Varecia variegata subcincta (A. Smith, 1833)

Scientific name:

Varecia variegata subcincta

Scientist name:

(A. Smith, 1833)

Malagasy:

Vary, Varikandana, Varikandra, VarijatsyVarijatsy

English:

Northern Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

German:

Gürtelvari

Other english:

White-belted Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

French:

Vari à ceinture

Family:

LEMURIDAE Gray, 1821

Taxa:

Varecia

Species

Identification

As with the other subspecies of Varecia variegata, this is a large quadrupedal lemur with a body weight of 3.1–3.6 kg (Morland, 1991a). Although no measurements for this subspecies have been published, it is safe to assume that it is similar to V. v. variegata. The fur of V. v. subcincta is black and white with a distinct white belt around its otherwise black back. The abdomen, tail, extremities, inner aspects of the limbs, forehead, circum-orbital area, and top of the head are also black, whereas the outer aspects of the limbs as well as the base of the tail are white. As with V. v. variegata, the coat is fluffy, the tail is long and bushy, and the ears are “ruffed” with long thick white hair. The eyes can be yellow or amber-colored. There is no difference in size or coloration between the sexes.

Natural history

A long-term study of V. v. subcincta was carried out on Nosy Mangabe by Morland (1990, 1991a, 1991b, 1993). On this island, the animal exhibits a “fission/fusion” social system, in which larger communities of up to 16 individuals split into smaller core-groups during times of the year when fruits are scarce, a behavior that may enhance foraging efficiency for each individual lemur. These core groups are not cohesive and continue to fission and fuse back together again. Although females usually give birth to twins, short- term data suggest that females do not always reproduce successfully every year, and that a typical mother raises only one infant every second year. The diet consists mainly of ripe fruits, and it appears that only a small number of tree species are exploited.

Geographic range

This is the northernmost of the V. variegata subspecies. Its range extends from the Antainambalana River (in the region of Maraontsetra) south to the Anove River (between Soanierana Ivongo and Mananara). The subspecies apparently once occurred as far south as the region of Toamasina as well, but has now disappeared from there (Vasey and Tattersall, 2002). All museum specimens examined by Groves (2001) were collected in the Maroantsetra region. This apparently is also the subspecies that was introduced to the island of Nosy Mangabe (Bay of Antongil) back in the 1930s (Kuhn, 1972). Its distribution is now very patchy and fragmented, and its population density generally low. The confluence of the Vohimara and Antainambalana Rivers has been investigated as a possible contact or hybrid zone between this form and Varecia rubra, but results are inconclusive (Tattersall, 1982; Lindsay and Simons, 1986; Hekkala et al., 2007; Vasey and Tattersall, 2002).

Conservation status

The most recent IUCN Red List assessment (2008) classified V. v. subcincta as Critically Endangered (CR). The principal threats are habitat loss due to slash-and-burn and commercial agriculture, logging and mining, but hunting is also a major factor since it can be very heavy in certain areas. Indeed, recent studies of villages in the Makira Forest have found that ruffed lemur meat is a desired food item and that current levels of hunting are unsustainable (Golden, 2005). This lemur occurs in the Mananara-Nord National Park, the Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve, and in the soon-to-be protected forests of Makira. As of 2009, there was a small captive population, numbering individuals 38 in all, which were being actively managed in various European zoos (Schwitzer and Kaumanns, 2001b; ISIS, 2009).

Where to see it

Varecia v. subcincta is most readily seen on the island of Nosy Mangabe, which can be reached easily by small boat from Maroantsetra, a trip of only about 30 minutes. Good camping facilities are available, but camping permits must be obtained from the local Madagascar National Parks office for overnight stays. A number of convenient tent platforms are provided. A motorized pirogue trip from Maroantsetra up the Antainambalana River may also be worthwhile, but finding this species on the mainland is much more difficult than on Nosy Mangabe. Excursions to Nosy Mangabe and longer trips can be arranged through the local Madagascar National Parks office, through local hotels (especially the Relais de Masoala), and with the Association des Guides de Maroantsetra. This ruffed lemur is much more challenging to observe in the wild in Mananara-Nord National Park, as there is little infrastructure in place to facilitate visits. A permit is required from the UNESCO office in Mananara or from Madagascar National Parks in Antanambe. Access to the park is possible via a three-hour walk from Sandrakatsy, a small town served by taxi-brousse from Mananara. Once in the park, there are no good trails and this lemur is usually one of the most difficult to find. Use of a local guide is essential.

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Species

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