Hairy-eared dwarf lemur

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Hairy-eared dwarf lemur
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Cheirogaleidae
Genus: Allocebus
Petter-Rousseaux and Petter, 1967[4]
Species:
A. trichotis
Binomial name
Allocebus trichotis
(Günther, 1875)[3]
Hairy-eared dwarf lemur range[1]
Synonyms

Cheirogaleus trichotis Günther, 1875

The hairy-eared dwarf lemur (Allocebus trichotis), or hairy-eared mouse lemur, is one of the most scarcely known lemurs.

slash-and-burn agriculture as well as habitat fragmentation.[1]

Discovery

Allocebus trichotis is thought to have been discovered as early as 1875 by Albert Günther. The species was initially only studied from 5 museum specimens that are housed in 3 collections in various locations in London, Paris and Stockholm[7] and was thought to be extinct in the wild. The hairy-eared dwarf lemur was then rediscovered in the wild in 1989 by Bernhard Meier when a small population was found in Northern Madagascar in a remote primary lowland rain forest.[7] Researchers have also discovered the species living in a primary highland rainforest in eastern Madagascar in a very popular tourist location, Andasibe, Vavatenina.[5] Small populations, as few as one A. trichotis, have also been located in other areas of Madagascar; indicating a more widespread distribution than previously thought.[5]

Description

With the rediscovery of the hairy-eared dwarf lemur, new information regarding its physical description was obtained by Meier and Albignac when a small population was captured and observed in captivity.

dorsal side of the lemur is a brownish grey, with a darker line of fur running along the spine. Their underbellies are grey, with the hairs ending in a white tip. Their hands and feet are a light rosy pink color, with long narrow nails protruding from them. The fur on their tails is short and becomes darker towards the tip.[7] Little is known about the life span of the species, but other species in the similar genus Cheirogaleidae are thought to live around 15–19 years in captivity.[9]

Distribution, population and habitat

The hairy-eared dwarf lemur is likely to be critically endangered and the population is estimated anywhere from 100–1000 individuals.

Strigiformes) as well as humans are a threat.[12]

Behavior and reproduction

A. trichotis seems to confide in live or dead fallen trees for its nesting and sleeping sites; usually in a hollow located within the trees.

tree sap in the wild because they have an extraordinarily long tongue. The lemurs also have been observed eating while hanging upside down on a branch.[7]

In the wild, up to 4 juveniles have reportedly been found in one tree hole. It is predicted that

Cheirogaleus
.

Vocalization

Little is known about the vocalization of the species, but recordings show their call is a short whistling series and harmonic; very similar to

Microcebus.[5]

Threats and conservation

A. trichotis has numerous threats, which most likely explains their low population size. Humans seem to have the largest impact on these mammals with acts such as deforestation, localized hunting and trapping for human consumption, and destruction of its rain forest habitat (primarily due to slash-and-burn agriculture).

Because the species is extremely difficult to locate due to its similarity to

Microcebus rufus,[5] distribution is recorded as being restricted and patchy with an overall low population density and the populations are rapidly declining in numbers due to rapid destruction of habitat.[7]

Currently, there are species being held in captivity that are consistently being observed, with breeding programs designed to learn more about the animals and increasing the population size. Long-term research studies are also ongoing with hopes of finding out more about the mammal's ecology, habitat, distribution, social organization and competition in order to protect the species.[5][7]

Conservationists want to expand protected parks to areas where the lemurs were located in the eastern highland rain forests and are currently unprotected, increasing the risk of extinction for the species.[5]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T868A115559302.en
    . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Checklist of CITES Species". CITES. UNEP-WCMC. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  3. ^ Günther, Albert (1875). "Notes on some Mammals from Madagascar". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 78–80.
  4. OCLC 62265494
    .
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rakotoarison, Nasolo; Zimmerman, Helmut & Elke (1996). "Hairy-eared dwarf lemur (Allocebus trichotis) discovered in a highland rain forest of eastern Madagascar". Biogéographie de Madagascar. pp. 275–282.
  6. ^ Tattersall, Ian (1982). The Primates of Madagascar. Columbia University Press.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Meier, B. and Albignac, R. 1991. Rediscovery of Allocebus trichotis Gunther 1875 (Primates) in Northeast Madagascar. Folia Primatol. 56:57-63.
  8. doi:10.7275/0v47-pe32
    .
  9. ^ a b c "EDGE of Existence". EDGE of Existence. Archived from the original on 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  10. ^ Mittermeier, R; Konstant, W; Hawkins, F; Louis, E; Langrand, O; Ratsimbazafy, J (2006). Lemurs of Madagascar (2nd ed). Washington DC: Conservation International.
  11. ISBN 2-88032-957-4
    .
  12. ^ "Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur - Allocebus trichotis - Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) - Details - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
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