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| Sportive lemurs | |
|---|---|
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| Ankarana sportive lemur (L. ankaranensis) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Strepsirrhini |
| Superfamily: | Lemuroidea |
| Family: | Lepilemuridae Gray, 1870[1] |
| Genus: | Lepilemur I. Geoffroy, 1851[1] |
| Type species | |
| Lepilemur mustelinus I. Geoffroy, 1851 | |
| Diversity | |
| About 26 species | |
 | |
| Combined distribution ofLepilemur[3] | |
| Synonyms | |
Genus:
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Thesportive lemurs are the medium-sizedprimates that make up the familyLepilemuridae. The family consists of only one extant genus,Lepilemur. They are closely related to the otherlemurs and exclusively live on the island ofMadagascar. For a time, this family was namedMegaladapidae, but the current name was given precedence since theextinct genusMegaladapis was removed from the family.
French zoologistIsidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire first described the genusLepilemur in 1851, prefixing the existinggenusLemur with theLatinlepidus ("pleasant" or "pretty"). However, it was erroneously spelled—a mistake later authors unsuccessfully attempted to correct toLepidolemur. Members of the monogeneric family Lepilemuridae are referred to as either sportive or weasel lemurs. "Sportive lemur", which is more commonly used, was coined byHenry Ogg Forbes in 1894. Though he did not explain the name choice, he did mention the agility ofLepilemur. "Weasel lemur" is an older common name, dating to the 1863 publication ofCassell's Popular National History. Dunkelet al. speculated that was inspired by the species nameL. mustelinus, which means "weasel-like" in Latin.[4] They were namedweasel lemurs for their swiftness like that ofmustelids.
Their fur is grey brown or reddish colored on the top and whitish yellow underneath. They typically have a short head with large, round ears. They grow to a length of 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) (with a tail just about as long as their body) and weigh up to 0.9 kg (2 lb). Their eyes have atapetum lucidum behind the retina, hence they haveeyeshine.
Sportive lemurs are strictlynocturnal and predominantlyarboreal, moving among the trees with long jumps powered by their strong hind legs. On the ground, they hop similarly to thekangaroo. During the day they hide in leafy covering ortree hollows. Sportive lemurs are mostly solitary and defend their territory against same sex intruders. The territories of males and females can overlap.
They are mainlyherbivores and their diet consists predominantly of leaves.
Birthing happens between September and December after a gestation of 120 to 150 days, and is usually of a single young which is often reared in a nest in a tree hollow. At about four months the juveniles are weaned but remain with their mother up to an age of one year. At about 18 months they are fully mature, and live to be about eight years old.
Description of a new sportive lemur, Holland's or Mananara-Nord sportive lemur
