Bornean Orangutan

The Bornean Orangutan is one of two extant Orangutan species in the world. It is the third largest primate (after Gorillas) and is the largest primarily tree-dwelling animal in the world. Males are substantially larger than females, and average at around 165lbs.

Bornean Orangutans are largely solitary. A handful might live within a small range but they will seldom interact with one another. Males and females only meet up to breed, which happens only once every several years. A young Orangutan will stay with it's mother for about five years, and the females tend to go about eight years between births. That is the longest interim period of any animal!

Sadly, the Bornean Orangutans are in a lot of trouble. They need large forests in order to thrive, and deforestation and habitat degradation has left many homeless. They are also hunted for meat and for traditional medicines. Conservation areas are being established to help these guys in the wild, and it is believed that there are around 50,000 left in the wild.

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IUCN Status : Endangered
Location : Indonesia
Size : Weight up to 165lbs (75kg) for males, 85lbs (38kg) for females

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Hominidae -- Genus : Pongo -- Species : P. pygmaeus
Image :  Nehrams2020

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Lion-tailed Macaque

Macaca silenus

The Lion-tailed Macaque is a Monkey found only in the western Ghat Mountains of India. The inhabit the moist evergreen forests of that range, and live in groups of between 10 and 20 members.

The Macaques are diurnal, and spend most of their time up in the trees. They travel all day, foraging as they go and stuffing food (Fruits, seeds, and small animal) into their cheeks for storage. When they reach a nightly resting point, they rub their cheeks to get the stored food out.

Lion-tailed Macaques get their name from their long tails that sport lion-like tufts at the end. They also have grey manes that contrast with their dark black-furred bodies. The dark coloration makes it difficult to see them up in the trees.

Sadly, these Monkeys are Endangered. They are found only in one specific part of India, and human settlements have been taking over their precious home range. They have also been captured for the pet trade, and for use in traditional medicines.

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IUCN Status : Endangered
Location : India
Size : Length up to 2ft (62cm), Weight up to 22lbs (10kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cercopithecidae -- Genus : Macaca -- Species : M. silenus

Image :  N.A. Naseer

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Bonobo

Pan paniscus

Human readers, meet one of your closest biological relatives-- the Bonobo! Bonobos and Chimpanzees share more than 98% of their DNA with humans. In fact-- we are so closely related to them that there are some who argue that Bonobos and Chimpanzees should belong to the Homo genus, rather than Pan.

Bonobos are smaller than Chimpanzees, but otherwise look very similar. They are even sometimes referred to as Pygmy Chimpanzees, and weren't considered separate species until 1929. Physically, Bonobos are lean and have dark black hair. Males are larger than the females-- sometimes weighing twice as much!

The wild range of the Bonobo is quite small-- they live only in the Democratic Republic of Congo which is one of the reasons why they are so Endangered. Not only is their range small, but they live in an area of civil unrest, where government protections for the species are nearly impossible to uphold, and where there are few regulations concerning habitat protection. The wild population has been on the decline for decades, and it will have difficulty rebounding because of the long reproductive cycle of the Primate. Unlike many mammals that reproduce yearly, a female Bonobo will produce offspring only once every 4-5 years.

Bonobo social groups are actually led by the females, and mother-child bonds are very important to the group. In fact, they are the only primate groups to be female-led. A male's standing is influenced by who his mother is. These communities can number over 100 members, but they tend to break up into smaller sections while foraging. Bonobos primarily eat fruit, but they will also consume leaves, insects, and small vertebrates. They have been known to eat other, smaller Primates as well.

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IUCN Status : Endangered
Location : Africa
Size : Length up to 3ft (.9m), Weight up to 130lbs (65kg)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Hominidae -- Genus : Pan -- Species : P. paniscus
Image : USAID, Pierre Fidenci

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Pygmy Mouse Lemur

Microcebus myoxinus

Amazingly, at only 5in long and a weight of less than 2oz, the Pygmy Mouse Lemur is NOT the smallest Lemur. Nope, just number two! (The true honor goes to Madame Berthe's Lemur). But hey, second place isn't bad!

