Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur, Lepilemur sahamalaza
SAHAMALAZA SPORTIVE LEMUR
Lepilemur sahamalaza
Geographic Distribution and Habitat
The Sahamalaza sportive lemur, also referred to as the Sahamalaza Peninsula sportive lemur, is native to Madagascar. This large island, located off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, split from the African continent approximately 180 million years ago and was separated from the Indian subcontinent 90 million years ago. Such long isolation explains the rarity of the island’s plant and animal species and accounts for the fact that Madagascar is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world. Indeed, 90% of the species found on the island are endemic, including the critically endangered Sahamalaza sportive lemur.
This beautiful creature inhabits the last remaining forests of the Sahamalaza Peninsula in northwestern Madagascar—hence its name. The region experiences a cool and dry season from May to October, followed by a hot and rainy season from November to April. The peninsula is part of a transition zone between the Sambirano region and the deciduous forest region. It extends from the Andranomalaza (Maetsamalaza) River in the north to the Maevarano River in the south.
Human activities in the region, such as bushfires and tree felling, have considerably degraded and fragmented the natural habitat of many unique species, putting them in grave danger of extinction, despite the fact that the area has been officially protected since 2007. The forests where the Sahamalaza sportive lemur is found have been severely altered. There are noticeable differences in tree density, composition, tree heights, and canopy cover. Typically, individuals of any species tend to select their habitat according to their body mass, their diet, their social organization, as well as weather patterns. It is therefore logical that the Sahamalaza sportive lemurs prefer the higher tree density and diversity of primary and mature secondary forests with greater canopy cover to fragmented forests. However, so far, Sahamalaza sportive lemurs seem to have adapted to this particularly degraded forested area.
Since pelage coloration is not a reliable factor to classify species, especially nocturnal mammals, scientists conducted molecular studies to determine the sequencing of marker genes and identify the various sportive lemurs. Conflicting results for lemurs in northwestern Madagascar, within the range of what was once considered to be the gray-backed sportive lemur, soon became apparent. It was determined that there were sufficient generic differences between the individuals living north of the Tsiribihina River, south of the Betsiboka River, and from the Sahamalaza Peninsula, to classify them as distinct species. This is how the Samahalaza sportive lemur was ultimately classified as a unique species.
Size, Weight, and Lifespan
Sahamalaza sportive lemurs are 10 inches (20 cm) long from head to toe with an equally long tail.
Males weigh 1.5 to 1.9 pounds (700-900 grams) on average, whereas females are a bit heavier at 1.9 to 2.4 pounds (900-1100 grams).
No specific data was found related to lifespan of the Sahamalaza sportive lemurs; however based on the current knowledge of other sportive lemur species, we can assume that they can live approximately 8 years in the wild, and possibly up to 15 years in captivity.
Appearance
Sahamalaza sportive lemurs are medium in size, cute, and nocturnal. Their face is round with large, forward-facing orange eyes that are perfectly adapted to night vision. Their snout is pointy with a small black, moist rhinarium. A wet nose indicates that this animal’s sense of smell is rather sharp since the moisture aids in scent detection; it also helps the animal regulate its temperature. Two rounded ears sit on each side of their head. Their pelage is short, soft-looking looking and a grey/brownish color on the back, head, and limbs, but a creamy color on the belly. Like all lemurs, they have five long digits on their hands and feet. The tip of each digit is flat and covered by a black nail, with the exception of the grooming claw, the second digit on each of their feet. They use this claw to keep their fur clean and rid of parasites. The underside of their hands and feet is bare and has ridges just like ours do.
Lemurs have interesting teeth. They have a toothcomb, which consists of a set of elongated incisors on their lower front jaw, with two incisor-shaped canines on each side of it. Their canines are wider than their incisors but are the same length. They use their toothcomb to groom their fur. Their premolars and molars have rounded cusps, which are perfect for crushing and grinding the vegetation they eat.
Their hind limbs are much longer than their front limbs—an adaptation for vertical leaping, one of the ways they move in the canopy.
Diet
Sahamalaza sportive lemurs are folivorous and have been observed to feed on at least 42 tree species. They especially like leaves of the pea vine and mango evergreen species, as well as leaves from the Madagascar fireweed. They spend about 18% of their time foraging.
Eating leaves doesn’t produce a lot of energy; indeed, digesting cellulose is harder than digesting food high in sugar. This is why these lemurs spend a lot of time resting (50%) during their activity hours.
To compensate for the lack of nutrients from foliage alone and to meet their energetic needs (especially during the cold season), they add fruit from trees in the fig family, spiders, insects, and insect larvae to their diet. The results of current studies don’t indicate whether the amount of supplemental food items varies depending on the season and weather conditions.
