Adaptation is Key to Survival: Part 2

Different Dietary Strategies

The term ‘niche partitioning’ is important to know here because it is plausible that these different species of lemurs undergo specialization by varying underlying physiological adaptations to different aspects of leaf digestion – influence the ability of a species to adapt (Guevara et al. 2021). For example, the greater bamboo lemur and the eastern lesser bamboo lemur focuses their dietary on bamboos (Guevara et al. 2021).

The weasel sportive lemur of the eastern rainforests and Anjiamangirana sportive lemur shows lesser selectivity in leaf choices. It is important to note that these sportive lemurs are very active, and they are leaping locomotor style.

Another lemur species that incorporate more fruits in their diets are the sifakas species.

Tree-Dwelling Lifestyle

Most lemurs are adapted to the tree-dwelling lifestyle, and this causes many species to be well-adapted to moving from tree to tree. However, some species have evolved impressively to adapt to the mode of locomotion due to their tree-dwelling lifestyle. Take sifakas species for an example, they have long, powerful hind limbs and an unique method of locomotion called “vertical clinging and leaping”. This “vertical clinging and leaping” is a move similar to that of parkouring.

It is not just the sifakas species that has a powerful limb, most lemurs have really strong back legs that allow them to jump between trees. The Sifakas can jump up to a distance of 10 meters. Their long tails also help them to keep their balance. Which is why, trees are an important commodity for these native primates as they spend most of their times in trees, with the exception of the ring-tailed lemurs.

Activity Patterns

Different species of lemurs has different activity patterns, take the ring-tailed lemurs for an example, a troop of ring-tailed lemurs would assemble in open areas to sunbathe in a unique sun-worshipping position (Ring Tailed Lemur – Facts, Habitat, Diet, Pictures 2021). Not only that, but the ring-tailed lemurs are diurnal (active during the day), which is different than most species of lemurs (nocturnal). Although, the ring-tailed lemurs prefer day-activities, they are able to go about in the night during emergency times.

Since, most lemurs are nocturnal and tree-dwellers, this means that they spend most of their time in the trees. For example, mouse lemurs sleep aloft during the day and hunt at night for insects, fruit, flowers, and other plants (Mouse Lemurs | National Geographic 2010).

In summary, different species of lemurs are very well-adapted to its environment in the island of Madagascar. Lemurs are either nocturnal or diurnal (I am looking at you King Julien) depending on the species and most of them are tree dwelling species, and some go about at the ground (again, I am looking at you King Julien).

References

Ames, H 2018, ‘Adaptations of Lemurs’, Sciencing, viewed <https://sciencing.com/adaptations-lemurs-8484264.html>.

Atlanta, Z 2017, ‘Ring-tailed Lemur | Zoo Atlanta’, zooatlanta.org, viewed <https://zooatlanta.org/animal/ring-tailed-lemur/>.

Guevara, EE, Greene, LK, Blanco, MB, Farmer, C, Ranaivonasy, J, Ratsirarson, J, Mahefarisoa, KL, Rajaonarivelo, T, Rakotondrainibe, HH, Junge, RE, Williams, CV, Rambeloson, E, Rasoanaivo, HA, Rahalinarivo, V, Andrianandrianina, LH, Clayton, JB, Rothman, RS, Lawler, RR, Bradley, BJ & Yoder, AD 2021, ‘Molecular Adaptation to Folivory and the Conservation Implications for Madagascar’s Lemurs’, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 9.

‘Mouse Lemurs | National Geographic’ 2010, Animals, viewed 28 September 2023, <https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/mouse-lemurs#:~:text=Behavior>.

‘Ring Tailed Lemur – Facts, Habitat, Diet, Pictures’ 2021, Animal Spot, viewed <https://www.animalspot.net/ring-tailed-lemur.html>.

Schenkel, G 2019, ‘What Types of Animals in the Tropical Rain Forest Are Herbivores?’, Sciencing, viewed <https://sciencing.com/types-tropical-rain-forest-herbivores-8082290.html>.

Wikimedia Commons, ‘[File:Propithecus vertical clinging and leaping.svg – Wikimedia Commons]’, viewed 1 October 2023, <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Propithecus_vertical_clinging_and_leaping.svg/1280px-Propithecus_vertical_clinging_and_leaping.svg.png>.