The Pygmy Mouse Lemur (as with all Lemurs) lives in Madagascar. They have been found in only two small localized areas, and they actually remained almost completely unseen for close to a century due to their tiny size and nocturnal nature.

The two areas that the Pygmy Mouse Lemurs have been found in contain dry forests. They feed mostly on fruits, but will also consume insects and flowers as well. They themselves are preyed upon by several predators, including Eagles who are able to spot the Lemurs in their daytime nests while they sleep.

We don't have an exact conservation listing for the Pygmy Mouse Lemurs because they are so tough to locate and study. They have been listed as Endangered in the past but the truth is that we just don't know enough-- hence the Data Deficient tag.

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IUCN Status : Data Deficient
Location : Madagascar
Size : Body Length up to 5in (13cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cheirogaleidae -- Genus : Microcebus-- Species : M. myoxinus
Image : Bikeadventure

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Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur

Cheirogaleus medius

The Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur is an amazingly fascinating Primate. Despite living in the tropics, it actually hibernates, and is the only primate, and only tropical-dwelling mammal to do so!

As with all Lemurs, these little guys are found in Madagascar. They live a nocturnal lifestyle, coming out at night to hunt insects and forage off of fruits and nuts. Socially, they live in small family groups led by a breeding pair and their offspring. Children from the previous 1-2 years often tend to stick around as well.

The name "Fat-tailed" comes from the fact that they store up fat in their tails, which they then live off of while in hibernation. Unlike temperate and arctic dwelling animals, the Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemurs do not hibernation when it gets cold out. Rather, they hibernate when it gets dry and when fun runs scarce. Their hibernation period can last half of the year!

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Madagascar
Size : Body Length up to 9in (23cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cheirogaleidae -- Genus : Cheirogaleus -- Species : C. medius
Image : Virunga National Park

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Black Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri vanzolinii

The Black Squirrel Monkey has the smallest geographic range of all the South American primates. They are found exclusively in a patch of Northern Brazil, near the convergence of the Japura and Amazon rivers. Altogether, this range only covers about 200 square miles!

Black Squirrel Monkeys have yellowish-brown undersides, with black backs and white rings around their eyes. They additionally sport long tails that can reach 3.5ft in length-- a contrast to their 2.5ft body sizes.

Black Squirrel Monkeys live in mixed-sex groups, and when it comes time to breed the males will fight each other over breeding rights (though a female may actually mate with multiple males each season). Only one infant is born at a time, and the females do all of the childrearing.

It should come as no surprise that these Monkeys are listed as Vulnerable. Having such a small geographic range puts them in danger of extinction. Luckily, they are easy to raise in captivity, and are found in numerous zoos. Should habitat loss continue to be a problem the Monkeys wont be completly wiped out, though maintaining their home range is greatly preferred.

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IUCN Status : Vulnerable
Location : South America
Size : Body length up to 12in (31cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cebidae -- Genus : Saimiri -- Species : S. vanzolinii

Image : Giovanni Mari

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Greater Bamboo Lemur

Prolemur simus

The Greater Bamboo Lemur is yet another one of the 22 different Lemur species found on the island of Madagascar.  They are the largest of the Bamboo Lemurs, sporting an average body length about about 1.5ft. They are identified by their bright white ear tufts.

As their name indicates, these primates feed almost exclusively on Bamboo (98% of their diet!) They have very strong jaws that they use to strip the hard grass down, and amazingly, they can also eat the young leaves. Those same leaves are chock full of cyanide, yet the Lemurs show no ill effects towards them!

Another amazing thing about the Great Bamboo Lemurs is that everyone believed they were extinct during the first half of the 20th century. They were first identified in 1870, but were thought to be gone by around 1900. They were re-discovered in 1972, with tiny populations hiding out in two very small ranges.

