Arnhold's mouse lemur or the Montagne d'Ambre mouse lemur (''Microcebus arnholdi'') is a species of

mouse lemur The mouse lemurs are nocturnal lemurs of the genus ''Microcebus''. Like all lemurs, mouse lemurs are native to Madagascar. Mouse lemurs have a combined head, body and tail length of less than , making them the smallest primates (the smallest spe ...

endemic to

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

. Its

holotype A holotype is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism, known to have been used when the species (or lower-ranked taxon) was formally described. It is either the single such physical example (or illustration) or one of seve ...

was first collected on 27 November 2005, and was first described in 2008. According to

genetic tests Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...

, it is genetically distinct from its closest sister taxa, the Sambirano mouse lemur (''M. sambiranensis''). It is a medium-sized mouse lemur, weighing approximately , with a body length of and a tail length of . It is found in the

montane rainforest Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...

of Montagne d’Ambre National Park and Montagne d'Ambre Special Reserve in northern Madagascar.

Etymology

The name ''arnholdi'' was chosen in honor of Henry Arnhold of New York, whose focus on linking the well-being of people in developing countries to the protection of critically important

biodiversity hotspot A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened by human habitation. Norman Myers wrote about the concept in two articles in ''The Environmentalist'' in 1988 and 1990, after which the c ...

s helped create

Conservation International Conservation International (CI) is an American nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. CI's work focuses on science, policy and partnership with businesses, governments and communities. The or ...

's Healthy Communities Initiative and Conservation Stewards' Program.

Anatomy and physiology

Arnhold's mouse lemur weighs approximately , although like other mouse lemurs, its weight will fluctuate depending upon the season. The

for the species, collected on 27 November 2005, weighed , a body length of and a tail length of . Other measurements include head crown of , muzzle length of , ear length of , and ear width of . The

dorsal Dorsal (from Latin ''dorsum'' ‘back’) may refer to: * Dorsal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location referring to the back or upper side of an organism or parts of an organism * Dorsal, positioned on top of an aircraft's fuselage * Dorsal co ...

pelage Fur is a thick growth of hair that covers the skin of mammals. It consists of a combination of oily guard hair on top and thick underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an insulating blanket t ...

is dark brown, red and gray, with a dark brown midline dorsal stripe running down the base of the tail. The tail has a dark brown tip. The

ventral Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

pelage is white to cream, with gray undertones. The head is red, with dark brown on the muzzle and around the eyes. There is also a white nose ridge that stops at the

distal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

end of the muzzle.

Distribution

Arnhold's mouse lemur is found in the

Montagne d'Ambre National Park Montagne d'Ambre National Park is a national park in the Diana Region of northern Madagascar. The park is known for its endemic flora and fauna, water falls and crater lakes. It is north of the capital, Antananarivo and is one of the most biolog ...

and Montagne d'Ambre Special Reserve, northwest of the

Irodo River The Irodo River is located in northern Madagascar. Its sources are situated in the Ambohitra Massif and flows into the Indian Ocean. Near Sadjoavato it formed the Tsingy Rouge, a stone formation of red laterite Laterite is both a soil and ...

in the

Antsiranana Province Antsiranana is a former province of Madagascar with an area of 43,406 km2. It had a population of 1,188,425 (July, 2001). Its capital was Antsiranana. A diversity of ethnic groups are found in the province, including Anjoaty, Sakalava, A ...

of Madagascar. The southern end of the Arnhold's mouse lemur's range is bordered by the range of the

northern rufous mouse lemur The northern rufous mouse lemur (''Microcebus tavaratra''), northern brown mouse lemur, or Tavaratra mouse lemur is found in northern Madagascar from the Ankarana Special Reserve in the west to the Manambato River in the northeast, and up to th ...

(''M. tavaratra''), forming a significant species barrier between it and its genetically closest sister taxa, the Sambirano mouse lemur (''M. sambiranensis''), further to the southwest.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1134080 Mammals described in 2008 Mouse lemurs