Hapalemur aureus, Meier, 1987

Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Lemuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 90-141 : 127

5.

Golden Bamboo Lemur

Hapalemur aureus

French: Lémur doré / German: Goldener Bambuslemur / Spanish: Lémur del bambu dorado

Taxonomy. Hapalemur aureus Meier et al., 1987 ,

Madagascar, 6-25 km from the village of Ranomafana (c.21° 16’ 38” S, 47° 23° 5" E).

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. SE Madagascar, in scattered localities between Ranomafana National Park (where it has been seen as far N as Miaranony and Bevoahazo), and as far S as Andringitra National Park and in the forest corridor that connects them, with the distribution possibly extending to the NE as far as the region of Betsakafandrika; there has recently been an unconfirmed sighting of this species to the S in the Vevembe Forest (W of Vondrozo).

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.34 cm, tail c.41 cm; weight 1.3-1.5 kg. The Golden Bamboo Lemuris the largest member of the genus. It is generally reddish or grayishbrown above and darker on the shoulders, back, crown, and tail—the latter darkening toward the tip. The ventral coat and inner limbs are a paler golden-brown. The head is rounded with short white ears that are tipped with golden-brown hairs but not tufted. A pink nose contrasts with the black muzzle, which is surrounded by a ring of orange to golden-yellow fur that extends to the cheeks and throat in the form of “mutton chops.” Eyebrows are golden. The brachial gland is less close to the shoulder and the antebrachial gland less close to the wrist than in other species of Hapalemur .

Habitat. Primary tropical moist mid-altitude and montane rainforest associated with bamboo at elevations of 625-1625 m. The Golden Bamboo Lemur is sympatric with the Gray Bamboo Lemur ( H. griseus ranomafanensis) in Ranomafana National Park, the Southern Bamboo Lemur ( H. meridionalis ) in Andringitra National Park, and the Greater Bamboo Lemur ( Prolemur simus ) in both protected areas.

Food and Feeding. Based on studies at Ranomafana National Park, as much as 90% of the diet of the Golden Bamboo Lemur consists of mature bamboo, and the total number of plant varieties eaten is quite low. Young leaves and shoots of giant bamboo ( Cathariostachys madagascariensis, Poaceae ) are most readily eaten, supplemented with bamboo creeper and bamboo grass. The Golden Bamboo Lemur has a remarkable tolerance to the high levels of cyanide found in its diet—levels that would kill most other mammals. Presumably, this tolerance is what allows it to live sympatrically with three other bamboo-eating lemurs (Gray, Southern, and Greater bamboo lemurs), all of which appear to avoid plants containing such high levels of cyanide. Feeding occurs from dawn until late morning and from late afternoon until dark. During these periods, individuals alternate between eating and resting in ¢.30minute intervals.

Breeding. Female Golden Bamboo Lemurs can have up to two consecutive estrous cycles in a year. They mate at night or dawn in July-August. Interbirth interval is about one year. A single young is born in November—-December, at the beginning of the rainy season,after gestation of ¢.137 days. The offspring is altricial (immature and helpless), and it is kept safe in dense vegetation for the first two weeks oflife. For the first ten days after birth, a mother spends most of her time “nesting” with the infant. Later, she parks it while she forages, sometimes as far as 250 m away. A bout of parking may last up to 200 minutes. Siblings also care for infants. As the infant matures, a mother starts to carry her offspring as she forages. Infants begin to move away from their mothers at two weeks of age and chew on non-edible objects by three weeks of age. Weaning takes place before the infant is six months old and completely independent. Infants disperse at three years of age.

Activity patterns. The Golden Bamboo Lemur is arboreal and generally diurnal, although some nocturnal activity also occurs. During the day, it spends most of its time alternating between feeding and resting, with a small fraction of time spenttraveling. There is a distinct resting period between mid-morning and early afternoon. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Golden Bamboo Lemurs live in small groups of 2-8 individuals (average 2—4) that maintain home ranges of up to 30 ha. All areas of the home range are used on a weekly basis, as opposed to usingjust a small core area (as in the Gray Bamboo Lemur ). Individuals travel ¢.365 m/day. The social system seems to be monogamous, and dominance relations between males and females remain ambiguous.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. However, at the IUCN/SSC Lemur Red-Listing Workshop held in July 2012, H. aureus was assessed as critically endangered due to there being less than 250 mature individuals known to exist in the wild. The Golden Bamboo Lemur has a notably small and patchy distribution and typically occurs at low densities. It is threatened mainly by habitat loss due to slash-and-burn agriculture and harvesting of bamboo for local use (e.g. building houses, carrying water, and making baskets). Hunting for food is also becoming a major threat throughoutits distribution area. Chances for its long-term survival now seem considerably worse than only a few years ago. It is known to occur in two national parks ( Andringitra and Ranomafana). The Ranomafana/ Andringitra forest corridor has been proposed as a conservation unit in conjunction with efforts to propagate and re-establish stands of bamboo varieties that serve as food for the Golden Bamboo Lemur . In 2005, the total world population was estimated at less than 2500 individuals.

Bibliography. Arrigo-Nelson & Wright (2004), Garbutt (2007), Glander, Wright, Daniel & Merenlander (1992), Glander, Wright, Seigler & Randrianasolo (1989), Goodman & Ganzhorn (2004a, 2004b), Goodman et al. (2001), Irwin et al. (2005), Lehman & Wright (2000), Meier & Rumpler (1987), Meier et al. (1987), Mittermeier, Langrand et al. (2010), Mittermeier, Tattersall et al. (1994), Mutschler & Tan (2003), Nicoll & Langrand (1989), Pastorini et al. (2002a, 2002b), Rakotondravony & Razafindramahatra (2004), Sterling & Ramaroson (1996), Tan (1999, 2000, 2006), Wright (1986a), Wright & Randrimanantena (1989).

Figures

0. Greater Bamboo Lemur (Prolemur simus), 1. Gray Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur griseus), 2. Southern Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur meridionalis), 3. Northern Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur occidentalis), 4. Lac Alaotra Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis), 5. Golden Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur aureus)

Distribution. SE Madagascar, in scattered localities between Ranomafana National Park (where it has been seen as far N as Miaranony and Bevoahazo), and as far S as Andringitra National Park and in the forest corridor that connects them, with the distribution possibly extending to the NE as far as the region of Betsakafandrika; there has recently been an unconfirmed sighting of this species to the S in the Vevembe Forest (W of Vondrozo).