Mongoose lemur

Mongoose lemur[1]
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Family:	Lemuridae
Genus:	Eulemur
Species:	E. mongoz
Binomial name
Eulemur mongoz (Linnaeus, 1766)
Mongoose lemur range (red — native, blue — introduced)
Synonyms
albimanus É. Geoffroy, 1812 anjuanensis É. Geoffroy, 1812 brissonii Lesson, 1840 bugi Lesson, 1840 cuvieri Fitzinger, 1870 dubius F. Cuvier, 1834 johannae Trouessart, 1904 macromongoz Lesson, 1840 micromongoz Lesson, 1840 nigrifrons É. Geoffroy, 1812 noussardii Boitard, 1842 ocularis Lesson, 1840

The mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz) is a lemur ranging from 12 to 18 inches long plus a tail of 16 to 25 inches. The mongoose lemur lives in dry deciduous forests on the island of Madagascar as well as in the humid forests on the islands of the Comoros. This makes the Mongoose Lemur one of only two lemurs found outside of Madagascar,^[3] though it is believed to be an introduced species in the Comoros.^[4] The mongoose lemur mostly eats fruit, though flowers, leaves and nectar also make up part of its diet. As such, mongoose lemurs act as both pollinators and seed dispersers,^[3] but may use the nectar of the kapok tree for nearly 80% of their diet in some parts of their range during the dry season.^[5] Feeding on grubs and beetles has also been observed.^[4] They are unusual among primates in that they will be diurnal or nocturnal depending on the season, being more active during the day in the wet season and changing activity to the night during the hotter dry season.^[3]

Both sexes are born with white beards, but become obviously dimorphic at about six weeks of age when the males develop red beards and red cheeks. The males also have lighter faces than the females.^[3] Males may further distinguish themselves when scent-marking territory, as they occasionally develop a bald patch on top of the head from rubbing.^[5]

Mongoose lemurs are arboreal, with the ability to jump several meters from one tree to another.^[3] They live in small family groups, usually consisting of a bonded pair and 1 to 3 offspring.^[5] These groups rarely encounter one another, but when they do, they are aggressive.^[4] Young are born just prior to the rainy season, from August to October.^[4] Gestation lasts approximately four months and weaning takes place around five months after the young are born. The offspring then usually stay with their parents until three years of age, when they have reached full maturity.^[5]

Captive mongoose lemurs can live up to 26 years, while wild specimens live 18–20 years.^[5]

References

1. ^ Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 115. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=12100044. 
2. ^ Andrainarivo, C., Andriaholinirina, V. N., Feistner, A., Felix, T., Ganzhorn, J., Garbutt, N., Golden, C., Konstant, B., Louis Jr., E., Meyers, D., Mittermeier, R. A., Perieras, A., Princee, F., Rabarivola, J. C., Rakotosamimanana, B., Rasamimanana, H., Ratsimbazafy, J., Raveloarinoro, G., Razafimanantsoa, A., Rumpler, Y., Schwitzer, C., Thalmann, U., Wilmé, L. & Wright, P. (2008). Eulemur mongoz. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 1 January 2009.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo's Mongoose Lemur page
4. ^ ^{a b c d} ARKive - Mongoose Lemur ("Eulemur mongoz")
5. ^ ^{a b c d e} Bristol Zoo - Mongoose Lemur

External links

• Duke Lemur Center A research, conservation, and education facility
• Lemur Conservation Foundation A research, conservation, and education facility
• mongoose lemur media at ARKive
• http://www.animalinfo.org/species/primate/lemumong.htm
• http://www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org/what_to_see/madagascar/lemur_mongoose.cfm