Mittermeier's mouse lemur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mittermeier's mouse lemur |
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The Mittermeier's mouse lemur (Microcebus mittermeieri) is a tiny mouse lemur species. It is found only in the Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve in Madagascar.
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About This Tiny Lemur
Size and Appearance
The Mittermeier's mouse lemur is one of the smallest mouse lemurs. However, it is a bit bigger than Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, which is the smallest primate in the world! This lemur's head and body are about 8 centimeters (3 inches) long. Its tail is longer, reaching about 12 centimeters (4.7 inches). It weighs around 46 grams (1.6 ounces).
You can spot a white mark between its eyes, which is common for all Microcebus species. Below this mark, its face is yellow, and this color extends to its neck. The rest of its head and back are a pretty red-bronze or rusty color. Its belly is whitish-brown. The tail is brown on top, with a darker band near the end and a black tip. Its arms and legs are orange near the body.
Where It Lives
Like all other mouse lemurs, the Mittermeier's mouse lemur lives only on the island of Madagascar. It can be found in the northeastern part of the island. Its home includes the Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve. These lemurs live in lowland and montane (mountain) rainforests. They prefer areas up to 1,760 meters (5,774 feet) above sea level.
Daily Life
The Mittermeier's mouse lemur is a forest animal. It spends its life in trees, which means it is arboreal. It is also nocturnal, meaning it is active at night. Scientists have studied these lemurs in one forest. They found about 2.2 lemurs per hectare (about 2.5 acres).
What It Eats
Scientists have not studied the exact diet of the Mittermeier's mouse lemur very closely. However, it probably eats insects and fruits. It might also eat other things that its close relatives, other mouse lemurs, enjoy. In the Anjanaharibe-Sud reserve, it lives alongside another species called MacArthur's mouse lemur.
Discovery of the Species
The discovery of the Mittermeier's mouse lemur was announced on June 21, 2006. This exciting news was shared at a big meeting in Antananarivo, Madagascar. At the same time, two other new mouse lemur species were also announced: Jolly's mouse lemur (Microcebus jollyae) and Simmons' mouse lemur (Microcebus simmonsi). These discoveries were also officially published in a science paper.
The specific place where this lemur was first found is in the Antsiranana province of Madagascar. It was in the Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve. This spot is about 1,056 meters (3,465 feet) above sea level.