They are currently listed as Critically Endangered, due to their tiny habitat zone and specialized Bamboo diet. That same area is also under threat of deforestation. It is estimated that less than 150 are still left in the wild. Surveys are being done, but they are tragically receiving very little protection from the local government.

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IUCN Status : Critically Endangered
Location : Madagascar
Size : Body length around 18in (45cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Lemuridae -- Genus : Prolemur-- Species : P. simus

Image : Save Nature

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Mountain Gorilla

Gorilla beringei beringei

There are two distinct Gorilla species in the world, and each one has two subspecies of its own. The Mountain Gorilla is one of the Eastern Gorilla subspecies, and is found only in a handful of Central African Countries. As indicated by the name, these Primates live at higher elevations-- they inhabit mountainous cloud forests that have altitude of up to 14,000ft.

Mountain Gorillas are the second largest of the Gorillas (behind only the Eastern Lowland). They have longer hair to help with the colder climate, and shorter arms than many of their lowland cousins. Despite their huge size and sometimes ferocious look, these primates are primarily herbivores, and feed on over 100 different plant species.

Like all Gorillas, they live in very structured social groups. These troops, which can have as many as 40 individuals, are led by a dominant male called a "Silverback" (named for the grey hairs that grow on their backs with age). The Silverback decides where the group eats and rests, and protects them from intruders and predators.

Mountain Gorillas are sadly listed as Critically Endangered. Habitat loss, disease, local unrest in human populations, and poaching have reduced their numbers down to only about 800 individuals. Conservation efforts are being made to save this subspecies, and it appears that the decline has stopped and possibly reversed. However, there is still a great deal of work to be done to keep their habitats safe, and to educate the peoples living near the Gorillas.

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IUCN Status : Critically Endangered
Location : Central Africa
Size : Males - Weight up to 430lb (195kg), Height up to 5ft (1.5m); Females - Weight up to 22lbs (100kg), Height up to 4.5ft (1.3m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Hominidae -- Genus : Gorilla -- Species : G. beringei -- Subspecies : G. b. beringei

Image : Tknoxb

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Diana Monkey

Cercopithecus diana

The Diana Monkey is a Vulnerable species that is only found in Sierra Leone and Ghana, in West Africa. They live high up in the trees where they feeds on fruits, leaves, and invertebrates.

Diana Monkeys live in social groups that number between 5 and 50 individuals, and these groups tend to contain only one breeding male (who will most likely not stay with that group for his entire life; the males move around).

Within these groups they have a polygynous mating system, meaning that the one male will breed with multiple females. The females typically only have one infant at a time, though the sex determines what the young Monkey will do when it grows up. Females stay with their mothers for their entire lives, but males will leave the group and attempt to start their own families.

Sadly, hunting and deforestation has caused a drop in the Diana Monkey population. They live in a few protected areas, and are found in captivity, but more must be done to keep them from further declining in the wild.

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IUCN Status : Vulnerable
Location : West Africa
Size : Body length up to 21in (53cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cercopithecidae -- Genus : Cercopithecus -- Species : C. diana

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Pied Tamarin

Sanguinus bicolor

The Pied Tamarin is an endangered species of primate that is found only within a small part of Brazil, just near the city of Manaus.

Pied Tamarins are named for their coloration. They have dark, bald head, white upper bodies, and brown lower bodies and tails. They live in small family groups of up to 10 individuals, and feed on fruits and invertebrates.

They actually are great seed distributors. They eat fruit and then either drop or excrete the seeds, helping to spread new plant life around the rainforest.

The major threat to the Pied Tamarins was habitat loss. That is how then ended up restricted to such a small area. Within most of their small range they now are protected, but a major new threat is actually competition from one of their cousins-- the Red-handed Tamarin. An unfortunately, it seems like the Red-handeds are displacing the Pieds.

