Lepilemur dorsalis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	PRIMATES	LEPILEMURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Lepilemur dorsalis

Species Authority:

Gray, 1870

Common Name/s:

English	–	Gray’s Sportive Lemur, Grey-backed Sportive Lemur, Nossi-bé Sportive Lemur
Spanish	–	Lemur Comadreja De Ambanja

Taxonomic Notes:

Sportive Lemurs on the islands of Nosy Be and Nosy Koma are now described as L. tymerlachsoni (Louis et al. 2006). Zinner et al. (2007) show that the three teams which described new Lepilemur species in 2006 and 2007 (Andriaholinirina et al. 2006, Louis et al. 2006, Craul et al. 2007) each had different concepts of L. dorsalis, and that the validity of L. tymerlachsoni and L. mittermeieri depends on which concept turns out to be correct. The type locality of Lepilemur dorsalis is either Mourountsang (=Anorontsangana, 13°55’S, 47°55’E) or Passandava (=Ampasindava, about 13°40’S, 48°15’E). If the former, then L. tymerlachsoni is a synonym of L. dorsalis and L. mittermeieri is valid; if the latter, then L. mittermeieri is the synonym and L. tymerlachsoni is valid. The species found at Anorontsangana is also found on Nosy Bé (Zinner et al. 2007). The name L. grandidieri(Forsyth Major, 1894) was given to a species form this general area, and this too may prove to be a senior synonym of one of the species described in 2006/2007.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Data Deficient ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Hoffmann, M.

Reviewer/s:

Mittermeier, R.A. & Rylands, A.B. (Primate Red List Authority)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Data Deficient as, in light of recent taxonomic upheavals in the genus Lepilemur, the precise distribution range of this species has become unclear and the taxonomic status of this species is unclear. A major reassessment of the Lepilemur species currently described in northwestern Madagascar is now a matter of priority.

History:

2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Vulnerable (IUCN 1990)
1990	–	Vulnerable (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Insufficiently Known (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Insufficiently Known (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is found in the Sambirano region of north-western Madagascar, its distribution centering on Ambanja. The limits of the range with the recently described L. sahamalazensis to the south are unclear.
Countries:	Native: Madagascar
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Common, more so in secondary forest than in primary forest.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This lemur has been the subject of only brief field studies. It inhabits humid forests that are subject to a short dry season each year, as well as subhumid forests that are subject to a long dry season. In dense primary forest it appears to favor tree holes for daytime sleeping, but will seek out vegetation tangles in more open deciduous forest. Births occur from August through November, mothers typically producing a single young.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This lemur has been the subject of only brief field studies. It inhabits humid forests that are subject to a short dry season each year, as well as subhumid forests that are subject to a long dry season. In dense primary forest it appears to favor tree holes for daytime sleeping, but will seek out vegetation tangles in more open deciduous forest. Births occur from August through November, mothers typically producing a single young.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The main threats are believed to be habitat loss due to rice and coffee cultivation, as well as illegal logging. This species is sometimes hunted for food.

Major Threat(s):

The main threats are believed to be habitat loss due to rice and coffee cultivation, as well as illegal logging. This species is sometimes hunted for food.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix I of CITES. It is known to occur in the Manongarivo Special Reserve, and probably also in the Tsaratanana Strict Nature Reserve.

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix I of CITES. It is known to occur in the Manongarivo Special Reserve, and probably also in the Tsaratanana Strict Nature Reserve.

Citation:	Hoffmann, M. 2008. Lepilemur dorsalis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 May 2013.
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