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Eulemur rubriventerred-bellied lemur

By Alexis Zenner

Geographic Range

Red-bellied lemurs, Eulemur rubriventer, live in the eastern rainforest zone of Madagascar (Nowak, 1999). (Nowak, 1999)

Habitat

This lemur mainly inhabits rainforest regions, at medium to high altitudes (Macdonald, 1984; Nowak, 1999). (Macdonald, 1984; Nowak, 1999)

Physical Description

Red-bellied lemurs are sexually dichromatic. Females have white bellies with white markings on the neck and chin, whereas males are mostly brown with dramatic white eye patches and a scent gland located on the forehead. Both sexes both have a black tail.

The head and body length is from 36 to 42 cm and the tail length is 46 to 54 cm. These lemurs usually weigh between 2 and 3 kg and are approximately the size of a house cat (SUNY, 1999; Schmid & Smolker, 1998). (Schmid and Smolker, 1998; Stony Brook State University of New York, 1999)

  • Sexual Dimorphism
  • sexes colored or patterned differently
  • Range mass
    2 to 3 kg
    4.41 to 6.61 lb
  • Range length
    36 to 54 cm
    14.17 to 21.26 in

Reproduction

Red-bellied lemurs are one of the few lemur species to form monogamous pair bonds. These form the core of the social group, which typically consists of the mated pair and their offspring. (Duke University Primate Center, 1999) (Duke University Primate Center, 1999)

Red-bellied lemurs have a gestation period of 127 days and give birth from September to October. There is usually a single young born, though twins sometimes occur, and birth weight is 60 to 70 grams. An estrous cycle lasts one month and estrous lasts 1 to 2 days (Schmid & Smolker, 1998). Mothers wean their young around the age of 5 months.

Sexual maturity is reached at about 2 years of age. (Duke University Primate Center, 1999)

  • Breeding interval
    These lemurs are capable of breeding annually.
  • Breeding season
    Mating occurs from May through June with births occuring from September to October.
  • Range number of offspring
    1 to 2
  • Average number of offspring
    1
    AnAge
  • Average gestation period
    127 days
  • Average gestation period
    130 days
    AnAge
  • Average weaning age
    5 months
  • Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
    2 years
  • Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
    2 years

Both male and female parents care for their offspring. The mother nurses and carries the infant for the first 2 weeks of life. From 2 weeks to 5 weeks of age, the young are cared for equally by both parents, although nursing is only accomplished by the mother. After 5 weeks of age, the mother often rejects the young, leaving the father to care for them until they are about 100 days old. (Duke University Primate Center, 1999)

  • Parental Investment
  • altricial
  • pre-fertilization
    • provisioning
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-hatching/birth
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • male
      • female
  • pre-weaning/fledging
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • male
      • female
  • pre-independence
    • protecting
      • male

Lifespan/Longevity

Red-bellied lemurs live 20 to 25 years in the wild (Duke University Primate Center, 1999).

  • Range lifespan
    Status: wild
    20 to 25 years
  • Average lifespan
    Status: captivity
    20 years
    AnAge

Behavior

Red-bellied lemurs are mainly diurnal. They are social, living in groups of 5 or fewer individuals, usually consisting of a mated pair and their offspring. Females are dominant over males and lead the group in foraging. Females have preferential access to food and chose their own mates. Red-bellied lemurs do not appear to be territorial. Grooming is an important way of maintaining social cohesion within the group. Lemurs use their lower incisors as a comb to groom troop members (Duke University Primate Center, 1999; Nowak, 1999; Preston-Mafham, 1992).

Communication and Perception

As in other primate species, communication is complex and occurs in a variety of ways. In addition to vocal communication, E. rubriventer uses chemicals to communicate. The prominent forehead scent gland of males is used to help mark territories. Facial expressions and body postures are some of the visual signals these primates use in communication. Finally, tactile communication, through grooming, mating, play, and aggression, also occurs. (Duke University Primate Center, 1999; Nowak, 1999)

