Primates in Peril

Northern Sportive Lemur
Lepilemur septentrionalis Rumpler and Albignac, 1975
Madagascar
(2008, 2010, 2012, 2014)
Edward E. Louis Jr. & John R. Zaonarivelo
Originally described based on cytogenetic and
morphometric characteristics (Rumpler and Albignac
1975), the taxonomic status of the northern sportive
lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis) has since been
supported by more detailed cytogenetic, morphogenetic
and especially molecular data (Ravoarimanana et al.
2004; Andriaholinirina et al. 2006; Louis et al. 2006),
and subsequently accepted in recent taxonomic
revisions of primates (Groves 2001, 2005) and lemurs
(Mittermeier et al. 2008; Mittermeier et al. 2010). With
the taxonomic revision confirming L. septentrionalis
and L. ankaranensis as distinct species, the perceived
range of the northern sportive lemur was drastically
reduced; limited to a few degraded patches of dry
forest in the Sahafary region just south of Antsiranana.
The number of animals observed during surveys has
decreased dramatically over the past ten years. The first
significant survey of the northern sportive lemur was
performed in 2001 by I. Ravoarimanana, following by
another one in 2007 by A. Zaramody in the Andrahona,
Ankarakataova, and Sahafary regions. The population
was then estimated at about 120 individuals, mainly
concentrated in the Sahafary area.
Expeditions by Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and
Aquarium (OHDZA) and the Madagascar Biodiversity
Partnership (MBP) in 2010 and 2011 verified the
continued existence of the northern sportive lemur,
albeit noting a tremendous decline in the Sahafary
classified forest. Furthermore, the surveys did not
detect a single animal in the Analalava forest where it
had previously been seen in 2005. A follow-up survey
in July 2012 to Analalava did however document one
individual (Ranaivoarisoa et al. 2013). Fortunately,
Ranaivoarisoa et al. (2013) also confirmed the presence
of the northern sportive lemur in Montagne des
Français (MDF) in 2010, but could only identify 19
individuals across its range based on capture and direct
visual observations. Further surveys of the Montagne
des Français region in 2012–2013 by OHDZA and MBP,
including the previously known habitats of Sahafary
and Analalava classified forests through to its northern
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Northern sportive lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis)
(Illustration: Stephen D. Nash)
extent in MDF, documented only 52 L. septentrionalis
individuals, with 95% of these lemurs located in MDF.
The most recent population estimates based on only
capture surveys in 2013 in the Montagne des Français
area provided the following population estimates:
1) Abatoire - 7 individuals; 2) Andranonakomba - 2
individuals; 3) Ampamakiampafana - 11 individuals; 4)
Ambatobe - 2 individuals; and Berambo - 5 individuals.
This is a total of 27 individuals. The species was also
documented at Anketrakala and Ampitsinjozatsambo
in 2012, which were not recently surveyed. Surveys in
the region continue to estimate the population around
50 individuals in 2015.