Phaner electromontis Groves and Tattersall, 1991

Scientific name:

Phaner electromontis

Scientist name:

Groves and Tattersall, 1991

Malagasy:

Tanta

English:

Montagne d’ Ambre Fork-marked Lemur

German:

Montagne d’ Ambre-Gabelstreifenmaki

Other english:

Amber Mountain Fork-marked Lemur

French:

Phaner de la Montagne d’Ambre, Lémurien à fourche de la Montagne d’Ambre

Family:

CHEIROGALEIDAE Gray, 1873

Taxa:

Phaner

Species

Identification

Phaner electromontis is a light gray species of fork-marked lemur. There are no published body measurements available for this species, but three animals from Montagne d’Ambre (one male and two females) measured by E. E. Louis Jr. (unpubl.) averaged 27.2 ±0.4 cm in head-body length; 34.4 ±0.2 cm in tail length, and 387 ±35 g in weight. The dorsal and ventral coats are light gray. The crown fork is thick and black, and a well- defined dorsal midline stripe extends all the way to the rump. The distal third of the tail is dark, as are the hands and feet. As with all Phaner, location is the best indication as to which species is being seen in the wild.
This species is sympatric with several other nocturnal lemurs, including Microcebus, Cheirogaleus, and Lepilemur. However, it can readily be distinguished from Microcebus by its size, and from all others by its rapid movements, the forked pattern on the crown, the very loud and distinctive vocalizations, and the unusual head-bobbing movements, which are readily visible in the beam of a flashlight.

Natural history

In the region of Montagne d’Ambre, population densities are reported to be high (Ganzhorn et al., 1997). However, as of 2010, this species had not been studied in detail.

Geographic range

The Montagne d’Ambre fork-marked lemur is restricted to northern Madagascar in the region of Montagne d’Ambre and Ankarana, where it inhabits both tropical moist forest and dry forest. Fork-marked lemurs also occur in the Daraina area, but it remains to be determined whether they are P. electromontis or a new species.

Conservation status

The most recent IUCN Red List assessment (2008)
classified P. electromontis as Vulnerable (VU). The principal
threat is localized habitat loss due to annual burning. It is
common in Montagne d’Ambre National Park, and present
as well in Ankarana National Park, two special reserves (Analamerana and Forêt d’Ambre), and in the Sahafary Classified Forest (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989; Hawkins et al., 1990; A. Razafimanantsoa, pers. comm.). It is possible that the unidentified Phaner first seen in the region of Daraina (now the Loky-Manambato Protected Area) by Mittermeier in 1995 is this form, but it is more likely that it is an entirely new species. As of 2009, this species was not being kept in captivity (ISIS, 2009).

Where to see it

Phaner electromontis is most easily seen in Montagne d’Ambre National Park and in the Forêt d’Ambre Special Reserve, where it is quite common. Particularly good sites include the forestry station (Les Roussettes) and botanical garden of the Montagne d’Ambre National Park. There are now two excellent lodges at Montagne d’Ambre, Domaine de Fontenay and the Nature Lodge, and the park is easily reached by car from Antsiranana (= Diégo-Suarez), a trip of about 45 minutes.

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