Greater Bamboo Lemur Prolemur simus (Gray, 1871) Madagascar (2002, 2004, 2006) The largest of Madagascar's unique bamboo-eating lemurs, the greater bamboo lemur has all but disappeared throughout its former range.

Formerly in the genus Hapalemur, Groves (2001) placed the greater bamboo lemur in the genus Prolemur based on a suite of distinctive dental and chromosomal characteristics (Vuillaume-Randriamanantena et al. 1985; Macedonia and Stanger 1994; Stanger-Hall 1997). As its common name implies, the greater bamboo lemur is the largest of Madagascar’s bamboo-eating lemurs (Albrecht et al. 1990). Genetic studies further support its separation from the other bamboo lemurs and suggest that Hapalemur may, in fact, be more closely related to the genus Lemur (Rumpler et al. 1989; Macedonia and Stanger 1994; Stanger-Hall 1997). Historical records (Schwarz 1931) and sub-fossil remains confirm that it was once widespread throughout the island (Godfrey and Vuillaume-Randriamanantena 1986; Wilson et al. 1988; Godfrey et al. 1999). Documented populations are very patchily distributed and restricted to the south-central portion of the country’s eastern rain forests, including those of Kianjavato, Ranomafana and Andringitra National Parks (and the corridor between them), Evendra (near Ivato, southeast of Andringitra), Karianga (near Vondrozo), and possibly the forest fragments south of Ifanadiana (Meier and Rumpler 1987; Wright et al. 1987; Sterling and Ramaroson 1996; Goodman et al. 2001b; Irwin et al. 2005). Recent unpublished reports also indicate its presence in the forests of Karianga, northwest of Manombo (E. E. Louis Jr. pers. comm.) and north up to the region of Moramanga (Dolch et al. 2004; Rakotosamimanana et al. 2004). Shoots, young and mature leaves, and pith of the bamboo Cathariostachys madagascariensis can account for as much as 95% of the diet (Tan 1999, 2000). Other food items include flowers of the traveler’s palm (Ravenala madagascariensis), and fruits of Artocarpus integrifolia, Ficus spp. and Dypsis spp., and leaves of Pennisetum clandestinum (Meier and Rumpler 1987). Observations of animals in the wild and captivity suggest that P. simus is cathemeral (Santini-Palka 1994; Tan 1999, 2000). They live in polygynous groups of seven to 11 animals occupying home ranges of 60 ha or more (Sterling and Ramaroson 1996; Tan 1999, 2000). The greater bamboo lemur is threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal logging, the cutting of bamboo, and hunting with slingshots (Meier 1987; Meier and Rumpler 1987). It has vanished from most of its former range and only a few relatively small populations have been documented thus far in the southeast. Hunting and habitat destruction are the presumed causes. It occurs in the national parks of Ranomafana and Andringitra (although limited by suitable microhabitat within these protected areas). The population in Ranomafana National Park is estimated at no more than 250 adult individuals (P. C. Wright pers. comm.). Opportunities exist to extend protection to lemur populations in neighboring forests, as well as to develop a fairly long corridor of protected forests between Ranomafana and Andringitra, within which it is presumed other greater bamboo lemur populations will be found. Jörg U. Ganzhorn & Steig Johnson

References Albrecht, G. H., P. D. Jenkins and L. R. Godfrey. 1990. Ecogeographic size variation among the living and subfossil prosimians of Madagascar. Am. J. Primatol. 22: 1–50. Arrigo-Nelson, S. J. and P. C. Wright. 2004. Survey results from Ranomafana National Park: New evidence for the effects of habitat preference and disturbance on the distribution of Hapalemur. Folia Primatol. 75: 331–334. Dolch, R., R. D. Hilgartner, J.-N. Ndriamiary and H. Randriamahazo. 2004. “The grandmother of all bamboo lemurs”: evidence for the occurrence of Hapalemur simus in fragmented rainforest surrounding the Torotorofotsy marshes, Central Eastern Madagascar. Lemur News 9: 24–26. Godfrey, L. R. and M. Vuillaume-Randriamanantena. 