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The '''mongoose lemur''' (''Eulemur mongoz'') is a [[lemur]] ranging from {{convert|12|to|18|in|abbre=on}} long plus a tail of {{convert|16|to|25|in|abbre=on}}. The mongoose lemur lives in [[Madagascar dry deciduous forests|dry deciduous forests]] on the island of [[Madagascar]] as well as in the humid [[Comoros forests|forests]] on the islands of the [[Comoros]]. This makes the mongoose lemur one of only two lemurs found outside of Madagascar,<ref name="Chicago Zoological Society">[http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/czs/Brookfield/Exhibit-and-Animal-Guide/Hamill-Family-Play-Zoo/Mongoose-Lemur.aspx Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo's Mongoose Lemur page]</ref> though it is believed to be an [[introduced species]] in the Comoros.<ref name="ARKive">[http://www.arkive.org/mongoose-lemur/eulemur-mongoz/info.html ARKive - Mongoose Lemur ("Eulemur mongoz")]</ref><ref name = "Pastorini2003">{{cite doi|10.1073/pnas.1031673100}}</ref> The mongoose lemur mostly eats fruit, though flowers, leaves and nectar also make up part of its diet. As such, mongoose lemurs act as both pollinators and seed dispersers,<ref name="Chicago Zoological Society" /> but may use the nectar of the kapok tree for nearly 80% of their diet in some parts of their range during the dry season.<ref name="Bristol Zoo">[http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/mongoose-lemur Bristol Zoo - Mongoose Lemur]</ref> Feeding on grubs and beetles has also been observed.<ref name="ARKive" /> They are unusual among primates in that they will be [[diurnal animal|diurnal]] or [[nocturnal]] depending on the season, being more active during the day in the wet season and changing activity to the night during the hotter dry season.<ref name="Chicago Zoological Society" />
The '''mongoose lemur''' (''Eulemur mongoz'') is a [[lemur]] ranging from {{convert|12|to|18|in|abbre=on}} long plus a tail of {{convert|16|to|25|in|abbre=on}}. The mongoose lemur lives in [[Madagascar dry deciduous forests|dry deciduous forests]] on the island of [[Madagascar]] as well as in the humid [[Comoros forests|forests]] on the islands of the [[Comoros]]. This makes the mongoose lemur one of only two lemurs found outside of Madagascar,<ref name="Chicago Zoological Society">[http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/czs/Brookfield/Exhibit-and-Animal-Guide/Hamill-Family-Play-Zoo/Mongoose-Lemur.aspx Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo's Mongoose Lemur page]</ref> though it is believed to be an [[introduced species]] in the Comoros.<ref name="ARKive">[http://www.arkive.org/mongoose-lemur/eulemur-mongoz/info.html ARKive - Mongoose Lemur ("Eulemur mongoz")]</ref><ref name = "Pastorini2003">{{Cite journal | last1 = Pastorini | first1 = J. | last2 = Thalmann | first2 = U. | last3 = Martin | first3 = R. D. | title = A molecular approach to comparative phylogeography of extant Malagasy lemurs | doi = 10.1073/pnas.1031673100 | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | volume = 100 | issue = 10 | pages = 5879–5884 | year = 2003 | url = http://www.pnas.org/content/100/10/5879.full.pdf | format = PDF| pmid = | pmc = | ref = harv|bibcode = 2003PNAS..100.5879P }}</ref> The mongoose lemur mostly eats fruit, though flowers, leaves and nectar also make up part of its diet. As such, mongoose lemurs act as both pollinators and seed dispersers,<ref name="Chicago Zoological Society" /> but may use the nectar of the kapok tree for nearly 80% of their diet in some parts of their range during the dry season.<ref name="Bristol Zoo">[http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/mongoose-lemur Bristol Zoo - Mongoose Lemur]</ref> Feeding on grubs and beetles has also been observed.<ref name="ARKive" /> They are unusual among primates in that they will be [[diurnal animal|diurnal]] or [[nocturnal]] depending on the season, being more active during the day in the wet season and changing activity to the night during the hotter dry season.<ref name="Chicago Zoological Society" />


