Cameroon potto

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cameroon potto
Systematics
Order : Primates (Primates)
Subordination : Wet-nose primates (Strepsirrhini)
Partial order : Lori-like (Lorisiformes)
Family : Loris (Lorisidae)
Genre : Pottos ( Perodicticus )
Type : Cameroon potto
Scientific name
Perodicticus edwardsi
Bouvier , 1879

The Cameroon Potto ( Perodicticus edwardsi , Syn . : P. faustus Thomas, 1910 ) is a primate species from the Loris family (Lorisidae). It occurs from the east bank of the Niger lower reaches (south of the Benu estuary ) to the west bank of the Congo and thus in southeast Nigeria (about the territory of the former Biafra ), in southern and central Cameroon , in Equatorial Guinea , Gabon and the Republic of the Congo . The Cameroon Potto was originally classified as a subspecies of the Potto , but molecular genetic research shows that it is a distinct species. It was named in honor of the French zoologist Alphonse Milne-Edwards , is called Milne-Edward's Potto in English and Potto de Milne-Edwards in French and Spanish.

features

The Cameroon Potto reaches a head-torso length of 32 to 40 cm and a weight of 1 to 1.6 kg, making it the largest of the three types of Potto. With an average length of 10 cm, the tail is twice as long as that of the other two types of Potto. The fur is variable in color, cinnamon brown to orange on the back and lighter on the belly. From the back of the head down between the shoulder blades, the Cameroon Potto has long black whiskers. The teeth are larger than those of the West African potto ( Perodicticus potto ). The appearance of the species shows great variability and it could be that in the future it will be divided into subspecies.

Way of life

The Cameroon potto is nocturnal and lives in swamp forests, rainforests and mountain rainforests up to heights of 1500 meters. In Cameroon it was mostly observed at heights of 6 to 10 meters above the ground, in Gabon at heights of 5 to 30 meters. He is a skilled climber. In Cameroon, Cameroon pottos were provided with transmitters and their activities recorded. It was found that males move over a distance of 1330 to 6440 meters in one night, while the values ​​for females are between 951 and 3290 meters. In Gabon, the areas of the females are on average 7.5 ha, those of the males can be significantly larger and reach 17.8 to 40 ha. At the Kupe , an extinct stratovolcano in Cameroon, the areas of both sexes are just over 30 ha however the same size. The large territories of the males can overlap with the territories of one to three females. In the communication between the animals, vocalizations are not very important, instead scent marks (urine and genital secretions) are set.

nutrition

The main component of the diet are ripe fruits. In addition, nectar, tree saps, insects, spiders, millipedes and centipedes, small frogs, bird eggs, young birds, small bats and snails, including the large tiger agate snail ( Achatina achatina ) are eaten. The insects consumed include moths, ants, grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, and beetle larvae. The latter are mainly collected in oil palms ( Elaeis guineensis ). The Cameroon Potto also goes on the ground to forage. During the dry season, tree saps can contribute up to 60% of the diet in some areas.

Reproduction

The Cameroon Potto reproduces throughout the year, but in some areas there is an accumulation of births at certain times of the year. This seems to be dependent on the food supply. The female menstrual cycle lasts 38 days. After a gestation period of 193 to 205 days, a single young animal weighing around 50 g is usually born; twins are rare. The young are white and can have blue eyes. They hold onto the mother's stomach and are carried around by her until they are 3 to 4 months old. Then they ride on the mother's back, climb after her or are set down in a fork of a branch while the mother eats. During a separation, mother and young animals keep in contact with each other by calling. The young animals are weaned after 120 to 180 days, become independent after 6 to 8 months and sexually mature at 18 months of age. The female gets her next young animal after 12 to 13 months.

Danger

The Cameroon Potto is widespread, not uncommon, and is classified as "not endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN ). It occurs in eight protected areas, including the Cross River National Park in Nigeria, the Korup National Park in Cameroon and the Salonga National Park in the Congo.

literature

Web links