Distribution and Conservation Status of Two Newly Described Cheirogaleid Species, Mirza zaza and Microcebus lehilahytsara

Abstract

The northern giant mouse lemur, Mirza zaza Kappeler and Roos in Kappeler et al., 2005, and Goodman's mouse lemur, Microcebus lehilahytsara Roos and Kappeler in Kappeler et al., 2005, are known from the region of the Ampasindava peninsula in northwestern Madagascar, and Andasibe and surrounding regions in east-central Madagascar, respectively. The presence of M. zaza in protected areas has yet to be confirmed, but it may occur in the Manongarivo Special Reserve and the Tsingy de Namoroka National Park. Microcebus lehilahytsara occurs in the Analamazaotra Special Reserve and Mantadia National Park. In this paper, we review what little is known of these two species in terms of their distributions and conservation status. Mirza zaza is possibly Vulnerable, following the IUCN Red List criteria, whereas Microcebus lehilahytsara is Data Deficient.