Microcebus boraha

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Microcebus boraha
Systematics
Order : Primates (Primates)
Subordination : Wet-nose primates (Strepsirrhini)
Partial order : Lemurs (Lemuriformes)
Family : Cat lemurs (Cheirogaleidae)
Genre : Mouse lemurs ( Microcebus )
Type : Microcebus boraha
Scientific name
Microcebus boraha
Hotaling, Foley, Lawrence, Bocanegra, Blanco, Rasoloarison, Kappeler , Barrett, Yoder, Weisrock, 2016

Microcebus boraha is a species of primate from the genus mouse lemur within the group of lemurs . It occurs only on the small island of Nosy Boraha on the northeast coast of Madagascar. The mouse lemur population on this island was originally attributed to the Simmons mouse lemur ( M. simmonsi ). However, DNA analysis showed that the island population isso differentfrom the M. simmonsi mainlandpopulationthat it is a different species. The description of the new species of mouse lemur appeared in April 2016. The species was named after its home island.

features

Microcebus boraha is one of the larger species of mouse lemur and reaches a total length of 28 to 29 centimeters, with the tufted, densely hairy tail being 14 to 15 centimeters long. The hind feet are noticeably long with 3.4 to 3.6 cm, the ears with 19 to 20 mm rather small. On the back side, the fur of Microcebus boraha is reddish, on the back there is an only indistinctly visible central stripe. The peritoneum is beige with a slight shade of red. The holotype has a weight of 56.5 g. Its skull is 3.5 cm long, 2.2 cm wide (from cheekbone to cheekbone) and 1.4 cm high. The incisors are 2.00 mm high and the molars are 2.1 mm long.

Very little is known about the way of life of this newly discovered species. Like all mouse lemurs, it is likely to be nocturnal and mainly to be found in the trees. Mouse lemurs are generally omnivores that feed primarily on fruits and insects.

literature

  • Scott Hotaling, Mary E. Foley, Nicolette M. Lawrence, Jose Bocanegra, Marina B. Blanco, Rodin Rasoloarison, Peter M. Kappeler , Meredith A. Barrett, Anne D. Yoder, David W. Weisrock. Species discovery and validation in a cryptic radiation of endangered primates: coalescent-based species delimitation in Madagascar's mouse lemurs. Molecular Ecology, 2016; DOI: 10.1111 / mec.13604 .

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