Scientists at Oxford Brookes University, UK have discovered a new, small and wide-eyed primate in the forests of Angola called the dwarf galago.
The dwarf galago —
Scientists at Oxford Brookes University, UK have discovered a new, small and wide-eyed primate in the forests of Angola called the dwarf galago.
Courtesy Elena Bersacola / Nocturnal Primate Research Group
The researchers spotted it thanks to its distinctive call -- a loud, chirping crescendo of longer notes, followed by a fading twitter, used to attract mates and scare rivals away.
The dwarf galago —
The researchers spotted it thanks to its distinctive call -- a loud, chirping crescendo of longer notes, followed by a fading twitter, used to attract mates and scare rivals away.
Courtesy Elena Bersacola / Nocturnal Primate Research Group
"We've got a big sound library which is how we were able to identify anything that's different", says Simon Bearder, pictured above, professor emeritus in anthropology, Oxford Brookes University and president of the Primate Society of Great Britain.
The dwarf galago —
"We've got a big sound library which is how we were able to identify anything that's different", says Simon Bearder, pictured above, professor emeritus in anthropology, Oxford Brookes University and president of the Primate Society of Great Britain.
Courtesy Elena Bersacola / Nocturnal Primate Research Group
The dwarf galago also has a distinctive appearance with a longer face than the other galagos, which the team identified using a photo library of all known primate species.
The dwarf galago —
The dwarf galago also has a distinctive appearance with a longer face than the other galagos, which the team identified using a photo library of all known primate species.
Courtesy Elena Bersacola / Nocturnal Primate Research Group
The new Angolan species' Latin name is 'galagoides kumbirensis', after the Kumbira forest where it was first observed.
The dwarf galago —
The new Angolan species' Latin name is 'galagoides kumbirensis', after the Kumbira forest where it was first observed.
Courtesy Elena Bersacola / Nocturnal Primate Research Group
Although the dwarf galago was just discovered, it is already at risk of becoming extinct because its habitat, the Angolan Central Escarpment Forest, is under threat from human activities.
The dwarf galago —
Although the dwarf galago was just discovered, it is already at risk of becoming extinct because its habitat, the Angolan Central Escarpment Forest, is under threat from human activities.
Courtesy Elena Bersacola / Nocturnal Primate Research Group
"It is worrying that a species we've only just discovered could well disappear within the next few years. It might have gone completely unnoticed," Magdalena Svensson, one of the primate researchers on the trip, says.
The dwarf galago —
"It is worrying that a species we've only just discovered could well disappear within the next few years. It might have gone completely unnoticed," Magdalena Svensson, one of the primate researchers on the trip, says.
Courtesy Elena Bersacola / Nocturnal Primate Research Group
Increased logging and agricultural activity is contributing to habitat loss, the researchers say. "Wherever we went, we met logging trucks," says Svensson.
The dwarf galago —
Increased logging and agricultural activity is contributing to habitat loss, the researchers say. "Wherever we went, we met logging trucks," says Svensson.
Courtesy Elena Bersacola / Nocturnal Primate Research Group
In addition to logging, the domestic pet and bush meat trade takes its toll on animal populations.
The dwarf galago —
In addition to logging, the domestic pet and bush meat trade takes its toll on animal populations.
Courtesy Elena Bersacola / Nocturnal Primate Research Group