habitat_narrative

Terrestrial

Mozambique Dwarf Galagos generally occur in natural, lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, dry coastal forest, thicket and scrub (Honess et al. 2013). They appear to be dependent on dry sand forest in South Africa, which is where they spend their daylight hours sleeping in tree holes. Populations in Tanzania often build round, leafy nests for sleeping, and as many as five animals may share a sleeping site (Lumsden and Masters 2001, Honess et al. 2013). During the nocturnal activity period, however, they forage along the forest edges, in mature woodland with abundant lianas and creepers, and in dense thicket. The preferred habitat of the species, therefore, is a mosaic that probably antedates anthropogenic transformations of the landscape. The sand forest mosaic has a restricted distribution within the assessment region, sometimes occurring in protected areas (for example, Mkuze, Ndumo and Tembe-Tshanini), and is home to a number of rare species found at the southern limit of their distributions, including the Four-toed Elephant Shrew (Petrodromus tetradactylus) and the Suni (Neotragus moschatus). Several types of sand forest are observed from north of St Lucia to the Pongola River, including riverine sand forest (Mkuze) and dry sand forest (Tembe-Tshanini). The Mozambique Dwarf Galago was only observed in Tembe Elephant Park and the Tshanini Community Reserve, in the dry sand forest dominated by large endemic sandveld Newtonia (Newtonia hildebrandtii). This naturally fragmented habitat is limited to ancient dunes. Also confined to this habitat is another rare species, the Blue-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes reichenowi). The large game present in Tembe and Tshanini do not have a significant effect on the preferred habitat of this species. Large browsers may in fact favour the species by creating forest edges preferred by the galagos. Stocking wildlife may therefore afford protection to the sand forest mosaic habitat, particularly by limiting the harvesting of old trees, and retaining tree holes as sleeping sites.

Dwarf galagos use all the vegetation strata, and preliminary observations conducted at Tembe and Tshanini indicated a mixed diet of fruit, gum and small prey hunted in the litter, much as described for populations in Tanzania (Lumsden and Masters 2001) and Zimbabwe (Smithers 1983). Birth occurs at the commencement of the rainy season, in November to December, and twinning appears to be common (F. Génin pers. obs. 2014). Because their habitats overlap, dwarf galagos often encounter Thick-tailed Greater Bushbabies (Otolemur crassicaudatus) but individuals of the two species ignore each other and do not appear to compete. The main predators of Galagoides granti are likely to be large owls like the Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus); they do not react defensively to the presence of smaller owl species, like the African Wood-owl (Strix woodfordi) and the Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum).

Ecosystem and cultural services: Mozambique Dwarf Galagos may be involved in pollination and seed dispersal, but their diet has not been studied in detail. They have been observed eating nectar, marula gum and insects, indicating a role in the control of insect populations. They also take vertebrates, having been seen chewing the heads of birds captured in mist nets in Zimbabwe (Smithers 1983). The presence of Mozambique Dwarf Galagos in Tembe and Tshanini may enhance the reserves’ attractiveness to wildlife enthusiasts. The animals’ small size and nocturnal lifestyle makes them rather cryptic, but they are easily detected by their calls.