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IUCN Status : Endangered
Location : Brazil
Size : Length around 15in (40cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Callitrichidae -- Genus : Saguinus -- Species : S. bicolor

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Patas Monkey

Erythrocebus patas

The Patas Monkey's claim to fame is that it is the fastest of all the primates-- these guys can run at speeds of up to 35mph!

You'll find these quick Primates in the open grasslands of central Africa. Unlike many other Monkeys  they do not live in trees, preferring a terrestrial lifestyle.

They live in social groups that are often led by one adult male, and contain several females and their offspring. Females are the only permanent members of these groups, as the young males leave when they reach maturity. At that time they either join temporary, all-male groups, or they remain solitary for a time.

Communication is very important within the Patas Monkey groups, and they use visuals, vocalizations, and scents. They produce a series of different warning calls, creating different sounds for different predator types. The Monkeys also strengthen bonds through communal grooming and play.

Though they are currently listed at Least Concern, the population is on a decline. Hunting and habitat loss are their main threats, and though some live within protected areas, many do not. They are also relatively rare in captivity-- only 15 American zoos have them.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Africa
Size : Body Length around 32in (82cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cercopithecidae -- Genus : Erythrocebus-- Species : E. patas

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Lesula

Cercopithecus lomamiensis

I love writing about newly discovered animals, and this one is so new that it was just introduced yesterday! Meet Cercopithecus lomamiensis, locally referred to as the Lesula.

The Lesula avoided detection for so long because their native range is in very remote forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was only noticed because a man found a young one on a hunting trip, and brought it back to his 13-year-old niece, Georgette. Congo researcher John Hart noticed the beautiful monkey in Georgette's village in 2007, and spent the next five years trying to figure out what it was.

This new species is very striking. They have bright golden manes, red patches on their backs, and the males have bright aquamarine backsides (which allow the lady monkeys to find them in the thick vegetation-- bright blue really stands out!). They live in groups of up to five individuals, and feed on fruits and leaves.

The Lesula is one of the many monkey species that faces danger from local hunting. The meat is cheap, and in some places, very easy to obtain. Hart is currently trying to set up a preserve to keep this brand new species protected, as they are probably threatened enough to be listed as Vulnerable. Sadly, the monkey that started it all, was probably taken for food by one of Georgette's fellow villagers.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed (Probably Vulnerable)
Location : Democratic Republic of Congo
Size :  Weight up to 15lbs (7kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cercopithecidae -- Genus : Cercopithecus -- Species : C. lomamiensis

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Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur

Lepilemur sahamalazensis

It amazes me sometimes that we are still only just discovering new species. And not just tiny little frogs and insects, but 2ft long Primates as well! Today animal, the Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur, was described for the first time in 2006! And it wasn't the only Lemur recently uncovered in the forests of Madagascar, it was actually one of fifteen!

The name of today's animal comes from the Sahamalaza Peninsula, the location in northwestern Madagascar where they live. Scientists aren't sure of their exact range and population size, but the Lemurs appear to be restricted to a small area and number somewhere in the low thousands. Observation has shown that they live alone or in pairs, and live a nocturnal lifestyle.

Like many Lemurs, the Sahamalaza Sportives are under pressure from hunting and habitat loss. They are particularly easy target for humans who want to do them harm, as they sleep in tree holes during the daytime and are relatively defenseless. Currently they are Data Deficient by the IUCN, but other agencies (including the Association Européenne pour l’Etude et la Conservation des Lémuriens) are working to put protections in place for the species.

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IUCN Status : Data Deficient
Location : Madagascar
Size : Length up to 21in (54cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Lepilemuridae -- Genus : Lepilemur -- Species : L. sahamalazensis

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White-Faced Saki

Pithecia pithecia (male)

The White-Faced Saki is one of the handful of Saki monkey species. They are all New World Monkeys, meaning that they live in the Americas. Today's animal in particular has a range that covers parts of Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

The white face of the White-Faced Saki is found only on the males. In fact, there is a pretty striking different between the sexes. Males are a shiny black with a prominent white face. Females are brown all over, with only a small trace of lightness on the face. Both sexes have shaggy coats. Infants are born brown, and if male will begin to change color when they are around 2 months old.

