Editing Fat-tailed dwarf lemur

{{Short description|Species of lemur}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur
| taxon = Cheirogaleus medius
| authority = [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|É. Geoffroy]], 1812<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Primates | id = 12100012 | page = 112}}</ref>
| image = Cheirogaleus-medius.jpg
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Blanco, M. |author2=Dolch, R. |author3=Ganzhorn, J. |author4=Greene, L.K. |author5=Le Pors, B. |author6=Lewis, R. |author7=Louis, E.E. |author8=Rafalinirina, H.A. |author9=Raharivololona, B. |author10=Rakotoarisoa, G. |author11=Ralison, J. |author12=Randriahaingo, H.N.T. |author13=Rasoloarison, R.M. |author14=Razafindrasolo, M. |author15=Sgarlata, G.M. |author16=Wright, P. |author17=Zaonarivelo, J. |date=2020 |title=''Cheirogaleus medius'' |volume=2020 |page=e.T163023599A115588562 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T163023599A115588562.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| status2 = CITES_A1
| status2_system = CITES
| status2_ref = <ref>{{cite book | last1 = Harcourt | first1 = C. | editor-last1 = Thornback | editor-first1 = J | title = Lemurs of Madagascar and the Comoros: The IUCN Red Data Book | publisher = [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|World Conservation Union]] | year = 1990 | isbn = 978-2-88032-957-0 | oclc = 28425691 | url = https://archive.org/details/lemursofmadagasc90harc | format = PDF }}</ref>
| synonyms = 
*''minor'' <small>É. Geoffroy, 1812</small>
*''samati'' <small>Grandidier, 1867</small>
| range_map = Cheirogaleus medius range map.svg
| range_map_caption = Fat-tailed dwarf lemur range<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
}}

The '''fat-tailed dwarf lemur''' ('''''Cheirogaleus medius'''''), also known as the '''lesser dwarf lemur''', '''western fat-tailed dwarf lemur''', or '''spiny forest dwarf lemur''', is endemic to [[Madagascar]]. 

The fat-tailed dwarf lemur is {{cvt|8|-|9|in}} long from its head to the end of its torso, with an {{cvt|8|-|11|in}} tail extending beyond that. It weighs {{cvt|4|-|10|oz}}. It has a lifespan of 4-11 years in the wild and 18 years in captivity. It uses its tail to store fat reserves for [[torpor]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-20 |title=Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur, Cheirogaleus medius {{!}} New England Primate Conservancy |url=https://neprimateconservancy.org/fat-tailed-dwarf-lemur/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=neprimateconservancy.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Hibernation==
Recent research has shown that ''C. medius'' [[hibernation|hibernates]] (or [[Aestivation|aestivates]]), even though in the tropical winter of Madagascar, temperatures remain high. It is the first tropical mammal and only primate in which hibernation has been demonstrated. However, the Malagasy winter is dry, and it appears that the [[lemur]] is avoiding the drought. It can hibernate for seven months. Unlike animals that hibernate in temperate regions, the lemur does not control its body temperature while hibernating, and if the tree hole in which it is sleeping is not well insulated, its body temperature fluctuates in accordance with the outside temperature.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Dausmann, K. H. |author2=Glos, J. |author3=Ganzhorn, J. U. |author4= Heldmaier, G. |name-list-style=amp| year = 2004 | title = Hibernation in a tropical primate | journal = Nature | volume = 429 | pages = 825–826 | doi = 10.1038/429825a | pmid = 15215852 | issue = 6994|s2cid=4366123 }}</ref> During torpor, this lemur has been found to periodically enter [[REM sleep]]; [[non-REM sleep]] has not been observed, a pattern opposite that found in hibernating [[ground squirrel]]s.<ref name=Krystal2013>{{Cite journal | last1 = Krystal | first1 = A. D. | last2 = Schopler | first2 = B. | last3 = Kobbe | first3 = S. | last4 = Williams | first4 = C. | last5 = Rakatondrainibe | first5 = H. | last6 = Yoder | first6 = A. D. | last7 = Klopfer | first7 = P. | editor1-last = Seebacher | editor1-first = Frank | title = The Relationship of Sleep with Temperature and Metabolic Rate in a Hibernating Primate | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0069914 | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 8 | issue = 9 | pages = e69914 | year = 2013 | pmid =  24023713| pmc = 3762832| bibcode = 2013PLoSO...869914K | doi-access = free }}</ref> The REM sleep episodes occurred during periods of higher ambient temperature (averaging 27 C, versus an average of 20 C during nonsleeping intervals while in torpor).<ref name=Krystal2013/>

''C. medius'' has a significantly longer lifespan than other strepsirrhinine or nonstrepsirrhinine primates of similar size, and this longevity is thought to be related to its status as part of the only primate genus that is an obligatory hibernator. Its maximum lifespan in captivity is nearly 30 years.<ref name="Blanco2015">{{cite journal|last1=Blanco|first1=M. B.|last2=Zehr|first2=S. M.|title=Striking longevity in a hibernating lemur|journal=Journal of Zoology|date=2015-03-18|pages=177–188|issn=0952-8369|doi=10.1111/jzo.12230|volume=296|issue=3}}</ref>

Like other fat-tailed lemurs, ''C. medius'' is able to store [[fat]] in its tail, and this provides a source of energy during its period of dormancy.

