Lemur mongoz Linnaeus, 1766

Order PRIMATES

Family LEMURIDAE

The Mongoose Lemur is one of the two lemur species found on the Comoro Islands as well as in Madagascar; it has a very limited distribution, the exact extent of which is unknown. It is found in dry deciduous forests in Madagascar and in more humid forests in the Comoros. Neither its population numbers nor density is known but it is certainly declining in number. The species is usually seen in small family groups composed of an adult pair and associated offspring. Both nocturnal and diurnal activity have been reported. Its diet is composed mainly of flowers and nectar, though some fruit, leaves and leaf petioles are also taken. Only brief studies have been made of the species. Habitat destruction on both Madagascar and the Comoro Islands is a major threat to L. mongoz. It is found in only one protected area. Though many of the approximately 90 individuals of this species that are in captivity were born there, these captive bred individuals themselves generally do not breed. Listed in Appendix 1 of CITES, Class A of the African Convention and is protected by the laws of Madagascar and the Comoros.

The precise limits of the range of this species remain to be identified. It is found in north-west Madagascar in the region of Ambato-Boéni and Ankarafantsika (Petter et al, 1977; Tattersall, 1982). The northern limit to its range is around Analalava on the Bay of Narinda, and it has been seen west of the Betsiboka River on the shores of Lake Kinkony near Mitsinjo (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975). It is one of the two lemur species occurring on the Comoro Islands, being found on Ndzouani (Anjouan) and Moili (Mohéli) with a few feral individuals on Ngazidja Island (Grande Comoro), which have escaped or been set free there (Tattersall, 1977b; Thorpe, 1989).

No estimates of either population numbers or densities appear to have been made. Tattersall (in litt.) considers that this may be the rarest of the species in the genus Lemur. Sussman et al (1985) report that the numbers of the Mongoose Lemur are declining due to habitat destruction.

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY

The Mongoose Lemur is found in dry deciduous forests in western Madagascar and in more humid forest on the Comoros. It can survive quite well in secondary vegetation (Tattersall, 1976). It has been briefly studied in the dry deciduous forest in Ankarafantsika Reserve, near the forestry station of Ampijoroa (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975; Sussman and Tattersall, 1976). Here, during the months of July and August, the study groups were exclusively nocturnal. They left their sleeping trees around 18.00 hrs and mostly fed or traveled to feeding sites between then and approximately 23.00 hrs; there was a two or three hour rest period between 22.00 and 03.00, followed by more activity until the animals returned to their sleeping sites (in dense foliage or tangled vines at the top of tall trees) around dawn (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975). Albignac (1981) found them to be predominantly crepuscular, while Petter (1962) and Harrington (1975, 1978) report diurnal activity. Harrington (1978) suggests a shift from diurnal to nocturnal activity at Ampijoroa sometime around June, which coincides with the transition from the rainy to the dry season. This change in activity patterns is confirmed by Andriatsarafara (1988). Tattersall (1976, 1977a) found that the activity patterns of the Mongoose Lemurs on Mohili and in the coastal lowlands of Anjouan were similar to those observed m the north-west of Madagascar. However, the lemurs in the central highlands were active during the day rather than at night and Tattersall (1976, 1977a) suggested that activity pattern is influenced by climatic factors.

The range of one L. mongoz study group was recorded as 1.15 ha but Tattersall and Sussman (1975) considered that this was probably a seasonally limited range. Distance traveled during a night ranged from 460 to 750 m and the groups used mostly the upper strata of the forest, 10-15 m above the ground (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975).

