habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
Thick-tailed Bushbabies are mostly found in forests, moist savannah woodland, riparian bushland and thickets in higher rainfall regions, but penetrate into drier areas along riparian corridors (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). They can occur in urban gardens and farmland where there is sufficient tree cover for shelter and fruit-bearing species to provide food. Thick-tailed Bushbabies feed on a mixed diet comprised approximately of 50% animal food (usually insects and molluscs, although small vertebrates are occasionally taken), with the remainder made up of fruit or gum, depending on the season (Masters et al. 1988). They are particularly fond of Albizia gum.Like all living galagos, Thick-tailed Bushbabies have an elongated ankle region that allows some leaping, but this species is primarily a quadrupedal climber. Spaces between trees are generally crossed by âbridgingâ (the animal retains its grip on the original tree with its hind feet, and secures a branch on the destination tree with its hands before attempting to cross). Other, more saltatory species, like Galago moholi, leap across open spaces.
Thick-tailed Bushbabies communicate primarily by vocalizations â including the long distance âcrying babyâ calls from which the animals derive their colloquial name â as well as by olfaction. Otolemur crassicaudatus is one of several galago species that practise âurine-washingâ, a stereotyped behaviour in which urine is dribbled onto the palm of one hand and wiped across the sole of the ipsilateral foot. The behaviour is then repeated with the contralateral hand and foot. Urine-washing enables galagos to leave a scent trail behind them as they pursue their nightly activities. Thick-tailed Bushbabies also have a bare patch of skin on the sternum which is rich in scent glands. The major component of the chest/sternal gland secretion is benzyl cyanide, and the complex odour changes with time as the volatile components evaporate, enabling neighbours to track one anotherâs movements over a period of hours. Thick-tailed Bushbabies sleep alone or in groups of 2â6, and disperse at sunset to forage solitarily or in small groups. Mating generally occurs in July, when there is a great increase in the frequency of the loud calls as potential mating partners locate each other, and the established adult males remind rivals of their locations. Thick-tailed Bushbabies are not territorial, but restrict their activities to home ranges, the borders of which are patrolled, announced, and scent-marked regularly. When mating occurs, it involves prolonged bouts of copulation (up to 45 minutes); the adult male penis is furnished with epidermal spines that point backwards (Dixson & Van Horn 1977) and provide a âgenital lockâ. Penile spines occur in several galago species, and the pattern of the spines is species-specific. Female Thick-tailed Bushbabies give birth in early November to 1â3 infants per year, and twinning is common.
Ecosystem and cultural services: The frugivorous habits of Thick-tailed Bushbabies mean that they play a role in seed dispersal for indigenous thicket and woodland plant species. As fruit-eating primates they carry seeds for greater distances and create a more scattered seed dispersal compared to terrestrial seed-dispersers (Entwistle & Dunstone 2000). No detailed study of the effects of galagos on forest regeneration or diversity has been carried out to date. Galagos are also likely to assist in the control of insect numbers.
