Lepilemur ankaranensis Rumpler & Albignac 1975
Creators: name: Russell A. Mittermeier
name: Anthony B. Rylands
name: Don E. Wilson
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Primates
Lepilemuridae
Lepilemur
Lepilemur ankaranensis

description: 11.
Ankarana Sportive Lemur
Lepilemur ankaranensis
French: Lépilémur de | '’Ankarana / German: Ankarana-Wieselmaki / Spanish: Lémur saltador de Ankarana
Other common names: Ankarana Weasel Lemur
Taxonomy. Lepilemur septentrionalis ankaranensis Rumpler & Albignac, 1975,
Madagascar, Analamerana Forest.
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. N Madagascar, found in the forests of Ankarana, Andrafiamena, Analamerana, and Montagne d’Ambre; it appears to be sympatric with the Daraina Sportive Lemur (LL. milanoit) in the Andrafiamena Classified Forest. Field studies are needed to determine how these two species share the same forest.
Descriptive notes. Head-body c.22 cm, tail ¢.27 cm; weight 730 g. A small species, externally very similar to the Sahafary Sportive Lemur (L. septentrionalis), but chromosomally distinct. The description thatfollows is based on specimens that had previously been assigned to the Sahafary Sportive Lemur, a species that evidently has a much more restricted range than previously believed. The overall color is a light grayishbrown above with a gray underside. A dark median stripe often extends from the crown of the head along the spine, as do brownish tinges on the shoulder region. The tail is pale brown and darkens toward the tip. The ears project beyond the fur but are less prominent than those of other sportive lemur species.
Habitat. Tropical dry lowland and tropical moist montane forest (to 1500 m above sea level).
Food and Feeding. A study of this species in degraded secondary forest fragments south of Montagne d’Ambre National Park found that the animals ate a high proportion of fruits during the rainy season when fruits are abundant, whereas they only ate leaves during the dry season. The fruits offive plant families were consumed: Moraceae, Verbenaceae, Rubiaceae, Pittosporaceae, and one that was not identified. The Ankarana Sportive Lemur has also been observed to feed on sap.
Breeding. There is no information available for this species.
Activity patterns. Nocturnal and arboreal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The natural history of the Ankarana Sportive Lemur remains relatively poorly studied, although information on its behavior and ecology can be drawn from studies on sportive lemur populations previously assigned to the Sahafary Sportive Lemur. A typical home range is about 1 ha. Adults remain solitary during nightly bouts of foraging. Tree holes and vine tangles are preferred daytime shelters.
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Ankarana Sportive Lemur is threatened mainly by forest destruction for charcoal production and hunting. Hunting has become more seriousin recent years because of large numbers of itinerant sapphire miners in the Ankarana region. The Ankarana Sportive Lemur occurs in the Montagne d’Ambre National Park, the Analamerana, Ankarana, and Forét d’Ambre special reserves, and the Andrafiamena Classified Forest, which is proposed to become a national park. Densities are 150-550 ind/ km? The Andrafiamena Classified Forest is the only area where two sportive lemur species occur in sympatry.
Bibliography. Garbutt (2007), Groves (2001), Hawkins et al. (1990), Louis, Engberg et al. (2006), Mittermeier etal. (2010), Ratsirarson & Rumpler (1988), Ravaorimanana et al. (2004), Rumpler (2004), Rumpler et al. (2001).
description: Published as part of Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Lepilemuridae, pp. 66-75 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 70, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6635114