In Ankarafantsika, five groups of L. mongoz were observed and they all contained an adult male and female and their immature offspring (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975). The groups were very cohesive during resting and travel, the adults usually sleeping in contact with each other with the offspring only 2 or 3 m away (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975). Extensive overlap was observed between group ranges, but intergroup encounters were rare and caused great agitation, vocalizations and frenetic marking by both sexes (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975). In contrast, Harrington (1978) frequently recorded L. mongoz groups feeding and traveling within 20 m of L. fulvus groups and members of the two species would even intermingle with no signs of alarm. Indeed, when the Brown Lemurs moved off, the Mongoose Lemurs generally followed and they also appeared to respond to the alarm calls of the Brown Lemurs (Harrington, 1978). Albignac (1981) records family groups, usually three or four individuals, occupying home ranges of about 100 ha in the wet lowlands of Ankarafantsika. Petter (1962) saw two groups of L. mongoz in Ankarafantsika, one containing six individuals and the other with eight

Flowers, especially their nectar, were eaten most commonly in Ampijoroa, though fruit leaves and leaf petioles were also taken (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975). Only five plant species were taken during this short study, the flowers of the kapok (Ceiba pentandra) accounted for 64% of feeding time (Tattersall and Sussman, 1975). Fruit was eaten more often in November and December (Andriatsarafara, 1988).

Further work by Tattersall (1976, 1977a) on the island of Ndzouani indicated that the Mongoose Lemur lived in family groups there, the one group of five individuals (two adult sized animals of each sex and a juvenile), that apparently did not fit with this social structure, was thought to be the result of twinning at the birth season before the last. However, in Mohéli, over half the 22 groups counted contained at least two apparently adult individuals of both sexes and there was even one group containing four adult sized males two adult sized females and a juvenile, and these were not likely to be family units based on pair-bonding (Tattersall, 1976, 1977a).

Infants are probably born in mid-October both on Anjouan and on Madagascar (Tattersall, 1976). Females can give birth every year (E. Simons, in litt; Schmidt 1986). On Anjouan, L. mongoz of 14-16 months of age had usually attained adult size and coloration but were not yet sexually mature (Tattersall, 1976).

L. mongoz is found in only one protected area, Ankarafantsika, and this is being encroached by clearance for pastures, by charcoal burners and, to a lesser extent, by clearing for crops (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989). The reserve is not managed and there are not enough staff to protect the area adequately (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989).

On the Comoro Islands, though the lemurs are protected by law this is not enforced (Tattersall, 1977b). The children there commonly catch infant lemurs, often by killing the mother (Tattersall, 1977b). Although local customs protect them from being hunted for food, the influx of Malagasy with a taste for lemurs may mean that they are no longer safe from hunters (Tattersall, 1983). Surveys by Tattersall in 1982 on the island of Ndzouani found that even the cloud forests, which had been relatively untouched eight years earlier were extensively encroached and that lemurs were drastically less in evidence (Tattersall 1983). The area of secondary habitat, in which the lemurs survived quite adequately had also diminished to a great extent (Tattersall, 1983). Human population on Ndzouani had increased from 250 per sq. km in 1974 to 350 per sq. km in 1982 this included several thousand immigrants from Madagascar, many of whom had settled in the areas adjacent to the forest (Tattersall, 1983). In 1988, an expedition from the University of East Anglia reported that the only forest remaining in Ndzouani was on the steep peaks and valleys of the central highlands. Most of this was underplanted with bananas and grazed to varying degrees; primary forest remained in only the very steepest areas (Waters, 1989). The abundance of lemurs on Moili had also declined between 1974 and 1982 and there were considerably more areas cleared of any vegetation that could support lemurs (Tattersall, 1983). In 1982, Tattersall (1983) considered the position of the Mongoose Lemur critical on Ndzouani and becoming precarious on Moili; it is unlikely to have become anything but worse since then. Members of the 1988 UEA expedition considered that the density of lemurs on both islands had been further reduced since 1982 but they have no figures to substantiate this observation (I. Thorpe, pers. comm.). A cyclone struck the island of Moili in January 1983 and this was reported to have had a devastating effect on the vegetation apparently extensive brush fires followed it (Tattersall, 1983; I. Thorpe, pers. comm.). This will not have improved the lemurs' chances of survival there. There appears to have been a recent increase in the frequency of cyclones hitting the Comoros and these may be more important in reducing lemur habitat than is deforestation by man (I. Thorpe, pers. comm.).