== Reproduction ==
Although most ''C. medius'' live in areas where the environment is dry, there are those who live in tropical rain forest. Through research, it is understood that these animals hibernation period is linked to their reproduction strategies. In the rainforest these lemurs are in more of an active state than they would be in a dry forest. This level of high activity from the lemurs is linked to higher reproduction rates according to Dr. Lahann.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lahann|first1=Petra|last2=Dausmann|first2=Kathrin H.|date=2011|title=Live fast, die young: flexibility of life history traits in the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius)|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00265-010-1055-4|journal=Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology|language=en|volume=65|issue=2|pages=381–390|doi=10.1007/s00265-010-1055-4|s2cid=24706629|issn=0340-5443|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Taxonomy==
[[File:Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus 1894.jpg|thumb|left|''Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus'']]
Between 2000 and 2009, a population of dwarf lemur was known as a separate species, the '''southern fat-tailed dwarf lemur''' ('''''Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus''''').  It was described by taxonomist [[Colin Groves]] as having a [[pelage]] coloration that is dark [[dorsum (biology)|dorsally]] and gray [[ventral]]ly, with a vaguely expressed dorsal stripe running down the back, a relatively short white median facial stripe, and black eye-rings.<ref name=Groves>{{cite journal | last = Groves | first = Colin | author-link = Colin Groves | year = 2000 | title = The genus Cheirogaleus: Unrecognized biodiversity in dwarf lemurs | journal = International Journal of Primatology | volume = 21 | issue = 6 | pages = 943–962 | doi = 10.1023/A:1005559012637| s2cid = 6657094 }}</ref>  However, in 2009, Groeneveld ''et al.'' demonstrated genetically that ''Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus'' was a synonym of ''Cheirogaleus medius'', so the southern fat-tailed dwarf lemur is no longer recognized as a species.<ref name="LoM3">{{LoM3|page=183}}</ref><ref name="2009_Groeneveld_etal">{{cite journal | last1 = Groeneveld | first1 = L.F. | last2 = Weisrock | first2 = D.W. | last3 = Rasoloarison | first3 = R.M. | last4 = Yoder | first4 = A.D. | last5 = Kappeler | first5 = P.M. | title = Species delimitation in lemurs: multiple genetic loci reveal low levels of species diversity in the genus Cheirogaleus | journal = BMC Evolutionary Biology | year = 2009 | volume = 9 | number = 30 | url= | doi = 10.1186/1471-2148-9-30 | pmid=19193227 | pmc=2652444 | pages=30 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

==Behaviour ==
This species is nocturnal, with a diet of insects, other small animals, fruits and flowers.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.air-mad.com/downloads/lemurs_list.pdf | title=Lemurs of Madagascar}}</ref>

The fat-tailed lemur is the only known primate to hibernate for extended periods of time, up to seven months. It performs this [[torpor]] during the dry season to minimise the impacts of droughts. During the wet season, it gorges on food, accumulating a fat reserve in its tail. By the beginning of torpor, the tail accounts for up to 40% of its body weight.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur |url=https://lemur.duke.edu/discover/meet-the-lemurs/fat-tailed-dwarf-lemur/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Duke Lemur Center |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Wikispecies|Cheirogaleus medius|Lesser dwarf lemur}}
{{Commons category|Cheirogaleus medius}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal|last1=Schwensow|first1=Nina|last2=Fietz|first2=Joanna|last3=Dausmann|first3=Kathrin|last4=Sommer|first4=Simone|title=MHC-associated mating strategies and the importance of overall genetic diversity in an obligate pair-living primate|journal=Evolutionary Ecology|date=September 2008|volume=22|issue=5|pages=617–636|doi=10.1007/s10682-007-9186-4|s2cid=42537968}}<!--|access-date=26 April 2015-->
* {{cite journal|last1=Fietz|first1=J.|last2=Tataruch|first2=F.|last3=Dausmann|first3=K.|last4=Ganzhorn|first4=J.|title=White adipose tissue composition in the free-ranging fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius; Primates), a tropical hibernator.|journal=Journal of Comparative Physiology B|date=February 2003|volume=173|issue=1|pages=1–10|doi=10.1007/s00360-002-0300-1|pmid=12592437|s2cid=10020160}}<!--|access-date=27 April 2015-->

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fat-tailed dwarf lemur}}
[[Category:Dwarf lemurs]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1812]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire]]