Microcebus rufus (Lesson, 1840)

Scientific name:

Microcebus rufus

Scientist name:

(Lesson, 1840)

Malagasy:

Pondiky, Antsidy Mena, Tsidy, Tsitsidy, Tsitsihy

English:

Rufous Mouse Lemur

German:

Brauner Mausmaki, Östlicher Mausmaki

Other english:

Brown Mouse Lemur, Eastern Rufous Mouse Lemur

French:

Microcèbe roux

Family:

CHEIROGALEIDAE Gray, 1873

Taxa:

Microcebus

Species

Identification

Microcebus rufus is a relatively small mouse lemur with a head-body length of 12 cm, a tail length of 10.9–12.5 cm, a total length of 22.5–24.9 cm, and a weight of 39.5–47.9 g (Kappeler, 1991; Atsalis, 1999b; Louis et al., 2006a). The head and forelimbs are reddish- brown, blending into a grayish-brown dorsum and tail, and the underside is grayish-white. A black midline stripe runs the length of the back. The face sports a conspicuous white rostral patch that does not extend past the level of the eyes (Tattersall, 1982). The nose is slightly less prominent than in Microcebus murinus.
Petter et al. (1977) noted geographic variation in morphology (especially ear size) throughout the range of this species, and Groves (2001) suggested that northern specimens were darker and shorter-tailed than those from the south. Part of the variation that they observed can be accounted for by the identification of new species from within the large range once thought to be occupied by just this one species (see, for example, Louis et al. [2006a], and the descriptions of other new eastern mouse lemur species in this book).
This species can be distinguished from Cheirogaleus major, with which it is often sympatric, by its much smaller size and more rapid movements.

Natural history

As originally described, M. rufus is reported to occur at high densities in tropical moist lowland and montane forests, and sometimes in adjacent secondary forest formations, bamboo forests, old plantations, and even Eucalyptus groves, from sea level to 2,000 m (Ganzhorn, 1987a, 1988; Duckworth et al., 1995; Atsalis, 1999a, 2000). It is omnivorous, subsisting mainly on fruits, but also flowers, insects, gums, and occasionally young leaves (Atsalis, 1998a, 1998b). Fruit of the mistletoe Bakerella, which has a high fat and high fiber content, seems to be a particularly important dietary component, and beetles were the insects most frequently eaten (Atsalis, 1999b). This species is usually seen feeding in shrubs and low trees. Fat storage in the tail seems to be less important than in M. murinus.
Rufous mouse lemur ecology and social behavior have been studied in Ranomafana (Atsalis 1999a, 1999b, 2000). Individuals scent mark with urine and feces, a behavior that helps delimit ranges and communicate presence to conspecifics (Tattersall, 1982). This species sleeps in tree holes and leaf nests during the day, and has even been observed to use old bird’s nests (Martin, 1973; Pollock, 1979b). Predators include the ring-tailed mongoose (Galidia elegans), Madagascar Harrier-hawk (Polyboroides radiatus), owls, dogs and cats (Goodman et al., 1993c; Langrand and Goodman, 1996).
Male territories often overlap those of two or more females (Atsalis, 1999a). Mating takes place in September and October, during which time the male’s testes increase significantly in size. One to three young are born following a two-month gestation. During the austral winter, from May through September, most females and some males enter a state of torpor, losing from 5 to 35 g in body weight (Atsalis, 1998a, 1998b, 1999a). Males begin becoming active again in August, while females remain torpid for one or two more months.
It should be noted that many of the studies of “Microcebus rufus,” were actually of some of the newly-described taxa, expecially those by Ganzhorn at Analamazaotra Special Reserve (at Andasibe), which are now known to refer to M. lehilahytsara.

Geographic range

Until recently, the geographic range of M. rufus was believed to extend throughout Madagascar’s eastern forests from Tolagnaro (= Fort-Dauphin) in the south perhaps as far as the Tsaratanana Massif and just south of the Makira region in the north. However, recent field work and analyses of molecular data have resulted in the identification of several new species within this distribution, including Microcebus lehilahytsara, M. mittermeieri, M. simmonsi, M. jollyae, and M. macarthurii. On top of this, it is likely that still more eastern mouse lemur species will emerge from ongoing studies. These new discoveries have resulted in a significantly reduced range size for M. rufus, and clarification of the ranges of recently-described species are sure to reduce its range still further (Louis et al., 2008). The map for this species gives some indication of what we believe the range of this mouse lemur to be at this time, roughly from Ranomafana National Park to Andringitra National Park (including the corridor between the two sites) in southeastern Madagascar (E. E. Louis Jr., pers. obs.).

Conservation status

The most recent IUCN Red List assessment (2008) classifies M. rufus as Least Concern (LC). As with most members of the genus Microcebus, the principal threat is habitat loss due to slash-and-burn agriculture. It is present in two national parks (Andringitra and Ranomafana) and in Pic d’Ivohibe Special Reserve (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989; Feistner and Schmid, 1999; Wright and Porter, 2004; Louis et al., 2008).
As of 2009, there were four individuals of this species in captivity, all in the Tsimbazaza Zoo in Antananarivo, Madagascar (E. E. Louis Jr., pers. obs.).

Where to see it

The rufous mouse lemur can readily be observed in Ranomafana National Park.This important park now has several good hotels, among them the Centrest Sejour and the Domaine Nature Lodge.

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