The Mongoose Lemur is found in Ankarafantsika Nature Reserve but this Reserve needs adequate protection and management. The World Bank and the Department of Water and Forests are planning a management programme for Ankarafantsika (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989). Nicoll and Langrand (1989) make the following suggestions for the protection of the Nature Reserve: the guards in the area need at least three motorbikes so that they can patrol the Reserve more effectively; the cutting of firebreaks would protect the forest from burning; reforestation programs would provide the local people with fuel and building material so that no more of the forest within the reserve is cut down. In addition, education of the local people about the importance of the Reserve and how the destruction of the forest will adversely affect their lives could help ensure that the area remains intact (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989).

On the Comoro Islands the lemurs are protected by law, it has been illegal to kill lemurs or keep them without a license since 1974, and exports are restricted to a maximum of 10 females and 20 males each year (Tattersall, 1977b). In addition, destruction of the vegetation within 15 m of a watercourse is illegal (Tattersall, 1977b). Unfortunately, the authorities of the Comoros do not have the resources to enforce the laws. Education of the local people as to the importance of the forests and the interest of the lemurs would help with their protection (Tattersall, 1977b). However, the establishment of adequately guarded and managed forest reserves may be the only way to ensure the survival of the Mongoose Lemur (and L. fulvus mayottensis) on the Comoro Islands (Tattersall, 1983).

Surveys are needed to find the actual range of the Mongoose Lemur and estimates of population numbers should be made so that suitable and adequate conservation measures can be proposed.

All species of Lemuridae are listed in Appendix 1 of the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Trade in them, or their products, is subject to strict regulation and may not be carried out for primarily commercial purposes.

All Lemuroidea are listed in Class A of the African Convention, 1969. They may not, therefore, be hunted, killed, captured or collected without the authorization of the highest competent authority, and then only if required in the national interest or for scientific purposes.

Malagasy law protects all lemurs from being killed or captured without authorization. It is, however, very difficult to enforce this legislation.

Some of the ISIS (June, 1989) records for L. mongoz do not distinguish between the Mongoose Lemur and the Crowned Lemur (which they record as L. mongoz coronatus). However, there are at least 53 individuals recorded as L. mongoz mongoz and 75% of these are captive born. Duke Primate Center has the largest collection, listed as 19 males, 14 females and two unknown by ISIS and confirmed by Katz (in litt). Wilde et al, 1988 report 44 individuals in European Zoos (only eight of these are included in the ISIS figures). There arc also four individuals in Paris Zoo (J.-J. Petter, in litt.) and two males at Tsimbazaza in Madagascar (M. Pidgeon and G. Rakotoarisoa, in litt.) which are not included in either sets of figures above. There are, therefore, around 94 individuals in captivity. Whatever the present numbers, this species has the poorest breeding record in captivity of any of the lemurs in this genus (Schaaf and Stuart, 1983; E. Simons, in litt.). Schmidt (1986) reports that between 1976 and 1981 only 2-9% of all captive L. mongoz females gave birth and only 0-2% of them had surviving young; hardly any second generation births occurred. Schaaf and Stuart (1983) failed to find any reason for the breeding failure of this species. Duke Primate Center has been most successful at breeding the Mongoose Lemur, three adult females with young were imported in 1982 and these still bear young each year (E. Simons, in litt.). Duke Primate Center is coordinating a breeding programme for the Mongoose Lemur (E. Simons, pers. comm.).

REMARKS

The Mongoose Lemurs on the Comoros were almost certainly taken there from Madagascar, Petter et al (1977) suggest that the fishermen of Mahajanga (Majunga) introduced them. Lemur coronatus was, until quite recently, considered to be a subspecies of L. mongoz, but they are now regarded as two separate species (Jenkins, 1987). L. mongoz weighs around 2 kg. It is sexually dichromatic. Females are generally graybrown on their upperparts with bushy white cheeks and beard and a dark face. Males are gray with pale faces and they have bushy, reddish brown cheeks and beard. The underparts of both sexes are white to pale brown. Tattersall and Sussman (1975) have observed a darker faced, pale bearded male variant in Madagascar. For a more detailed description of the Mongoose Lemur see Petter et al (1977), Tattersall (1982) and Jenkins (1987). On Madagascar this species is called dredrika or gidro while it is known as komba on the Comoro Islands (Tattersall, 1982).