Eulemur rufifrons, Bennett, 1833

Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Lemuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 90-141 : 133-134

10.

Red-fronted Brown Lemur

Eulemur rufifrons

French: Lémur a front roux / German: Sidlicher Rotstirnmaki / Spanish: Lémur pardo de frente roja

Other common names: Southern Red-fronted Brown Lemur

Taxonomy. Lemur rufifrons Bennett, 1833 ,

Madagascar.

Populations in the south-eastern and south-western parts ofits distribution are essentially the same in appearance, but males from the south-west tend to have more red on their cheeks. Behavioral differences between populations in the two regions are notable. There is a large hybrid zone with E. cinereiceps that appears to be centered on the Iantara River (headwaters of the Manampatra) near Andringitra National Park. Monotypic.

Distribution. SW Madagascar (patchily from the Tsiribihina River S to the region of the Onilahy River and the Andringitra Massif ) and SE Madagascar from the Mangoro River and the Onive River in the N, with the S limit probably being the Manampatrana River, which, for the most part, separates it from the White-collared Brown Lemur ( E. cinereiceps ).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 40-48 cm, tail 45-55 cm; weight 2-1 kg (males) and 2-5 kg (females). The Red-fronted Brown Lemur is a relatively large, sexually dichromatic species, generally similar to the Rufous Brown Lemur ( E. rufus ). Males are irongray above with a grayish-fawn underside; the crown is dark red and the tail is black along part of its length. Digits are red. Females are brownish-olive-gray above with a whitish-red underside, a reddish head, and an orange-tipped tail. There is little gray above the eyes. All young are born with adult male coloration; female infants change into adult coloration in 7-17 weeks.

Habitat. Tropical dry lowland forest in the west and tropical moist lowland to montane forests in the east, up to elevations of 1700 m. The Red-fronted Brown Lemuris sympatric with the Red-bellied Lemur ( E. rubriventer ) and the White-collared Brown Lemur in different locations.

Food and Feeding. Diets of some western populations of the Red-fronted Brown Lemur are less diverse and much more folivorous than those of eastern populations, and they include a high proportion of leaves, pods, stems, flowers, bark, and sap of the kily tree ( Tamarindus indicus, Fabaceae ). At Kirindy Forest, individuals eat substantial amounts of fruit (especially from Astrotrichilia asterotricha, Meliaceae ), and they are the sole seed dispersers for a large number of tree species with large seeds. Diets of eastern populations are dominated by fruit. As is the case for the Red-bellied Lemur , the Red-fronted Brown Lemur feeds on flowers and nectar more often during the warm wet months of the year. Individuals have been reported to opportunistically prey upon infant Ring-tailed Lemurs ( Lemur catta ).

Breeding. In western populations of the Red-fronted Brown Lemur , one male typically monopolizes the females of the group, while in eastern populations, several males may participate in reproductive pairings. In the west, mating takes place in May-June, births occur in September—October after gestation of c.121 days, and the young are weaned in February after c.135 days. Age offirst reproduction of femalesis three years.

Activity patterns. The Red-fronted Brown Lemur is cathemeral and arboreal. Although largely diurnal, western populations increase their nocturnal activity during the dry season. Eastern populations are entirely cathemeral and active across the 24hour day throughout the year.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Red-fronted Brown Lemur has been studied in western Madagascar in the deciduous forests of Antserananomby and Tongobato, and Kirindy Forest, and in eastern Madagascar in Ranomafana National Park. These studies pre-date the recognition of E. rufifrons and E. rufus as separate species, and therefore refer to this species as E. fulvus rufus . The results of these and other studies demonstrate a very adaptable behavioral ecology. In the west, density is reported to be very high, and home ranges are small (26 ha on average). In the east, densities tend to be lower than in the west, and home ranges are as large as 100 ha. Group size is more consistent geographically, varying from 4-17 individuals (average of nine) in the west to 6-18 (average of eight) in the east. The Red-fronted Brown Lemurlives in multimale-multifemale groups. Closely related females form the core of these groups. Both sexes disperse from their natal groups. Daughters of subordinate females typically leave the group before they reach adulthood at 23-26 months, after targeted aggression from members of the dominant female’s matriline. Males emigrate as adults at 35-67 months. At Kirindy, groups have one dominant and several subordinate males, and the dominant male outranks all other group members including all adult females. Most infants are sired by the dominant male. Males need to fight for their rank, but they can maintain their position with relative ease because ranks are rarely challenged.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The Red-fronted Brown Lemur is threatened mainly by habitat loss from slash-and-burn agriculture, burning to make pasture, firewood gathering, and illegal logging. Hunting and trapping are also a problem throughout its distribution;it is one of the most commonly hunted lemurs in Madagascar. It occurs in four national parks ( Andringitra, Isalo, Ranomafana, and Zombitse-Vohibasia ), two special reserves (Andranomena and Pic d’Ivohibe), and Kirindy Forest (part of the Menabe-Antimena protected area). There is an additional introduced population of E. collars x E. rufifrons hybrids in the Berenty Reserve. Reports of its occurrence in the Kalambatritra Special Reserve are unfounded because the species there is evidently the Red-collared Brown Lemur ( E. collars ).

Bibliography. Barthold et al. (2009), Delmore et al. (2009, 2011), Donati, Lunardini & Kappeler (1999), Donati, Lunardini, Kappeler & Tarli (2001), Ganzhorn, Fietz et al. (1999), Ganzhorn, Lowry et al. (2001), Glander et al. (1992), Goodman & Raselimanana (2003), Groves (2006a), Hawkins (1999), Hawkins et al. (1998), Irwin et al. (2001), Johnson (2002), Johnson & Overdorff (1999), Kappeler & Erkert (2003), Meyers (1988), Mittermeier et al. (2010), Nicoll & Langrand (1989), Ostner & Kappeler (1999, 2004), Ostner, Kappeler & Heistermann (2008), Overdorff (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996a, 1996b, 1998), Overdorff & Johnson (2003), Overdorff & Rasmussen (1995), Petter et al. (1977), Pitts (1995), Randrianarisoa, Rasamison & Rakotozafy (2001), Randrianarisoa, Rasamison, Rakotozafy & Totovalahy (2001), Rasmussen (1985, 1999), Sterling & Ramaroson (1996), Sussman (1974, 1975, 1977), Sussman et al. (2003), Tattersall (1982), Thalmann et al. (1999), Wyner et al. (2002).

Figures

8. Brown (Lemur Fulemurfulvus), 9. Rufous Brown Lemur (Eulemur rufus), 10. Red-fronted Brown Lemur (FEulemur rufifrons), 11. White-fronted Brown Lemur (Eulemur albifrons), 12. Sanford’s Brown Lemur (Fulemur sanfordi), 13. White-collared Brown Lemur (Eulemur cinereiceps), 14. Red-collared Brown Lemur (Eulemur collars), 15. Black Lemur (Eulemur macaco), 16. Blue-eyed Black (Lemur Eulemurflavifrons), 17. Crowned Lemur (Eulemur coronatus), 18. Red-bellied Lemur (Eulemur rubriventer), 19. Mongoose Lemur (Eulemur mongoz)

Distribution. SW Madagascar (patchily from the Tsiribihina River S to the region of the Onilahy River and the Andringitra Massif ) and SE Madagascar from the Mangoro River and the Onive River in the N, with the S limit probably being the Manampatrana River, which, for the most part, separates it from the White-collared Brown Lemur ( E. cinereiceps ).