White-Faced Sakis live in small family groups, and mated pairs are typically monogamous for life. The Monkeys communicate by making incredibly loud calls that can be heard from long distances away.

The Sakis live up in the trees, and have very long legs that are adapted for jumping downwards across branches. They forage for fruits, leaves, seeds, and honey during the daytime hours. Though they will occasionally consume insects, birds, and small mammals, they are primarily herbivores.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : South America
Size : Body length up to 19in (45cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Pitheciidae -- Genus : Pithecia -- Species : P. pithecia

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Golden Snub-nosed Monkey

Rhinopithecus roxellana

The Golden Snub-nosed Monkey is found only in a small, temperate, mountainous section of central China. They live at altitudes as high as 10,800ft, and can withstand cold temperatures better than just about any other primate species. Their snub-nose is actually a trait to help them deal with the cold; a longer nose would be more susceptible to frostbite!

Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys spend a majority of their time up in the trees. Their diet consists primarily of Lichens, but they'll also eat leaves, fruits, and seeds as well.

The species is highly social. During the summer they may come together in troops that number into the hundreds. During the winter the groups are much smaller, but still number 20-30 individuals. Within these bands are smaller family units that consist of a dominant male and a handful of females and their offspring. It is actually the females that initiate mating; the let the male know that they are ready with postures and signals. Usually only one infant is born after a gestation of 6 months, but twins sometimes occur.

Golden Snub-nosed monkeys, along with the other species of Snub-nosed Monkey, are endangered. This is because of habitat loss, and because of the practice of clearing dead trees. Lichens grow much better on dead trees, so the removal of this food source has a big impact on the Monkeys.

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IUCN Status : Endangered
Location : China
Size : Body Length up to 30in (76cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cercopithecidae -- Genus : Rhinopithecus -- Species : R. roxellana

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Wied's Marmoset

Callithrix kuhlii

Wied's Marmoset is a small New World Monkey that lives in a small little pocket of forest near the Brazilian Atlantic Coast.

The social structure of the Wied's Marmoset is rather interesting. They live in a polyandrous society led by a dominant female. This female is often the only one who mates, and she will typically mate with multiple males.

Another, even more interesting fact about these Monkeys is that they commonly exhibit Chimerism. Wied's Marmosets typically give birth to twins, and while in utero the cell lines of the twins can be exchanged, leaving the offspring with their own genotype, and also the genotype of their sibling. Because the society is polyandrous, two zygotes could be fertilized by two different males... which means a Wied's Marmoset can have genetic information from two different fathers. Also astounding is the fact that a male could pass on his secondary cell line, rather than his primary. This would result in offspring that are more closely related to their uncle than to their own father!

The result of the Chimerism is a society that is invested in raising the offspring as a group, as one can never know for sure whose genetic information can be found in with offspring!

The species is currently listed as Near Threatened, and the wild population is on the decline. This is due to habitat loss (for farming purposes) and hunting for the pet trade. Many of the Marmosets now live within the confines of wildlife refuges and national reserves, and they are listed in CITES II.

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IUCN Status : Near Threatened
Location : Brazil
Size : Body Length up to 28in (70cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Callitrichidae -- Genus : Callithrix -- Species : C. kuhlii

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Barbary Macaque

Macaca sylvanus

Meet the only primate (besides humans of course!) to live on the European continent. Barbary Macaques, which  also live in Morocco and Algeria, exist in a handful of colonies within the British territory of Gibraltar, which is located on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula.

Though they are sometimes referred to as Barbary Apes or Rock Apes, that name is not technically correct. Though they do not have tails, they are actually true Old World Monkeys. They live in colonies that can number over 100 members, and they are relatively unique among Macaques in that the males actually help care for the young. This is due to the fact that the females will mate with more than one male, so the paternity of all offspring is uncertain.

