Microcebus lehilahytsara, Roos & Kappeler, 2005

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 : 56

16.

Goodman’s Mouse Lemur

Microcebus lehilahytsara

French: Microcebe de Goodman / German: Goodman-Mausmaki / Spanish: Lémur raton de Goodman

Taxonomy. Microcebus lehilahytsara Roos & Kappeler in Kappeler et al. 2005,

Madagascar, province Toamasina, Andasibe (18° 55° S, 48° 25" EF).

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. CE Madagascar, but the geographic distribution is poorly known; at present known only from its type locality of Andasibe (= Périnet) and neighboring areas (e.g. Maromizaha Forest), Analamazaotra Special Reserve, Anjozorobe-Angavo Protected Area, and Mantadia National Park.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.9 cm, tail ¢.10 cm; weight 45-48 g. Goodman's Mouse Lemur is a medium-sized mouse lemur. Fur is short and dense, being bright maroon with an orange tinge on the back, head, and tail; it turns creamy-white on the ventral side. The tail is uniformly colored. A distinct white stripe extends from the upper end of the rhinarium to the lower forehead. Ears are short and round. The scrotum is furred and contains large testicles.

Habitat. Rainforest. Goodman’s Mouse Lemur also occurs, although in lower numbers, in patches of old Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) plantations, where the understory is sufficiently developed to allow travel without descending to the ground.

Food and Feeding. Goodman’s Mouse Lemur feeds on fruits and insects in shrubs, low trees, and the upper forest canopy. Fat is stored in the tail.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. Goodman’s Mouse Lemur is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The ecology and behavior of this species has been studied at Andasibe, where density has been estimated at 110 ind/ km?. It is described as generally solitary.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. However, at the IUCN/SSC Lemur Red-Listing Workshop held in July 2012, Goodman’s Mouse Lemur was assessed as vulnerable due to its small extent of occurrence and ongoing decline. Goodman’s Mouse Lemur occurs in Mantadia National Park, Analamazaotra Special Reserve, and Anjozorobe-Angavo Protected Area, and it may be found in the Mangerivola Special Reserve.

Bibliography. Ganzhorn (1987, 1988, 1989a), Groves (2001), Kappeler et al. (2005), Louis et al. (2008), Mittermeier et al. (2010), Randrianambinina & Rasoloharijaona (2006), Roos & Kappeler (2006), Schwab & Ganzhorn (2004).

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. CE Madagascar, but the geographic distribution is poorly known; at present known only from its type locality of Andasibe (= Périnet) and neighboring areas (e.g. Maromizaha Forest), Analamazaotra Special Reserve, Anjozorobe-Angavo Protected Area, and Mantadia National Park.