Both sexes are born with white beards, but become obviously [[sexual dimorphism|dimorphic]] at about six weeks of age when the males develop red beards and red cheeks. The males also have lighter faces than the females.<ref name="Chicago Zoological Society" /> Males may further distinguish themselves when scent-marking territory, as they occasionally develop a bald patch on top of the head from rubbing.<ref name="Bristol Zoo" />
Both sexes are born with white beards, but become obviously [[sexual dimorphism|dimorphic]] at about six weeks of age when the males develop red beards and red cheeks. The males also have lighter faces than the females.<ref name="Chicago Zoological Society" /> Males may further distinguish themselves when scent-marking territory, as they occasionally develop a bald patch on top of the head from rubbing.<ref name="Bristol Zoo" />

Revision as of 21:16, 28 August 2015

Mongoose lemur
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Eulemur
Species:
E. mongoz
Binomial name
Eulemur mongoz
Distribution of E. mongoz:[1]
red = native, green = introduced
Synonyms
  • albimanus É. Geoffroy, 1812
  • anjuanensis É. Geoffroy, 1812
  • brissonii Lesson, 1840
  • bugi Lesson, 1840
  • cuvieri Fitzinger, 1870
  • dubius F. Cuvier, 1834
  • johannae Trouessart, 1904
  • macromongoz Lesson, 1840
  • micromongoz Lesson, 1840
  • nigrifrons É. Geoffroy, 1812
  • noussardii Boitard, 1842
  • ocularis Lesson, 1840

The mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz) is a lemur ranging from 12 to 18 inches (300 to 460 mm)* long plus a tail of 16 to 25 inches (410 to 640 mm)*. The mongoose lemur lives in dry deciduous forests on the island of Madagascar as well as in the humid forests on the islands of the Comoros. This makes the mongoose lemur one of only two lemurs found outside of Madagascar,[4] though it is believed to be an introduced species in the Comoros.[5][6] The mongoose lemur mostly eats fruit, though flowers, leaves and nectar also make up part of its diet. As such, mongoose lemurs act as both pollinators and seed dispersers,[4] but may use the nectar of the kapok tree for nearly 80% of their diet in some parts of their range during the dry season.[7] Feeding on grubs and beetles has also been observed.[5] They are unusual among primates in that they will be diurnal or nocturnal depending on the season, being more active during the day in the wet season and changing activity to the night during the hotter dry season.[4]

Both sexes are born with white beards, but become obviously dimorphic at about six weeks of age when the males develop red beards and red cheeks. The males also have lighter faces than the females.[4] Males may further distinguish themselves when scent-marking territory, as they occasionally develop a bald patch on top of the head from rubbing.[7]

Male below, female above
Female Mongoose lemur at Lemurs' Park

Mongoose lemurs are arboreal, with the ability to jump several meters from one tree to another.[4] They live in small family groups, usually consisting of a bonded pair and 1 to 3 offspring.[7] These groups rarely encounter one another, but when they do, they are aggressive.[5] Young are born just prior to the rainy season, from August to October.[5] Gestation lasts approximately four months and weaning takes place around five months after the young are born. The offspring then usually stay with their parents until three years of age, when they have reached full maturity.[7]

Captive mongoose lemurs can live up to 26 years, while wild specimens live 18–20 years.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Template:IUCN2014.1
  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: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 115. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  4. ^ a b c d e Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo's Mongoose Lemur page
  5. ^ a b c d ARKive - Mongoose Lemur ("Eulemur mongoz")
  6. ^ Pastorini, J.; Thalmann, U.; Martin, R. D. (2003). "A molecular approach to comparative phylogeography of extant Malagasy lemurs" (PDF). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 100 (10): 5879–5884. Bibcode:2003PNAS..100.5879P. doi:10.1073/pnas.1031673100. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e Bristol Zoo - Mongoose Lemur