Reproduction
The gray mouse lemur reproduces sexually. This means that both
the male and the female undergo meios to make a haploid gamate. In
order for reproduction to occur these gamates need to be brought
into contact to make a zygotic cell. The Microcebus murinus
reproduces anywhere between Septe
mber and March
(Glaston 1979). At other times their testes and ovaries are not
prime for reproduction (Glaston 1979). During mating season the
male Microcebus murinus' testes will swell anywhere from 5 to 10
times their original size. The female's vagina will open during
this time, this being the only other time it will be open during
the year except when she is giving birth (Gron 2009).
Because the time that they can reproduce is so small it is hard
for their population to increase (BioExpedition Publishing
2014).
The Microcebus murinus is considered to be mature enough to reproduce once they reach the age of one. Once they start reproducing, they will be able to reproduce for only about 5 years (BioExpedition Publishing 2014). Female mouse lemurs have two breeding cycles within the time of reproduction, so they potentially can have two litters of offspring within those months, each gestation period lasting about 60 days (Gron 2009).
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