Mountain galago

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Mountain galago
Systematics
Order : Primates (Primates)
Subordination : Wet-nose primates (Strepsirrhini)
Partial order : Lori-like (Lorisiformes)
Family : Galagos (Galagonidae)
Genre : Paragalago
Type : Mountain galago
Scientific name
Paragalago orinus
( Lawrence & Washburn , 1936)

The mountain galago or Uluguru- (dwarf) galago ( Paragalago orinus , syn .: Galago orinus, Galagoides orinus ) is a species of primate from the Galagos family (Galagonidae).

features

Mountain Galagos are among the smaller representatives of the Galagos, they reach a head body length of 14 to 15 centimeters, the tail is 17 to 19 centimeters longer than the body. Their fur is colored reddish brown on the top, the underside is lighter. As with all Galagos, the head is characterized by enlarged eyes and large, flexible ears.

distribution and habitat

Mountain galagos are native to eastern Africa . Their range includes mountainous countries in Tanzania such as the Uluguru Mountains , the Udzungwa Mountains and the Usambara Mountains . Similar animals are also known from the Taita Mountains in Kenya , whether they are the same species is still unclear. The mountain forests at 1200 to 2000 meters above sea level are the habitat of this species.

Way of life

Little is known about the way these animals live. Like all Galagos they are nocturnal and mostly stay in the trees. They search for food alone, but may often sleep together in a sleeping nest. The diet of the mountain galagos should consist of insects, fruits and tree sap.

Danger

The main threat to the mountain galagos is the destruction of their habitat. Their range is relatively small (around 20,000 km²) and highly fragmented. The IUCN lists the species as Near Threatened ( "near threatened").

literature

  • Thomas Geissmann : Comparative Primatology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin et al. 2003, ISBN 3-540-43645-6 ( Springer textbook ).
  • Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder: Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .

Web links