Virtual Non-Human Primate Zoo

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

  Order: Primates

    Suborder: Strepsirrhini

      Infraorder: Lemuriformes

        Superfamily:  Cheirogaleoidea

          Family:  Cheirogaleidae

            Genus:  Phaner

              Species:  furcifer

 

COMMON NAME:

• Eastern Fork-Marked Lemur

• Masoala Fork-Marked Lemur

 

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION:  Madagascar

 

HABITAT:

• rainforest

• dense trees in savannah areas

 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

• body length of 23 to 28 centimeters (9 to 11 inches)

• a bushy tail of 29 to 37 centimeters (11 to 14 inches)

• their coat is light brown with a lighter ventral side which is cream, white, or pale brown

• they take their name from the dark stripe that runs down the back, splits on top of the head, and end just below the eyes

• feet are relatively large to get a good hold of the tree trunks

 

DIET:  Exudativore

• gum

• flower nectar

• insects

 

LOCOMOTION TYPE:

• arboreal quadruped

• leaps between branches

 

SOCIAL GROUP ORGANIZATION:  

• monogamous pairs, with dominant female

• polygynous in rare cases

 

PARENTAL CARE:  

• mother is primary caregiver

• males participate in protection and grooming of offspring

 

COMMUNICATION:

• vocal, loud calls, example:  'ki' and 'kiu' calls

• scent marking of female during social grooming

 

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:

• the females are only fertile for 3 or 4 days a year

 

ENDANGERMENT STATUS:  Near Threatened

 

To learn more about Phaner furcifer, visit the following websites:

1. http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/New-Lemur-BBC-Decade-of-discovery.aspx

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Fork-marked_Lemur

3. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phaner_furcifer.html

4. http://www.theprimata.com/phaner_furcifer.html

5. http://www.3news.co.nz/New-lemur-species-found-in-Madagascar/tabid/1160/articleID/190771/Default.aspx

6. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/dec/13/lemur-species-madagascar

7. Fleagle, John G. (2013) Primate Adaptation and Evolution: 3rd Edition.  Academic Press.

 

Information and photographs compiled by J. Salas.