Coquerel's Giant Mouse Lemur

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iCoquerel's Dwarf Lemur

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Family:	Cheirogaleidae
Genus:	Mirza
Species:	M. coquereli

Binomial name

Mirza coquereli
A. Grandidier, 1867

Coquerel's Giant Mouse Lemur or Coquerel's Dwarf Lemur (Mirza coquereli) is a small nocturnal lemur endemic to Madagascar. This species named after the French entomologist Charles Coquerel. This lemur can be found in parts of the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.

This lemur is active throughout the year; unlike other mouse lemurs it does not hibernate, and instead it feeds on homopteran larvae to sustain itself. It is an arboreal species, and feeds on fruit, flowers, and small animals like insects and spiders. Coquerel's Giant Mouse Lemur is heavily preyed upon by owls.

This species was the only member of the genus Mirza, until 2005 when a second species, the Northern Giant Mouse Lemur (M. zaza), was described.

[edit] References

Ganzhorn et al (2000). Mirza coquereli. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A2cd, B1+2abc v2.3)
Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 113. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.