Eulemur fulvus (E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1796)

Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Lemuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 90-141 : 133

8.

Brown Lemur

Eulemur fulvus

French: Lémur brun / German: Brauner Maki / Spanish: Lémur pardo

Other common names: Common Brown Lemur

Taxonomy. Lemur fulvus E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1796 ,

Madagascar.

The weight of evidence supports full species status for all those taxa formerly considered subspecies of E. fulvus . Not only are they sharply distinct externally, but they also appear to differ consistently in craniodental features. Further research will likely determine the existence of two or perhaps even three distinct forms within this species itself. Individuals in the northern part of the range tend to have large, prominent light patches around the eyes, but these patches are only slightly marked in southern populations. Moreover, those from the east and south tend to be darker overall than those from the north. The population of this species in the Comoros shows many signs of being a hybrid swarm, composed mainly of E. fulvus founders but with features of a number of other brown lemur species. Further genetic investigation on this population would be interesting, but it is not considered taxonomically distinct here. E. fulvus is partially sympatric with E. albifrons in the northern part of its range, and it would also appear to be sympatric with E. macaco , or its hybrids, on the Galoko, Manongarivo, and Tsaratanana Massifs, and in the Ifasy and Ramena river valleys. Monotypic.

Distribution. Notably disjunct distribution in Madagascar with separate populations in the N (moister forests of the Sambirano region and in scattered forest fragments on the slopes of the Tsaratanana Massif), the NW (two areas, one ranging from the Manongarivo Special Reserve to the Mahavavy du Nord River, and a more S extension from the Betsiboka River and Ankarafantsika National Park N to the Maevarano River), and the CE (NE of Antananarivo, N of the Mangoro River as far as the Ambatovaky Special Reserve); the distribution in the N part of its range and its relation to the White-fronted Brown Lemur (FE. albifrons ) remain unclear; generally speaking, it occurs inland of the range of the White-fronted Brown Lemur , but additional surveys are needed. Introduced on the Comoros Is.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 43-50 cm, tail 41-51 cm; weight 1-5 kg. The Brown Lemur is a small to medium-sized lemur. Females are slightly more pallid than males, although generally there is no obvious sexual dimorphism (in contrast to other species of Eulemur ). The dorsal coat and tail are brown to gray-brown and the ventral coat is paler, tending toward creamy-tan. The face, muzzle, and crown are dark brown to almost black, and cheeks and beard are white. Patches of light fur above the eyes are variable, with individuals in the northern part of its distribution having large light patches and individuals from more southerly populations having barely discernible patches. Eyes are orange-red.

Habitat. Primary and secondary rainforest and dry deciduous forest.

Food and Feeding. Diets of the Brown Lemur consist largely of fruits, young leaves, and flowers, supplemented with bark, sap, soil, bird eggs, and animal prey (including insects, centipedes, millipedes, and nestlings). One study found that Brown Lemurs sampled more than 100 plant species, but only 15 of these made up the majority of the diet. On Mayotte, there is considerable seasonal variation in foods consumed, with fruit, leaves, or flowers predominating in any one month. The Brown Lemur has a notably high tolerance to plant toxins (i.e. tannins and alkaloids), and it can even eat mature leaves of the kily tree (7 Tamarindus indica, Fabaceae ) when nothing else is available. It is also noteworthy for being among the few primates that will voluntarily share food with conspecifics.

Breeding. The mating season of the Brown Lemuris in May-June. Most adult females produce offspring each year. One or two young are born in September—October, after gestation of ¢.120 days. Infants cling to their mother’s belly for the first several weeks of life, before learning to ride on her back. Weaning occurs at 6—7 months, and sexual maturity occurs between one and two years. Individuals may live up to 30 years in captivity.

Activity patterns. The Brown Lemuris cathemeral and arboreal. It is diurnal throughout the wet season, but it increases levels of nocturnal activity to become genuinely cathemeral during the dry season. The hybrid population in the Comoros Islands is cathemeral throughout the year.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Brown Lemur has been studied at Ankarafantsika National Park, the Comorian island of Mayotte, and Andasibe (= Périnet). In Madagascar, multimale-multifemale groups have 3-12 individuals, although group sizes of up to 40 individuals have been noted. Home ranges are 7-20 ha. Female dominance appears not to be a feature of the social organization. In Madagascar, densities are 40-60 ind/km?.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The Brown Lemur is widespread and relatively common. Its main threats are habitat loss due to slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting with firearms, blowguns, and traps. It occurs in four national parks ( Andringitra, Ankarafantsika, Mantadia, and Zahamena ), two strict nature reserves (Tsaratanana and Zahamena), and seven special reserves (Ambatovaky, Ambohitantely, Analamazaotra, Bora, Mangerivola, Manongarivo, and Tampoketsa-Analamaitso). Several hundred Brown Lemur hybrids also inhabitthe little island of Bouzi, off Mayotte in the Comoros, which serves as an unofficial lemur sanctuary.

Bibliography. Ganzhorn (1988), Harrington (1975, 1977), Mittermeier, Ganzhorn et al. (2008), Mittermeier, Langrand et al. (2010), Mizuta (2002), Nakamura (2004), Nicoll & Langrand (1989), Pereira et al. (1990), Randriambinina et al. (2003c), Rasmussen (1999), Tarnaud (2004), Tattersall (1977, 1982), Tattersall & Schwartz (1991).

Figures

8. Brown (Lemur Fulemurfulvus), 9. Rufous Brown Lemur (Eulemur rufus), 10. Red-fronted Brown Lemur (FEulemur rufifrons), 11. White-fronted Brown Lemur (Eulemur albifrons), 12. Sanford’s Brown Lemur (Fulemur sanfordi), 13. White-collared Brown Lemur (Eulemur cinereiceps), 14. Red-collared Brown Lemur (Eulemur collars), 15. Black Lemur (Eulemur macaco), 16. Blue-eyed Black (Lemur Eulemurflavifrons), 17. Crowned Lemur (Eulemur coronatus), 18. Red-bellied Lemur (Eulemur rubriventer), 19. Mongoose Lemur (Eulemur mongoz)

Distribution. Notably disjunct distribution in Madagascar with separate populations in the N (moister forests of the Sambirano region and in scattered forest fragments on the slopes of the Tsaratanana Massif), the NW (two areas, one ranging from the Manongarivo Special Reserve to the Mahavavy du Nord River, and a more S extension from the Betsiboka River and Ankarafantsika National Park N to the Maevarano River), and the CE (NE of Antananarivo, N of the Mangoro River as far as the Ambatovaky Special Reserve); the distribution in the N part of its range and its relation to the White-fronted Brown Lemur (FE. albifrons ) remain unclear; generally speaking, it occurs inland of the range of the White-fronted Brown Lemur , but additional surveys are needed. Introduced on the Comoros Is.