Eulemur sanfordi (Archbold, 1932)

Scientific name:

Eulemur sanfordi

Scientist name:

(Archbold, 1932)

Malagasy:

Ankomba, Beharavoaka, Varika

English:

Sanford’s Brown Lemur

German:

Sanford’s Maki

Other english:

Sanford’s Lemur

French:

Lémur de Sanford

Family:

LEMURIDAE Gray, 1821

Taxa:

Eulemur

Species

Identification

Eulemur sanfordi is a medium-sized lemur with a head-body length of 38–40 cm, a tail length of 50–55 cm, an overall length of 88–95 cm, and a body weight of 1.8–1.9 kg (Terranova and Coffman, 1997). This species is sexually dichromatic. In males, the dorsal coat is brown, darker along the back and on the tail. The ventral coat is pale brownish-gray. Prominent ear tufts are the most notable feature of the male of this species, ranging from off-white to cream to slightly rufous, and complemented by a beard of similar color that gives the appearance of a mane. The nose, the muzzle, and the face are black. The top of the head is cream-colored to brown and always lighter than the dorsal coat. In females, the dorsal coat and tail are gray-brown, and the ventral coat is a paler gray. The face is also gray, as are the shoulders and the upper part of the back. Lighter patches are often found above the eyes. The female lacks the beard and ear tufts of the male. It is difficult to distinguish female Sanford’s brown lemurs from female white-fronted brown lemurs, E. albifrons. This species is sympatric with E. coronatus throughout its range, but the two can be easily distinguished. Both sexes of E. coronatus have the distinctive V-shaped orange marking above the forehead, and lack the distinctive white ear tufts and light beard of E. sanfordi.

Natural history

Sanford’s brown lemur occurs in tropical moist and dry lowland and montane forests up to elevations of 1,400 m. It has been studied in the Ankarana Special Reserve and in Montagne d’Ambre National Park. In Ankarana, it appears to favor secondary forest, and is active both day and night (Wilson et al., 1988, 1989; Fowler et al., 1989; Freed, 1996). Groups are typically multi-male/multi-female. In Ankarana they may include up to 15 animals (Wilson et al., 1989), significantly larger than those observed in Montagne d’Ambre, which range from three to nine animals (Freed, 1996). At Montagne d’Ambre, overlapping home ranges of close to 15 ha have been reported (Arbelot-Tracqui, 1983). In Analamerana, a population density of 3.5–5.4 individuals/km2 has been reported by Banks (2005). Mating occurs in late May, and births usually take place in late September or early October after a gestation of about 120 days. There is no evidence of female dominance. The diet of Sanford’s brown lemur consists primarily of fruit, but includes other plant parts (buds, young leaves, flowers) according to seasonal availability, and also the occasional invertebrate (e.g., centipedes, millipedes and spiders). Flowers make up a greater portion of the diet during dry season months than they do during the rainy season (Freed, 1996). Eulemur sanfordi is also reported to associate with E. coronatus during the wet season, a time of greater food availability (Freed, 1996).

Geographic range

Sanford’s brown lemur has a restricted range in northern Madagascar centered on the forests of Ankarana, Analamerana, and Montagne d’Ambre, with a disjunct population found in the Daraina region to the southeast. The Manambato River is the southern limit of its range, although hybrids with E. albifrons appear to occur between Vohémar and Sambava. This lemur is absent from very dry forests such as those of Cap d’Ambre, but it does occur in parts of the Montagne des Français near Antsiranana (= Diégo- Suarez).

Conservation status

The 2008 IUCN Red List assessment (2008) classified E. sanfordi as Endangered (EN). The principal threats are habitat loss due to logging and mining, as well as hunting. Nicoll and Langrand (1989) reported widespread poaching in Montagne d’Ambre, and Hawkins et al. (1990) reported the same for Analamerana. This species is also frequently kept as a pet in the Antsiranana region (O. Langrand, pers. obs.). It occurs in two national parks (Ankarana and Montagne d’Ambre) and in the Analamerana Special Reserve (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989), as well as in the forests of Daraina (the Loky-Manambato Protected Area) (Randrianarisoa et al., 1999). As of 2009, there were only six Sanford’s brown lemurs reported in two zoological collections, both in the United States (ISIS, 2009).

Where to see it

Both the Montagne d’Ambre and Ankarana National Parks are good places to see Sanford’s brown lemur. It often can be seen close to park headquarters and along the botanical trail of Petite Cascade in Montagne d’Ambre. In Ankarana, it is most easily observed in the Canyon Forestier and around the campsite at Campement des Anglais, but can be seen in other parts of the reserve as well (Garbutt, 2007).

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