Back Bancekol (Phaner) AVK Вилочели лемури Bulgarian Lèmur forcat Catalan Phaner CEB Gabelstreifenmakis German Phaner Spanish Phaner Basque لمور چنگال‌نشان Persian Phaner French למור פאנר HE

Fork-marked lemur

Fork-marked lemur
Lemur with black stripes over its eyes clings to a vertical tree branch.
Pale fork-marked lemur (P. pallescens)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Cheirogaleidae
Genus: Phaner
J. E. Gray, 1870
Type species
Lemur furcifer
Species
Map of Madagascar, off the southeast coast of Africa, with a range covering parts of the west, northwest, north, and northeast.
Distribution of Phaner:

red = P. furcifer[2]
green = P. pallescens[3]
purple = P. parienti[4]
orange = P. electromontis[5]

Fork-marked lemurs or fork-crowned lemurs are strepsirrhine primates; the four species comprise the genus Phaner. Like all lemurs, they are native to Madagascar, where they are found only in the west, north, and east sides of the island. They are named for the two black stripes which run up from the eyes, converge on the top of the head, and run down the back as a single black stripe. They were originally placed in the genus Lemur in 1839, later moved between the genera Cheirogaleus and Microcebus, and given their own genus in 1870 by John Edward Gray. Only one species (Phaner furcifer) was recognized, until three subspecies described in 1991 were promoted to species status in 2001. New species may yet be identified, particularly in northeast Madagascar.

Fork-marked lemurs are among the least studied of all lemurs and are some of the largest members of the family Cheirogaleidae, weighing around 350 grams (12 oz) or more. They are the most phylogenetically distinct of the cheirogaleids, and considered a sister group to the rest of the family. Aside from their dorsal forked stripe, they have dark rings around their eyes, and large membranous ears. Males have a scent gland on their throat, but only use it during social grooming, not for marking territory. Instead, they are very vocal, making repeated calls at the beginning and end of the night. Like the other members of their family, they are nocturnal, and sleep in tree holes and nests during the day. Monogamous pairing is typical for fork-marked lemurs, and females are dominant. Females are thought to have only one offspring every two years or more.

These species live in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from dry deciduous forests to rainforests, and run quadrupedally across branches. Their diet consists primarily of tree gum and other exudates, though they may obtain some of their protein and nitrogen by hunting small arthropods later at night. All four species are endangered. Their populations are in decline due to habitat destruction. Like all lemurs, they are protected against commercial trade under CITES Appendix I.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference CITES was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference IUCN_Phaner_furcifer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference IUCN_Phaner_pallescens was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference IUCN_Phaner_parienti was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference IUCN_Phaner_electromontis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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