Grewcock weasel lemur

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Grewcock weasel lemur
Systematics
Order : Primates (Primates)
Subordination : Wet-nose primates (Strepsirrhini)
Partial order : Lemurs (Lemuriformes)
Family : Weasel lemurs (Lepilemuridae)
Genre : Weasel lemurs ( Lepilemur )
Type : Grewcock weasel lemur
Scientific name
Lepilemur grewcocki
Louis et al. , 2006

The Grewcock-Wieselmaki ( Lepilemur grewcocki ) is an on Madagascar living primate species from the group of lemurs within the lemurs . The Manasamody weasel lemur is likely to be the same species.

features

With a head body length of 23 to 27 centimeters, a tail length of 27 to 30 centimeters and a weight of 0.7 to 0.8 kilograms, Grewcock weasel lemurs are among the medium-sized representatives of their genera. The hind legs are long and strong, the tail long. Their fur is predominantly gray in color, the belly is light gray or whitish. There is a dark stripe on the head that extends to the back, the tail is uniformly gray. The head is rounded, the area around the muzzle is whitish-pink in color, the eyes are large.

Distribution and way of life

Grewcock weasel lemurs inhabit the dry deciduous forests in the north-west of the island of Madagascar. As far as is known, the Mahajamba River forms the northern limit and the Maevarano and Sofia rivers form the southern limit of their range.

Little is known about their way of life, but it should agree with that of the other weasel lemurs. They are nocturnal and usually stay in the trees, where they move vertically climbing and jumping. Your food should consist of leaves, fruits, flowers and other parts of plants.

Danger

The main threat to the Grewcock weasel lemurs is presumably the destruction of their habitat. However, no details are known about their degree of endangerment; the IUCN lists them under “too little data available” ( data deficient ).

Systematics and naming

The species was first described in 2006 , the name honoring Bill and Berniece Grewcock, supporters of research into Malagasy primates. In 2007, a research group from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover described a new species of weasel lemur, the Manasamody weasel lemur ( Lepilemur manasamody ). The locations of the two species are only 2 kilometers apart and are not separated by any geographic barrier, the species are very similar to each other. There is therefore considerable doubt as to whether the Manasamody weasel lemur is a valid species. Several studies see the two species as synonymous

literature

  • Edward E. Louis Jr. et al .: Molecular and morphological analyzes of the sportive lemurs (Family Megaladapidae: Genus "Lepilemur") reveals 11 previously unrecognized species. In: Texas Tech University Special Publications. 49, 2006, ISSN  0149-1768 , pp. 1-49, online (PDF; 4.34 MB) .
  • Nick Garbutt: Mammals of Madagascar. A Complete Guide. Yale University Press, New Haven CT et al. 2007, ISBN 978-0-300-12550-4 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Mathias Craul, Elke Zimmermann, Solofo Rasoloharijaona, Blanchard Randrianambinina and Ute Radespiel: Unexpected species diversity of Malagasy primates ( Lepilemur spp.) In the same biogeographical zone: a morphological and molecular approach with the description of two new species . BMC Evolutionary Biology 2007, 7:83. doi : 10.1186 / 1471-2148-7-83
  2. Jump up ↑ D. Zinner, C. Roos, JL Fausser, C. Groves and Y. Rumpler: Disputed taxonomy classification of sportive lemurs ( Lepilemur ) in NW Madagascar. In: Lemur News 12 (2007), pp. 53-56
  3. ↑ R. Mittermeier, J. Ganzhorn, W. Konstant, K. Glander, I. Tattersall, C. Groves, A. Rylands, A. Hapke, J. Ratsimbazafy, M. Mayor, E. Louis Jr., Y. Rumpler , C. Schwitzer and R. Rasoloarison: Lemur Diversity in Madagascar. In: International Journal of Primatology 29 (2008), pp. 1607-1656.

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