Eastern Lesser Bamboo Lemur
Hapalemur griseus
Conservation Status
Near ThreatenedMammalia · Primates · Lemuridae
About
The eastern lesser bamboo lemur, also known as the gray bamboo lemur, the gray gentle lemur, and the Mahajanga lemur is a small lemur endemic to Madagascar, with three known subspecies. As its name suggests, the eastern lesser bamboo lemur feeds mainly on bamboo. The lemurs of the genus Hapalemur have more manual dexterity and hand–eye coordination than most lemurs. They are vertical climbers and jump from stalk to stalk in thick bamboo forests.
Fun Fact
Eastern lesser bamboo lemurs eat bamboo that contains enough cyanide to kill most animals — they consume 12 times the lethal dose for their body weight daily, and how they detoxify it remains a scientific mystery.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Bamboo forests and rainforests
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
12-16 years
Threats
- Illegal Logging
- Wildfire
- Deforestation