Gray Mouse Lemur

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Gray Mouse Lemur
Conservation status
Least concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Family: Cheirogaleidae Genus: Microcebus Species: M. murinus
Binomial name
Microcebus murinus (Miller, 1777)

The Gray Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus) is a mouse lemur species in the genus Microcebus. It is by far one of the smallest primates, smaller even than the Pygmy Marmoset. Its dorsal fur is gray with various reddish tones and its ventral fur is white. The Gray Mouse Lemur's range is in the damp woodlands of the west, south, and southwest coasts of Madagascar including much of the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.

This lemur is 10 to 14 cm tall, with a 10 to 15 cm tail. It weighs 40 to 70 g, depending on the season. The species is nocturnal. It sleeps low in the trees, males usually alone but females often in small groups. It forages alone, feeding on fruits, flowers, nectar, insects, and small animals.

Females can give birth to two to four young after a gestation period of 54 to 69 days.

The life span is about 15 years.

[edit] References

• Ganzhorn et al (2000). Microcebus murinus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 06 May 2006.
• BBC
• Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in 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.