Galago matschiei Lorenz 1917
Creators: name: Russell A. Mittermeier
name: Anthony B. Rylands
name: Don E. Wilson
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Primates
Galagidae
Galago
Galago matschiei

description: 11.
Spectacled Lesser Galago
Galago matschiei
French: Galago de Matschie / German: Matschie-Galago / Spanish: Galago menor de anteojos
Other common names: Dusky Bushbaby, Matschie’'s Lesser Galago
Taxonomy. Galago matschiei Lorenz, 1917,
DR Congo, Ituri Forest, Moera.
Galago matschiei may be sympatric with G. moholi in Burundi and Rwanda. A subpopulation of G. matschie: on the Itombwe Massif, DR Congo, may represent a distinct taxon, but additional research is needed to verify this. Monotypic.
Distribution. Albertine Rift region of NE DR Congo, Uganda, W Rwanda, and NW Burundi, from Lake Albert to the headwaters of the Kagera River, and the Itombwe Massif in the S; there is a narrow eastern distributional extension to just W of the Nile, where it occurs in forest patches such as Mabira and Mpanga, and a record from Moroto in N Uganda.
Descriptive notes. Head—body 15-20 cm,tail 19-25 cm; weight 170-250 g. The Spectacled Lesser Galago is a large, dark brown species with a heavy muzzle. It is characterized mainly by a pair of large amber eyes surrounded by blackish patches. Eyes are separated by a white line and have a well-defined ridge bordering them above. Nails on the hands and feet are pointed, although not as strongly keeled as in species of FEuoticus. Hindfeet of the Spectacled Lesser Galago are considerably shorter than in the Northern Lesser Galago (G. senegalensis), and their ears are somewhat shorter. Lower incisors are sharply protuberant. The tail is not bushy.
Habitat. Dense, humid primary and secondary tropical lowland, submontane, and relic forest, especially where Parinari excelsa (Chrysobalanceae) is the dominant tree. The Spectacled Lesser Galago uses all levels of the canopy, but it occurs most often in the lower levels and forest edge. Its elevational range is 740-1600 m above sea level.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available on this species, but like other similar taxa, the Spectacled Lesser Galago is probably a faunivore-frugivore, eating fruit and animal prey (especially caterpillars and beetles) and also gums.
Breeding. The Spectacled Lesser Galago reportedly gives birth to a single offspring. A breeding peak may occur in November-December.
Activity patterns. The Spectacled Lesser Galago is nocturnal and arboreal—a vertical clinger and leaper.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available on this species, but it is no doubt largely solitary.
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Although populations of the Spectacled Lesser Galago are declining,it is still widespread and quite common in some areas. It occurs in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park and Tayna Gorilla Reserve in the DR Congo and Bwindi-Impenetrable Forest National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, and Mpanga Forest Reserve in Uganda. It may also be found in Budongo Forest Reserve in Uganda.
Bibliography. Ambrose (2006), Bearder (1999), Kingdon (1997), Napier & Napier (1967), Nash et al. (1989), Off & Gebo (2005), Omari et al. (1999), Rahm (1966), Vincent (1969, 1972b).
description: Published as part of Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Galagidae, pp. 184-209 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 202, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6657019