CONSERVATION STATUS
CITES: Appendix I
(What is CITES?)
IUCN Red List: M. berthae, M. sambiranensis, M. ravelobensis, M. tavaratra: EN; M. griseorufus, M. murinus, M. rufus: LC; M. jollyae, M. simmonsi, M. bongolavensis, M. danfossi, M. myoxinus, M. mamiratra, M. lehilahytsara, M. mittermeieri: DD
(What is Red List?)
Key: EN = Endangered, LC = Least concern, DD = Data deficient
(Click on species name to see IUCN Red List entry, including detailed status assessment information.)
Microcebus murinusPhoto: Verena Behringer
Whereas several species of mouse lemur are widespread, the recognition of more and more diversity is indicating
that some species are found only in restricted areas or localities, increasing the chances that local habitat
alteration and degradation will seriously affect their survival (Yoder et al. 2000; Kappeler & Rasoloarison 2003).
As a result, a reassessment of the threat levels of mouse lemurs is needed and the status of some species may be worse
than assumed (Rasoazanabary 2004; Louis et al. 2006).
Estimates place the entire extant population of M. berthae at less than 8000 individuals while the status of M. lehilahytsara is not known (Schwab & Ganzhorn 2004; Roos & Kappeler 2006).
CONSERVATION THREATS
Threat: Human-Induced Habitat Loss and Degradation
Human activities have the potential to affect mouse lemurs adversely by degrading or destroying habitats, especially
through slash-and-burn agriculture, logging, the production of charcoal, commercial maize farming, brush fires, the
collection of firewood, and sapphire mining (Mittermeier et al. 2006). For example, at the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve
in southwest Madagascar, trees used by mouse lemurs are logged by locals, as well as exploited for honey collection.
In addition, forest is degraded for livestock grazing, as well as through slash-and-burn agriculture (Rasoazanabary 2004).
For example, slash-and-burn agriculture is also the main threat to the lemurs of Marojejy Strict Nature Reserve (including M. rufus)
in northeast Madagascar (Duckworth et al. 1995). Although mouse lemurs are sometimes found in secondary forests, their body mass
and population densities are lower in some such habitats, less food is available, fewer individuals enter torpor, and there are less
appropriate sleeping sites. (Ganzhorn & Schmid 1998). Even though mouse lemurs are found in some secondary habitats, they are not optimal for the species
(Ganzhorn & Schmid 1998). Forest degradation also has the potential to exacerbate competition and upset the ecological
balance between sympatric species of mouse lemur. In fact, degradation could conceivably alter habitats in such a way that
one species of mouse lemur could speed the elimination of another sympatric species of mouse lemur (Schwab & Ganzhorn 2004). Some species of mouse lemur
(M. murinus) rely on tree-hole nests for torpor, hibernation, and for infant rearing; forest degradation has the potential to significantly alter the availability of optimal resting places
for the species, and may affect their survival (Schmid 1998; Sylvia Atsalis pers. comm.).
Threat: Invasive Alien Species
Introduced predators, such as feral cats and dogs pose an added predation threat to M. ravelobensis (Mittermeier et al. 2006).
Threat: Harvesting (hunting/gathering)
M. murinus are sometimes captured as pets (Mittermeier et al. 2006).
LINKS TO MORE ABOUT CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION INFORMATION
CONSERVATION NEWS
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN Microcebus CONSERVATION
Content last modified: February 11, 2009
Written by Kurt Gron. Reviewed by Sylvia Atsalis.
Cite this page as:
Gron KJ. 2009 February 11. Primate Factsheets: Mouse lemur (Microcebus) Conservation . <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/mouse_lemur/cons>. Accessed 2010 February 9.
