00:00The cute Microseb or cute Chirogal is a small species of lemur from Madagascar.
00:04Weighing 58 to 67 grams, it is the largest of the Microseb, genus Microsebus.
00:09a group that includes the smallest primates in the world.
00:12The species is known locally, in Malagasy, as Tsidi, Koitsiki, Titiivaha, Pondiki and Vakiandri.
00:18The cute Microseb and other Microseb species are considered cryptic species.
00:23because they are almost impossible to distinguish from one another by appearance.
00:27For this reason, the cute Microseb was considered the only species of Microseb for decades.
00:33until more recent studies began to distinguish between the species.
00:37Like all Microseb, this species is nocturnal and arboreal.
00:40She is very active, and, if she feeds herself,
00:43They form mixed groups to lie down and rest in tree holes during the day.
00:48The cute Microseb exhibits a form of dormancy called "torpor",
00:51during the cool, dry winter months, and in some cases it can hibernate, which is rare among the
00:56primates.
00:57The cute Microseb lives in several types of forests in western and southern Madagascar.
01:01Its diet consists mainly of fruits, insects, flowers and nectar.
01:07In the wild, its natural predators include owls, snakes, and certain endemic mammals.
01:12Predation pressure is higher for this species than for other primate species.
01:17with one in four individuals caught by a predator each year.
01:20This is offset by its high reproduction rate.
01:23Reproduction is seasonal and its vocalizations are easily recognizable.
01:27allow it to avoid hybridization with other species sharing its range.
01:31Gestation lasts approximately 60 days and usually results in the birth of two offspring.
01:36These are usually independent after two months and can reproduce after a year.
01:40The cute Microseb has an average lifespan of five years.
01:43although some individuals in captivity have reached an age of up to 15 years.
01:47Although threatened by deforestation, habitat degradation and the capture of live animals for trade
01:53illegal,
01:53It is considered one of the most abundant small native mammals of Madagascar.
01:58It can tolerate moderate food shortages by slowing its metabolism and entering a state of torpor.
02:03However, prolonged food shortages linked to climate change can pose a significant risk to this species.
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