Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores - Greater Galago (Greater Bush Baby)

Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores
Greater Galago (Greater Bush Baby)
Page 50

Otolemur crassiaudatus

Length: 26-47 cm (10-18.5 inches)

Tail: 29-55 cm (11-21 inches)

Weight: 567-2000 g (1.25-2.2 lb.)

Status: Common and wide spread

Habitat: Greater galagos are found in riverine forests, wooded grasslands, savannas and forests throughout East and Central Africa. They prefer dense evergreen forests and riparian bush from sea level to 1 800 meters (5,900 feet). It can tolerate temperatures down to freezing.

The availability of fruit is thought to be the main limiting factor. They are found only in regions where fruit is available at least half the year.

Food: Galagos eat fruit and gum from trees. They also eat seeds, nectar and slow insects. Insects make up less than 10% of their diet. Meat-eating is rare. Acacias are favorite trees. (Greater galagos are often found around lodges in the Serengeti-Mara. They are known to acclimatize to people and will become quite trusting. At one hotel the author visited, the galagos came onto the verandah and readily took fruit from patrons’ hands.)

Social System: The greater galago is a species of primitive primate. It and its close relative, the lesser bush baby, are thought to resemble the earliest primates. Some members have changed little from fossils 60 million years old!

Galagos (and bush babies) are only found in Africa. They are nocturnal. Their eyes are well attuned to seeing by only the faintest starlight. They can see 50% more area than human eyes can.

During the day, related females and young, sometimes joined by the resident male, will sleep together in day nests. Such nests will be located from 5 to 12 meters (15 to 45 feet) high in forks of trees. Several nests may be located in the same grove of trees. Females always sleep with at least one of their offspring.

Greater galagos awaken in twilight and then depart to feed. Adults forage alone however. Due to the nature of their food, galagos tend to follow the same pattern each night. They visit the same trees again and again until all of the fruits have been consumed. This observation supports the hypothesis that they spend little time hunting for prey.

A Life In Trees

By daybreak, the galagos have all returned to their nest trees.

Galagos spend most of their lives in trees. They are excellent jumpers and can leap from branch to branch with ease. Greater galagos are more at home on the forest floor than are their smaller relatives, the lesser bush babies.

In some areas, there may be as many as 110 greater galagos per square kilometer (285 per square mile) in mixed woodlands. Home ranges of females are smaller than those of males. Ranges are shared and defended by related females. Dominant males will permit subordinate males to live within their ranges.

Behavior: Greater galagos are semi-social. In one study in South Africa, a single male was known to control the territories of five females. Two of the adult females shared the same range while others had partially overlapping ranges. However, each female had a core portion of her range that she, alone, used.

Gestation lasts 18 weeks after which the female gives birth on a leaf nest or platform. She may have up to three young. Babies stay at the nest for two weeks after which the mother carries them with her. She may carry them on her back or in her mouth.

When they are a little over three weeks old, they follow her everywhere. They are independent when they are 10 months old. After this, they leave their parent’s home range.

Predators:

Genets and civets are their main mammalian predators. They do not take adults but rather feed on young that they come across on their nightly prowls. Leopards may take the odd galago as might eagle owls. Large snakes will cause a galago to make alarm calls as it withdraws to safety.

In areas like the Serengeti-Mara where galagos spend some time on the ground, they may also be preyed upon by spotted hyenas.

When foraging, greater galagos move very slowly. This probably helps them avoid the attention of predators.

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