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20 May 2013
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Fat-tailed dwarf lemur
Cheirogaleus medius

Fat-tailed dwarf lemurs hibernate during the cool, dry season, surviving on the fat stored in their tail.

Subspecies
Two.

Life span
Although their lifespan in the wild is not known, in captivity fat-tailed dwarf lemurs live for 18 years.

Statistics
Head and body length: 20cm, Tail length: 20cm, Weight: 142-217g (fluctuates greatly as stores are built up then depleted during hibernation).

Physical description
Fat-tailed lemurs have grey upper-parts, with a lighter underside. They store fat in their tail.

Distribution
Fat-tailed dwarf lemurs live in Madagascar.

Habitat
They inhabit dry forests.

Diet
Fat-tailed dwarf lemurs feed on fruit, nectar, flowers, buds, beetles and chameleons.

Behaviour
They are solitary, but sleep in communal hollow-tree nests of 2-9 individuals. They move quadrupedally and are not agile leapers. Fat-tailed mouse lemurs are nocturnal.

Reproduction
After a gestation of 65 days, females give birth to 2-3 young from December to January.

Conservation status
This species is not listed by the 2000 IUCN Red List.





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