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Pygmy mouse lemur
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Strepsirrhini
Family:	Cheirogaleidae
Genus:	Microcebus
Species:	M. myoxinus
Binomial name
Microcebus myoxinus Peters, 1852
Distribution of M. myoxinus

The pygmy mouse lemur (Microcebus myoxinus), also known as Peters' mouse lemur or dormouse lemur, is a primate weighing only 43–55 g (1.5–1.9 oz); it is the second smallest of the mouse lemurs. Its dorsal side is a rufous-brown colour, and creamy-white ventrally. It lives in dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar. It has been captured in the Tsingy de Bemaraha Nature Reserve, the Andramasy forests north of Belo sur Tsiribihina, and the border of heavily degraded deciduous forest and savanna at Aboalimena. It has also been found in other habitats, in mangroves in two localities.

Accounts and descriptions of this species are frequently confounded with those of Microcebus berthae, the smallest primate in the world. This is because specimens of M. berthae captured in Kirindy Forest, 60 km north of Morondava, were erroneously named M. myoxinus. Apparently, the rufous color of M. berthae (not described at the time) matched the description by Peter as M. myoxinus. Most articles on the web report information on M. myoxinus that correspond to studies made in Kirindy Forest on M. berthae.

The behavior and ecology of Microcebus myoxinus remains to be studied in the wild.

The pygmy mouse lemur measures around 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in) (head-body length).

Mating

During mating season, male pygmy mouse lemurs have a home range that is much larger than the home range of females. It was found that males would typically roam long distances at night during mating season. Males also tend to be heavier than females during the mating season compared to the rest of the year. This indicates that the testes of male pygmy mouse lemurs would grow a significant amount during the mating season. There has also been evidence of male sperm competition, seen through sperm plugs in females which indicate the importance of prevention of additional matings in females.

Hibernation

During the dry season, pygmy mouse lemurs enter a state of inactivity to save energy. This is possible for them in natural conditions when their body temperatures are below 28 °C (82 °F). Compared to males, female pygmy mouse lemurs are more likely to enter this type of hibernation which results in the sex ratio being skewed to one side. However, when the pygmy mouse lemurs live in areas where the temperatures are relatively higher, the sex ratio is more even. This is because higher temperatures make it difficult for the lemurs to remain in hibernation for a long time. For those living in cooler temperatures, metabolic rates drop by about 86% compared to the normal metabolic rates.

Genetics

For many years, pygmy mouse lemurs were not considered to be a different species when compared to other mouse lemurs. However, recently there have been studies that show that there are large genetic differences of the DNA. This made it evident that the pymgy mouse lemur could be classified into its own species, rather than being grouped with another species of mouse lemur. Even with these morphological differences found among the species of mouse lemurs, there is still more need for studies to be doen on the chromosome variation of all the mouse lemur species.

References

1. ^ Baden, A.; Blanco, M.; Chikhi, L.; Cooke, A.; Davies, N.; Dolch, R.; Donati, G.; Ganzhorn, J.; Golden, C.; Groeneveld, L.F.; Irwin, M.; Johnson, S.; Kappeler, P.; King, T.; Lewis, R.; Louis, E.E.; Markolf, M.; Mass, V.; Mittermeier, R.A.; Nichols, R.; Patel, E.; Rabarivola, C.J.; Raharivololona, B.; Rajaobelina, S.; Rakotoarisoa, G.; Rakotomanga, B.; Rakotonanahary, J.; Rakotondrainibe, H.; Rakotondratsimba, G.; Rakotondratsimba, M.; Rakotonirina, L.; Ralainasolo, F.B.; Ralison, J.; Ramahaleo, T.; Ranaivoarisoa, J.F.; Randrianahaleo, S.I.; Randrianambinina, B.; Randrianarimanana, L.; Randrianasolo, H.; Randriatahina, G.; Rasamimananana, H.; Rasolofoharivelo, T.; Rasoloharijaona, S.; Ratelolahy, F.; Ratsimbazafy, J.; Ratsimbazafy, N.; Razafindraibe, H.; Razafindramanana, J.; Rowe, N.; Salmona, J.; Seiler, M.; Volampeno, S.; Wright, P.; Youssouf, J.; Zaonarivelo, J.; Zaramody, A. (2014). "Microcebus myoxinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T13325A16113437. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T13325A16113437.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
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. 113. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
4. ^ Mittermeier, R.A.; Konstant, W.R.; Hawkins, F.; Louis, E.E.; et al. (2006). Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (2nd ed.). Conservation International. ISBN 1-881173-88-7. OCLC 883321520.
5. ^ Rasoloarison, Rodin M.; Goodman, Steven M.; Ganzhorn, Jörg U. (2000). "Taxonomic Revision of Mouse Lemurs (Microcebus) in the Western Portions of Madagascar". International Journal of Primatology. 21 (6): 995. doi:10.1023/A:1005511129475. S2CID 24593160.
6. Peters, W. C. H. (1852). Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique. Berlin: Georg Reimer Verlag.
7. Baden, A.; et al. "Peters' Mouse Lemur Microcebus myoxinus". iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
8. Schwab, Dorothea (2000). "A preliminary study of spatial distribution and mating system of pygmy mouse lemurs (Microcebus cf myoxinus)". American Journal of Primatology. 51 (1): 41–60. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-2345(200005)51:1<41::AID-AJP4>3.0.CO;2-7. PMID 10811439 – via Wiley.
9. Ganzhorn, Jörg U.; Schmid, Jutta (1998). "Different Population Dynamics of Microcebus murinus in Primary and Secondary Deciduous Dry Forests of Madagascar". International Journal of Primatology. 19 (5): 785–796. doi:10.1023/A:1020337211827 – via Springer Link.
10. Schmid, J; Ruf, T; Heldmaier, G (2000). "Metabolism and temperature regulation during daily torpor in the smallest primate, the pygmy mouse lemur (Microcebus myoxinus) in Madagascar". Journal of Comparative Physiology. 170: 59–68. doi:10.1007/s003600050008. PMID 10707326 – via Springer Link.
11. Rumpler, Yves; Ganzhorn, Jorg U.; Tomiuk, Jurgen; Leipoldt, Michael; Warter, Stephanie (1998). "A cytogenetic study of Microcebus myoxinus". Folia Primatologica. 69 (5): 307–311. doi:10.1159/000021644. PMID 9751837. ProQuest 219359231 – via ProQuest.

• IUCN Red List vulnerable species
• Mouse lemurs
• Mammals described in 1852
• Taxa named by Wilhelm Peters