Black lemurs may breed with blue-eyed lemurs and will produce brown-eyed offspring in every case (Duke University, 1998).
These animals use vocalizations, scent marks, body postures and facial expressions, as well as tactile communication.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: scent marks
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
All lemurs are considered endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are protected under Appendix I of CITES. They are also listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red Data Book. Evidence indicates that their numbers are declining. The main threats to black lemurs include habitat destruction, poaching for their meat or fur, and capture for the pet trade or zoos. They have also been killed in some areas as crop pests.
Lemurs breed fairly well in captivity and are popular in zoos worldwide. The St. Louis Zoological Park in the United States coordinates the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for black lemurs. Reintroduction of lemurs bred in captivity may be used one day to boost wild populations.
US Federal List: endangered
CITES: appendix i
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable
Black lemurs are considered crop pests by farmers in some areas.
Negative Impacts: crop pest
Humans have found the black lemurs to be useful as a food resource and for their furs. They can also be trapped and sold to people as pets or used as attractions in zoos.
Positive Impacts: pet trade ; food ; body parts are source of valuable material; research and education
As frugivores, these lemurs are likely to play some role in seed dispersal. However, because they eat nectar, they may also be important pollinators. To the extent that these lemurs are food for predators, they may have impact in local food webs.
During the rainy season, their diet seems to consist mainly of fruit. They have also been reported to eat mushrooms and millipedes on occasion during this season. Early in the dry season, a significant part of their diet comes from the nectar of flowers. Other things included in the dry season diet are seed pods, leaves, and flowers (Kappeler and Ganzhorn, 1993).
Animal Foods: terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; nectar; flowers
Other Foods: fungus
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore , Nectarivore )
Black lemurs are limited to the northwestern tip of Madagascar and the two adjacent islands of Nosy Komba and Nosy Be. In Madagascar, the two subspecies are separated by the Andranomalaza river, but clear separation only occurs in a relatively small area (Rabarivola and Meyers,1991). Eulemur macaco macaco can be found to the north of the river and Eulemur macaco flavifrons to the south of it (Rabarivola and Meyers, 1991).
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: island endemic
Black lemurs are tree dwellers. They can be found in four habitats: primary rain forest, secondary forest, timber plantations and food crop plantations.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
These animals are reported to live 20 to 25 years, presumably in captivity.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 20 to 25 years.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 39.0 years.
Black lemurs are primitive primates that are about the size of a house cat. Adults can weigh about 2.4 kg (Duke Primate Center, 1998). Head and body lengths vary between 300 and 450 mm (Nowak, 1999). There are two subspecies of the black lemur: black lemurs (Eulemur macaco macaco) and blue-eyed lemurs (Eulemur macaco flavifrons). These subspecies are similar in size, shape and behavior. Differences between the two subspecies include habitat, coat and eye color.
There is striking sexual dimorphism in color. Males in both subspecies are black. Female black lemurs have a dark coat which lightens to a deep rust on the sides. They are off-white on the stomachs. Female blue-eyed lemurs have a coat that is reddish-tan in color over the entire body. All black lemurs have brown eyes as opposed to blue-eyed lemurs which all have turquoise blue eyes (Duke University, 1998).
Range mass: 2 to 2.5 kg.
Average mass: 2.5 kg.
Range length: 300 to 450 mm.
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently; female more colorful
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Predators of these lemurs are not known. However, it seems likely that animals like fossas and raptors are possible predators.
The mating system of these animals has not been well studied. In the wild, groups range in size from 4 to 15 individuals. Females are dominant to males, and there may be some exchange of adults between groups. In captivity, females have their choice of mates. From this information, it seems likely that breeding is polygynous.
Mating System: polygynous
Black lemurs breed seasonally in June and July. Birth occurs after a gestation period of 120 to 129 days. One offspring is usually born, however, twins are fairly common. The young are weaned at five to six months of age. Sexual maturity is reached by about 2 years of age.
Breeding interval: These animals can breed annually.
Breeding season: Breeding occurs in June and July.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.
Range gestation period: 120 to 129 days.
Range weaning age: 5 to 6 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
Average birth mass: 74.67 g.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 548 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 548 days.
Infants can be found clinging to their mothers' bellies for the first 3 weeks and will shift only to nurse. At about 3 weeks of age, the young lemur will begin to ride on its mother's back and will soon after take its first tentative steps. Nursing continues until about 5 to 6 months of age. Mothers provide grooming, protection, and transportation for their young, as well as valuable socialization. The role of males in parental care is not clear, although there is some evidence that males can be infanticidal in captivity. They may, therefore, have some role in protecting their offspring in the wild.
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); extended period of juvenile learning
