24.

Zombitse Sportive Lemur

Lepilemur hubbardi

French: Lépilémur de Hubbard / German: Zombitse-Wieselmaki / Spanish: Lémur saltador de Hubbard

Other common names: Hubbard's Sportive Lemur

Taxonomy. Lepilemur hubbardi Louis et al., 2006,

Madagascar, province of Toliary, Zombitse National Park (c.22° 53’ S, 44° 41” E).

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. SW Madagascar, known only from the Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park region, N of the Onilahy River and S of the Fiherena River. Additional surveys are needed to determine the N, W, and E boundaries of the distribution.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 23-24 cm, tail ¢.24 cm; weight 990 g. A medium-sized to large species ofsportive lemur. The dorsal pelage is dark reddish-brown around the shoulders and upper back, gradually becoming a lighter reddish-white to gray toward the base of the tail and hips. The underside is entirely white, and the tail is uniformly blonde or reddish-blonde. The face is grayish-brown around the muzzle and eyes, with a reddish-brown dorsal surface crown, and the fur around the neck is lighter, forming a reddish-blonde collar. Two phenotypes have been observed, possibly the male and the female butthis has yet to be confirmed.

Habitat. Dry forest.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, butitis presumably largely folivorous.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. Nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. This species has not been studied in the wild.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. However, at the IUCN/SSC Lemur Red-Listing Workshop held in July 2012, L. hubbardi was assessed as endangered. The only protected area in which this species is known to occur is the Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park.

Bibliography. Louis, Engberg et al. (2006), Mittermeier et al. (2010).