Lesser bushbaby

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Galago [1]
Komba usata.jpg
Senegal bushbaby (G. senegalensis)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Galagidae
Genus: Galago
É. Geoffroy, 1796
Type species
Galago senegalensis
Species

Galago gallarum
Galago matschiei
Galago moholi
Galago senegalensis

Contents

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. [1] 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. [2] [3]

They mark their territory by urinating on their hands and leaving traces on the trees they climb across, and they follow these detectable paths through the trees night after night. Males will also urinate on females to mark them. They are related to lorises, and have similar behavior and anatomy. They are much faster, however, and typically hunt by speed rather than by stealth. [2] Primitive bushbabies are thought to have been the ancestors of all lemurs. [2]

Appearance

Lesser bushbabies are small, woolly primates with long tails and oversized, naked ears. Different species are sometimes indistinguishable even when compared side by side. [4] Additionally, there is often notable variation in coloration and body size even within species and populations. [5] Their coat varies across body regions as well as between species, typically ranging from black, brown, and grey to white, with many showing a greenish, reddish, and orangeish tint to the sides and limbs. Some species have a nasal strip while others have distinct dark rings around the eyes. [4]

Their neck is very flexible, so that the head can turn 180 degrees, [6] which gives them a broad field of vision which is helpful in locating prey; they also have highly mobile ears that allow them to track insects as they hunt. Round flat pads on their fingertips, between their fingers, and on their palms at the base of their thumbs enable them to firmly grip the branches. [7] They also have pointed, keeled nails that give them stability as they cling to smooth tree surfaces and reach for insects into crevices, using their rough narrow tongue. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Lesser bushbabies are distributed through most of Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal east to Somalia and down to South Africa (excepting its southern extreme) and are present in almost every country in between. However, there are great differences in their extent and distribution by species. G. senegalensis is the most widespread species, extending from Senegal in the west across central Africa to eastern Africa. G. moholi has a broad distribution over much of southern Africa. G. gallarum has more restricted distributions in eastern Africa, and G. matschiei is restricted to Uganda. [8]

Lesser bushbabies are found in a variety of habitats, such as woodland, bushland, savanna, montane forest, riverine habitats; favouring trees with little grass around them. [9]

Diet

Bushbabies generally consume three types of food in various proportions and combinations: animal prey, fruit, and gum. Although their diet consists mainly on small invertebrates (mostly insects), some species also eat frogs and possibly other small animals. [4]

Behavior

Galagos are tree dwelling primates and are capable of leaping significant distances, up to and sometimes greater than 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in), [10] using flattened disks on their feet and hands as a way of grasping branches. [11] However they do walk on the ground sometimes, either bipedally or on all fours. [11]

Galagos are nocturnal animals, foraging at night and sleeping in trees during the day. Adults are mainly solitary and maintain social contact mainly through vocal communication. There are up to 18 distinct calls, used mainly for territorial advertisement and long-distance spacing. [12] All these calls are part of three categories, defensive and aggressive, social contact, and annunciatory. They also have very highly developed hearing. [13] [14]

Bushbabies are solitary foragers, however they do meet up at night in groups. Some species, such as G. moholi , can be found sleeping in groups of 2 to 7 during the day. [15] These groups are typically composed of a female and several of her young. At night the groups separate to forage independently. Males are mostly aggressive to each other; dominant males are the only ones that defend territories and are often the largest and most aggressive. [15]

Breeding

Mohol bushbaby (Galago moholi) Bushbabies.JPG
Mohol bushbaby (Galago moholi)

Lesser bushbabies usually give birth during the rainy season. The offspring are usually twins. [16] After the birth there is usually a second period of heat. A female’s gestation period is between 111–142 days and will usually consist of the female mating with up to 6 different males. [11] [17]

Lesser bushbaby mothers initially shelter their offspring in a nest or tree hollow, later on concealing the infants in foliage while they forage at night. [16]

Taxonomy

Genus Galago – É. Geoffroy, 1796 – three species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Dusky bushbaby G. matschiei
Liburnau, 1917		Central Africa
Galago matschiei distribution.svg 		Size: 14–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 24–28 cm (9–11 in) tail [18]

