Galagoides zanzibaricus
SUBFAMILY
Galaginae
TAXONOMY
Galago zanzibaricus, (Matschie, 1893), Yamhiani, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Long regarded as a subspecies of the considerably larger-bodied Galago senegalensis but now recognized as a distinct species. Two subspecies are recognized.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Galago de Zanzibar; German: Zanzibargalago.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Fur brown dorsally and pale brown ventrally. Yellowish tinge on cheeks and throat. Thick black eye rings present and separated by a long, thick white stripe extending up the snout from the rhinarium to the forehead. Head and body length: 6 in (15 cm); tail length: 8.5 in (21 cm). Body mass: males 5.5 oz (150 g); females 5 oz (135 g).
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs in coastal and low-lying mountain-flank forests of East Africa, from southern Somalia to central Tanzania, and on the island of Zanzibar.
HABITAT
Evergreen tropical rainforests.
BEHAVIOR
Nocturnal and fully arboreal. Locomotion predominantly quadrupedal. Each adult male shares a range with one or two adult females, with which stable sleeping groups are formed.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Diet consists essentially of fruit and arthropods (mainly insects).
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Polygynous. Predominantly single births, although twins also occur. Gestation period 124 days. Two clear birth peaks per year, separated by 5 months.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Listed as Near Threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
