#galagidae

[all-mammal-creechur]

Zanzibar Galago Paragalago zanzibaricus

It is the most widespread and abundant bushbaby in the coastal forests of Tanzania. Like other species of galagos, its diet consists mainly of fruit, insects, and tree gums.

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[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Galagos always make sure they wash their hands-- with a fresh coat of urine! This practice is thought to increase social bonds within groups, as it is often done before grooming. It may also help galagos to climb trees, as the urine can improve their grip and leaves a scent trail which they can use to tell which branches are safe to jump on.

(Image: An Angolan dwarf galago (Galagoides kumbirensis) by Elena Bersacola

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[snototter]

A pair of brown greater galagos (Otolemur crassicaudatus) in Mkhuze Game Reserve, South Africa

by Ik_kil

[all-mammal-creechur]

Spectacled Lesser Galago Galago matschiei

Also called the dusky bushbaby, they are found in the Albertine Rift region of Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It forages mostly in the mid and lower parts of the canopy. The diet includes beetles, moths and caterpillars as well as fruits, flowers and gums.

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[all-mammal-creechur]

Somali Lesser Galago Galago gallarum

Also called the Somali bushbaby, they are found in the thorny woodland/scrub and semi-arid thorn scrub of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.

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[uncharismatic-fauna]

Go Go Southern Lesser Galago!

Also known as the South African galago or the mohol bushbaby, the southern lesser galago (Galago moholi) is a small primate from the Galagidae, or bushbaby family. As the name implies, they are located only in southern Africa, from northern South Africa up to Rwanda. Their preferred habitats are savannahs and semi-arid woodlands, where they can often be found high in the canopy, and they are particularly associated with Acacia trees.

The mohol bushbaby is one of the smaller members of its group; at full height they stand no taller than 15 cm (6 in) and weigh only 225 g (7.9 oz). In fact, their tail is longer than their body, easily reaching 23 cm (9 in) in length. While it isn't prehensile, the tail is still an important tool for climbing as it gives G. moholi an excellent sense of balance. Along with their incredible tails, the South African galago also has one of the largest sets of ears of any primate, proportional to its size; these ears can move independently to help the southen lesser bushbaby avoid predators. G. moholi's final distinguishing feature are their eyes, which are incredibly large and a distinctive orange color. Individuals themselves tend to be gray or light brown, which helps them blend in with their surroundings.

South African galagos are almost strictly nocturnal. At night, they forage through the canopy for moths and beetles. These bits of protein, however, are supplemental; the mohol bushbaby's primary source of food is gum, or hardened sap from the Acacia plant. G. moholi has several adaptations allowing it to specialize in gum extraction, including scraping teeth on the lower mandible; long, rough tongues; and digestive systems that have evolved to break down and ferment the tough substance. Because they have very few defense mechanisms, southern lesser galagos are a common prey for many nocturnal species like eagles, owls, snakes, mongooses, civets, and gennets.

One of the few ways the South African bushbaby avoids predation is through its social units. Groups of 2-7-- typically composed of a female, her young, and a few non-reproductive relatives-- forage together. In these groups, their collective night vision and highly-developed hearing allow them to detect and alert each other to predators long before the threat is immanent. While individuals forage seperately, they keep in contact via loud, high pitched calls that can serve as a warning for predators, a point of contact between mother and offspring, or a territorial warning between males.

Male G. moholi live seperately from social groups, and are highly aggressive against other males invading their territory. This area often overlaps that of several female-led groups, but they only come in contact with each other during the mating season. Unusually, the species has two mating seasons through the year; from January to Februrary (late summer) and from October to November (early spring). Following a gestation period of 120 days, females produce a single set of twins each mating season. Each set is weaned after approximately 3 months, and young become fully mature at 300 days. Female offspring may join the mother's group, while males leave to establish their own territory. In the wild, an individual may live up to 16 years.

Conservation status: The IUCN has classified the South African bushbaby as Least Concern. Studies have indicated that the population is stable and, in some areas, increasing. However, in other areas the species is threatened by habitat loss and possibly capture for the pet and bushmeat trade.

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Photos

Gerald Doyle

Peter Webb via iNaturalist

[the-mists-of-time]

[ooklikeasir-blog]

While not native, I can be found in breeding-populations near Johannesburg and Pretoria. Some of us have migrated, but others are escaped or released pets.