1986. Hapalemur simus: Endangered lemur once widespread. Primate Conserv. (7): 92–96. Godfrey, L. R., W. L. Jungers, E. L. Simons, P. S. Chatrath and B. Rakotosaminana. 1999. Past and present distributions of lemurs in Madagascar. In: New Directions in Lemur Studies, B. Rakotosaminana, H. Rasimanana, J. U. Ganzhorn and S. M. Goodman (eds.), pp.19–53. Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers, New York. Godfrey, L. R., E. L. Simons, W. L. Jungers, D. D. DeBlieux and P. S. Chatrath. 2004. New discovery of subfossil Hapalemur simus, the greater bamboo lemur, in western Madagascar. Lemur News 9: 9–11. Goodman, S. M., V. R. Razafindratsia, V. Schütz and R. Ratsimbazafy. 2001b. Les lémuriens. In: Inventaire biologique du Parc National de Ranomafana et du couloir forestier qui la relie au Parc National d’Andringitra, S. M. Goodman and V. R. Razafindratsia (eds.). Centre d’Information et du Documentation Scientifique et Technique, Antananarivo 17: 231–243. Irwin, M. T., S. E. Johnson and P. C. Wright. In press. The state of lemur conservation in southeastern Madagascar: Population and habitat assessments for diurnal lemurs using surveys, satellite imagery and GIS. Oryx 39. Macedonia, J. M. and K. F. Stanger. 1994. Phylogeny of the Lemuridae revisited: Evidence from communication signals. Folia Primatologica 63: 1–43. Meier, B. 1987. Preliminary report of a field study on Lemur rubriventer and Hapalemur simus (nov. species) in Ranomafana-Ifanadiana 312 Faritany Fianarantsoa, Madagascar, July 1986–January 1987. Unpublished report to Ministry of Scientific Research, Antananarivo. Meier, B. and Y. Rumpler. 1987. Preliminary survey of Hapalemur simus and of a new species of Hapalemur in eastern Betsileo, Madagascar. Primate Conserv.(8): 40–43. Rakotosamimanana, B., R. R. Ralaiarison, R. C. Ralisoamalala, T. M. Rasolofoharivelo, V. Raharimanantsoa, R. M. Randrianarison, J. G. Rakotondratsimba, D. R. W. Rasolofoson, E. O. Rakotonirainy and T. M. Randriamboavonjy. 2004. Comment et pourquoi les lémuriens diurnes disparaissent peu à peu dans les forêts d’Ambato et de Moramanga (région de Moramanga) Madagascar? Lemur News 9: 19–24. Rumpler, Y., S. Warter, B. Ishak and B. Dutrillaux. 1989. Chromosomal evolution in primates. Hum. Evol. 4: 157–170. Schwarz, E. 1931. A revision of the genera and species of Madagascar Lemuridae. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1931: 399–428. Stanger-Hall, K. F. 1997. Phylogenetic affinities among the extant Malagasy lemurs (Lemuriformes) based on morphology and behavior. J. Mammal. Evol. 4: 163–194. Sterling, E. J. and M. G. Ramaroson. 1996. Rapid assessment of the primate fauna of the eastern slopes of the Rèserve Naturelle Intégrale d’Andringitra, Madagascar. In: A Floral and Faunal Inventory of the Eastern Slopes of the Rèserve Naturelle Intégrale d’Andringitra, Madagascar, with Reference to Elevational Variation, S. M. Goodman (ed.). Fieldiana: Zool., new series 85: 293–305. Tan, C. L. 1999. Group composition, home range size, and diet in three sympatric bamboo lemur species (genus Hapalemur) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. Int.J. Primatol. 20: 547–566. Tan, C. L. 2000. Behavior and ecology of three sympatric bamboo lemur species (genus Hapalemur) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. Ph. D. thesis, State University of New York, Stony Brook. Vuillaume-Randriamanantena, M., Godfrey, L. R. and Sutherland, M. R. 1985. Revision of Hapalemur (Prohapalemur) gallieni (Standing 1905). Folia Primatol. 45: 89–116. Wilson, J. M., P. D. Stewart and S. V. Fowler. 1988. Ankarana—a rediscovered nature reserve in northern Madagascar. Oryx 22: 163–171. Wright, P. C., P. S. Daniels, D. M. Meyers, D. J. Overdorff and J. Rabesoa. 1987. A census and study of Hapalemur and Propithecus in southeastern Madagascar. Primate Conserv. (8): 84–87. Suggested citation: Ganzhorn, J. U. and Johnson, S. 2007. Greater Bamboo Lemur, Prolemur simus. In: Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2006–2008, R. A. Mittermeier et al. (compilers), p.4. Unpublished report, IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), and Conservation International (CI), Arlington, VA.