Crowned lemur facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Crowned lemur
Male
Female both in Ankarana Reserve
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification
Distribution of E. coronatus
Synonyms
Lemur coronatus J. E. Gray, 1842 Lemur chrysampyx Scheuermans, 1846

The crowned lemur (Eulemur coronatus) is a special type of lemur found only on the island of Madagascar. These amazing animals are about 31 to 36 centimeters (about 12 to 14 inches) long. They weigh around 2 kilograms (about 4.4 pounds). Their tail is quite long, usually 42 to 51 centimeters (about 16 to 20 inches).

Meet the Crowned Lemur!

Crowned lemurs live in the dry forests at the very northern tip of Madagascar. They mostly eat flowers, fruits, and leaves. Scientists believe there are between 1,000 and 10,000 crowned lemurs left. Most of them live in a place called the Ankarana Plateau. Some also live on Montagne d'Ambre.

These lemurs are easy to spot because of a unique brown-orange "crown" on their heads. Female crowned lemurs have a gray body with an orange crown. Males are a darker reddish-brown with a crown that is black and orange.

Crowned lemurs can live for about 20 years. They are ready to have babies when they are about 20 months old. Usually, babies are born in late September or early October. This is after the mother has been pregnant for about 125 days.

Crowned lemurs are part of the group of animals called Primates, just like humans! This means they have special features like thumbs that can grasp things. They also have great eyesight that helps them see depth. Plus, they are very smart! Like other lemurs, they have long, thin arms and legs. They also have a slightly longer nose and a special "grooming comb" made from their front teeth.

Their long tail helps them balance when they jump between tree branches. It's also important for talking to other lemurs in their group. Crowned lemur groups are often led by a female. These lemurs are mostly active during the day, but they also look for food at night sometimes.

Where Do They Live?

Crowned lemurs live only in the northern part of Madagascar. Their home stretches from the very top of the island, called the Cap d'Ambre Peninsula. It goes south to the east side of the Mahavavy River. Their range also goes east, north of Sambava, along the Manambato River.

Their Environment

You can find crowned lemurs in different kinds of forests. They live in the tropical dry forests of the Ankarana Reserve. They also live in the rainforests of Montagne d'Ambre, which are at a medium height. They can be found from sea level up to about 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) high.

Crowned lemurs sometimes share their home with another type of lemur called Sanford's brown lemur (Eulemur sanfordi). You can tell them apart by their colors. Sanford's brown lemurs are more gray and brown. They don't have the V-shaped crown that crowned lemurs do. Male Sanford's lemurs also have white fur around their ears and cheeks, which crowned lemurs don't have.

The crowned lemurs in Ankarana Reserve are very special. They are the only lemurs there known to walk across the super-sharp tsingy. This is a type of eroded limestone rock found in the national park. They cross these rocks to get into the forest in the morning. Then, just before sunset, they leave the forest to sleep safely in the canyon forest in the middle of these rock fields.

Images for kids

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  Female

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  Female

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  Female

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  Juvenile male