Several mouse lemur species have been identified in recent years.

Their tail is twice as long as their body.

Coquerel's Mouse Lemur

Mirza coquereli

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

The Coquerel's mouse lemur is around ten inches in length. It has a small head, beady dark eyes and long hairless ears. Its elongated body has short arms and legs, and it uses its long and bushy tail for balance. Their body is an olive brown color and yellowish grey underneath. Males and females are similar in appearance, though females are slightly larger in size than males.

HABITAT

They live in the dense underbrush in the forests of the western coastal region of Madagascar. Coquerel’s mouse lemur is arboreal, meaning that it lives primarily in the trees, although it will come to forest floor to find food.

DIET IN THE WILD

They are omnivorous, and will eat fruit, flowers, insects, spiders, frogs, lizards, small birds and eggs.

BEHAVIOR

As with most lemurs, they are nocturnal and active year around. It runs and jumps using all four legs at once, and will balance itself with its bushy tail. It feeds at night to avoid predators. They are most often found in groups of five and they communicate and coordinate activities by sound and smell. Its eyes have a layer of reflecting crystals behind the retina, which allows it to see better in low-light conditions. Their nests are spherical, and they usually stay in their nests during the day.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Categorized as endangered. Natural predators include nocturnal raptors, mainly owls, which kill as many as 30% of the Coquerel’s mouse lemurs each year. But, a larger threat is logging and deforestation, which reduces the size of their natural habitat. Coquerel’s mouse lemur can be found in a number of protected wildlife refuges in Madagascar. Captive breeding programs have also been established at several zoos and related institutions; these provide potential for re-introduction in the future.

LIFE SPAN

A Coquerel’s mouse lemur typically live between 15-20 years.