Betsileo weasel lemur
Betsileo weasel lemur | ||||||||||||
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Lepilemur betsileo | ||||||||||||
Louis et al. , 2006 |
The Betsileo Wieselmaki ( Lepilemur betsileo ) is an on Madagascar living primate species from the group of lemurs within the lemurs . The species was first described in 2006 and is named after the Malagasy ethnic group of the Betsileo .
features
Betsileo weasel lemurs are relatively large representatives of their genus. They reach a head body length of around 25 centimeters, the tail is around 27 centimeters long. The weight is 1.1 to 1.2 kilograms. Their fur is colored reddish brown on the top, the underside is lighter. The rounded head is predominantly gray, the muzzle and the lower jaw are white, the eyes are large. The tail is dark gray to black and contrasts strongly with the body.
Distribution and way of life
Betsileo weasel lemurs inhabit a region of tropical rainforest on the east coast of Madagascar. As far as is known, the rivers Mangoro and Onive in the north and Namorona in the south limit their range.
The way of life of these animals is largely unexplored. Like all weasel lemurs, they are nocturnal and sleep in tree hollows or in dense vegetation during the day. In the trees they move by climbing or jumping vertically. As with all weasel lemurs, their diet consists of leaves, fruits, flowers, buds and other parts of the plant.
Danger
Habitat destruction and hunting are believed to be the main threats to this species, but details are not known. The IUCN lists the Betsileo weasel lemurs under “too little data available” ( data deficient ).
literature
- Edward E. Louis Jr. ua: Molecular and morphological analyzes of the sportive lemurs (Family Megaladapidae: Genus Lepilemur ) reveals 11 previously unrecognized species. (PDF; 4.5 MB) In: Texas Tech University Special Publications. No. 49, 2006, pp. 1-49.
- Nick Garbutt: Mammals of Madagascar. A Complete Guide. Yale University Press, New Haven 2007, ISBN 978-0-300-12550-4 .
Web links
- Lepilemur betsileo in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2009. Posted by: M. Hoffmann, 2008. Accessed on 5 November of 2009.