The northern rufous mouse lemur (Microcebus tavaratra), northern brown mouse lemur,[4] or Tavaratra mouse lemur[1] is found in northern Madagascar from the Ankarana Special Reserve in the west to the Manambato River in the northeast, and up to the Irodo River in the north of the Analamerana Special Reserve.

For example, M. tavaratra has been reported to possibly occur from the Irodo up to the Montagne des Français.

[6] Its known distribution cover four protected areas – the Ankarana Special Reserve, and the Analamerana Special Reserve both managed by Madagascar National Parks,[7] the Loky-Manambato protected area (Daraina), and the Andavakoeira-Andrafiamena protected area, both Managed by the NGO Fanamby Microcebus tavaratra has long, dense pelage that is bicolored to tricolored, raw umber, clay color, and yellow ochre, dorsally and a whitish-beige color ventrally.

The orbital area is raw umber and cinnamon and around the anterior portion of the eyes there are black markings.

The pelage of the hands and feet of the northern rufous mouse lemur is whitish-gray in color.