Legend has it that British rule will continue on the tiny, 2.5 square mile stretch of land as long as the Macaques are around. (Sound familiar to a certain tale about the Tower Ravens, huh?) When the Monkeys began to dwindle in population during the early 1900s due to illness, more were important from Africa and reintroduced. There are now close to 300 Barbary Macaques living on the Rock of Gibraltar in a protected nature reserve (though they do come down to the city from time to time), and they have become quite the tourist spectacle!

Elsewhere the Barbary Macaque populations aren't doing so well. They were once widespread throughout Northern Africa, but now live in only a few pockets of Morocco and Algeria. Habitat loss from human encroachment and the logging industry has led to declining numbers. Hunting and culling practices have also led to lasting, negative effects on the species. They are now protected in a handful of national parks, and there are suggestions to reintroduce them to Libya and Tunisia.

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IUCN Status : Endangered

Location : Northern Africa, Gibraltar
Size : Body length around 2ft (60cm), Weight around 22lbs (10kg)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cercopithecidae -- Genus : Macaca -- Species : M. sylvanus

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Goeldi's Monkey

Callimico goeldii

The Goeldi's Monkey, also called the Goeldi's Mormoset, is a curious little primate that is the size of a Marmoset, but exhibits characteristics of much larger Monkeys. It was one of the last New World Monkeys to be identified by science, and was named after its discovered, Swiss Naturalist Emilio Goeldi, in 1904.

One of the coolest facts about these guys is that they can horizontally jump 13ft (4m). That is an amazing distance considering that their body less is less than a foot!

Goeldi's Monkeys are social animals that live in family groups led by the monogamous mated pair. Their offspring will stay with the group for some time, helping to raise their younger brothers and sisters. Females will give birth to one infant at a time, and will exclusively care for it during the first 10-20 days of life. After that, the father and siblings will assist in raising the new member of the family.

Goeldi's Monkey

Sexual maturity is reached in about 9 months for females, and 17 for males, though the young Monkeys will often remain with their families past that point. When a partner or territory becomes available, the offspring may then leave the group to form a new one of their own.

Goeldi's Monkeys communicate through various means. They can project loud cries that can be heard hundreds of yards away, as well as quieter chips and noises to do things like greet and warn against danger. They also use body language and several different scent glands.

Unfortunately, Goeldi's Monkeys are becoming threatened throughout their range due to habitat loss. Some now live in protected wild areas, and captive breeding programs can be found in numerous zoos.

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IUCN Status : Vulnerable

Location : Amazon Basin, South America

Size : Body Length up to 9in (23cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Callitrichidae -- Genus : Callimico -- Species : C. goeldii

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Potto

Perodicticus potto

Meet the Potto! This interesting looking mammal is a member of the Primate order, and lives in the Equatorial Rainforests of Africa. They are the largest member of the Loris Family.

Males and females look alike and they have some neat little adaptations that help them to thrive in arboreal habitats. For one, they have highly flexible ankle and wrist joints. They also have opposable thumbs and vestigial index fingers that allow them to get better grips. Pottos also have special blood vessels in their limbs that allow them to keep their tight grips for longer periods of time.

Pottos also have a strange bit of anatomy whose full purpose we aren't 100% sure of. They have bony projections on their neck vertebrae that form a sort of shield. These bones are covered by a very sensitive layer of skin, which means the purpose may be for social reason, and it may also help to protect the Potto from predators. When threatened, Pottos tuck their head, in which presents the shield, and then they sway side to side making warning noises.

Pottos are nocturnal, and eat mostly fruit. They also consume gums, insects, and even small vertebrates! They are generally solitary, but they do interact with other Pottos at various non-breeding times, as well as during the very flexible breeding season. Because the ranges of males and females frequently overlap, it is believed that they have a either a promiscuous or polygynous breeding structure.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : Africa

Size : Length up to 15.5in (40cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Lorisidae -- Genus : Perodicticus -- Species : P. potto

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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

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