Greater galago

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Otolemur [1]
Greater Bush Baby.jpg
Brown greater galago
(O. crassicaudatus)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Galagidae
Genus: Otolemur
Coquerel, 1859
Type species
Otolemur agyisymbanus
Coquerel, 1859
( = Otolicnus garnetti Ogilby, 1838)
Species

Otolemur crassicaudatus
Otolemur monteiri
Otolemur garnettii

Contents

Northern greater galago (O. garnettii) BIMG 5931.jpg
Northern greater galago (O. garnettii)

The greater galagos [1] or thick-tailed bushbabies are three species of strepsirrhine primates. They are classified in the genus Otolemur in the family Galagidae.

Historical classification and species discovery

The diversity of galago species has historically been grossly underestimated. In 1931, only 5 species were recognized, 4 in the genus Galago and 1 in Euoticus, and only one species that would later be placed in the genus Otolemur. [2] In 1979, the genus Otolemur was separated from Galago. [3] By 1986, eleven species were recognized with revamped systemic classification including Otolemur crassicaudatus and Otolemur garnettii. [4] Additionally, O. crassidautus and O. monteiri were recognized as separate species instead of O. monteiri as a nested subspecies. [4] By 2001, 23 species were recognized. Classification by vocalization has particularly become prevalent and helpful as a tool in understanding of these species. All Otolemur species exhibit trailing advertising calls. [2]

Distribution and habitat

The species is found in and around coastal regions of Southern and Southeastern Africa; north from the Juba River in Somalia, southwards through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique; west across Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana; southwest to northern South Africa and as far west as Angola and Namibia. For the most part, they live in woodlands and forests, but also are found in sparsely wooded grasslands and even planted city parks and gardens.

Taxonomy

Genus Otolemur Coquerel, 1859 – two species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Brown greater galago

Thick-tailed Bushbaby (Otolemur crassicaudatus) (17322632725).jpg

O. crassicaudatus
É Geoffroy, 1812

Three subspecies
  • O. c. crassicaudatus (South African greater galago)
  • O. c. kirkii (Tanganyika greater galago)
  • O. c. monteiri (Silvery greater galago)
Southern Africa
Brown Greater Galago area.png
Size: 29–38 cm (11–15 in) long, plus 41–48 cm (16–19 in) tail [5]

Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland [6]

Diet: Gum and sap, as well as fruit and insects [5]
 LC 


Unknown Steady2.svg [6]

Northern greater galago

Garnett's Galago (Greater Bushbaby).jpg

O. garnettii
(Ogilby, 1838)

Four subspecies
  • O. g. garnettii (Zanzibar greater galago)
  • O. g. kikuyuensis (Kikuyu greater galago)
  • O. g. lasiotis (White-tailed greater galago)
  • O. g. panganiensis (Pangani greater galago)
Eastern Africa
Northern Greater Galago area.png
Size: 23–34 cm (9–13 in) long, plus about 36 cm (14 in) tail [7]

Habitat: Forest [8]

Diet: Fruit and insects [7]
 LC 


Unknown Decrease2.svg [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galago</span> Family of mammals (primates)

Galagos, also known as bush babies, or nagapies, are small nocturnal primates native to continental, sub-Sahara Africa, and make up the family Galagidae. They are considered a sister group of the Lorisidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senegal bushbaby</span> Species of primate

The Senegal bushbaby, also known as the Senegal galago, the lesser galago or the lesser bush baby, is a small, nocturnal primate, a member of the galago family Galagidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesser bushbaby</span> Genus of primates

Lesser bushbabies, or lesser galagos, are strepsirrhine primates of the genus Galago. They are classified, along with the other bushbaby and galago genera in the family Galagidae. They are probably the most numerous primate in Africa, and can be found in every large forest on the continent, inhabiting forested areas, savannas, riverine bush and open woodlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Needle-clawed bushbaby</span> Genus of primates

The needle-clawed bushbabies are the two species in the genus Euoticus, which is in the family Galagidae. Galagidae is sometimes included as a subfamily within the Lorisidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guenon</span> Genus of Old World monkeys

The guenons are Old World monkeys of the genus Cercopithecus. Not all members of this genus have the word "guenon" in their common names; also, because of changes in scientific classification, some monkeys in other genera may have common names that include the word "guenon". Nonetheless, the use of the term guenon for monkeys of this genus is widely accepted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zanzibar bushbaby</span> Species of primate

