One of the best-known members of the bushbaby family and it is found across southern Africa in countries like South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Like its relatives, it’s a tiny nocturnal primate, but it stands out with its huge, round eyes, bat-like ears, and incredible agility in the treetops. Its fur is soft and grayish-brown with lighter underparts, and its long, bushy tail not only helps with balance during leaps but also adds to its cuddly, squirrel-like look.
This little primate can spring several meters in a single bound, using its strong hind legs to launch itself between branches with astounding accuracy. Unlike monkeys that use hands and tails to swing, Mohol bushbabies move more like furry acrobats, ricocheting from tree to tree in fast, bouncing hops. At night, they zip through the canopy hunting for insects, licking up sticky tree gum, and sipping nectar, making them both skilled predators and resourceful foragers.
Their super senses are another key to their success. Those enormous eyes are perfectly adapted for night vision, glowing in torchlight like tiny lanterns, while their giant ears can swivel independently like little radar dishes to pick up even the faintest rustle of a bug. When they’re on the hunt, they’re quick and precise, pouncing on grasshoppers, moths, or beetles with lightning speed. Their diet of insects, gum, and fruit also makes them important helpers in their ecosystem, controlling insect populations and even pollinating plants.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Group
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
