Masoala Woolly Lemur

Avahi mooreorum

French: Avahi des Moore / German: Masoala-Wollmaki / Spanish: Lémur lanudo de Moore

Other common names: Moore's Woolly Lemur

Taxonomy. Avahi mooreorum Lei et al., 2008,

Madagascar, province of Antsiranana, Masoala National Park (approximately 15° 40° S, 49° 57° E).

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. NE Madagascar, currently known only from Masoala National Park.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 28.4-33 cm, tail 29.4-37.2 cm; weight 920 g. The Masoala Woolly Lemur is slightly lighter and slightly longer in body length than the Eastern Woolly Lemur (A. laniger). The overall pelage color is a mottled mixture of chocolate-brown and light brown on the dorsum, gradually lightening toward the base of the tail, which is cream-colored. A distinct whitish patch, characteristic of the genus, is present on the posterior surface of each hindlimb. The ventral surface, including the underside of limbs, is gray, and the tail is reddish-brown. The head is darker than the back, and a facemask is apparent, although not as pronounced as in other eastern species of Avahi species. There is no noticeable eyebrow, but a whitish patch is present under each mandible. Ears are not readily seen, blending in as they do with the rest of the head.

Habitat. Primary rainforest.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Masoala Woolly Lemur is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. The conservation status of A. mooreorum was not assessed on The IUCN Red Listin 2008 because it was first described in that year. However, at the IUCN/SSC Lemur Red-Listing Workshop held in July 2012, A. mooreorum was assessed as endangered, in large part because of the destruction of parts ofits range in Masoala National Park through illegal logging operations that began in 2009. Further surveys are required to confirm the northern extent ofits distribution within this protected area and possibly in intervening forest fragments between Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve (where the Eastern Woolly Lemur has been confirmed to occur) and the Masoala Peninsula.

Bibliography. Andriantompohavana et al. (2007), Lei et al. (2008), Mittermeier et al. (2010).