Cheirogaleus major

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	PRIMATES	CHEIROGALEIDAE

Scientific Name:

Cheirogaleus major

Species Authority:

É. Geoffroy, 1812

Common Name/s:

English	–	Geoffroy's Dwarf Lemur, Greater Dwarf Lemur
French	–	Grand Cheirogale
Spanish	–	Gran Lemur Ardilla, Lemur Enano Mayor, Makis Coligordos

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Andrainarivo, C., Andriaholinirina, V.N., Feistner, A., Felix, T., Ganzhorn, J., Garbutt, N., Golden, C., Konstant, B., Louis Jr., E., Meyers, D., Mittermeier, R.A., Perieras, A., Princee, F., Rabarivola, J.C., Rakotosamimanana, B., Rasamimanana, H., Ratsimbazafy, J., Raveloarinoro, G., Razafimanantsoa, A., Rumpler, Y., Schwitzer, C., Thalmann, U., Wilmé, L. & Wright, P.

Reviewer/s:

Mittermeier, R.A. & Rylands, A.B. (Primate Red List Authority)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern as although the precise limits of distribution of this species are unclear in the wake of recent taxonomic investigations, the species is believed to remain widespread and abundant, with no major threats resulting in significant range-wide population declines.

History:

2000	–	Lower Risk/least concern
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern
1990	–	Abundant (IUCN 1990)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to the island of Madagascar. As a result of Groves’ (2000, 2001) revision of Cheirogaleus, this species has now been split into several and it is not clear how the new taxonomy affects its overall distribution, although it is still considered to be widespread ranging from Andohahela in the south to the Sambava region in the north. The southern extent of its distribution is verified by Hapke et al. (2005), who apparently found it along with C. medius and C. crossleyi near Tolagnaro. In addition, there are two records from Bemeraha and one from Bongolava (Thalmann 2000). Ranges from sea level to 1,800 m.
Countries:	Native: Madagascar
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Apparently a widespread and abundant species.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is an inhabitant of Madagascar’s eastern lowland and montane forests where conditions of water and food availability are not as seasonally severe as in the drier western deciduous forests. The species prepares for hibernation by storing excess fat in its tail, perhaps representing as much as 30% of its total body mass; it hibernates in tree holes and hollows (Wright and Martin 1995). 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. 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). However, a number of observations of this species, cited here and elsewhere in this account, were made in Andasibe (= Périnet), and probably refer to C. crossleyi.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is an inhabitant of Madagascar’s eastern lowland and montane forests where conditions of water and food availability are not as seasonally severe as in the drier western deciduous forests. The species prepares for hibernation by storing excess fat in its tail, perhaps representing as much as 30% of its total body mass; it hibernates in tree holes and hollows (Wright and Martin 1995). 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. 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). However, a number of observations of this species, cited here and elsewhere in this account, were made in Andasibe (= Périnet), and probably refer to C. crossleyi.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are probably no major threats to the species, although it may be undergoing localized declines due to habitat loss from slash-and-burn agriculture.

Major Threat(s):

There are probably no major threats to the species, although it may be undergoing localized declines due to habitat loss from slash-and-burn agriculture.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix I of CITES. It is reported to occur in eight national parks (Andohahela, Andringitra, Mananara-Nord, Marojejy, Masoala, Montagne d’Ambre, Midongy du Sud, and Ranomafana), two nature reserves (Betampona and Tsaratanana), and two special reserves (Anjanaharibe-Sud and Pic d’Ivohibe), although this may require confirmation given the taxonomic uncertainty surrounding the exact distributional limits of the various species of Cheirogaleus in the eastern rainforests. The dwarf lemur species occurring in Zahamena National Park and the Analamazaotra Special Reserve at Andasibe (= Périnet), previously believed to be C. major, is now believed to be C. crossleyi (Mittermeier et al. 2008). Taxonomic work is urgently required to elucidate more clearly the taxonomic and geographic limits of the species.

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix I of CITES. It is reported to occur in eight national parks (Andohahela, Andringitra, Mananara-Nord, Marojejy, Masoala, Montagne d’Ambre, Midongy du Sud, and Ranomafana), two nature reserves (Betampona and Tsaratanana), and two special reserves (Anjanaharibe-Sud and Pic d’Ivohibe), although this may require confirmation given the taxonomic uncertainty surrounding the exact distributional limits of the various species of Cheirogaleus in the eastern rainforests. The dwarf lemur species occurring in Zahamena National Park and the Analamazaotra Special Reserve at Andasibe (= Périnet), previously believed to be C. major, is now believed to be C. crossleyi (Mittermeier et al. 2008). Taxonomic work is urgently required to elucidate more clearly the taxonomic and geographic limits of the species.

Citation:	Andrainarivo, C., Andriaholinirina, V.N., Feistner, A., Felix, T., Ganzhorn, J., Garbutt, N., Golden, C., Konstant, B., Louis Jr., E., Meyers, D., Mittermeier, R.A., Perieras, A., Princee, F., Rabarivola, J.C., Rakotosamimanana, B., Rasamimanana, H., Ratsimbazafy, J., Raveloarinoro, G., Razafimanantsoa, A., Rumpler, Y., Schwitzer, C., Thalmann, U., Wilmé, L. & Wright, P. 2008. Cheirogaleus major. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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