title: Diet and feeding behaviour of the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata) in the Betampona Reserve, eastern Madagascar.
abstract: The feeding behaviour and diet of the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata) was investigated in the Betampona Reserve, eastern Madagascar. The highly frugivorous diet of this subspecies was confirmed - feeding on fruits accounting for 92.0% of feeding records. Most feeding at Betampona was observed at 10-25 m above the forest floor amongst flexible, small (0.5-5.0 cm diameter) and oblique/horizontal (0-45 degrees ) supports. The Varecia spent on average 21.7% (+/- 1.5) of their daily activity budget feeding and employ a variety of postures that enable them to harvest fruits in the rain forest canopy. The suspensory postures were the most important in allowing Varecia to compete with other smaller-bodied frugivores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, and North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Chester, UK. ivoloina@bow.dts.mg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Britt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007900:Lemur / Q000502:physiology*; D008270:Madagascar; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011187:Posture; D013037:Spatial Behavior