Mohol lesser galago
Galago moholi
Key identification features
A rat sized primate with a long dark brownish grey tail, relatively large ears (2-5cm) and large orange eyes. Around the eyes it has a dark brownish grey eye mask and a striking pale nose stripe between the eyes. They have a grey or light brown colour with yellowish underparts, legs feet forearms and hands. They are nocturnal and more often heard then seen. The loud calls of bushbabies are a better guide for separating the various species than their appearance. HB 8.8-20.5 cm. Wt 95-245 g.
Habitat and social behaviour
The Mohol lesser galago occurs in riverine galleries, forest margins and wooded savannah, like Miombo, combretum, acacia and mopane woodland. It is a nocturnal animal and it forages singly but females are often found sharing a shelter together. They use tree hollows, tree branches, or abandoned bird nests or they make a shelter from leafs.
Similar species
The Senegal galago and the Mohol lesser galago differ in their call; the Senegal galago utters a single low-pitched note persistently at a regular tempo. The Mohol lesser galago utters single, double and triple cries of high pitch in series and repeated over long periods. The Greater galagos are bigger, have more densely furred tails and have relatively smaller eyes. They are more uniformly coloured, they lack strong colour contrast on the body and face, while the Lesser galagos have dark eye masks and a pale nose stripes. The Dwarf galagos or Galagoides species all live in forested areas. The Lesser galagos are found in drier wooded Savannah areas.
