Weasel sportive lemur

Weasel sportive lemur
Illustration published in 1868
Conservation status

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Lepilemuridae
Genus: Lepilemur
Species: L. mustelinus
Binomial name
Lepilemur mustelinus
I. Geoffroy, 1851[3]
Distribution of L. mustelinus[1]
Synonyms
  • caniceps Peters, 1875

The weasel sportive lemur (Lepilemur mustelinus), also known as the greater sportive lemur, weasel lemur, or greater weasel lemur, is a species of lemur native to northeastern Madagascar. Its habitat includes rainforests and tropical rainforests. Its dorsal side is a reddish-brown colour, and greyish brown ventrally. Its colour darkens towards the tip of its tail. It has long, soft fur. It has an average body length of 12–14 inches (30–35 cm) and a tail length of 10–12 inches (25–30 cm).

The weasel sportive lemur is predominantly a leaf-eater, although it supplements its diet with fruits and flowers. It is an arboreal species, and travels through the trees by leaping. As with other leaping primates, it has stereoscopic vision that enables it to determine distances precisely. Groups consist solely of a mother and its offspring; the males are solitary, and are very territorial. Each weasel sportive lemur occupies a territory of 1/2 to 1¼ acres (1500 to 5000 m²). Like some other lemurs, they are nocturnal.

References

Wikispecies has information related to: Weasel sportive lemur
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lepilemur mustelinus.
  1. 1.0 1.1 Andriaholinirina, N. et al. (2014). "Lepilemur mustelinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
  2. "Checklist of CITES Species". CITES. UNEP-WCMC. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  3. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M, eds. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 118–119. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.