Behavior and Lifestyle
These lemurs are arboreal. As mentioned earlier, their hind limbs are longer than their front limbs and are thereby perfectly adapted to vertical leaping, which they do when moving through the canopy; but while on the ground, they hop laterally on their feet like kangaroos.
Since they are nocturnal, they are active and vocal as soon as the sun goes down. Their typical home range covers approximately 3.4 acres (1.4 ha) of forest, and they travel about 1,125 ft (343 m) per night on average while foraging alone.
During the day, they rest and sleep in liana or tree tangles—typically in flowering trees in the cashew family called Sorindeia madagascariensis. They also sleep near the entrance of tree holes so as to feel the sunlight. These tree holes are very often found in an evergreen shrub called Bridelia pervilleana. Mother and infant share the same sleeping space, but adults otherwise sleep alone.
They tend to be less active during the cold season, and they stay longer at their sleeping sites when it rains.
Sahamalaza sportive lemurs are able to interpret alarm calls of other animals and run for shelter if the message indicates a predator is in the vicinity.
Sahamalaza sportive lemurs are solitary. Current knowledge indicates that the territory of males does not overlap with that of other adult males. In fact, these animals rarely interact with one another, unless they are of the opposite gender or with juveniles. Most of the interactions observed and documented are those of an adult male chasing another male out of his territory or a mother and infant engaged in grooming and bonding. It is interesting to note, though, that they don’t exhibit any marking behavior typically used to delineate a territory or advertise for a mate.
Because they do not live in groups, they need to find adequate cover to protect against predators. They choose trees with large crowns or small trees with dense vegetation to remain hidden while sleeping or resting, which they do about 50% of the time.
There is no indication that the behavior of males versus females is any different, except for the fact that mothers tend to their infants and are not solitary during the time needed to raise their offspring.
Typically, alarm calls are uttered in response to predation threats. In the case of Sahamalaza sportive lemurs, there is no documentation related to predator attacks and, therefore, no evidence of alarm calls. Since these animals are solitary, the use of alarm calls doesn’t make much sense anyway because they would, in effect, tell the predator where they are hiding. However, during an experiment during which calls of predators such as the fossa, harrier hawk, and coua were played back over loudspeakers, Sahamalaza sportive lemurs reacted by being a lot more vigilant—(scanning the sky if they heard a hawk, for example), freezing and sheltering in place, or rushing into a tree hole following the playback of a fossa. It was also noted that Sahamalaza sportive lemurs pay attention to other species’ predator alarm calls and react accordingly. This ability to interpret another animal’s vocalizations is called “interspecific communication”.
Otherwise, the Sahamalaza sportive lemurs rarely vocalize themselves, although field observations show they have a similar number of calls as other sportive lemurs. Primatologists suggest that they may have sex-specific calls, but it is difficult to connect calls with an exact context because these lemurs don’t live in groups. The recordings of Sahamalaza sportive lemurs were done during the dry season, when they are less vocal, and only include loud calls (when animals are not in close proximity to one another), so more calls may be documented in future studies. So far, the calls identified are: bark, modified bark, scream, chuck, squeak, ouah, tchen-tchen, high-pitched, squeal, and growl. Some of these can be uttered as single elements or strung together to form compounded calls.
Barks and modified barks seem to be used mostly during aggressive encounters. So do high-pitched calls. Screams seem to be associated with aggressive circumstances as well as neutral ones—like when an animal is coming out of a sleeping hole or feeding. Chucks are heard in any context. Squeaks are produced by juveniles when they are near an adult and when play-fighting. Ouah calls are produced by individuals while traveling and are rarely answered; they are typically followed by tchen-tchen calls. Growls are only produced by males, generally after a fight. As for squeals, they are exchanged between two individuals sitting far apart.
Scientists think that a male may defend a territory that encompasses the territories of several females (maybe up to 5) and that the reproduction model may be polygynous (i.e., one male mating with several females).
What scientists observed and were surprised to find out is that Sahamalaza sportive lemur babies are born in September (a month earlier than other sportive lemurs). Based on the assumption that gestation takes about 5 months (same as for other sportive lemur species), they concluded that the mating season falls between April and May.
Females give birth to one offspring that they nurse for about four months. Juveniles stay with their mothers until they are mature at two years old, at which point they disperse to live on their own.
The current data on Sahamalaza sportive lemurs’ reproduction is insufficient, so more studies are needed.
As foliage and occasional fruit consumers, these lemurs contribute to tree trimming and seed dispersal, thereby maintaining plant diversity and the health of the forests they live in.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Sahamalaza sportive lemur as Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2020), appearing on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
To date, the Sahamalaza sportive lemurs have shown resilience and are able to adapt to the degraded forests of their native Sahamalaza Peninsula; unfortunately, as deforestation progresses, it will become increasingly difficult for the species to survive. The population has already undergone a reduction of about 80% in the last twenty years due to habitat degradation and hunting pressures. The animals are hunted during daytime when they are resting and most vulnerable. Although they live within a protected area, forest clearing for agriculture, tree felling for charcoal, and timber harvesting for construction intensify. These activities are expected to cause another 80% decline in the current population within the next 20 years.
Furthermore, the geographic range they occupy is so fragmented already that it is preventing free movement of the existing populations and thereby will have a lasting impact on future births and deplete the genetic diversity of the species.
The Sahamalaza sportive lemur is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), an international agreement between governments whose goal is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
To date, there are no recent or robust population estimates. The last figures (3,800 to 4,700 individuals) are more than ten years old, which complicates conservation management efforts. Hence, a need for more research and collaboration with the local authorities to save these beautiful creatures.
Scientists recommend that new population assessments be conducted both in the wet and dry seasons in order to clearly understand the effects of climate change, weather patterns, and forest fragmentation on population density, movements, and reproduction. Reforestation plans should be put in place to enlarge the available Sahamalaza sportive lemurs’ habitat by creating corridors to reconnect forest patches. Translocation of individuals should be considered as well to ensure the genetic pool does not become depleted. Establishing research stations and working with the local population and administration are also necessary to prevent further forest degradation.
The Association Européenne pour l’Etude et la Conservation des Lémuriens (AEECL) has been working hard for the conservation of the species for a long time with different organizations, and in 2001, the Sahamalaza Peninsula was declared a UNESCO biosphere. AEECL continues to collaborate with Madagascar National Parks and local communities, working on various initiatives such as their community-based natural resource management program.
Mikajy Natiora is a Madagascar-based conservation non-profit association, created in 2013 by Malagasy biologists. The founders of the association are composed of multidisciplinary biologists working to protect the country’s endemic fauna and flora. Mikajy Natiora works to protect Madagascar’s endemic biodiversity by combining ecological research and local community involvement in the area surrounding Andilambologno forest, Sofia region, in northwestern Madagascar.
- IUCN Redlist assessment 2020
- A Re-evaluation of the Northern Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis) Population at Montagne des Français, and a Review of Its Current State of Conservation in the Protected Area (2020) – Carolyn A. Bailey, Timothy M. Sefczek, Brittani A. D. Robertson, Lucile Rasoamazava, Valérie F. Rakotomalala, Jean D.N. Andriamadison, François Randrianasolo, Aubin Andriajaona and Edward E. Louis, Jr.
- Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur, Lepilemur sahamalaza, Vocal Communication: Call Use, Context and Gradation (2019) – Isabella Mandl, Christoph Schwitzer, Marc Holderied
- Anti-predator behaviour of Sahamalaza sportive lemurs, Lepilemur sahamalazensis, at diurnal sleeping sites – Melanie Seiler, Christoph Schwitzer, Marc Holderied
- Habitat selection and use in the Critically Endangered Sahamalaza sportive lemur Lepilemur sahamalazensis in altered habitat – Melanie Seiler, Marc Holderied, Christoph Schwitzer
- Home Range Size and Social Organization of the Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur, Lepilemur sahamalazensis – Seiler, Melanie, Holderied, Marc, and Schwitzer, Christoph
- Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the sportive lemurs (Lepilemur, Primates) – Nicole Andriaholinirina, Jean-Luc Fausser, Christian Roos, Dietmar Zinner, Urs Thalmann, Clément Rabarivola, Iary Ravoarimanana, Jörg U Ganzhorn, Bernhard Meier, Roland Hilgartner, Lutz Walter, Alphonse Zaramody, Christoph Langer, Thomas Hahn, Elke Zimmermann, Ute Radespiel, Mathias Craul, Jürgen Tomiuk, Ian Tattersall, Yves Rumpler
- The E!ects of Climate Seasonality on Behavior and Sleeping Site Choice in Sahamalaza Sportive Lemurs, Lepilemur sahamalaza – Isabella Mandl, Marc Holderied, Christoph Schwitzer
- Interspecific Semantic Alarm Call Recognition in the Solitary Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur, Lepilemur sahamalazensis – Melanie Seiler, Christoph Schwitzer, Marco Gamba, Marc W Holderied
- Updated population density estimation and distribution range of the Critically Endangered Sahamalaza sportive lemur, Lepilemur sahamalaza – Isabella Mandl, Naina Rabemanajara, Christoph Schwitzer, Leslie Wilmet
Written by Sylvie Abrams, Sep 2025