Mirza zaza Kappeler and Roos, 2005 in Kappeler et al., 2005

Scientific name:

Mirza zaza

Scientist name:

Kappeler and Roos, 2005 in Kappeler et al., 2005

Malagasy:

Tanta, Fitily (north of Ambanja)

English:

Northern Giant Mouse Lemur

German:

Nördlicher Riesenmausmaki

Other english:

Northern Dwarf Lemur

French:

Microcèbe géant du nord

Family:

CHEIROGALEIDAE Gray, 1873

Taxa:

Mirza

Species

Identification

Mirza zaza is the smaller of the two species currently recognized in this genus. Based on specimens from Ambato, it has a head-body length of about 27 cm, a tail length of 27–28 cm, a total length of 54–55 cm, and a body weight of 287–299 g (Kappeler et al., 2005). The dorsal coat is grayish-brown and the hairs are short. The ventral coat is gray. The hindlimbs are slightly longer than the forelimbs, and the tail is bushy and darker towards the tip. The ears are shorter than those of Mirza coquereli and are rounded.
Larger ears and quadrupedal locomotion help to distinguish M. zaza from Cheirogaleus medius, which has more concealed ears and is slower moving. It can also be distinguished from sympatric Microcebus species by its much larger size and very distinctive ears, and from sympatric Lepilemur by its much smaller size, prominent ears, and more rapid quadrupedal movements, Lepilemur usually being far more sedentary and a vertical clinger and leaper. Mirza zaza is also sympatric with Phaner parienti, another active, medium- sized, nocturnal lemur. Phaner has a prominent forked pattern on its head and has very loud, distinctive vocalizations. It should be noted, however, that Mirza is highly active, often making it difficult to get a good look to confirm an identification.

Natural history

Andrianarivo (1981) and Kappeler (1997) have recorded
high population densities for M. zaza. Indeed, their estimates of 385 individuals/km2 and 1,086 individuals/km2 are several times higher than those obtained for M. coquereli in the Kirindy Forest. The concentration of animals in more isolated forest fragments and the presence of mango, cashew, and other introduced food tree species in the Ambato region may help explain the higher densities (Markolf et al., 2008a).
This species is typically solitary, choosing to forage alone. It spends daytime hours in a spherical nest of up to 50 cm in diameter, usually placed 2–10 m high in the fork of a
large branch or among dense lianas (to discourage predators), and constructed of interlaced lianas, branches, leaves, and twigs chewed off nearby trees. It would seem that they are more social nesters than M. coquereli. Kappeler (2003) found nests in Ambanja with adult males, females and young, and an average occupancy of four individuals (Kappeler et al., 2005). Markolf et al. (2008a) also found that they showed more social tendencies than is typical of M. coquereli (perhaps associated with higher recorded densities) and were also more vocal.
Mirza zaza is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, flowers, buds, gums, insects, insect secretions, spiders, frogs, chameleons, and small birds. Cashew fruits are an important food source during the dry season (June–July).
Reproductive activity in M. zaza, based on studies of animals from the Ambanja region (Kappeler et al., 2005), begins in August, several months earlier than when M. coquereli begins to mate in the Kirindy Forest of southwestern Madagascar (Pagès, 1978, 1980; Kappeler, 2003).

Geographic range

Type specimens for M. zaza come from the region of the Ampasindava Peninsula in northwestern Madagascar, specifically from Ambato and Pasandava. It is known to occur between the rivers Mahavavy Nord and Maeverano in the northwest of the island (between Manehoko in the north and Ankaibe in the south) (Markolf et al., 2008a). Christoph Schwitzer (pers. obs.) has recorded it in the Sahamalaza region in the Anakarafa Forest. Sightings attributed to M. coquereli in the Mahalaka Forest (Randrianambinina et al., 2003c) and in Ankarafa, Andranobe and Ambendrana (Randriatahina and Rabarivola, 2004) are probably M. zaza (see Markolf et al., 2008a). Populations from the Befotaka region a bit farther to the south may also be this species (Randriatahina and Rabarivola, 2004), but this remains uncertain.

Conservation status

There is insufficient information to determine the conservation status of M. zaza, so the latest IUCN Red List assessment (2008) classified it as Data Deficient (DD). However, given that M. coquereli is currently listed as Near Threatened (NT), M. zaza must be considered at least as threatened (Markolf et al., 2008a) and could very well be Endangered. Kappeler et al. (2005) described its type locality as a highly degraded forest of only about 4 ha. A subsequent visit in 2007 by Markolf et al. (2008a) found that the forest had been almost entirely eliminated. They did see M. zaza there (four individuals in 20 minutes of walking), but they concluded that the extirpation of the population was only a matter of time. Markolf et al. (2008a) visited a further four sites in search of this species—Ankiabe, Andranobe, Ambendrana and Ankarafa. At Ankiabe, they saw a few individuals in a degraded 4-5 km forest along a hillside near the River Maevarano. The forests at Andranobe and Ambendrana were very small and similarly degraded but with many mango trees. There they were able to see M. zaza with some ease. The forest at Ankarafa was better preserved and they were able to confirm their presence there, although in fewer numbers than at Andranobe and Ambendrana, concluding that the mango trees were an important food source in the degraded forests. This species is known to occur in two national parks, Tsingy de Namoroka and Sahamalaza-Iles Radama (U. Radespiel, pers. comm.), and in the protected area at Ankarafa (Markolf et al., 2008a). Markolf et al. (2008a) concluded that the range of M. zaza is limited to just a few highly degraded forest fragments, and that, even though individuals are regularly seen together, population densities are low in all of them.
According to ISIS, as of 2009 this species was not represented in captivity. However, it would appear that the half-dozen speciemens of Mirza in the United States and Europe, currently being exhibited as M. coquereli, are in fact M. zaza (A. Katz, pers. comm.).

Where to see it

Mirza zaza is easily seen in secondary forests near Ambanja, especially in abandoned cashew orchards. It can also be readily viewed in forest right next to the town of Benavony, about 6 km from Ambanja, and in the Andoke-Be Forest right at the edge of the Manongarivo Special Reserve (R. A. Mittermeier, pers. obs.). The Benavony Forest is also very good for Hapalemur occidentalis.

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Mirza zaza Kappeler and Roos, 2005 in Kappeler et al., 2005

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