Kingdom Animalia Class Mammalia Suborder Strepsirrhini Scientific name Mirza coquereli | Phylum Chordata Order Primates Family Cheirogaleidae Rank Species | |
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Similar Giant mouse lemur, Lemur, Primate, Masoala fork‑marked lemur, Fork‑marked lemur | ||
Coquerel's giant mouse lemur (Mirza coquereli), also known as Coquerel's dwarf lemur or the southern giant mouse lemur, is a small nocturnal lemur endemic to Madagascar. This species was named after the French entomologist Charles Coquerel. This lemur can be found in parts of the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.
This lemur is active throughout the year; unlike mouse lemurs (Microcebus), it does not hibernate, and instead it feeds on homopteran larvae to sustain itself. It is an arboreal species, and feeds on fruit, flowers, and small animals such as insects and spiders. Coquerel's giant mouse lemur is heavily preyed upon by owls.
This species was the only member of the genus Mirza until 2005, when a second species, the northern giant mouse lemur (M. zaza) was described.