Food Habits

The diet of red-bellied lemurs consists mainly of flowers, fruits and leaves of 67 identified plant species. They also eat some invertebrates. When they eat toxic millipedes, they drool on them first, which may help to neutralize the toxins so these invertebrates are edible. Red-bellied lemurs, as well as other lemur species, may also eat soil (Nowak, 1999; Preston-Mafham, 1992). (Nowak, 1999; Preston-Mafham and Preston-Mafham, 1992)

  • Animal Foods
  • insects
  • Plant Foods
  • leaves
  • seeds, grains, and nuts
  • fruit
  • flowers

Predation

When feeding, red-bellied lemurs employ a sentinel to keep watch for predators. If a bird of prey or some other predator is detected, the sentinel will utter several low grunts. The other members of the group will either freeze for periods up to 15 minutes or they will take cover. The are preyed upon by fossas (the largest carnivore in Madagascar) and raptors (Preston-Mafham, 1992; Stony Brook State University of New York, 1999). They are also hunted by humans and taken by introduced dogs and cats. (Preston-Mafham and Preston-Mafham, 1992; Stony Brook State University of New York, 1999; Preston-Mafham and Preston-Mafham, 1992; Stony Brook State University of New York, 1999)

Ecosystem Roles

These lemurs play a role in seed dispersal and germination from seeds contained in the feces (Dew & Wright 1998).

  • Ecosystem Impact
  • disperses seeds

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Red-bellied lemurs, as well as the other species of lemurs, are charismatic and unique animals, making them valuable for ecotourism. These animals have also been used in behavioral research. They are sometimes hunted for food.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no negative effects of red-bellied lemurs on humans.

Conservation Status

All species in this genus are endangered. The red-bellied lemur is listed as vulnerable by IUCN and is on Appendix I of CITES. Populations are estimated between 10,000 and 100,000 animals, and are thought to be declining due to the rapid loss of rainforest habitat in Madagascar (Nowak, 1999). All members of the Lemuridae are listed as endangered by the U.S. Federal government. (Nowak, 1999)

Other Comments

Rred-bellied lemurs have been used in many behavioral studies. The Malagasy names for these animals are: Tongona, Barimas, and Soamiera.

Contributors

Nancy Shefferly (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Alexis Zenner (author), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Chris Yahnke (editor), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Glossary

Ethiopian

living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.

World Map

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

altricial

young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

diurnal
  1. active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.
dominance hierarchies

ranking system or pecking order among members of a long-term social group, where dominance status affects access to resources or mates

ecotourism

humans benefit economically by promoting tourism that focuses on the appreciation of natural areas or animals. Ecotourism implies that there are existing programs that profit from the appreciation of natural areas or animals.

endothermic

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

fertilization

union of egg and spermatozoan

folivore

an animal that mainly eats leaves.

food

A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.

frugivore

an animal that mainly eats fruit

herbivore

An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.

island endemic

animals that live only on an island or set of islands.

iteroparous

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

monogamous

Having one mate at a time.

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

rainforest

rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.

seasonal breeding

breeding is confined to a particular season

sedentary

remains in the same area

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

social

associates with others of its species; forms social groups.

tactile

uses touch to communicate

terrestrial

Living on the ground.

tropical

the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.

visual

uses sight to communicate

viviparous

reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.

References

Dew, J., P. Wright. 1998. Frugivory and seed dispersal by four species of primates in Madagascar's eastern rain forest. Biotropica, 30/3: 425-437.

Duke University Primate Center, 1999. "Red-bellied lemurs" (On-line). Accessed October 11, 2001 at http://primatecenter.duke.edu/animals/redbellied/.

Macdonald, D. 1984. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File.

Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Preston-Mafham, R., K. Preston-Mafham. 1992. Primates of the World. New York: Facts on File Inc.

Schmid, J., R. Smolker. 1998. Lemurs of the Reserve Speciale d'Anjanaharive-Sud, Madagascar. Fieldana: Zoology, 90: 227-238.

Stony Brook State University of New York, 1999. "Eulemur rubriventer" (On-line). Accessed October 11, 2001 at http://info.bio.sunysb.edu/rano.biodiv/Mammals/Eulemur-rubriventer/.

Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, November 28, 2001. "Primate Info Net: Red-bellied Lemur (*Eulemur rubriventer*)" (On-line). Accessed Sept. 1, 2002 at http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/eulemur_rubriventer.html.

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