Microcebus mamaratra, Andriantompohavana et al., 2006

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 : 54

10.

Nosy Be Mouse Lemur

Microcebus mamaratra

French: Microcebe de Claire / German: Nosy-Be-Mausmaki / Spanish: Lemur ratén de Nosy Be

Other common names: Claire's Mouse Lemur

Taxonomy. Microcebus mamiratra Andriantompohavana et al., 2006 ,

Madagascar, province of Antsiranana, Nosy Be, Lokobe Special Reserve (approximately 13° 24° S, 18° 11° E).

Shortly after the description of this species, G. Olivieri and her coworkers described the same animal in 2007, giving it the name [lokobensis, which is a junior synonym because it was published after the name M. mamiratra . Monotypic.

Distribution. NW Madagascar, confined to the island of Nosy Be, principally in the Lokobe Strict Nature Reserve.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 12-7 cm, tail 14-3 cm; weight 58 g. The Nosy Be Mouse Lemuris similar to the Sambirano Mouse Lemur (M. sambiranensis ), but it is much larger. Fur is dense and short. The upper body, head, and ears are a light reddishbrown, becoming a brighter reddish-brown on the dorsum and crown cap. The ventrum is white to creamy white. There is sometimes a faint, light grayish-brown dorsal midline. The tail changes gradually from rufous-brown on the proximal part to dark brown at the tip. Hands and feet are poorly haired and gray or white. A whitish midline stripe is found on the anterior part of the muzzle, which is wider and more diffuse between the eyes.

Habitat. Primary and secondary forest.

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. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. The Nosy Be 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, the Nosy Be Mouse Lemur was assessed as endangered due to its small extent of occurrence and ongoing decline. It occurs in the Lokobe Strict Nature Reserve, which is small but with good infrastructure.

Bibliography. Andriantompohavana et al. (2006), Mittermeier et al. (2010), Olivieri et al. (2006).

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. NW Madagascar, confined to the island of Nosy Be, principally in the Lokobe Strict Nature Reserve.