The southern lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur meridionalis), also known as the southern bamboo lemur, rusty-gray lesser bamboo lemur,[4] and southern gentle lemur, is a species of bamboo lemurendemic to southern Madagascar.
Taxonomy
It was originally considered to be a subspecies of the eastern lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus), and is of similar size, but is darker and redder than the eastern lesser bamboo lemur, with a shorter tail and different vocalizations.[5] The type locality is the forestry station of Mandena, and it is further supported as a separate species by recent mitochondrial DNA research.[5][6] It is possible that hybridisation with H griseus occurs on the Andringitra Massif at altitudes of 1,600 m (5,200 ft).[1]
It is thought that this species is cathemeral, (i.e. it has sporadic and random intervals of activity during the day or night) and inhabits subtropical moist lowland and montane forests up to 1,600 m (5,200 ft). They live in groups of four to seven and sometimes there is more than one breeding female. Latrine behaviour has been observed where adults urinate, in turn, at specific sites followed by juveniles – it is thought this behaviour could be territorial or has some other communication function.[1] In Madena forest groups forage on the ground eating various grasses in areas of sparse tree cover and swamps, and have also been observed in reed beds along the estuaries of Evahtra.[1]