They weigh about 300 grams (11 oz), and have long, bushy tails and relatively small ears.

The name was chosen because the northern giant mouse lemur is the smaller of the two giant mouse lemur species, and because of a wish to emphasize the responsibility of the current generation of Malagasy children for the conservation of Malagasy animals for future generations.

[6] M. zaza are found in a strictly limited region in the north-western part of Madagascar, the Ampasindava peninsula.

[1] The species has a polygynandrous mating system, likely based on the large size of the testes, which engenders strong sperm competition.

Nesting groups are 2–8 individuals in size, made up of both sexes and any age class, and include unrelated males.