Aug

25

Golden Bamboo Lemur

August 25, 2002 | 2 Comments

Golden bamboo lemurHapalemur aureus: The golden bamboo lemur wasn’t known to science until Dr. Patricia Wright and others discovered it in 1985. Golden bamboo lemurs live in extended family groups of 2 to 6 individuals: an adult male and female plus subadult juveniles and infants. Females give birth to single infants in November and December. Goldens are diurnal, and feed on new shoots of bamboo.

They’re Cyanide-Proof: Golden bamboo lemurs feed almost exclusively on giant bamboo, preferring the tender new shoots and leaves, which are not eaten by any other lemur. New bamboo shoots contain high levels of cyanide — easily enough to kill an animal this size, but somehow the golden bamboo lemur is able to live on this diet. Talk about a niche — no one is challenging this animal over dinner!

Conservation status: Critically Endangered
Range: 15-80 hectares

(These photos are from my trip to Madagascar in 2000.)

Golden bamboo lemur-2


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. Lonianhota on April 20, 2009 4:24 pm

    I love the hapalemur aureus! It is so cute as a baby!!!

  2. Emily on October 27, 2009 6:03 am

    I think this thing is kinda ugly lookin’

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