The brown mouse lemur, also known as the rufous, red or russet mouse lemur, is a small primate found only on the island of Madagascar, in the rainforests of the east. Its back is brown or reddish-brown and its underside whitish-gray. It is solitary and nocturnal. Mouse lemurs are among the shortest-lived primates, and this species lives 6 to 8 years in the wild and averages about 12 years under human care. It was long treated as a subspecies of the gray mouse lemur and was recognised as a distinct species in 1977. It eats insects, fruit, flowers and other plants, nests in tree holes and leaf nests, and is threatened chiefly by habitat loss from slash-and-burn agriculture.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsAgriculture and Aquaculture 2 Relationship to PeopleEcotourism and Research 1 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikipedia: Cheirogaleidae
In Biome
Source Brown mouse lemur (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Brown mouse lemur (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Wikipedia: CheirogaleidaeLead, rangetier 2Quote, Lead, range
Like all other lemurs, cheirogaleids live exclusively on the island of Madagascar.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web: Microcebus rufus (Animal Diversity Web account)
Animal Diversity WebBehavior
Brown mouse lemurs are strictly nocturnal.
Food Habits
Brown mouse lemurs are primarily frugivorous
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
contribute to ecotourism in Madagascar
Habitat, Habitat Regions
terrestrial
Physical description, range mass
Range mass 39 to 98 g
Lifespan/Longevity
when they are in captivity they can reach 10 to 15 years with an average of 12 years in males
Conservation Status
US Federal List No special status CITES Appendix I
View the Source 2. Brown mouse lemur (Wikipedia)
Threats
The principal threat to this species is habitat loss due to slash-and-burn agriculture.
In Biome: Tropical Rainforest, Lead
It can be found in rainforests in eastern Madagascar.
In Ecosystem: Madagascar Rainforests, Lead
It can be found in rainforests in eastern Madagascar.
View the Source3. Mammal Diversity Database: Microcebus rufus (Mammal Diversity Database taxon page)
Mammal Diversity DatabaseIUCN Red List status
Vulnerable
Species status
Living
View the Source Wikipedia: Cheirogaleidae
WikipediaLead, range
Like all other lemurs, cheirogaleids live exclusively on the island of Madagascar.
In Group: Primate Species, Lead
The Cheirogaleidae are the family of strepsirrhine primates containing the various dwarf and mouse lemurs.
Child Taxon Of: Cheirogaleidae, Classification
Brown mouse lemur, Microcebus rufus
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