The behavioral repertoire of the black-and-white ruffed lemur, Varecia variegata variegata (Primates: Lemuridae).
A stable social group of 7 semifree-ranging black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata) was studied for 4 months to catalog the behavioral repertoire of this species. Observations focussed on particular aspects of behavior were conducted before and after this 4-month period to supplement information gathered. Behavior in 11 major categories is detailed: postures, terrestrial locomotion, arboreal locomotion, feeding behavior, vocalizations, scent-marking, affinitive social behavior, agonistic social behavior, play behavior, sexual behavior, and parental behavior. Ruffed lemurs frequently used body positions and locomotor patterns unusual among lemurids, including bipedal hanging and long-descent leaps. These behaviors reinforce dental evidence that Varecia are among the most frugivorous of the Malagasy lemurs. Low intragroup cohesion, infrequent social interaction, and antiphonal use of several long-distance vocalizations suggest that ruffed lemurs naturally exhibit fission-fusion sociality. Social structure based on interindividual familiarity probably extends across foraging parties for several of the diurnally active lemurs; however, thus far only Varecia seems likely to exhibit fission-fusion sociality analogous to that seen in spider monkeys and chimpanzees.
Pereira
M E
ME
Duke University Primate Center, Durham, N.C.
Seeligson
M L
ML
Macedonia
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005684:Gait; D007900:Lemur / Q000502:physiology*; D007901:Lemuridae / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D010332:Paternal Behavior; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011187:Posture; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012919:Social Behavior; D014828:Vocalization, Animal