The Senegal bushbaby (Galago senegalensis), the Senegal galago, the lesser galago or the lesser bush baby
Senegal bushbaby видео
The Senegal bushbaby (Galago senegalensis), also known as the Senegal galago, the lesser galago or the lesser bush baby, is a small, nocturnal primate, a member of the galago family Galagidae.
Description and habitat
Galago senegalensis is a strepsirrhine primate member of the Galago family or Galagidae (sometimes called Galagonidae). Galago senegalensis is common in arid forest areas from Senegal to Kenya. This small animal has a body length of 16 cm, a tail length of 25 cm and a weight of 250 g. Its very long legs allow Galago senegalensis to leap up to 5 m, with its long tails acting as balancers.
Nutrition
The diet of Galago senegalensis is very varied and includes small live prey, acacia gum, fruit and nectar. Like the ears of bats, the primate's ears can detect insects moving in the dark, and it is able to grasp an insect that has flown past. Gum is the main food of Galago senegalensis during the dry season, accounting for up to 50% of its diet.
Reproduction
Galago senegalensis give birth twice a year, often bearing twins and sometimes even triplets. Gestation lasts 123 days and the newborn calf weighs about 12g. In captivity, Galago senegalensis can live up to 15 years.
Predation by chimpanzees
A recent study of the Western chimpanzee has revealed that local chimps hunt the Senegal bushbaby using fashioned spears. When a bushbaby roost was found, the chimps broke a branch from a nearby tree and sharpened the end using their teeth. They would then rapidly and repeatedly stab into the roost. After successly killing the bushbaby they reached into or smashed the roost, retrieved the body of the bushbaby and ate it. This method was observed to be successful only once in twenty-two attempts.
Subspecies
There are four subspecies of the Senegal bushbaby:
- Galago senegalensis senegalensis;
- Galago senegalensis braccatus;
- Galago senegalensis sotikae;
- Galago senegalensis dunni.
