An adult brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus) at the Duke Lemur Center. Photo courtesy of David Haring, Duke Lemur Center.

Brown lemur, common brown lemur
Eulemur fulvus

Description: The brown lemur is a medium-sized lemur weighing between 4.5 and 5.5 pounds. Both males and females have short, dense coats that are grey-brown on the upperparts and paler and greyer on the underparts. The head is dark-grey to black, with paler patches around the eyebrows, ears, cheeks, and underneath the chin. Eyes are orange-red color. Like all true lemurs, this lemur has binocular vision. The brown lemur moves quadrapedally, but is capable of leaping. These lemurs feed primarily on leaves, but also eat flowers, fruit, and bark.

Brown lemurs communicate with each other using olfactory, vocal, and visual means. Scent glands located at the wrist and throat are used to communicate physical state, location, and individual recognition. Vocal communications are used to maintain group cohesion, indicate territory, and sound the alarm. Body postures and facial expressions also are used to communicate between members of the group. Grooming is used to stay connected with other individuals in the group. Brown lemurs use a "dental comb," formed by their six lower procumbent teeth, to groom themselves and other members of their group.

Life History: Brown lemurs live in multimale-multifemale permanent social groups generally numbering between three and 12 individuals, but groups of 40 individuals have been documented. Breeding occurs seasonally, with mating usually occurring between May and June. The female is pregnant for approximately 120 days, with single offspring born in September and October. The young is weaned at about four to six months of age. Sexual maturity is reached at one-year-old, and brown lemurs can live between 20 and 25 years in the wild.

Habitat: Brown lemurs are arboreal and found in rainforest, moist montane forest, and dry deciduous forest habitats.

Distribution:

One population of brown lemurs is found in eastern Madagascar and another in northwestern Madagascar. Brown lemurs also have been introduced onto the island of Mayotte in the Comoros Islands.

Status: These animals are considered lower risk or near threatened. Habitat destruction is their primary threat. Secondary threats include hunting and trapping for food and capture for the pet trade.

Resources:

Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus) (S. Flannery, The Primata)

Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus) (ARKive, Copyright 2003-2007 Wildscreen)

Brown Lemur (Lemur Center, Duke University)

Eulemur fulvus: brown lemur (Nita Bharti, Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology)