Lemur fulvus fulvus E. Geoffroy, 1796
Tattersall (1982) considers that this subspecies occurs in at least three distinct areas of Madagascar, though Petter et al (1977) and Petter and Petter-Rousseaux (1979) show it in only two areas. All these authors agree that L. f. fulvus occurs in the north-west, from north and east of the Betsiboka River to around Analava. Tattersall (1976) reports another small population, sympatric with L. macaco, further north just south of Beramanja to the east of the Galoka mountains. The other area where the Brown Lemur is found is in the east, southwards from approximately the latitude of Toamasina (according to Petter et al, 1977 and Tattersall, 1982) or from Maningory River (according to Petter and Petter-Rousseaux, 1979) to at least Andasibé (Tattersall, 1982) or to as far as the Mangoro River (Petter et al, 1977; Petter and Petter-Rousseaux, 1979). L. f. fulvus has also recently been reported in Manongarivo Special Reserve (Raxworthy and Rakotondraparany, 1988; J. Andrews, pers. comm.) though the former authors only provisionally assigned Subspecific status to the animals they saw. In addition, it has been reported in Bora Special Reserve (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989; O. Langrand, in litt.), which suggests it may be present, though perhaps scarce, along more of the north-west coast than has been thought previously. Nicoll and Langrand (1989) also report its presence in Ambohitantely Special Reserve, which is in central Madagascar between 18°04'S and 18°14'S latitude and 47°12'E and 47°20'E longitude.
There are no estimates of numbers. Ganzhorn (1988) calculated densities of 170 individuals per sq. km in Ankarafantsika from Harrington's (1975) data. Pollock (1979) estimates densities of 40 to 60 individuals per sq. km in Analamazaotra, Vohidrazana and Fierenana forests near Andasibé (Perinet) in eastern Madagascar. The forests within the range of this subspecies are being destroyed so it is likely that numbers are declining (Sussman et al, 1985), but L. f. fulvus is not considered to be threatened at present (St Catherine's Workshop, 1986).
Harrington (1975) studied L. f. fulvus between February and July 1969 in Ankarafantsika in north-western Madagascar. The animals were active from sunrise to sunset, but were also frequently moving and feeding in the dark (Harrington, 1975). They were almost completely aboreal, spending less than 2% of their time on the ground. Most movement was quadrupedal on horizontal branches, though they also progressed by clinging and leaping between vertical branches (Harrington, 1975). Leaves, buds, flowers and fruits were eaten (Harrington, 1975).
Harrington's (1975) two study groups both had 12 members- one contained four adult males, three adult females, one subadult of each sex, two juvenile males and one juvenile female; while the other had four adults of each sex, one subadult female, two juvenile females and one juvenile male. It was estimated that the juveniles were born in October of the previous year (Harrington, 1975). There were few agonistic interactions within the groups, even during the mating season in May, and no dominance hierarchies could be discerned (Harrington, 1975). The home range of one group was at least 7 ha (Harrington, 1975). Though the ranges of the two groups overlapped, the members of each tended to avoid the other and their loud vocalizations may have served to maintain a distance between them (Harrington, 1975). In the same forest near Ampijoroa, Albignac (1981) reports groups of at least 12 individuals in a home range of more than 100 ha, possibly as much as 200-300 ha. He reports that they were more numerous and had smaller ranges in the wetter lowlands in the area than they were in his sandy study site.
In the east, there have been some brief observations of L. f. fulvus. Pollock (1979) reports group sizes of between three and ten individuals in the forests around Andasibe. In the same area, Ganzhorn (1988) observed Brown Lemurs in groups with a median size of two (range one to six) when they were feeding on leaves, and in larger groups with a median of six individuals (range 2 to 20) when they were feeding on fruits. L. f. fulvus frequently slept in eucalyptus and pine plantations near Andasibe, they also ate the flowers of both species. Ganzhorn (1985,1987) suggests that this ability of the Brown Lemur to use new and unfamiliar food resources may contribute to its wide distribution in Madagascar.
As for the species as a whole, the main threat to L. f. fulvus is forest destruction. The eastern forests are being cleared principally by slash and burn agriculture while the drier forests in the west are threatened mostly by fires. These are set each year to promote new grass growth for the numerous livestock in the area. Hunting of the Brown Lemur has been observed in Ambohitantely Special Reserve (M. Guis pers. comm. to O. Langrand.)
L. f. fulvus is found in Ankarafantsika Nature Reserve and Manongarivo and Bora Special Reserves in the north-west and in Analamazaotra and Ambohitantely Special Reserve in the east and center of Madagascar (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989; J. Andrews, pers. comm.; Raxworthy and Rakotondraparany, 1988). The Department of Water and Forests with the World Bank have a management programme underway for Ankarafantsika Reserve. This includes more guards with better equipment to patrol the area, a reforestation programme, the cutting of fire breaks and a conservation/education plan for the local people (Nicoll and Langrand, 1989). Ambohitantely Reserve, which contains one of the few remaining vestiges of the central plateau forest, is the focus for IUCN/WWF Project 1912. Studies of the flora and fauna, carried out by Antananarivo University, concentrate on plants of medicinal, ornamental and, possibly, economic, use and on the effects of fire on the vegetation. The other Reserves all need management programs to ensure the survival of the lemurs within them.
A status survey would be useful to determine the distribution and numbers of this subspecies and a study should be conducted to determine if the east and west forms are distinct (St. Catherine's Workshop, 1986).
(June, 1989) lists 91 individuals in captivity of which 87% are captive born. There are a further 63 animals in European institutes that are not included in the ISIS lists (Wilde et al, 1988). Institutes in Madagascar hold seven L. f. fulvus and they have bred in Parc Tsimbazaza (A. Katz, M. Pidgeon, G. Rakotoarisoa, in litt ).
Unlike most subspecies of L. fulvus, there is relatively little difference in pelage color between the sexes in L. f. fulvus. Upper parts and tail are grayish-brown, cheeks and beard are white, muzzle and forehead are black, underparts are creamy-tan. The females tend to be lighter in color than the males. There is considerable variation in pelage color within populations, but, generally, individuals from the east are darker (Tattersall, 1982). body weight is between 2.1 and 4.2 kg (Tattersall 1982). Malagasy names are gidro in the north-east, boromitoko in the Beramanja region and varika or varikosy in the east (Tattersall, 1982).