Nosy Be Sportive Lemur

Fascinating facts about the Nosy Be Sportive Lemur

• The Hawks' sportive lemur lives only on Nosy Be island and has been recorded solely in Lokobe National Park and the nearby degraded forest, giving it an extremely limited range. Its total occupied area is estimated at under 72 km² and it is found at elevations of just 12-35 m. The habitat is chiefly lowland rain forest, a zone that still endures a marked dry season.
• This lemur's distribution is confined to less than 72 km² of lowland rainforest on Nosy Be, restricted to heights between 12 and 35 m above sea level. It inhabits only Lokobe National Park and the surrounding degraded forest, where the dominant vegetation is lowland rain forest that still undergoes a pronounced dry period.
• Surveys in Lokobe National Park have recorded an average density of 63.2 individuals per km². The lemur's choice of daytime refuges differs with forest condition; in dense primary forest it prefers tree holes, while in more open deciduous patches it uses tangled vegetation.
• Adults reach a total length of roughly 50 to 68 cm, with the tail accounting for 22 to 27 cm of that measurement, placing them among the moderately large sportive lemurs. Their fur is a light brownish-gray overall, while the upper half of the back displays a noticeably lighter reddish-brown shade.
• The species was formally described in 2006 after researchers gathered genetic samples and morphometric measurements during fieldwork in 2003 and 2004, establishing it as a distinct taxon. The specific epithet tymerlachsoni was chosen to honour Howard and Rhonda Hawk for their support. A later correction in 2009 altered the name to L. tymerlachsonorum, but the original spelling was reinstated once the assumed husband-wife basis proved mistaken.

Sources

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• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Nosy Be Sportive Lemur

In the twilight forests of Madagascar, the Nosy Be Sportive Lemur weaves its nocturnal magic, a diminutive, large-eyed sorcerer that dances through the trees with an effortless, ethereal grace. As it moves, its long, thin tail streams behind like a banner, while its soft, woolly fur blends seamlessly into the dappled shadows, rendering it all but invisible. This enchanting, critically endangered creature is a fleeting glimpse of wonder, a reminder of the fragile beauty that still clings to our imperiled planet.

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