Lemur sanfordi

12.

Sanford’s Brown Lemur

Fulemur sanfordi

French: Lémur de Sanford / German: Sanford-Maki / Spanish: Lémur pardo de Sanford

Other common names: Sanford's Lemur

Taxonomy. Lemur fulvus sanfordi Archbold, 1932,

Madagascar, Montagne d’Ambre.

Populations in the area between Vohémar and Sambava are intermediate between this species and E. albifrons. Monotypic.

Distribution. N Madagascar in the forests of Ankarana, Analamerana, and Montagne d’Ambre, with a disjunct population in the Daraina region to the SE; the Manambato Riveris the S limit of the range.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 38-40 cm, tail 50-55 cm; weight 1-9 kg. Sanford’s Brown Lemur is a medium-sized, sexually dichromatic species. The dorsal coat of males is brownish-gray, darker along the back and on the tail. The ventral coat is pale brownish-gray, and limbs are reddish. The top of the head is cream-colored to brown and always lighter than the dorsal coat. Prominent ear tufts, ranging from off-white to cream to slightly rufous, are complemented by long (but not bushy) cheek whiskers of similar color that give the appearance of a mane. The nose, muzzle, and face are black. Females are similar in appearance, with a gray-brown dorsal coat and tail and a paler gray underside. Their face is also gray, as are the shoulders and upper part of the back. Lighter patches are often found above the eyes. The female lacks the cheek whiskers and ear tufts of the male. It is difficult to distinguish female Sanford’s Brown Lemurs from female White-fronted Brown Lemurs (E. albifrons).

Habitat. Primary and secondary tropical moist, gallery and dry deciduous lowland forest, and montane forest to elevations of 1400 m. In Ankarana, Sanford’s Brown Lemur appears to favor secondary forest. It is absent from very dry forests such as those of Cap d’Ambre, but it does occur in parts of the Montagne des Francais near Antsiranana (= Diégo-Suarez). Sanford’s Brown Lemur is sympatric with the Crowned Lemur (E. coronatus) throughoutits distribution.

Food and Feeding. Diets of Sanford’s Brown Lemur consist mainly of fruit but also include other plant parts (buds, young leaves, and flowers) depending on seasonal availability. It also eats an occasional invertebrate (e.g. centipedes, millipedes, and spiders). Flowers make up a greater proportion of its diet during the dry season than during the rainy season.

Breeding. Mating of Sanford’s Brown Lemur occurs in late May, and births usually take place in late September or early October, after gestation of c.120 days.

Activity patterns. Sanford’s Brown Lemur is cathemeral and arboreal. In Ankarana, individuals are active both day and night throughout the year.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Sanford’s Brown Lemurs have been studied in Ankarana Special Reserve and Montagne d’Ambre National Park. Groups are typically multimale-multifemale. In Ankarana, groups may include up to 15 individuals, significantly larger than those observed in Montagne d’Ambre that range from three to nine individuals. At Montagne d’Ambre, overlapping home ranges of c.15 ha have been reported. There is no evidence of female dominance. Sanford’s Brown Lemur is reported to associate with the Crowned Lemur during the wet season when food availability is relatively high. Densities of 3-5-5-4 ind/km? have been reported in Analamerana Special Reserve.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Sanford’s Brown Lemur is threatened mainly by habitat loss due to logging and mining activities. Hunting and capture for pets in the Antsiranana region also are of concern. It occurs in Montagne d’Ambre National Park, two special reserves (Analamerana and Ankarana), and the forests of Daraina (Loky-Manambato Protected Area). Widespread poaching has been reported in Montagne d’Ambre National Park and Analamerana.

Bibliography. Arbelot-Tracqui (1983), Banks (2005), Fowler et al. (1989), Freed (1996), Garbutt (2007), Hawkins et al. (1990), Mittermeier et al. (2010), Nicoll & Langrand (1989), Randrianarisoa et al. (1999), Terranova & Coffman (1997), Wilson, Godfrey et al. (1995), Wilson, Stewart & Fowler (1988), Wilson, Stewart, Ramangason et al. (1989).