Microcebus danfossi, Olivieri et al., 2007

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 : 53-54

7.

Ambarijeby Mouse Lemur

Microcebus danfossi

French: Microcebe de Danfoss / German: Sofia-Mausmaki / Spanish: Lémur raton de Danfoss

Other common names: Danfoss’s Mouse Lemur

Taxonomy. Microcebus danfossi Olivieri et al., 2007 ,

province de Mahajanga, a forest fragment (c.14° 56’ S, 47° 42’ E) belonging to the village of Ambarijeby (between Analalava and Antsohihy).

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. NW Madagascar, known only from ten forest fragments between the Sofia and Maevarano rivers.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 12.7-13.6 cm, tail 16.5-17.3 cm; weight 63 g. The Ambarijeby Mouse Lemur is probably the largest of all mouse lemurs. It is difficult to distinguish in the field from the Bongolava Mouse Lemur ( M. bongolavensis ) and the Golden-brown Mouse Lemur ( M. ravelobensis ) because of the considerable variation in fur color, even within populations. Fur is short, dense, and bicolored, gray at the base and variously colored at the tip. The back is maroon with an orange tinge and sometimes shows a faint dorsal line. The tail is the same color as the back, although fur changes from short and dense on the proximal part to longer and sparser at the tip. The ventrum is creamy-white. Color of the head varies. Some individuals (possibly young) have a uniformly rufous to brown head, while others have this color only at a triangularly shaped part over the eyes, with a pale grayish crown. A white stripe between the eyesis distinct, and ears are rufous. Hands and feet are poorly haired and white as occurs between the eyes.

Habitat. Intact and degraded forest fragments from sea level to 780 m. The Ambarijeby Mouse Lemur has been found in forest fragments of only 50-400 ha.

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 Ambarijeby Mouse Lemur is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is little information available for this species. Density estimates are 2-2-5 ind/ha, which is low compared with other mouse lemur species. Densities seem to be higher in more disturbed forest fragments, which may be due to crowding or edge effects.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Data Deficient on The [UCN Red List. However, at the[IUCN/SSC Lemur Red-Listing Workshop held in July 2012, the Ambarijeby Mouse Lemur was assessed as endangered due to its small area of occupancy and ongoing decline. It is known to occur in Bora Special Reserve and Anjiamangirana and Andalirano classified forests, but it will have little chance for long-term survival without additional conservation action, including strengthening the infrastructure within Anjiamangirana I Forest and establishment of other protected zones in the forest fragments at Marosakoa, Anjajavy, Ambarijeby, and Bekofafa. Almost all sampled populations of the Ambarijeby Mouse Lemur , along with those of the other north-western Microcebus species, Bongolava and Golden-brown mouse lemurs, show genetic evidence for a relatively rapid crash in population size of about two orders of magnitude. This crash likely occurred within the last 500 years, thus coinciding with accelerated deforestation due to human population expansion in Madagascar.

Bibliography. Mittermeier et al. (2010), Olivieri, Craul & Radespiel (2005), Olivieri, Guschanski & Radespiel (2006), Olivieri, Sousa et al. (2008), Olivieri, Zimmermann et al. (2007), Randrianambinina, Rakotondravony et al. (2003a, 2003b), Randrianambinina, Rasoloharijaona et al. (2010).

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, known only from ten forest fragments between the Sofia and Maevarano rivers.