New cases of vertebrate predation by the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), with reference to differences from Eulemur species and other primates

Abstract

Vertebrate predation by the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) has rarely been observed, although this species is one of the most intensively studied lemur species. In this paper, we report four new cases of vertebrate predation by ring-tailed lemurs at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar, and summarize the characteristics of this behavior. In all cases, females preyed on chameleons in the rainy season. They caught the chameleons with their hands, killed them by biting off the heads, and subsequently ate the bodies. While they were consuming their prey, they were approached by other females, one of whom snatched the prey away. In contrast, males were not interested in the prey, except one juvenile. This study showed that vertebrate predation behavior by ring-tailed lemurs seems to be (1) one involving the craniocervical killing bite, (2) female-biased, (3) low in frequency compared to closely related Eulemur species, and (4) seasonal.