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Behavior and diet of the Critically Endangered Eulemur cinereiceps in Manombo forest, southeast Madagascar
Abstract
Manombo Special Reserve is a parcel of rainforest along the
southeastern coast of Madagascar, containing eight lemur
species, including the White-collared brown lemur (Eulemur
cinereiceps [Eulemur albocollaris]). Following a drastic cyclone
in the region in January of 1997, the population of E. cinereiceps
at Manombo was reduced by half. Results indicate that
individuals of this critically endangered species at Manombo
consume a total of 54 plant species belonging to 24 families,
with over two - thirds of the diet comprised of ripe and unripe
fruits. White - collared brown lemurs also opportunistically feed
on novel food items and invasive plants in their recovering
habitat. We report the first record of E. cinereiceps consuming
a shelf fungus species growing on invasive trees. During feeding,
lemurs tore pieces of the fungus from the trees with their
hands and mouth (chewing cycle duration mean 0.28 s; SD 0.01). White - collared brown lemurs also consumed spicy fruits of a non - native plant species (Aframomum angustifolium) growing in highly disturbed open areas. Feeding bouts typically began by stripping away the outer covering with the anterior dentition, with pulp and seeds then consumed (chewing cycle duration mean 0.22 s; SD 0.005). This is the first record of consumption of either of these resources for any lemur species at Manombo. Ability to feed on items like A. angustifolium may permit E. cinereiceps to avoid competition with other species in this highly degraded forest environment.
southeastern coast of Madagascar, containing eight lemur
species, including the White-collared brown lemur (Eulemur
cinereiceps [Eulemur albocollaris]). Following a drastic cyclone
in the region in January of 1997, the population of E. cinereiceps
at Manombo was reduced by half. Results indicate that
individuals of this critically endangered species at Manombo
consume a total of 54 plant species belonging to 24 families,
with over two - thirds of the diet comprised of ripe and unripe
fruits. White - collared brown lemurs also opportunistically feed
on novel food items and invasive plants in their recovering
habitat. We report the first record of E. cinereiceps consuming
a shelf fungus species growing on invasive trees. During feeding,
lemurs tore pieces of the fungus from the trees with their
hands and mouth (chewing cycle duration mean 0.28 s; SD 0.01). White - collared brown lemurs also consumed spicy fruits of a non - native plant species (Aframomum angustifolium) growing in highly disturbed open areas. Feeding bouts typically began by stripping away the outer covering with the anterior dentition, with pulp and seeds then consumed (chewing cycle duration mean 0.22 s; SD 0.005). This is the first record of consumption of either of these resources for any lemur species at Manombo. Ability to feed on items like A. angustifolium may permit E. cinereiceps to avoid competition with other species in this highly degraded forest environment.
