Senegal galago
Galago senegalensis
Key identification features
A rat sized primate with a long tail, large ears and large eyes. The dark eye mask contrasts with the pale nose stripe between the eyes. The back is a grey or brown colour and the underparts are yellowish. They are nocturnal and more often heard then seen. The loud calls of bushbabies are a better guide for separating the various species then their appearance. HB 13-21 cm. Wt 112-300 g.
Habitat and social behaviour
Wooded savannah. Nocturnal 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 unit cries of high pitch, mixed into 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.
Distribution Map
Historical Distribution Map
References for historical distribution map
Photo gallery