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.
