Mohol bushbaby

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Mohol bushbaby [1]
The Mohol bushbaby (Galago moholi), crop.jpg
At Thalamakane River, Botswana
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Galagidae
Genus: Galago
Species:
G. moholi
Binomial name
Galago moholi
A. Smith, 1836
Galago moholi range.png

The Mohol bushbaby (Galago moholi) is a species of primate in the family Galagidae which is native to mesic woodlands of southern Africa. 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. [3]

Contents

Description

The Mohol bushbaby is a medium size species with a head-and-body length of 15 cm (6 in) and a tail of 23 cm (9 in).The head is broad, with a short muzzle, orange eyes and diamond-shaped black eye-rings. The nose-stripe is whitish and the ears are large and grey. The dorsal surface of the body has a greyish-brown pelage, and the underparts are white, sometimes with a yellowish tinge. The flanks, inside of the limbs, hands and feet are yellowish. The fingers and toes have spatulate tips. The tail is darker than the rest of the fur but is not very bushy. [4]

Range

The species is found in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. [5] It is perhaps also present in Rwanda and Burundi. [2]

Habitat

The species is naturally found in savanna, miombo, and mopane woodland as well as riverine galley forests. In these biomes, Acacia and Mopane trees are used as resting and breeding spots as well as food and water sources for the Mohol bushbaby, which reside in the thorny branches in groups of two to seven. [2]

Breeding populations of this species are present in the suburbs of Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa. Some of these were originally escaped or released pets, while others have migrated from warmer regions. [6]

Ecology

The Mohol bushbaby feeds predominantly on insects and gum. The gum is an exudate from Acacia trees that oozes out of punctures made by insects. The most favoured gum-trees are sweet thorn (Acacia karroo) and umbrella thorn (Acacia tortilis). In the winter, the bushbaby moves between gum trees across the ground, but in the wet summer season, it usually travels arboreally, and consumes a much higher percentage of invertebrates. Feeding takes place soon after sunset, and then again throughout the night sporadically. [4]

The Mohol bushbaby gets most of its water hygroscopically from its solid diet, and can live independently from water sources. [2]

Subspecies

Several authors recognize two subspecies: [3] [5]

References

  1. ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 125. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  2. 1 2 3 4 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 .
  3. 1 2 Kingdon, Jonathan; Happold, David; Butynski, Thomas; Hoffmann, Michael; Happold, Meredith; Kalina, Jan (2013). Mammals of Africa. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 430–433. ISBN   9781408189962.
  4. 1 2 Jonathan Kingdon; David Happold; Thomas Butynski; Michael Hoffmann; Meredith Happold; Jan Kalina (2013). Mammals of Africa. A&C Black. pp. 430–434. ISBN   978-1-4081-8996-2.
  5. 1 2 Grubb, P.; Butynski, T. M.; Oates, J. F.; Bearder, S. K.; Disotell, T. R.; Groves, C. P.; Struhsaker, T. T. (2003). "Assessment of the diversity of African primates". International Journal of Primatology . 24 (6): 1301–1357. doi:10.1023/B:IJOP.0000005994.86792.b9. S2CID   24110272.
  6. ↑ "Bushbaby SOS". Fairly Wild. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  7. ↑ Meester, J. A. J.; Rautenbach, I. L.; Dippenaar, N. J.; Baker, C. M. (1986). Classification of southern African mammals. Orders Primates and Carnivora. Pretoria: Transvaal Museum Monograph # 5. p. 78. hdl: 10520/AJA090799001_107 . ISBN   0907990061.
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