Varecia variegata variegata
Black and White Ruffed Lemur

Varecia variegata variegata^P1

Identification

Varecia variegata variegata is a large, black and white quadrupedal lemur. There is a white ruff of fur around the face.

Varecia variegata variegata at RNP

V. v. v. is only an occasional visitor to the Talatakely area, in 1998-1999 there was a pair that were sighted several times around A1000, V400. Roaring calls are often heard in the around A and C trails (the calls carry for a km, this does not imply that the animals live there). There are several groups living up at Vato (a 5km hike from Talatakely).

Physical Characteristics

Life History

V. v. variegata mate between May and July with most matings in June. Infants are born between Sep and Oct, usually as twins. They are carried in the mother's mouth and are parked in a nest for the first few weeks of life.Weaning is at 90days (at the time of greatest food availability, Wright 1999). Sexual maturity at 20months. Life span 19years.

V.v.v. suspensory feedingP2

V.v.v. quadrupedalP3

V.v.v. handstandP4

Locomotion

Locomotion is primarily quadrupedal. ^{1Mb V1} But the animal often feeds in an upsidedown position ^{.3Mb V2 .8Mb V3 .5Mb V4} And, of course they leap^{.3Mb V5}

Diet & Feeding

V. v. variegata is primarily frugivorous but also eats nectar, seeds and leaves.^{1.6Mb V6}

Food sharing

Activity Pattern

V. v. variegata is diurnal. They travel less in the cooler months and sun themselves to warm up in the mornings.

Predators

Raptors

V.v.v. reacts to raptors by alarm-calling as though they were a danger, and then mobs them. (Goodman et al, 1993).

Man

Behavior

V.v.v. dozing^P5

Dominance

Any female V.v.v after being weaned is dominant to a male (Kaufman, 1991). Females displace males from sleep sites ^{1.9Mb V7}

Social structure

groups are multi-male, multi-female, group size ranges from 5 to 16.

The home range area is about 20ha. Day range 400-2300m.

Territoriality

Varecia variegata variegata groups are territorial and defend those territories. The females are most involved in defence.

Play

^{2.4Mb V8}

V.v.v. ^P6

Vocalizations

6 different predator alarm calls, including an all clear call

Roar: ^S1
Roar: ^S2
Aggression: ^S3 directed at E. f. r., a group of which was invading the V.v.v. food patch.

Scent Marks

Other Behaviors

^{.4Mb V9}

Geographic Range

Varecia variegata variegata is found in the rainforests of the east coast of Madagascar. (Mittermeier et al, 1994). They are very sensitive to habitat disturbance and seem to depend on the presence of large, old-growth fruit trees for much of their diet.

At RNP they are not found as permanent residents (currently) in the Talatakely area where logging has removed many of the big trees

Taxonomy

Mammalia -> Primata (Strepsirrhini, Lemuriformes) -> Lemuridae (Lemurianae) -> Varecia variegata variegata

There are currently two subspecies, there is variation in the ratio of black to white in the pelage in different parts of the country. There is some debate as to whether this genus belongs in the Lemuridae

Goodman, SM, O'Conner S, Langrand O, 1993 "A review of predation on lemurs: Implications for the evolution of social behavior in small, nocturnal primates", Lemur Social Systems and their Ecological Basis, 51-66

IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre, viewed in July 2000, "Threatened Animals of the World", IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals

Kappeler, PM, 1991, "Patterns of sexual dimorphism in body weight among prosimian primates", Folia Primatologica, 57:132-146

Kaufman, R. 1991. "Female dominance in semi-free ranging black and white ruffed lemurs, Varecia variegata variegata", Folia Primatologia, 57:92-95

Mittermeier, Russell et al, 1994, The Lemurs of Madagascar, Conservation International

Rowe, Noel, 1996, The Pictorial Guide to the Living Primates, Pogonias Press

Wright, P.C. 1999 "Lemur traits and Madagascar ecology: coping with an island environment." Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 42: 31-72.

V.v.v. watching.^P7

-- RNP Main -- Other Lemurs at RNP -- Lemur Taxonomy -- Comments -- Copyright --