Nocturnal ranging by a diurnal primate: are ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) cathemeral?

Abstract

Cathemerality, an activity pattern comprised of distinct periods of diurnal and nocturnal activity, is a trait found among several of the Malagasy strepsirhines and one species of Aotus. Because occasional anecdotal reports suggest that some diurnal primates can be active at night, I investigated the possibility of nocturnal ranging behavior in the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) by using global positioning system (GPS) collars programmed to collect data across a 24-h period. Five individuals in a provisioned, free-ranging L. catta colony on St. Catherines Island, Georgia, USA, wore GPS collars across 1 week of the mating season. Results revealed that night ranging behavior occurred between the h of 1900 and 0530. An evaluation of the effect of moonlight on nocturnal activity showed that a greater rate of travel occurred during moonlit periods as opposed to periods when the moon had not yet risen. Distance travelled at night decreased across the deployment period, likely because of a decrease in available moonlight over time, as the lemurs were collared during a waning moon. Fewer mating opportunities over time may have also been responsible for the decrease in night ranging, because the number of females in estrus declined across the deployment period. Future research is needed to separate the effects of moonlight and mating activity on night ranging in this species, as well as to evaluate whether L. catta in Madagascar show night ranging similar to L. catta on SCI. These data raise the possibility that L. catta may be cathemeral, with an activity pattern fluctuating between diurnality and cathemerality in accordance with shifts in environmental conditions.

Cathemerality in a small, folivorous primate: proximate control of diel activity in Hapalemur meridionalis

“…Among these strepsirrhines, cathemerality is almost exclusively reported in the family Lemuridae, most conclusively from two genera: Eulemur (Overdorff 1988;Wilson et al 1989;Andrews and Birkinshaw 1998;Colquhoun 1998;Curtis et al 1999;Donati et al 1999Donati et al , 2009Kappeler and Erkert 2003;Rasmussen 1999;Donati and Borgognini-Tarli 2006;Schwitzer et al 2007) and Lemur (Parga 2011;Donati et al 2013;LaFleur et al 2014;Rea et al 2014).…”

(Un‐)expected nocturnal activity in “Diurnal” Lemur catta supports cathemerality as one of the key adaptations of the lemurid radiation

“…In particular, in ring-tailed lemurs, Lemur catta, anecdotal evidence of day-night activity has been reported both in the wild (Traina, 2001) and in captivity (Parga, 2011), but systematic studies to verify these observations have not yet been conducted. In particular, in ring-tailed lemurs, Lemur catta, anecdotal evidence of day-night activity has been reported both in the wild (Traina, 2001) and in captivity (Parga, 2011), but systematic studies to verify these observations have not yet been conducted.…”

The ranging behavior of Lemur catta in the region of Cap Sainte‐Marie, Madagascar

“…In addition, recent observations of nocturnal ranging behavior among L. catta in previously unstudied spiny forest habitat (LaFleur, 2012) and in semifree ranging situations outside of Madagascar (Parga, 2011) are also indicative of extreme ranging flexibility. In addition, recent observations of nocturnal ranging behavior among L. catta in previously unstudied spiny forest habitat (LaFleur, 2012) and in semifree ranging situations outside of Madagascar (Parga, 2011) are also indicative of extreme ranging flexibility.…”