Brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus rufus)

About Brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus rufus)

• Kingdom: Animals
• Phylum: Chordates
• Class: Mammals
• Order: Primates
• Family: Cheirogaleidae

This species has a ritualistic courtship before breeding which consists of the males using soft squeak calls and tail-lashing to get the female to copulate. Females alert males to their sexual receptivity through frequent ano-genital rubbing and mouth wiping. Females use threat calls to signal to the males that mating is complete (Perret, 1992).

Male territories overlap with those of several females. Dominant males may mate with several females, making a loose sort of harem.

Mating System: polygynous

Brown mouse lemurs mate between September and October. Females experience an estrous cycle lasting an average of twenty days. The gestation period is approximately 60 days. Young are generally born in November and December, with 1 to 3 offspring per litter. Weaning occurs around 2 months of age, so females may produce 2 litters per year in captivity. Sexual maturity is reached after one year of age.

Developing offspring begin to play with their mother, chasing her and jumping on her hands and feet. This may function to help them develop their locomotion skills.

During the months of winter following their birth, the males of the species leave the areas which they were born (Nowak, 1999).

Breeding interval: Breeding in captivity can take place twice per year.

Breeding season: Breeding occurs during September and October, births occur in November and December.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 3.

Average gestation period: 2 months.

Average weaning age: 2 months.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous

Average birth mass: 6.5 g.

Average gestation period: 61 days.

Average number of offspring: 2.5.

In the three weeks following birth the offspring remain confined to the nest. The mother exhibits extreme commitment to new infants, leaving the nest only to defecate, urinate, feed, or drink. The offspring are dependent for about 2 months, and then they are weaned and able to survive on their own. Weaning begins at the end of February when food is readily available.

Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)

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