Small-toothed sportive lemur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small-toothed sportive lemur |
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The small-toothed sportive lemur (Lepilemur microdon), also called the small-toothed weasel lemur, is a type of primate. Like all lemurs, it lives only on the island of Madagascar. This lemur makes its home in the thick rainforests of southeastern Madagascar. You can find it in places like Ranomafana National Park and Andringitra National Park.
Scientists first described this lemur in 1894. For a long time, people thought it was just a type of weasel sportive lemur or the same species. But studies have shown that it is its own unique species. It's even more closely related to some lemurs from western Madagascar than to other eastern ones!
This lemur is named for its smaller teeth compared to other sportive lemurs. It's quite large for a sportive lemur, weighing about 0.9 to 1.2 kg (2 to 2.6 lb). From head to tail, it measures 55 to 64 cm (22 to 25 in). Its fur is mostly reddish-brown, with a dark stripe running down its back. Its belly and neck are lighter. Like other sportive lemurs, it is active at night. During the day, it sleeps hidden in plants or tree holes. The small-toothed sportive lemur lives alone and eats leaves, fruits, and flowers.
Because we don't know exactly how many there are or where they all live, this lemur was first listed as "data deficient" (meaning not enough information) in 2008. However, in 2014, its status changed to "endangered". This is because its home is small, broken up, and shrinking. Its population is also going down. It is also protected from being traded internationally. The biggest dangers to this lemur are losing its home due to slash-and-burn farming and hunting.
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How Scientists Classify the Small-toothed Sportive Lemur
The small-toothed sportive lemur belongs to a group of lemurs called Lepilemur, or sportive lemurs. Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major first described it in 1894. He found a specimen in the Ankafana Forest in eastern Madagascar. He noticed that its molar teeth were smaller than those of other sportive lemurs. This is why its scientific name, microdon, comes from Greek words meaning "small" and "tooth."
For many years, scientists debated if this lemur was a separate species or just a type of weasel sportive lemur. Some thought they were the same because they look very similar. However, in the 1990s and early 2000s, new studies showed clear differences.
In 2005, a study looking at chromosomes (the tiny parts inside cells that carry genetic information) showed that the small-toothed sportive lemur has a unique set of chromosomes. This proved it was a distinct species. It has 24 chromosomes.
Later, in 2006, scientists found 11 new species of sportive lemurs using DNA information. Some populations that were once thought to be small-toothed sportive lemurs were then named as new species. For example, lemurs in the Kalambatritra Reserve became Wright's sportive lemur. Despite these changes, the small-toothed sportive lemur is still recognized as its own species.
Studies have also tried to figure out how the small-toothed sportive lemur is related to other sportive lemurs. It's interesting because this lemur lives in eastern Madagascar, but some studies suggest it might be more closely related to species from the west coast. This could mean its ancestors moved across the island long ago.
Physical Description and Appearance
The small-toothed sportive lemur is fairly large for a sportive lemur. It weighs between 0.9 and 1.2 kg (2 and 2.6 lb). Its body and head measure about 27 to 32 cm (11 to 13 in) long. Its tail is also long, measuring 25 to 29 cm (9.8 to 11.4 in).
It looks very much like the weasel sportive lemur. It's hard to tell them apart just by looking, unless you know exactly where they live. The small-toothed sportive lemur has a dark stripe on its forehead that gets lighter down its back. Its fur is thick and reddish-brown. Its belly and neck are a pale gray-brown, sometimes with a yellowish color. Its shoulders and front legs are a bright chestnut color. The color gets darker towards its back legs and tail, with the tail tip being the darkest. Some of these lemurs even have a white fur collar around their neck.
Sportive lemurs can sometimes be mistaken for woolly lemurs or the much smaller dwarf lemurs. However, sportive lemurs have ears that stick out, and they don't have the white patches on their thighs that woolly lemurs often have. All sportive lemurs have long legs compared to their arms and body. Their faces are covered with short hairs.
As its name suggests, the small-toothed sportive lemur has smaller molar teeth than other sportive lemurs. Like other sportive lemurs, it has a large cecum, which is part of its large intestine. This helps it digest its diet, which is rich in leaves.
Habitat and Where It Lives
The small-toothed sportive lemur lives in the southeastern part of Madagascar, away from the coast. Its home stretches from Ranomafana National Park southwest to Andringitra National Park. The Namorona River marks the northern edge of its territory. The Manampatrana River might be its southern border, where another lemur species, James' sportive lemur, seems to take its place. More studies are needed to fully understand its exact living area. This lemur prefers to live in dense rainforests.
One study in Ranomafana National Park suggested that small-toothed sportive lemurs might live in more disturbed areas of the park. This could be a way to avoid competing for food with woolly lemurs. It seems that how many woolly lemurs are around affects where the small-toothed sportive lemurs choose to live more than where they can find good sleeping spots.
Behavior and Daily Life
Like all sportive lemurs, the small-toothed sportive lemur is nocturnal, meaning it is active at night. During the day, it sleeps hidden in tree holes or tangled vines and leaves. These lemurs are mostly solitary, meaning they live alone.
Rainforest-dwelling sportive lemurs, like this one, don't make as many sounds as those living in drier forests. Their diet mainly consists of leaves, fruits, and flowers. They also have a low resting metabolism and don't move around a lot.
Predators of sportive lemurs include birds of prey and carnivores like the fossa. The only time a small-toothed sportive lemur has been seen being hunted was by a Henst's goshawk, a type of bird.
Conservation Efforts and Threats
The small-toothed sportive lemur is listed under CITES Appendix I. This means it is protected, and international trade of this animal is against the law. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) first listed it as "Lower Risk" in 1996, then "near threatened" in 2000.
After scientists identified many new sportive lemur species, the small-toothed sportive lemur's known range became much smaller. In 2008, there wasn't enough information about its population or exact range, so it was listed as "Data Deficient". However, in 2014, the IUCN changed its status to "Endangered". This is because its living area is estimated to be less than 1,140 square kilometers (440 sq mi). This area is also broken up and getting smaller. The number of these lemurs is also going down. Scientists estimate there are about 1.0 lemur per square kilometer.
Like many lemur species, the small-toothed sportive lemur is losing its home due to slash and burn agriculture. This is when forests are cut down and burned to clear land for farming. It is also threatened by hunting. People hunt them with spears or catch them when they cut down trees that have sleeping holes.
The small-toothed sportive lemur lives in Ranomafana National Park and Andringitra National Park. It might also be found in Midongy du sud National Park, but the lemurs there could be a different species, Fleurete's sportive lemur. As of 2009, no small-toothed sportive lemurs were kept in zoos or other captive facilities.
See also
- Evolutionary history of lemurs
