Hubbard's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur hubbardorum) lives in dry forests across Western Madagascar. It feeds on fruits and leaves. Its conservation status is Endangered.
Fascinating facts about the Hubbard's Sportive Lemur
- Hubbard's sportive lemur lives exclusively in the dry transitional forest of Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park, a narrow band bounded by the Onilahy River to the north and the Mangoky River to the south. This limited range means the entire known distribution of the species is confined to that strip of forest. Because the park is the only place where suitable habitat occurs, any loss of this area directly threatens the whole population.
- An adult Hubbard's sportive lemur measures about 51 to 59 cm in total length, with the tail contributing 23 to 25 cm of that size. These dimensions are typical for a sportive lemur and suit its arboreal lifestyle in the park's dry transitional forest. The relatively long tail helps maintain balance while leaping between branches in this habitat.
- The IUCN classifies Hubbard's sportive lemur as endangered, noting that habitat loss, forest fires and unsustainable hunting are the main threats to its survival. A focused survey over 18 nights recorded 234 sightings, and extrapolation from that effort suggests the park holds between 16,500 and 18,000 individuals. This modest population size underscores the species' vulnerability to ongoing environmental pressures.
- Scientists identified Hubbard's sportive lemur as a separate species in 2006 when genetic testing revealed it was not the same as the red-tailed sportive lemur. The mitochondrial DNA sequencing showed a clear genetic break, prompting taxonomists to describe it as new to science. This discovery meant the animal received its own scientific name and formal recognition, distinguishing it from its close relatives in Madagascar's dry forests.
- The original designation for the species was L. hubbardi, but that spelling did not comply with zoological naming rules. In 2009 the error was corrected, and the epithet was changed to L. hubbardorum to properly honour the namesake. This amendment aligned the name with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, ensuring the species is cited correctly in all scientific literature.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeWestern Madagascar
HabitatDry forests
DietFruits and leaves
About the Hubbard's Sportive Lemur
In the moonlit forests of Madagascar, the Hubbard's Sportive Lemur embarks on a nocturnal dance, its large, round eyes shining like lanterns as it leaps with effortless ease from tree to tree. With a soft, woolly coat and a twitching nose, this diminutive primate navigates the shadows with a quiet confidence, its long hind legs coiled and springing with a gentle, elastic power. As it moves through the darkness, its very existence is a poignant reminder of the fragility and beauty of life in the wild, a treasure worthy of our protection and preservation.
Hear the Hubbard's Sportive Lemur, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