Habitat: Forest [19]

Diet: Insects, fruit, flowers, and gum [18] 		 LC 


Unknown Decrease2.svg [19]

Mohol bushbaby

The Mohol bushbaby (Galago moholi), crop.jpg

G. moholi
Smith, 1836		Central and southern Africa
Galago moholi range.png 		Size: 14–17 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 11–28 cm (4–11 in) tail [20]

Habitat: Savanna [21]

Diet: Arthropods, as well as tree gum and resin [20] 		 LC 


Unknown Steady2.svg [21]

Senegal bushbaby

Galago senegalensis.jpg

G. senegalensis
É Geoffroy, 1796

Four subspecies
  • G. s. braccatus (Kenya lesser bushbaby)
  • G. s. dunni (Ethiopia lesser bushbaby)
  • G. s. senegalensis (Senegal lesser bushbaby)
  • G. s. sotikae (Uganda lesser bushbaby)
Equatorial Africa (possible additional range in red)
Distribution G. senegalensis.svg 		Size: 13–21 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 19–30 cm (7–12 in) tail [22]

Habitat: Forest and savanna [23]

Diet: Insects, as well as small birds, eggs, fruits, seeds, flowers, and tree gum [24] 		 LC 


Unknown Decrease2.svg [23]

Somali bushbaby

Somali Lesser Galago.jpg

G. gallarum
Thomas, 1901		Eastern Africa
Somali Bushbaby area.png 		Size: 13–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 20–30 cm (8–12 in) tail [22]

Habitat: Savanna [25]

Diet: Gum and invertebrates [22] 		 LC 


Unknown Steady2.svg [25]

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">Black-and-white colobus</span> Genus of Old World monkeys

Black-and-white colobuses are Old World monkeys of the genus Colobus, native to Africa. They are closely related to the red colobus monkeys of genus Piliocolobus. There are five species of this monkey, and at least eight subspecies. They are generally found in high-density forests where they forage on leaves, flowers and fruit. Social groups of colobus are diverse, varying from group to group. Resident-egalitarian and allomothering relationships have been observed among the female population. Complex behaviours have also been observed in this species, including greeting rituals and varying group sleeping patterns. Colobi play a significant role in seed dispersal.

<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">Prosimian</span> Obsolete primate taxon

Prosimians are a group of primates that includes all living and extinct strepsirrhines, as well as the haplorhine tarsiers and their extinct relatives, the omomyiforms, i.e. all primates excluding the simians. They are considered to have characteristics that are more "primitive" than those of simians.

<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">Greater galago</span> Genus of primates

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potto</span> Arboreal primate of west-central Africa

The pottos are three species of strepsirrhine primate in the genus Perodicticus of the family Lorisidae. In some English-speaking parts of Africa, they are called "softly-softlys".

<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">Mantled guereza</span> Species of mammal

The mantled guereza, also known simply as the guereza, the eastern black-and-white colobus, or the Abyssinian black-and-white colobus, is a black-and-white colobus, a type of Old World monkey. It is native to much of west central and east Africa, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Chad. The species consists of several subspecies that differ in appearance. It has a distinctive appearance, which is alluded to in its name; the long white fringes of hair that run along each side of its black trunk are known as a mantle. Its face is framed with white hair and it has a large white tail tuft.

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

The southern needle-clawed bushbaby is a species of strepsirrhine primate in the family Galagidae. Found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, and possibly Democratic Republic of the Congo, its natural habitat is tropical moist forests. While the species is not threatened or endangered, some local populations may be threatened by habitat destruction.

<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">Dusky bushbaby</span> Species of primate

The dusky bushbaby is a species of primate in the family Galagidae. It is also known as Matschie's galago, in honour of the German zoologist Paul Matschie, curator of mammals at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. Native to tropical Central Africa, it is found in forests in Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The species is small with a long tail, and has an arboreal, nocturnal and omnivorous lifestyle.

<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">Cross River bushbaby</span> Subspecies of primate

The Cross River bushbaby, also known as the Cross River squirrel galago, is a subspecies of prosimian primate in the family Galagidae which is endemic to a restricted area of West Africa. It is one of four species of squirrel galago in the genus Sciurocheirus.

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

The Gabon bushbaby is a species of primate in the family Galagidae found in Cameroon, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo. Its head and body length is 8.5 in with a 10-in tail, and it weighs about 10 oz. It lives in evergreen tropical rainforests and eats primarily fallen fruit, but also some arthropods.

<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">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 Galago". 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. 124–126. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. 1 2 3 David Attenborough, Life of Mammals , Episode 8: Life in the Trees. BBC Warner, 2003.
  3. 1 2 Abrams, Sylvie (November 2016). "Lesser Galago". New England Primate Conservatory. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lesser bushbaby". WNPRC.
  5. ↑ Ambrose, Lesley (January 2003). "Three acoustic forms of Allen's galagos (Primates; Galagonidae) in the Central African region". Primates. 44 (1): 25–39. doi:10.1007/s10329-002-0004-x. ISSN   0032-8332. PMID   12548332. S2CID   23422588.
  6. ↑ Grzimek's encyclopedia of mammals (English language ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. 1990. ISBN   9780079095084.
  7. ↑ Sleeper, Barbara (1997). Primates : the amazing world of lemurs, monkeys, and apes. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN   9780811814348.
  8. ↑ Fleagle, John G. (2013). "Chapter 4 - The Prosimians: Lemurs, Lorises, Galagos and Tarsiers". Primate Adaptation and Evolution (Third ed.). San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 57–88. ISBN   978-0-12-378632-6.
  9. ↑ Schütze, Heike (12 June 2013). Field guide to the mammals of the Kruger National Park. Cape Town. ISBN   9781431701902.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ↑ Butynski, Thomas M.; de Jong, Yvonne A. (January 2004). "Natural History Of The Somali Lesser Galago (Galago gallarum)". Journal of East African Natural History. 93 (1): 23–38. doi: 10.2982/0012-8317(2004)93[23:NHOTSL]2.0.CO;2 .
  11. 1 2 3 "Lesser Bushbaby". Siyabona Africa. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  12. ↑ Schneiderová, Irena; Singh, Navinder J.; Baklová, Aneta; Smetanová, Milena; Gomis, Nicolas Benty; Lhota, Stanislav (March 2020). "Northern lesser galagos (Galago senegalensis) increase the production of loud calls before and at dawn". Primates. 61 (2): 331–338. doi:10.1007/s10329-019-00784-3. PMID   31903513. S2CID   209843888.
  13. ↑ An Atlas and source book of the lesser bushbaby, Galago senegalensis. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press. 1981. ISBN   9780849363207.
  14. ↑ Bearder, Simon (1995). "Calls of the Wild". Natural History. 104: 48–57.
  15. 1 2 Poynter, Therien. "Galago moholi (South African galago)". Animal Diversity Web.
  16. 1 2 Dixson, Alan F. (26 January 2012). Primate Sexuality: Comparative Studies of the Prosimians, Monkeys, Apes, and Humans. Oxford University Press. p. 137. ISBN   978-0-19-150342-9 . Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  17. ↑ Fitterer, Carolynn. "Galago gabonensis (Gabon bushbaby)". Animal Diversity Web.
  18. 1 2 Kingdon et al., p. 440
  19. 1 2 Butynski, T. M.; de Jong, Y. A. (2019). "Galago matschiei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T8787A17963414. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T8787A17963414.en .
  20. 1 2 Poynter, Therien (2009). "Galago moholi". Animal Diversity Web . University of Michigan . Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  21. 1 2 Bearder, S.; Svensson, M.; Butynski, T. M.; de Jong, Y. A. (2021). "Galago moholi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T8788A206563837. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T8788A206563837.en .
  22. 1 2 3 Kingdon, ch. Galagos
  23. 1 2 de Jong, Y. A.; Butynski, T. M.; Svensson, M.; Perkin, A. (2019). "Galago senegalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T8789A17963505. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T8789A17963505.en .
  24. ↑ Ballenger, Liz (2001). "Galago senegalensis". Animal Diversity Web . University of Michigan . Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  25. 1 2 de Jong, Y. A.; Butynski, T. M. (2019). "Galago gallarum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T8786A17963185. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T8786A17963185.en .
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