Gray Mouse Lemur

Microcebus murinus

One of the smallest primates in the world, a tiny, big-eyed lemur that weighs about two ounces.

Checking teacher reviews…

Teacher? Sign in to review this page →Report a mistake

About the Gray Mouse Lemur

Gray mouse lemurs have bodies just 5 inches long, tails about the same length, and weigh about 2 ounces. They have big eyes, short legs and brownish-gray fur with a pale belly. They live in many kinds of forest across Madagascar, leaping through branches but feeding close to the ground. They eat mostly insects, plus small chameleons, tree frogs, fruit, flowers and leaves.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Microcebus murinus^[1]
Size: Body about 5 inches; tail about 5 inches.^[1]
Weight: About 2 ounces.^[1]
Lifespan: About 14 to 15 years in human care.^[1]
Diet: Mostly insects, plus small reptiles, frogs, fruit, flowers and leaves.^[1]
Habitat: Many forest types, especially dry forests.^[1]
Where it lives: Madagascar, mostly the south and west.^[1]
Group life: Nocturnal. Shares daytime nests.^[1]
Babies: Usually twins.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020).^[2]

Fun facts

Gray mouse lemurs are among the smallest primates alive.^[1]
Female mouse lemurs sleep in groups of up to 15.^[1]
They usually have twins.^[1]

Vocabulary

lemur: A primate found in the wild only on Madagascar.
primate: A group of mammals that includes lemurs, monkeys, apes and humans.
tooth comb: A row of thin lower front teeth that lemurs use to groom.
nocturnal: Active mainly at night.
insectivore: An animal that eats mostly insects.

See it in person

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, Nebraska · Hubbard Expedition MadagascarSee this area on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. “Gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus).” https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Microcebus_murinus/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Microcebus murinus (Grey Mouse Lemur).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163314248/182239898 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

More Lemurs

Aye-AyeDaubentonia madagascariensisA strange-looking nocturnal lemur that taps on trees with a long, thin middle finger to find grubs inside.Black-and-White Ruffed LemurVarecia variegataThe largest lemur, a critically endangered fruit-eater of eastern Madagascar's rainforests that raises its babies in nests.Blue-Eyed Black LemurEulemur flavifronsOne of the world's most threatened primates, a blue-eyed Madagascar lemur whose males are black and females are orange.

Coquerel's SifakaPropithecus coquereliA white-and-brown lemur of northwestern Madagascar that leaps between trees and hops sideways on the ground.Crowned LemurEulemur coronatusA small, fruit-eating lemur of northern Madagascar whose males and females look so different they were once easy to tell apart at a glance.Mongoose LemurEulemur mongozA small, gray, critically endangered lemur of northwestern Madagascar and the Comoro Islands that can switch between day and night activity.Red Ruffed LemurVarecia rubraA critically endangered orange-red lemur with a black face and a thick neck ruff, found only on Madagascar's Masoala Peninsula.Red-Fronted Brown LemurEulemur rufifronsA fruit-eating Madagascar lemur whose males and females are different colors, and one of the few lemurs not led by females.

Ring-Tailed LemurLemur cattaAn endangered primate of southwestern Madagascar with a black-and-white striped tail, female-led troops and a love of sunbathing.