Microcebus margotmarshae, Louis et al., 2008

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 : 54

8.

Margot Marsh’s Mouse Lemur

Microcebus margotmarshae

French: Microcébe de Marsh / German: Antafondro-Mausmaki / Spanish: Lémur ratén de Margot Marsh

Other common names: Antafondro Mouse Lemur

Taxonomy. Microcebus margotmarshae Louis et al., 2008 ,

Madagascar, province of Antsiranana, Antafondro Classified Forest (approximately 14° 02° 44-3” S, 48° 13’ 23-4” E, 134 m above sea level).

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. NW Madagascar, known only from its type locality, the Antafondro Classified Forest N of the Andranomalaza River and W of the Manongarivo Special Reserve.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 11-12 cm, tail 14 cm; weight 49 g. Margot Marsh’s Mouse Lemur is a medium-sized mouse lemur. The dorsal and tail fur is mostly reddish-orange, but with gray undertones, while the ventral area is white to cream. Light brown fur covers the muzzle and the area around the eyes, with a small, clearly marked white patch on the ridge of the nose between the eyes. The rest of the head is a bright reddish-orange, and the ears are small.

Habitat. Dry forest.

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. Margot Marsh’s Mouse Lemur is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. The conservation status of Margot Marsh’s Mouse Lemur has not yet been assessed on The IUCN Red List. However,at the IUCN/SSC Lemur Red-Listing Workshop held in July 2012, Margot Marsh’s Mouse Lemur was assessed as endangered due to its small extent of occurrence and ongoing decline. It is not known to occur in any protected areas, but it is found in the Antafondro Classified Forest and perhaps also at high elevations in the Tsaratanana Strict Nature Reserve.

Bibliography. Andriantompohavana et al. (2006), Louis et al. (2008), Mittermeier 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 its type locality, the Antafondro Classified Forest N of the Andranomalaza River and W of the Manongarivo Special Reserve.