Varecia variegata editorum (Hill, 1953)

Scientific name:

Varecia variegata editorum

Scientist name:

(Hill, 1953)

Malagasy:

Vary, Varikandana, Varikandra, Varijatsy

English:

Southern Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

German:

Südlicher Schwarz-weisser Vari

Other english:

Hill’s Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

French:

Vari noir-et-blanc de Hill

Family:

LEMURIDAE Gray, 1821

Taxa:

Varecia

Species

Identification

As with the other subspecies of Varecia variegata, this is a large quadrupedal lemur. Although no measurements have been published, it is safe to assume that they are similar to those of V. v. variegata. The fur of V. v. editorum is black and white. The abdomen, tail, extremities, inner aspects of the limbs, forehead, circum-orbital area, top of the head and anterior part of the back are black, whereas the posterior part of the back as well as the flanks, rump and outer aspects of the limbs are usually white. As in V. v. variegata, the coat is fluffy, the tail is long and bushy, and the ears are “ruffed” with long thick white hair. There is no difference in size or coloration between the sexes.

Natural history

The southern black-and-white ruffed lemur has been studied in Ranomafana National Park (White, 1991; Balko, 1998) and in the Manombo Special Reserve (Ratsimbazafy, 2002; Ralainasolo et al., 2005). White (1991) found the diet to consist of 70.8% fruits, 11.1% leaves, 2.8% flowers, and 15.3% nectar. In addition, the animals occasionally exhibited geophagy—the eating of soil. The group that White (1991) observed lived in a 197-ha home range and was monogamous. Balko (1996) suggests that differences in the quality and distribution of food resources may influence the social organization of ruffed lemurs.

Geographic range

This range of this subspecies extends from the forests of Mantadia National Park in the north to just south of Mananjary in the south. Its scientific name (editorum = “from the mountains”) is somewhat misleading, as it inhabits lowland to mid-altitude rain forests (sea level to 1,300 m). The ranges of V. v. editorum and V. v. variegata appear to overlap, and intermediate forms may exist (Groves, 2001; Vasey and Tattersall, 2002), but so far, neither field surveys nor genetic studies have reliably confirmed this. Recent surveys by Irwin et al. (2005) found that this subspecies is very patchily distributed, the result of its dependency on low- to mid-altitude primary forest and its susceptibility to hunting and trapping.

Conservation status

The 2008 IUCN Red List assessment classified V. v. editorum as Critically Endangered (CR). The principal threat is habitat loss due to slash-and-burn agriculture, logging and mining, but hunting is also a major factor, and can be very heavy in certain areas. Varecia v. editorum occurs naturally in two national parks (Mantadia and Ranomafana) and in the Manombo Special Reserve (Mittermeier et al., 1994; Tombomiadana and Rakotondravony, 2000), as well as in the Anosibe an’ala Classified Forest and in the unprotected forests of Fandriana (proposed as a national park), Kianjavato, Lakia, Maromizaha, Tolongoina, and Vatovavy. However, since the distribution areas of V. v. editorum and V. v. variegata seem to overlap, some of the aforementioned localities might also hold populations of individuals with a variegata coat pattern. Past studies indicated its presence in Andringitra National Park (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989), but recent surveys have failed to find it there (Goodman and Rasolonandrasana, 2001; Irwin et al., 2005). The original population in the Analamazaotra Special Reserve was extirpated by the 1980s, but it was successfully reintroduced in 2006 by E. E. Louis Jr. and a team of Malagasy researchers. As of 2009, there were no southern black-and-white ruffed lemurs reported in captiviy (ISIS, 2009).

Where to see it

Varecia v. editorum can be seen in Mantadia National Park, especially around km 15, although sightings are by no means guaranteed. It is also regularly observed at Kianjavato, not far from Vatovavy on the road to Mananjary. Finally, it is also once again to be found in Analamazaotra Special Reserve, thanks to the above-mentioned reintroduction.

Photographs

You are here

Varecia variegata editorum (Hill, 1953)

Species

Main menu

Primate watching

Configuration

You are here

Varecia variegata editorum (Hill, 1953)

Species

Main menu

Primate watching

Search form

Configuration