The energetics of a Malagasy rodent, Macrotarsomys ingens (Nesomyinae): a test of island and zoogeographical effects on metabolism.

This study provides first insights into the energetics of the Nesomyinae, a subfamily of rodents endemic to Madagascar. The ancestral nesomyine colonized Madagascar from Africa ca. 30-15 mya at the onset of Oligocene global cooling.

An endogenous bile acid and dietary sucrose from skin secretions of alkaloid-sequestering poison frogs.

The skins of Madagascar poison frogs (Mantella) and certain Neotropical poison frogs (Epipedobates, Dendrobates) secrete the new bile acid tauromantellic acid (1), which was found in both wild-caught and captive-born frogs. This is the first molecule of endogenous origin detected in skin secretions from these taxa. Sucrose was also detected in secretions from wild-caught Mantella but not in captive-born frogs, suggesting a dietary origin.

Growth of the tufted-tailed rat.

Eliurus myoxinus (Rodentia: Nesomyidae, Nesomyinae) is one of the four species of endemic Malagasy rodents known to exist in the Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern Madagascar. In order to study growth parameters and to determine at which age E. myoxinus commences breeding, we used two different techniques: captive breeding and a capture-mark-release field program in the species' natural habitat.

The ever-increasing diversity in mouse lemurs: three new species in north and northwestern Madagascar.

Mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.) are the world's smallest primates and endemic to Madagascar. Several recent taxonomic revisions resulted in an extraordinary increase of recognized species.

Seasonal changes in general activity, body mass and reproduction of two small nocturnal primates: a comparison of the golden brown mouse lemur ( Microcebus ravelobensis) in Northwestern Madagascar and the brown mouse lemur ( Microcebus rufus) in Eastern Madagascar.

To investigate for the first time the relationship between contrasting patterns of seasonal changes of the environment and activity, body mass and reproduction for small nocturnal primates in nature, we compared a population of golden brown mouse lemur ( Microcebus ravelobensis) in a dry deciduous forest of northwestern Madagascar and of the brown mouse lemur ( Microcebus rufus) in an evergreen rain forest of eastern Madagascar. Both species live under similar photoperiodic conditions. Golden brown mouse lemurs (GBML) were active during the whole period (May to December) irrespective of changing environmental conditions.