Western lesser bamboo lemur

The western bamboo lemur ( Hapalemur occidentalis), also called Sambirano bamboo lemur or Western or Sambirano lemur is a primate of the group of lemurs. He was removed in 2001 as a separate species from the Eastern bamboo lemur.

Features

Western bamboo lemurs are the smallest representative of the bamboo lemurs, they reach a body length 27-28 centimeters, to which another 36 to 39 centimeters long tail comes. Your weight is about 0.7 to 1.0 kilograms. Their fur is dyed at the top in a light gray-brown, face and belly are lighter. His fur color is so monotonous as that of the Eastern bamboo lemurs. The ears are like all bamboo lemurs small and round and the muzzle short.

Distribution and habitat

Western bamboo lemurs are like all lemurs before only on the island of Madagascar, where they occur in the western, northwestern and northeastern parts of the island. In the West, their range extends south to the Natural Park Tsingy de Bemaraha, in the north- west it includes the Sambirano region and extends north to the region Ankarana. Areas in the northeastern Madagascar as the Masoala peninsula, which were previously awarded to the Eastern bamboo lemur, should instead be also inhabited by the species, so that probably extends southward their range on the east coast to the Lake Alaotra. Their habitat are both the deciduous forests of the west coast and the rain forests of the east coast of Madagascar.

Way of life

Relatively little is known about the habits of these animals. They are diurnal or crepuscular, their loud calls start at 16.30 clock and can be heard up into the night. In the trees they move away vertically climbing or jumping, in search of food, they often come to the floor. You probably live in family groups of up to six animals, the groups are made up of one male, one female and the common pups together. Their diet consists mainly of bamboo, in addition they eat as well as flowers.

Threat

Main danger for the Western bamboo lemur is the destruction of its habitat by fire clearance, the production of charcoal and mining. Area, they are also hunted intensively. The IUCN estimates that the overall population ( three generations) has fallen by more than 30% in the last 27 years and lists the species as "endangered" ( vulnerable ).