Greater dwarf lemur
Cheirogaleus major
SUBFAMILY
Cheirogaleinae
TAXONOMY
Cheirogaleus major É. Geoffroy, 1812, Fort Dauphin, Madagascar.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Grand cheirogale; German: Grosser Katzenmaki.
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Phaner furcifer | |
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Mirza coquereli | |
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Allocebus trichotis |
H Cheirogaleus major H Cheirogaleus medius
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Dorsal fur medium brown to deep reddish brown; ventral fur creamy white or yellowish white. Eyes surrounded by dark rings and separated by a pale stripe. Ears medium-sized and naked, but partially hidden by surrounding fur. Length 9.6 in (24 cm), tail 11.2 in (28 cm); 16 oz (438 g) for males, 13 oz (362 g) for females.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs throughout the eastern rainforest of Madagascar, from the extreme north to the far south.
HABITAT
Evergreen rainforest. BEHAVIOR
Generally solitary when active at night, but share nests. Undergo a period of genuine obligatory torpor during the austral winter (dry season), accumulating fat stores in the tail prior to becoming inactive.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feed mainly on fruit, supplemented with insects and possibly some plant exudates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous. Strictly seasonal breeding, with births and rearing of offspring during the wet season (October-March). Gestation period of about 70 days. Usually two offspring.
CONSERVATION STATUS Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Sometimes eaten by humans, but otherwise of little significance. ♦
BEHAVIOR
Undergoes a period of genuine obligatory torpor during the austral winter, accumulating conspicuous fat stores in the tail prior to entering torpor. Generally solitary when active at night, but adults form monogamous pairs with shared nests and home ranges.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds mainly on fruit, supplemented with insects and plant ex-udates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous. Strictly seasonal breeding, with births and rearing of offspring during the wet season (October-March). Ovarian cycle length approximately 20 days. Gestation period about 62 days. Usually two offspring, but sometimes three or even four.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Sometimes eaten by humans, but otherwise of little significance. ♦
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