Fork-marked Lemur (Genus Phaner)
Habitat & Distribution
Fork-marked lemurs can be found in both deciduous forests and tropical rainforests
Different species are distributed throughout the island of Madagascar, though they are most common on the western half of the island
Physical Description
Weight: Ranges from 350 to 500 g (0.77 and 1.10 lb)
Length: 23.7 to 27.2 cm (9.3 and 10.7 in)
The fur is generally brown or gray, while the belly can be yellow, white, or tan; a black stripe extends from the tail to the head, where it forks into a Y shape
Behaviour
Fork-marked lemurs generally forage in the canopy, and rarely descend to the ground; their main diet consists of tree sap and gum, supplemented by insects and fruit
They generally stay in small family groups; territories may overlap, but are more often defended by dominant males
The primary predators are owls, birds of prey, and fossa
Key Advantages
Fork-marked lemurs are agile climbers
Although not aggressive, they can use their teeth and claw-like nails in fights against rivals
See where they stand in the May Mammal Madness Tournament here!
Photo by Russell A. Mittermeier
