Cheirogaleus major É. Geoffroy, 1812

Scientific name:

Scientist name:

É. Geoffroy, 1812

Malagasy:

Tsitsihy, Tsidy, Hataka, Kelybehohy (southeast)

English:

Greater Dwarf Lemur

German:

Grosser Fettschwanzmaki

Other english:

Geoffroy’s Dwarf Lemur

French:

Grand Cheirogale

Family:

CHEIROGALEIDAE Gray, 1873

Taxa:

Cheirogaleus

Species

Identification

The greater dwarf lemur is one of the larger members of the genus Cheirogaleus. Its head-body length is 23–25 cm, tail length 25–28 cm, total length 50–55 cm, and its body weight averages 350–400 g, with a seasonal variation from 250 to 500 g (Fietz, 2003). The dorsal coat is gray-brown, and the ventral coat is gray. The dark reddish dorsal midline stripe, when present, is not very distinct. The mid-facial zone is pale and lacks a distinct stripe. This lighter region does not extend above the level of the eyes, the eye rings themselves are not distinct, and the snout is dark. The ears are naked. As indicated above in the generic description for Cheirogaleus, Groeneveld et al. (2009) found three terminal clades within C. major, which may well turn out to be distinct species. Cheirogaleus major may easily be confused with other sympatric species of Cheirogaleus in the few places where such sympatry occurs (see below).

Natural history

Cheirogaleus major is an inhabitant of Madagascar’s eastern lowland and montane forests (sea level to 1800 m), where conditions of water and food availability are not as seasonally severe as in the drier western deciduous forests. Nonetheless, the greater dwarf lemur does prepare for hibernation by storing excess fat in its tail, perhaps taking up, as much as 30% of its total body mass. Also, as is the case with C. medius, C. major hibernates in tree holes and hollows (Wright and Martin, 1995). Relatively little is known of the social behavior of C. major. Home ranges of adult females extend up to 4 ha, and appear to include those of adult males and juveniles as well. Sleeping groups of up to three adult animals have been observed both in tree holes and clumps of vegetation. Population densities have been estimated at 75–110 individuals/km2 (Pollock, 1979b). However, it should be noted that a number of these observations, cited here and below, were made in Andasibe (= Périnet), which would mean that they refer to C. crossleyi under the new taxonomic arrangement of Groves (2000).
Mating behavior ensues shortly after emergence from torpor in October and November, females giving birth to two to three infants in January after a gestation of about 70 days (Petter-Rousseaux, 1964). Young are born in leaf nests constructed by the females 6–12 m above the ground. Newborn greater dwarf lemurs are born furred but with eyes closed. They are first carried in their mother’s mouth, but soon cling to the fur on her back (Fietz, 2003).
Cheirogaleus major feeds mainly on nectar, fruits, young leaves, and buds, with insect prey constituting only a minor part of the diet (Ganzhorn, 1988; Wright and Martin, 1995). Nectar seems to be a particularly important food item just after it emerges from hibernation, and studies suggest that C. major may be an important pollinator for at least one species of liana (Nilson et al., 1993). Predators of C. major include the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), the ring-tailed mongoose (Galidia elegans), and the Madagascar tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis) (Goodman, 2003).

Geographic range

According to the most recent information from Groeneveld et al. (2009), C. major is found in eastern lowland rain forest from the southeastern tip of Madagascar near Tolagnaro (= Fort-Dauphin) as far north as Maroantsetra. The southern limit of its distribution is particularly interesting, since C. medius and C. crossleyi can also be found the same general region, although not to date in the same forests (Hapke et al., 2005). Andreas Hapke has found C. major in the humid forests of the Vohimena and Anosy mountains and the littoral forest at Mandena, and believes it might also occur in Sainte Luce, but this has yet to be confirmed (pers. comm.). Cheirogaleus crossleyi and C. medius, on the other hand, occur in humid forest remnants in the Lavasoa-Ambatotsirongorongo mountains (west of Fort- Dauphin), and C. medius also in the littoral forests of Petriky, Mandena and Sainte Luce. Cheirogaleus major is sympatric with C. crossleyi in Ranomafana National Park (P. C. Wright, pers. comm.).

Conservation status

In the most recent IUCN Red List assessment (2008), C. major was classified as Least Concern (LC). It is reported to occur in eight national parks (Andohahela, Andringitra, Mananara-Nord, Marojejy, Masoala, Midongy du Sud, Montagne d’Ambre, and Ranomafana), two strict nature reserves (Betampona and Tsaratanana), and three special reserves (Anjanaharibe-Sud, Mangerivola and Pic d’Ivohibe) (O’Connor et al., 1986; Nicoll and Langrand, 1989; Sterling and Rakotoaraison, 1998; Feistner and Schmid, 1999; Sterling and McFadden, 2000; Wright and Porter, 2004).
Based on the new Cheirogaleus taxonomy, the dwarf lemur species occurring in Zahamena National Park, Mantadia National Park, and the Analamazaotra Special Reserve at Andasibe (= Périnet), previously believed to be C. major, would now be C. crossleyi.
As of 2009, there were five individuals of this species in captivity, four in the Tsimbazaza Zoo in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and one in the Zürich Zoo, Switzerland (ISIS, 2009; I. J. Porton, pers. comm.).

Where to see it

This species is readily seen in Ranomafana National Park and the littoral forest of the Mandena Conservation Zone (northeast of Tolagnaro = Fort-Dauphin). Cheirogaleus medius also occurs in Mandena. The two species can be seen only during the wet season (October through April). As with most other nocturnal species, it is most easily found by using a flashlight or headlamp to locate eye shine. Most sightings are in the understory and lower to middle levels of the forest canopy, but this species also can be seen high up in the canopy as well.

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