The Galago Alleni, otherwise known as the Allen’s Bushbaby is a small, wooly, long-tailed primate with large eyes, and oversized mobile naked ears.  The fur color ranges from grey to brown with a rust color tint. Its tail is long and bushy.  This species weighs between one half and one pound or 200 to 445 grams.  Total head and body length ranges from 6 to 9.5 inches for adults.  Because of their nocturnal life style, these animals have evolved large eyes to see at night.  These large eyes have a reflective retina for greater light detection; however, because the retinas only have rods and no true macula, these animals are also color blind. 

 

The Allen’s bush baby has excellent hearing with its large independently moveable ears.  The nose has leather like covering and is wet.  They are known for their strong hind limbs and leaping ability. Galago alleni lives in the rainforest of west central Africa.  It is found predominantly below 16.4 ft and prefers the open branches to move through the forest.  For resting and the parking of young individuals, however they prefer dense treetops.  On average, there are 15 individuals of the species per square mile.  Males are primarily solitary and are aggressive towards other males, while females often stay in small groups with infants.  Males and females may share nest sites during the day.

Individuals sleep in nests built in tree hollows in groups of about 1 to 4.  The males live alone or in small groups of 2 or 3 until the opportunity to be a dominant male arises.  Dominant males cover a large territory.  They tend to be quite territorial, and there is intense competition to be close to female groups.  Male aggression is signaled by an upright, bipedal posture, an open mouth, and a hissing vocalization.  Allen’s bush babies mark their territory by “urine wiping.”  They urinate on the soles of their feet and then March around their territory until the scent is well marked.

Allen's bush babies are primarily frugivores, especially eating fallen fruit.  Fruit makes up an estimated three quarters (75%) of their diet.  They also eat insects including ants and occasionally small mammals and frogs, which may function as protein supplements.  When fruit is not readily available, tree gum or sap is also a regular staple.  Although little is known about their predators, owls and cats are likely to be their main threats.  Mongooses, jackals, snakes, chimpanzees, and blue monkeys have also been found to occasionally prey on G. alleni; however, humans pose the greatest threat to these little primates through habitat destruction.

Galago alleni is on the endangered species list as a lower risk threatened species.  The greatest threat to Allen's bush babies is human impact on their habitat.  Expanding human populations, and a civil war in Nigeria, have drastically decreased the extent of available habitat.  Because G. alleni so strongly prefers primary forests to secondary forests this destruction of their habitat is a major concern for this species.  Even though human hunting does not appear to be a significant problem for the species, laws protect G. alleni from being hunted or captured without authorization.  A reserve also exists in Cameroon where G. alleni has been reported.

One interesting fact I learned in my research of this animal is why it is called a bush baby.  Bush babies get their name from their alarm call, which sounds like a baby lost in the bushes!  I also found it surprising that with such large eyes this animal is color blind.

Author: Holly S.
Published: 2/2011

​

Sources:
Dengel, A. 2004. "Galago alleni" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.  Accessed February 14, 2011 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Galago_alleni.html.

Gron KJ. 2008 December 8. Primate Factsheets: Lesser bushbaby (Galago) Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology . <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/lesser_bushbaby>.Accessed 2011 February 14.

Stevens, James L. An Atlas and Source Book of the Lesser Bushbaby, Galago Senegalensis. Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 1981. Print