Black Lemur Facts
- This remarkable creation of Nture and evolution most frequently goes by the descriptive common name of the Black Lemur. Unlike the majority of animal species around the world, though, it presently has no other broadly accepted general title by which it’s known.
- Inside of the scientific community, however, the wonder does have another name. That’s the technical appellation. Unfortunately, though, that’s somewhat difficult for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because the animal holds the official moniker of Eulemur macaco.
- The amazing mammal received that name due to the efforts of Carl Linnaeus himself. The esteemed Swedish Zoologist accomplished the first official recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. He managed that scientifically noteworthy deed in the year 1766.
- Most experts previously believed two subspecies of the animal existed. Later research, however, subsequently altered that belief, with two new individual species being recognized. The marvel nevertheless remains a highly fascinating creature on its own merits.
- Regrettably, the Black Lemur possesses a small population that seems to be continuing to decline. That unfortunate fact further appears to hold true throughout its range. Accordingly, the IUCN currently lists it as Critically Endangered on its Red List of Threatened Species.
- It presently faces multiple threats to its continued existence as a species. Most of these dangers stem from the actions of mankind. Its most immediate threats include deforestation and the exotic pet trade. It also now faces the looming danger posed by ongoing climate change.
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Black Lemur Physical Description
The stunning Black Lemur quickly captivates those individuals fortunate enough to encounter one, especially in the wild. It does so primarily due to its appearance though, not sheer physical size. That’s due to the fact that, like most of its many kindred, it’s not an overly large primate.
Visually, it truly distinguishes itself dramatically from its numerous relatives. That’s because this specific creature displays one of the most extreme degrees of the physiological characteristic of sexual dimorphism of any primate. In its case, this trait usually manifests itself in appearance.
The bodies of the males of the primate typically display a predominantly black pattern of coloring to the fur. This background understandably serves as the origin of the common name. Despite this, though, some individuals present a background consisting of a dark chocolate brown hue.
Meanwhile, the females of the specis generally develop a sharply different pattern of color. In the case of this gender, the background most often consists of several shades of brown. This mixture typically forms a blending of light, medium chestnut, and even orange-brown on some occasions.
Males of the startling Black Lemur also manifest large black tufts of hair on their ears. Yet the females show white tufts in the exact same location. The creature additionally separates itself from others of its kind in an incredible way. It’s the only primate other than man to have blue eyes!
Both genders of this fabulous primate present virtually identical features otherwise. The average total head-to-tail length equals roughly 38 in (96 cm). However, the lengthy tail actually accounts for more than half of that. In terms of mass, though, the intriguing animal rarely exceeds 5 lb (2.25 kg)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Primates
- Family: Lemuridae
- Genus: Eulemur
- Species: E. macaco
Black Lemur Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
Lamentably, the amazing Black Lemur evolved as native to an extremely limited section of the surface of the globe. That exact location won’t surprise anyone who knows much about lemurs, though. That’s because this species, like all of its known relatives, lives in only one region on earth.
This remarkable creation of Nature, along with its related species, developed as endemic almost solely to the breathtaking island of Madagascar. A few specimens do appear on tiny nearby islands, however. This setting places the entire species, and related one’s, very near the continent of Africa.
Even within this already restricted zone of habitation, this creature only lives on the extreme northern part of the main island. It also displays decidedly strong preferences regarding its choice of habitat type. It principally makes its home in regions of undisturbed tropical rainforests.
The animal nonetheless also displays some moderate degree of adaptibility in this respect, at least. A comparatively small percentage of individuals choose to live in local tree farms, and even on farmland. Sadly, though, this frequently brings the lemur into interaction with human beings.
The Black Lemur evolved to be active during both day and night periods. It principally forages for its food at night, though. While technically omnivorous, plants form the vast majority of its diet. Fruit comprises roughly 87% of that fare. It also eats leaves, flowers, and the rare invertebrate.
It’s also a highly social animal, as well. The majority of individuals tend to choose to live as social creatures. These do so in groups numbering somewhere between 7 and 10 individuals. These small groups additionally tend to follow a single female, with infighting occurring only rarely.
Species Sharing Its Range
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