Mongoose Lemur

ANIMAL:
Mongoose Lemur Eulemur mongoz

Type of Animal:
Lemur

Habitat:
Dry forest, humid forest, scrubland

Location(s):
Native to NW Madagascar. Introduced to Comoro islands of Moheli, Anjouan, & Grande Comoro.

Appearance:
Males have reddish-brown cheeks & beard framing gray muzzle/face w/ more brown coloration, females have white/creamy gray cheeks & beard & lighter gray in color, males have dark tip on tail

Food/Diet:
Fruit, leaves, flowers, nectar, pollen, seeds, petioles, dead wood, fungi, grubs, beetles, birds

Status in Wild:
Endangered

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, wildlife parks, & breeding centers

Lifestyle:
Family groups of breeding pair w/ 1-4 offspring

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Infant
Group: Troop
 
Weight:
Adult: 3 lbs
Young: 0.9 lbs

Gestation:
4 months 

Life Span:
18-20 years in wild, 25-26 years in captivity

Height:
1.15-1.18 ft

Body Length:
1-1.41 ft

Tail Length:
1.5-2 ft

Main predators are fossa, raptors, & boas.
 
Endangered due to habitat loss, deforestation, mining, hunting, persecution as crop pests, & wildlife trade.
 
Sexually mature at 2 years old.
 
Due to diet, serve as important pollinators & seed dispersers.
 
Diurnal in wetter periods & nocturnal in drier periods.
 
Grooming important part of lives, strengthening relationships between group members.
 
Smallest member of Eulemur genus.
 
Territories usually 1.3-2.5 acres.
 
Scent marking sustained by rubbing branches w/ crotch/forehead/hands.
 
During grooming, they’ll use ‘toothcomb’ of 6 teeth, emerging from lower jaw.
 
Like most lemurs, they’re arboreal (tree living).
 
Breed once a year-breed from April-June & give birth from August-October.
 
Young weaned at 5 months.
 
They have an excellent sense of smell.

Fun Fact(s):
Sometimes hybridize w/ Common Brown Lemurs.
 
Like most lemurs, females are dominant.
 
Some males have balding due to scent marking from top of head.
 
Can leap up to 7 yards to get from 1 tree to the next.

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