P A G E 1 2
V O L . 4 , N O . 1
J U L Y 2 0 1 5
matic, geological and other environmental data. And perhaps non-intuitively, they may
even help conservation biologists design forest corridors that will help not only the
mouse lemurs, but also their larger bodied relatives.
Mouse Lemur Expeditions
Thanks to funding provided by the new Duke Tropical Conservation Initiative (DTCI), I
am leading a team of Malagasy colleagues to discover where mouse lemurs occur in un-
documented localities, particularly areas where scientists suspect that forests are both
fragmented and critical for lemur dispersal in the face of climate change. During the
first expedition, our team chose a low elevation area (less than 300 m) on the southeast-
ern side of Marojejy National Park using Google Earth. This targeted area was expected
to have relatively warm temperatures during winter and display mild seasonal variation.
We drove from Sambava for about 1.5 hours and were dropped off at Mandena, a small
village close to the MNP small kiosk. From there, we hiked for approximately 2 hours
through rice paddies and crossing streams countless times before reaching the boundary
of the Park. We set up camp nearby the boundary of “Borne 67”, fighting off mosquitos
and getting ready ahead of a threatening storm. At this location we captured three
mouse lemurs, two females and one male. For our second expedition, almost a month
later, we went to Camp Indri, within Anjanaharibe Sud Special Reserve, southwest of
Marojejy National Park. After 1.5 hour-drive from the town of Andapa, we were dropped
off at the village of Andasibe where porters were gathered to take our provisions. After
a 1.5 hour hike on a broad trail (actually a national road), we arrived at the village of Be-
fingotra for lunch. About 2 hours later, hiking on the same main road, we arrived at
Camp Indri (1000 m), where we were rewarded with news that a new shower and toilet
facility had been recently built with support from Lemur Conservation Foundation. At
this location we captured 8 mouse lemurs, mostly juveniles.
So, what was the verdict?
In my field notes, on many occasions, I wrote things like “looks just like Goodman’s
mouse lemur (M. lehilahytsara) from Tsinjoarivo, brownish-reddish, etc. Two candidate
species had been identified in nearby areas in northeastern Madagascar and they had,
as expected, general descriptions. One possibility was M. mittermeieri, already reported
from other areas at Anjanaharibe Sud Special Reserve. This is described as the smallest
rainforest mouse lemur, ~40g, with dorsal coat light reddish-brown to rust, ventral coat
whitish-brown, among other traits. The second option was M. macarthurii, which is de-
scribed as a large mouse lemur, ~53g, reddish-brown dorsal fur, with rufous head turn-
ing orange on the cheeks among other traits. This species was located at Anjiahely,
southeast of Marojejy National Park, where it was found in sympatry with M. mittermei-
eri. Unfortunately, or I should say expectedly, our captured mouse lemurs ranged in size
Whose Mouse Lemur Is It?
Continued
