Galagoudes cocos (Heller, 1912)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6657019 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6656967 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D2E067-FFC8-FFE0-FA97-F55F688BF5B4 |
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treatment provided by |
Jonas |
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scientific name |
Galagoudes cocos |
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Kenya Coast Dwarf Galago
French: Galago des cocotiers / German: Kokos-Zwerggalago / Spanish: Galago pequeno de Kenia
Other common names: Diani Galago, Kenya Coast Galago
Taxonomy. Galago moholi cocos Heller, 1912 View in CoL ,
Kenya, Mazeras.
The so-called “Diani Galago ” is here considered to be conspecific with this species. G. cocos has been considered a subspecies or synonym of G. zanzibaricus ; however, its distinct loud advertising call, penile morphology, and facial markings support its classification as a unique species. Most publications on the ecology of G. cocos prior to 2003 refer to it as G. zanzibaricus .
This species is parapatric with G. zanzibaricus udzungwensis, or perhaps narrowly sympatric at a few sites in the coastal strip of north Tanzania. It is sympatric with G. orinus , and parapatric with G. grant, meeting at the Rufiji River. Monotypic.
Distribution. E Kenya, NE Tanzania, and possibly S Somalia coast, largely confined to the coastal strip and gallery forests (e.g. those of the lower Tana River) up to 210 m above sea level. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body c.17 cm, tail ¢.27 cm; weight 155-180 g. The Kenya Coast Dwarf Galago is a small, long-muzzled species, similar to the Tanzania Coastal Dwarf Galago ( G. zanzibaricus ) but larger. No sexual dimorphism or dichromatism occurs in the Kenya Coast Dwarf Galago . A broad, white interocular streak continues well above the eyes, and it is enhanced by prominent circumocular rings, formed by dark skin that continues down the sides of the muzzle to form prominent tearshaped marks at the base of the muzzle. Ears are large and held at ¢.45° from the vertical plane rather than upright. The dorsum is buffy-brown, and the ventrum grayish-white, with no yellow wash on the chin or chest. The tail has a similar color to the dorsum; the distal one-third is dark buffy-brown in some individuals.
Habitat. Most commonly, secondary lowland rainforest but also coastal dry, evergreen, riparian, swamp, floodplain, second-growth, and montane forests. The Kenya Coast Dwarf Galago also occurs in cultivated habitats and rural gardens. Its elevational range is sea level to 350 m. It prefers undergrowth and lower forest levels, 5 m from the ground.
Food and Feeding. The Kenya Coast Dwarf Galago is a faunivore-frugivore. It eats invertebrates and passerine birds, supplemented with fruit. It forages alone and prefers to move in the small-branch niche near the ground. Fruits eaten include those of Lannea stuhlmannii ( Anacardiaceae ), Monanthotaxis fornicata and Uvaria acuminata (both Annonaceae ), Grewia (Malvaceae) , Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) , and Ficus (Moraceae) . It eats beetles, orthopterans, centipedes, spiders, ants, termites, caterpillars, millipedes, and true bugs, catching them with both hands or by the mouth. They do not appear to eat gums.
Breeding. The Kenya Coast Dwarf Galago has two birth seasons per year (February March and August—October). Gestation is ¢.120 days. Usually a single young is born, sometimes two. Infants are carried in the mother’s mouth and are parked on a branch while she forages. Infants can become independent as early as two months.
Activity patterns. The Kenya Coast Dwarf Galago is nocturnal and arboreal. Their locomotion is quadrupedal, walking on medium sized branches, and vertically clinging and leaping. When jumping between vertical supports, they land front-feet-first or catlike on all four limbs at the same time.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Kenya Coast Dwarf Galagos are largely solitary, although groups of up to six have been reported sleeping in a tree hollow—the most common arrangement being one adult male with one or two females and their offspring. Sleeping site use varies; some individuals use many sites, while others are faithful to just a few. A male’s territory (2-3 ha) overlaps those of one or two females (each c.2 ha). Reciprocal social grooming has been reported. In the coastal forests of Kenya, Kenya Coast Dwarf Galagos have group home ranges of 1-6-2-8 ha. In those forests, there is a closer, regular association between the sexes, and both are probably territorial. Adult males usually have non-overlapping ranges that are shared with one or two females and their offspring. Males and females travel similar distances of 1700-1800 m each night. The male usually sleeps with these other individuals, but a mother will sleep alone for about three weeks after giving birth. Young males disperse from their natal ranges, but females remain in the area and first give birth at about twelve months. The Kenya Coast Dwarf Galago has an “incremental” advertising counter-call, which is heard from both sexes, most often at the beginning and end of the night. A number of other calls make up the species’ vocal repertoire, including the buzz and rapid chatter, yaps, and “chirrups.”
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. The Kenya Coast Dwarf Galago is quite widespread and abundant, butit is locally threatened over much ofits distribution by conversion of suitable habitat to cultivated land, especially non-timber plantations of pineapple and sisal. Nevertheless, it is able to persist in high numbers in agricultural areas with good tree coverage. It occurs in Arabuko-Sokoke National Park, Shimba Hills National Reserve, and Tana River Primate Reserve in Kenya.
Bibliography. Bearder & Martin (1980b), Bearder, Ambrose et al. (2003), Bearder, Honess & Ambrose (1995), de Boer (1973), Butynski & de Jong (2004), Butynski et al. (2006), Courtenay & Bearder (1989), Gucwinska & Gucwinska (1968), Harcourt (1984, 1986a), Harcourt & Nash (1986a, 1986b), de Jong & Butynski (2004), Nash (1983, 1986b), Nash et al. (1989), Perkin (2007).
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