The Zanzibar bushbaby, Matundu dwarf galago, Udzungwa bushbaby, or Zanzibar galago is a primate of the family Galagidae. An adult typically weighs 150 grams (5.3 oz), its head-body length is 14 to 15 centimetres and its tail is between 12 and 15 centimetres long. Like other species of galagos, its diet consists mainly of fruit, insects, and tree gums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red colobus</span> Genus of Old World monkeys

Red colobuses are Old World monkeys of the genus Piliocolobus. It was formerly considered a subgenus within the genus Procolobus, which is now restricted to the olive colobus. They are closely related to the black-and-white colobus monkeys, and some species are often found in groups with the blue monkey. The western red colobus is frequently hunted by the common chimpanzee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown greater galago</span> Species of primate

The brown greater galago, also known as the large-eared greater galago or thick-tailed galago, is a nocturnal primate, the largest in the family of galagos. As opposed to smaller galago species it would climb, walk or run rather than leap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern greater galago</span> Species of primate

The northern greater galago, also known as Garnett's greater galago, Garnett's galago, or the small-eared greater galago, is a nocturnal, arboreal primate endemic to Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bioko Allen's bushbaby</span> Species of primate

Bioko Allen's bushbaby, also known as the Bioko squirrel galago, is a species of primate in the galago family found in Cameroon, Nigeria, and the island of Bioko, Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. The bushbaby is currently near-threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western dwarf galago</span> Species of primate

The western dwarf galagos are a group of three species of strepsirrhine primates, native to western and central Africa. They are classified in the genus Galagoides of the family Galagidae. The eastern dwarf galagos have been moved to their own genus, Paragalago, based on genetic evidence and differences in vocalization. The two genera are not sister taxa and thus may have evolved their small sizes via parallel evolution. They are separated by the East African Rift.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali bushbaby</span> Species of primate

The Somali bushbaby, or the Somali lesser galago, as it is also known, is a species of nocturnal, arboreal primate in the family Galagidae. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant's bushbaby</span> Species of primate

Grant's bushbaby, also known as Grant's lesser bushbaby or the Mozambique lesser bushbaby, is a species of primate in the family Galagidae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is a common species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohol bushbaby</span> Species of primate

The Mohol bushbaby is a species of primate in the family Galagidae which is native to mesic woodlands of the southern Afrotropics. It is physically very similar to the Senegal bushbaby, and was formerly considered to be its southern variety. The two species differ markedly in their biology however, and no hybrids have been recorded in captivity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silvery greater galago</span> Species of primate

The silvery greater galago is a nocturnal primate from the galago family. It is usually found in Brachystegia woodland, from Angola to Tanzania, western Kenya and Rwanda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squirrel galago</span> Species of primate

The squirrel galagos are a group of four species of strepsirrhine primates. They are classified in the genus Sciurocheirus of the family Galagidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenya coast galago</span> Species of primate

The Kenya coast galago is a species of primate in the family Galagidae. It is found across Kenya and Tanzania, particularly around the northern coastal area of each of the countries, and has been located living from sea level to around 350 metres (1,150 ft) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern dwarf galago</span> Genus of strepsirrhine primates

The eastern dwarf galagos are a group of five species of strepsirrhine primates of the family Galagidae, native to East Africa. They were formerly classified in the genus Galagoides but have been moved to their own genus, Paragalago, based on genetic evidence, and supported by differences in vocalizations and morphology. The three western/Congolian species remain in Galagoides.

References

  1. 1 2 Groves, C. P. (2005). "Genus Otolemur". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 126–127. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. 1 2 Grubb, Peter; Butynski TM; Oates JF; Bearder SK; Disotell TR; Groves CP; Struhsaker TT (December 2003). "Assessment of the Diversity of African Primates". Internal Journal of Primatology. 24 (6): 1301–1357. doi:10.1023/B:IJOP.0000005994.86792.b9. S2CID   24110272.
  3. Olson, T. R. (1979). Studies on Aspects of the Morphology and Systematics of the Genus Otolemur. London: Phd thesis, University of London.
  4. 1 2 Olson, T. R. (1986). "Species Diversity and Zoogeography in the Galagidae". Primate Rep. 214: 213.
  5. 1 2 Lundrigan, Barbara; Harris, Julie (2000). "Otolemur crassicaudatus". Animal Diversity Web . University of Michigan . Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Masters, J.; Bearder, S. (2019). "Otolemur crassicaudatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T15643A17963699. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T15643A17963699.en .
  7. 1 2 Tao, Randa (2006). "Otolemur garnettii". Animal Diversity Web . University of Michigan . Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  8. 1 2 de Jong, Y. A.; Butynski, T. M.; Perkin, A.; Svensson, M. (2019). "Otolemur garnettii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T15644A17963837. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T15644A17963837.en .