Greater bamboo lemur

The greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus), also known as the broad-nosed bamboo lemur and the broad-nosed gentle lemur, is the largest bamboo lemur, at over five pounds or nearly 2.5 kilograms. It has greyish brown fur and white ear tufts, and has a head-body length of around one and a half feet, or forty to fifty centimeters. They have relatively long tails and long back legs for leaping vertically amongst the trees of their forest habitat. It feeds almost exclusively on the bamboo species of Cathariostachys madagascariensis, preferring the shoots but also eating the pith and leaves. It is unknown how their metabolism deals with the cyanide found in the shoots. The typical daily dose would be enough to kill humans. Greater bamboo lemurs occasionally consume fungi, flowers, and fruit. Its main food source is bamboo and it is the main reason why it has become critically endangered[4][5]. Areas with high density of bamboo have major human disturbances, where humans cut or illegally cut down bamboo[6].Its only confirmed predators are the fossa and the bushpigs[7], but raptors are also suspected. Its current range is restricted to southeastern Madagascar, although fossils indicate its former range extended across bigger areas of the island, including as far north as Ankarana.[8][9] Some notable parts of the current range are the Ranomafana[10] and Andringitra National Parks.

Greater bamboo lemur
in Ranomafana National Park

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Prolemur
Gray, 1871[3]
Species:
P. simus
Binomial name
Prolemur simus
Gray, 1871[3]
Distribution of P. simus[1]
Synonyms

Genus:

  • Prohapalemur Lamberton, 1936

Species:

  • gallieni Standing, 1905

Greater bamboo lemurs live in groups of up to 28. Individuals are extremely gregarious. The species may be the only lemur in which the male is dominant, although this is not certain. Because of their social nature, greater bamboo lemurs have at least seven different calls. Males have been observed taking bamboo pith away from females that had put significant effort into opening the bamboo stems. In captivity, greater bamboo lemurs have lived over the age of 17.[11]

Conservation status

The greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus), is one of the world's most critically endangered primates, according to the IUCN Red List. Scientists believed that it was extinct, but a remnant population was discovered in 1986.[12] Since then, surveys of south- and central eastern Madagascar have found about 500 individuals in 11 subpopulations.[1] The home range of the species is likewise drastically reduced. The current range is less than 4 percent of its historic distribution. Most of the former range is no longer suitable habitat due to this species' dietary specialization on bamboo and its microhabitat preferences. The outlook is dire since areas with critically low population numbers have no official protection, and comprise severely degraded habitat. The species is endangered by the following: slash and burn farming, mining, bamboo and other logging, and slingshot hunting.[11]

It was formerly one of "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates."[13]

References
  1. Andriaholinirina, N.; et al. (2014). "Prolemur simus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T9674A16121559. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T9674A16121559.en.
  2. "Checklist of CITES Species". CITES. UNEP-WCMC. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  3. Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 117. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  4. Hawkins, Melissa T. R.; Culligan, Ryan R.; Frasier, Cynthia L.; Dikow, Rebecca B.; Hagenson, Ryan; Lei, Runhua; Louis, Edward E. (8 June 2018). "Genome sequence and population declines in the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus) and implications for conservation". BMC Genomics. 19 (1): 445. doi:10.1186/s12864-018-4841-4. ISSN 1471-2164. PMC 5994045. PMID 29884119.
  5. Ravaloharimanitra, Maholy; Ratolojanahary, Tianasoa; Rafalimandimby, Jean; Rajaonson, Andry; Rakotonirina, Laingoniaina; Rasolofoharivelo, Tovonanahary; Ndriamiary, Jean Noel; Andriambololona, Jeannot; Nasoavina, Christin; Fanomezantsoa, Prosper; Rakotoarisoa, Justin Claude (17 February 2011). "Gathering Local Knowledge in Madagascar Results in a Major Increase in the Known Range and Number of Sites for Critically Endangered Greater Bamboo Lemurs (Prolemur simus)". International Journal of Primatology. 32 (3): 776–792. doi:10.1007/s10764-011-9500-4. ISSN 0164-0291.
  6. Olson, Erik R.; Marsh, Ryan A.; Bovard, Brittany N.; Randrianarimanana, H. L. Lucien; Ravaloharimanitra, Maholy; Ratsimbazafy, Jonah H.; King, Tony (30 April 2013). "Habitat Preferences of the Critically Endangered Greater Bamboo Lemur (Prolemur simus) and Densities of One of Its Primary Food Sources, Madagascar Giant Bamboo (Cathariostachys madagascariensis), in Sites with Different Degrees of Anthropogenic and Natural Disturbance". International Journal of Primatology. 34 (3): 486–499. doi:10.1007/s10764-013-9674-z. ISSN 0164-0291.
  7. Ravaloharimanitra, Maholy; Ratolojanahary, Tianasoa; Rafalimandimby, Jean; Rajaonson, Andry; Rakotonirina, Laingoniaina; Rasolofoharivelo, Tovonanahary; Ndriamiary, Jean Noel; Andriambololona, Jeannot; Nasoavina, Christin; Fanomezantsoa, Prosper; Rakotoarisoa, Justin Claude (17 February 2011). "Gathering Local Knowledge in Madagascar Results in a Major Increase in the Known Range and Number of Sites for Critically Endangered Greater Bamboo Lemurs (Prolemur simus)". International Journal of Primatology. 32 (3): 776–792. doi:10.1007/s10764-011-9500-4. ISSN 0164-0291.
  8. Godfrey, L.R.; Wilson, Jane M.; Simons, E.L.; Stewart, Paul D.; Vuillaume-Randriamanantena, M. (1996). "Ankarana: window to Madagascar's past". Lemur News. 2: 16–17.
  9. Wilson, Jane M.; Godfrey, L.R.; Simons, E.L.; Stewart, Paul D.; Vuillaume-Randriamanantena, M. (1995). "Past and Present Lemur Fauna at Ankarana, N. Madagascar". Primate Conservation. 16: 47–52.
  10. Wilson, Jane (1995). Lemurs of the Lost World: exploring the forests and Crocodile Caves of Madagascar. Impact, London. pp. 139–143. ISBN 978-1-874687-48-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  11. Conniff, Richard (April 2006). "For the Love of Lemurs". Smithsonian. Smithsonian Institution. 37 (1): 102–109.
  12. Pat Wright (July 2008). "A Proposal from Greater Bamboo Lemur Conservation Project". SavingSpecies. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  13. Mittermeier, R.A.; Wallis, J.; Rylands, A.B.; Ganzhorn, J.U.; Oates, J.F.; Williamson, E.A.; Palacios, E.; Heymann, E.W.; Kierulff, M.C.M.; Yongcheng, L.; Supriatna, J.; Roos, C.; Walker, S.; Cortés-Ortiz, L.; Schwitzer, C., eds. (2009). Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates 2008–2010 (PDF). Illustrated by S.D. Nash. Arlington, VA: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), and Conservation International (CI). pp. 1–92. ISBN 978-1-934151-34-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2011.
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