Habitat use and support preference of two free‐ranging saltatory lemurs (Lepilemur edwardsi and Avahi occidentalis)

Abstract

Lepilemur edwardsi and Avahi occidentalis are two species of nocturnal, folivorous ‘vertical clingers and leapers’ (VCL). They have a similar body mass and share the same morphological adaptation for leaping. In a field study under sympatric conditions at Ampijoroa, Madagascar, comparison of support use with support availability using Jacobs' D preference values (Jacobs, 1974) showed that both species actively chose or avoided branches with certain qualities. However, while both species showed a preference for small oblique and horizontal branches, they selected them at different heights in the forest and with varying degrees of preference and avoidance for the other available supports. Despite their traditional locomotor assignation, both species showed a surprisingly strong preference for horizontal supports. These striking variations in detail of support preference may aid the maintenance of species segregation and niche difference.

Feeding Patterns and Dietary Profile of Nocturnal Southern Woolly Lemurs (Avahi meridionalis) in Southeast Madagascar

“…The constraints of locomotion are reflected in the utilization of trees with trunk diameters that vary little vs. trees not used. This preference of specific supports has also been described for other Avahi species (Ganzhorn 1989;Warren 1997). Thus, it is not surprising that Avahi meridionalis spent most of the active time resting as a time-minimizing strategy instead of maximizing energy intake at the expense of long-distance travel ( Fig.…”

“…3), acting as strict folivores. The metabolic constraints associated with this low-quality diet are exacerbated by expensive locomotion (vertical climbing and leaping; Warren andCrompton 1997, 1998). The constraints of locomotion are reflected in the utilization of trees with trunk diameters that vary little vs. trees not used.…”

Vertical clinging and leaping revisited: Vertical support use as the ancestral condition of strepsirrhine primates

“…Indriids and Lepilemur are larger vertical clingers and leapers (see Walker, 1974a;Dagosto, 1995;Warren, 1997;Warren and Crompton, 1997;Dagosto and Yamashita, 1998;Blanchard, 2007) with body sizes up to 7 kg (Gould and Sauther, 2007) that specialize in folivory, a great contrast in terms of dietary preferences relative to the smaller vertical clinging and leaping primates. Vertical clinging indriids also span a nocturnal (Avahi) and diurnal (Propithecus and Indri) activity patterns relative to the nocturnal Lepilemur, galagids, and tarsiids.…”

The role of acoustic signaling for spacing and group coordination in a nocturnal, pair‐living primate, the western woolly lemur (Avahi occidentalis)

“…However, they did not provide empirical information on the callers and call usage, nor on the geographical origin of the callers (Table 1). Harcourt (1991), Warren andCrompton (1997), andThalmann (2003), studying feeding ecology, locomotion energetics and social behavior of woolly lemurs described some frequently heard calls as avahee call, whistle call and growling call, and speculated on their function (Table 1), but neither presented empirical data on their acoustic structure nor on their usage. Thus, our study aims (i) to acoustically characterize these qualitatively described call types in woolly lemurs, and (ii) to explore for the first time their suggested functions.…”

“…These weasel-sized lemurs that weigh approximately 1 kg (Ramanankirahina et al, 2011), form permanent pairs in which pair partners forage together during the night and sleep together at safe sleeping sites in trees with dense foliage during the day (Albignac, 1981;Warren and Crompton, 1997;Ramanankirahina et al, 2012). As do sportive lemurs, woolly lemurs belong to the so-called clingers and leapers (Warren, 1997;Warren and Crompton, 1997), and are able to move rapidly through dense forests. In contrast to sportive lemurs, woolly lemurs are folivorous specialists, selecting underrepresented food resources for which pairs seem to compete (Thalmann, 2001).…”