Jump to content

Portal:Primates/Selected species/5

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
{{{caption}}}
{{{caption}}}
Microcebus murinus (Gray mouse lemur)

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)|Least Concern

The gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) is a small strepsirrhine primate, found only on the island of Madagascar. Weighing 58 to 67 grams (2.0 to 2.4 oz), it is the largest mouse lemur, yet smaller than the world's smallest monkey, the pygmy marmoset, which ranges between 85 and 140 g (3.0 and 4.9 oz). Its genus, Microcebus, includes the smallest primates in the world.

The gray mouse lemur is named for its mouse-like size and coloration. It is known locally (in Malagasy) as tsidy, koitsiky, titlivaha, pondiky, and vakiandri.

Like all mouse lemurs, this species is nocturnal and arboreal. It is very active, and although it forages alone, groups of males and females will form sleeping groups and share tree holes during the day. The gray mouse lemur can be found in several types of forest throughout western and southern Madagascar. Its diet consists primarily of fruit, insects, flowers, and nectar.