker than the rest of the body. Head is rufous-brown, but darker brown around the eyes, with a distinct white stripe between the eyes. Ears are small but eminent and dark brown towards the edges. Tail is densely furred and long, of brownishgray color, darker dorsally than ventrally, and can store body fat. Skin on the hands and feet is pinkish-brown.

Habitat. Lowland primary and secondary rainforest, between 29-230 m above sea level.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but nocturnal and arboreal.

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

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. The conservation status of the Gerp’s Mouse Lemur has not yet been assessed on The IUCN Red List. However, assessed as critically endangered at the IUCN/SSC Lemur Red-Listing Workshop held in July 2012. This species is not known to occur in any protected area. It is threatened by very high rates of deforestation in Madagascar’s eastern lowland rainforests.

Bibliography. Radespiel et al. (2012).

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. CE Madagascar, known only from its type locality, the Sahafina Forest (29-230 m above sea level), a lowland rainforest fragment of 15-6 km2, and its surrounding “savoka” (fallow farmland with cultivated trees), about 58 km E of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park and 18 km W of the Indian Ocean. The geographic range is presumably limited to the lowland areas (below 700 m) between the Mangoro River to the S and the Rianila River to the N, an area of about 7600 km?2.