Eulemur mongoz (Linnaeus, 1766)

Scientific name:

Eulemur mongoz

Scientist name:

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Malagasy:

Dredrika, Gidro

English:

Mongoose Lemur

German:

Mongozmaki

Other english:

None

French:

Lémur Mongoz

Family:

LEMURIDAE Gray, 1821

Taxa:

Eulemur

Species

Identification

Eulemur mongoz is a small member of the genus, with a head-body length of 30–35 cm, a tail length of 45–48 cm, an overall length of 75–83 cm, and a weight of 1.1–1.6 kg (Tattersall, 1982; Terranova and Coffman, 1995; Pastorini et al., 1998). The species is sexually dichromatic. In males, the dorsal coat is gray-brown and darker at the tip of the tail. There is also a darker pygal patch. The back of the neck and shoulders are often a rufous brown. The ventral coat is a paler creamy-gray. The muzzle and face are gray. The rufous cheeks and beard are the most distinguishing features of the male. A triangular bald patch on the top of the head sometimes results from excessive rubbing during scent-marking. In females, the dorsal coat is gray and lighter than that of the male, but females share the darker tail and dark gray pygal patch, as well as a lighter, cream-colored abdomen. The muzzle is light gray, the face a darker, slate gray that is surrounded by a white bushy beard that extends to the ears and reaches down the throat and onto the forelimbs. The eyes are reddish-orange in both sexes. North of the Betsiboka River this species is sympatric with the brown lemur, E. fulvus, which has a darker coat and is not sexually dichromatic. South of the Betsiboka River, E. mongoz is sympatric with the rufous brown lemur, E. rufus, with which it is unlikely to be confused, unless one gets only a fleeting glimpse of the animal. However, Zaramody and Pastorini (2001) report a small zone of hybridization between the two species. The mongoose lemur tends to be more cryptic in its behavior and lives in smaller groups than the other Eulemur species with which it is found. In the Comoros, where this species also occurs, it is the only lemur on the islands of Mohéli and Anjouan, and cannot be confused with any other species.

Natural history

This species is found in tropical dry deciduous forests in western Madagascar and can also survive well in secondary forest (Petter, 1962a, 1962b; Tattersall, 1976a). It lives in small cohesive family units of an adult pair with one to four offspring (Curtis and Zaramody, 1999). Its activity pattern, variously described in earlier studies, is now understood to be cathemeral (Curtis et al., 1999; Rasmussen, 1999). Fruit, flowers, nectar, leaves, and leaf petioles constitute the bulk of the diet, which may include relatively few species of plants (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975; Andriatsarafara, 1988; Curtis et al., 1999). Mongoose lemurs have sometimes been observed intermingling with E. fulvus groups during feeding bouts (Harrington, 1978b), but usually keep to themselves and are much quieter than sympatric brown lemurs. The birth season appears to be around mid-October and it seems that females give birth each year (Tattersall, 1976a).

Geographic range

Eulemur mongoz is found in northwestern Madagascar. It is also one of only two lemur species found outside Madagascar, with populations occurring in the Comoros on the islands of Mohéli and Anjouan, where it was almost certainly introduced by our own species prior to European arrival. In Madagascar, it occurs in the region of Ambato- Boéni and Ankarafantsika, where the remaining forests are highly fragmented (Petter et al., 1977; Tattersall, 1982). The northern limit of its distribution appears to be near Analalava on the Bay of Narindra. It is also found south and west of the Betsiboka River at Katsepy and on the shores of Lac Kinkony, on both sides of the Mahavavy River, and in the Tsiombikibo Classified Forest near Mitsinjo (Müller et al., 2000).

Conservation status

In 2008, the IUCN Red List assessment classified E. mongoz as Vulnerable (VU). The principal threats are habitat loss due to slash-and-burn agriculture, burning to create pasture for cattle, charcoal production, and hunting for food. While previously under less threat on Anjouan and Mohéli, this species is increasingly seen as a crop pest, especially by an influx of Malagasy who do not adhere to local customs that have historically provided lemurs in the Comoros a greater degree of protection (Tattersall, 1998). The mongoose lemur occurs in just one protected area, Ankarafantsika National Park. Unprotected populations are found in the forests of Anjamena, Antrema (at Katsepy), Mariarano, and Tsiombikibo (near Mitsinjo). As of 2009, there were 111 mongoose lemurs reported in zoological collections worldwide (ISIS, 2009).

Where to see it

The mongoose lemur is most readily seen at the Ampijoroa Forestry Station in Ankarafantsika National Park. The station is about a two-hour drive from Mahajanga along the main highway to Antananarivo, and there is now comfortable lodging available. Other potential viewing sites are in the Tsiombikibo Classified Forest northwest of Mitsinjo, around Lac Kamonjo approximately 90 km west of the Betsiboka estuary, and in the Anjamena Forest on the eastern bank of the Mahavavy River (Garbutt, 2007), but access to these sites is largely limited to the dry season. The species can also be seen at Katsepy, right across the BetsibokaRiverfromMahajanga,which is also an excellent site to see crowned sifaka (Propithecus coronatus).

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