If you find yourself scanning the acacia thorns of Southern Africa by spotlight, you might catch the brilliant, amber-orange glint of eyeshine belonging to the Southern Lesser Galago (*Galago moholi*).
Identification
This pint-sized primate is a master of the night. Roughly the size of a squirrel, it weighs a mere 150–200g. Look for its velvety, brownish-grey dorsal coat and a distinct yellowish wash on the belly and limbs. Its most striking features are the enormous, bat-like ears—which can fold independently—and massive, forward-facing orange eyes rimmed with dark "spectacles." Unlike the much larger Brown Greater Galago, the Moholi is dainty, with a tail longer than its body and specialized flat pads on its fingers for gripping smooth bark.
Habitat & Range
The Moholi is a specialist of the semi-arid savannas and woodlands across Southern Africa, from northern South Africa up into Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. It has a particular affinity for *Acacia* (now *Vachellia*) and *Terminalia* trees, which provide both its primary food source and the thorny protection it needs from predators like genets and owls.
Behaviour
These are "vertical clingers and leapers." You’ll see them bound between branches with explosive power, often covering several meters in a single jump. While they forage alone to avoid competing for food, they are surprisingly social, often huddling in groups of two to five to sleep in tree hollows during the day. Listen for their piercing, child-like "crying" calls that echo through the bush—the reason for their "bushbaby" moniker.
Diet
The Moholi is a gum-specialist. It uses its "tooth-comb"—a specialized row of lower teeth—to scrape the bark of acacia trees, inducing the flow of sweet, carbohydrate-rich gum. During the summer, they supplement this sticky diet by snatching moths and beetles out of the air with lightning-fast hand-eye coordination.
Fascinating Fact
To navigate their thorny world, Moholi galagos practice "urine washing." They urinate on their hands and feet, rubbing the liquid into their pads. This doesn't just leave a scent trail for others to follow; it actually improves their "traction," acting like a sticky adhesive that helps them stick landings on slippery branches!