Small-toothed sportive lemur
- Strictly nocturnal and arboreal.
- Females give birth to one young.
- Has large eyes.
- Long tail.
- Lives in pairs or small groups.
- Feeds mainly on leaves.
- Inhabits eastern forests of Madagascar.
- Poorly studied.
- Status Vulnerable or Endangered.
Age
The small-toothed sportive lemur has a typical lifespan of from 7 to 15 years, although its theoretical lifespan can extend from 23 years and 3 months to 29 years and 10 months. The species reaches sexual maturity from 1 year and 6 months to 2 years and 2 months of age. Development begins with the "Embryo" stage, during which the embryo develops inside the mother and receives nourishment from her. Following this is the "Infant" stage, lasting from 1 day to 6 months, where the infant lives with its mother, feeds on milk, and learns to grip branches. The adult stage begins after this, lasting from 2 to 15 years, during which the lemur independently forages for food, jumps among trees, and participates in reproduction.
Phenotype
The small-toothed sportive lemur has short, dense fur that is lighter in color on the neck; the adult’s large eyes allow for good nighttime vision. The species' strong and long hind legs are suited for jumping between trees. Adult individuals possess small teeth adapted for chewing leaves. Young individuals have soft, thick fur to help retain heat, and their eyes are already large, assisting with vision in the dark.
Physiology
The small-toothed sportive lemur has a body length ranging from 55 to 65 centimeters; its mass ranges from 0.75 to 1.05 kilograms. The young have a body mass ranging from 60 to 250 grams and a body length ranging from 15 to 25 centimeters. An adult individual has a body mass ranging from 0.75 to 1.05 kilograms and a body length ranging from 55 to 65 centimeters.
Habitat
The small-toothed sportive lemur inhabits tropical moist forests, characterized by consistently hot and humid conditions with large trees and vines, and is found on land, in terrestrial forests, and woodlands. The species lives at elevations ranging from 200 meters to 1.5 kilometers. The climate features warm winters with little precipitation, very hot summers exceeding 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, and consistently high humidity with almost daily rainfall. Summers are very hot, and the winters are warm and nearly devoid of precipitation; the species experiences very humid conditions year-round.
Shelter
The small-toothed sportive lemur lives in the crowns of tall trees and does not have a permanent or long-term shelter; the species uses its habitat for protection from predators and for resting, and it lacks a fixed den.
Geography
The small-toothed sportive lemur is found in the Afrotropical realm and the Neotropical realm. The species inhabits Windward Islands moist forests, Vaupés-Trombetas moist forests, and Yucatan moist forests.
Feeding
The small-toothed sportive lemur primarily eats leaves from trees, and occasionally consumes fruits, flowers, and young shoots; the species obtains food by digging up plants with its front paws and chewing them. Its diet includes leaves, fruits, flowers, nectar, and berries, and the strategy for obtaining food involves searching and foraging. The daily food requirement ranges from 80 grams to 150 grams.
Reproduction
The small-toothed sportive lemur is a terrestrial species that lives and develops on land, away from bodies of water, and its young develop in nests built on or near the ground, or high in the branches of shrubs or trees. Gestation lasts 4 months and 2 weeks, and the female gives birth to one live offspring, which immediately clings to her fur and travels with her. The species reproduces through sexual reproduction involving fertilization without generation changes. A female produces one offspring each year, with maturity occurring between 1 year and 6 months and 2 years and 2 months. The interval between reproductions is 1 year.