Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur

Microcebus berthae

Mouse Lemurs are the smallest of all the primates, and Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur is the smallest of them all! These tiny residents of Madagascar have a body length of less than four inches; they could easily fit in your hand!

The Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur is named for Madagascar conservationist Madame Berthe Rakotosamimanana. It is a very newly discovered species, and was only first named in 2000.

Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemurs live in one very tiny little part of the western side of the island. It is believed that there around only about 8,000 breeding capable individuals alive.

These Lemurs are nocturnal and have very large eyes that help them to see in the dark. They have reddish brown coloration on the back, with a paler underside. They are very solitary, unlike many of their larger Lemur cousins, and feed on a varied diet that contains (among other things) flowers, nectar, insects, and leaves.

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IUCN Status : Endangered

Location : Madagascar

Size : Body length 3.5in (9cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cheirogaleidae -- Genus : Microcebus -- Species : M. berthae