Survival of a wild ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) with abdominal trauma in an anthropogenically disturbed habitat

Authors

  • Anneke Moresco Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, 95616. Current address [correspondence] Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St. Denver, CO 80205.
  • R. Scott Larsen Wildlife Health Center and Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, 95616 Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St. Denver, CO 80205.
  • Michelle L. Sauther Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309
  • Frank P. Cuozzo Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309 Department of Anthropology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 58202
  • Ibrahim A. Youssouf Jacky Faculty of Sciences, University of Toliara, Toliara (601)
  • James B. Millette Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/mcd.v7i1.9

Keywords:

lemur, survival, injury, strepsirrhine, prosimian, Beza Mahafaly, blessure, Prosimien, Lemur catta, Madagascar, survie

Abstract

Soft tissue injuries are rarely reported in wild primates as these heal fast, are not obvious, and are rapidly scavenged or decompose after death. An adult female ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) was found to have a chronic gastrointestinal fistula in Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar. She was observed monthly for 13 months until her remains, which showed evidence of dog predation, were found. Until then, she was in good body condition, had gained weight from the previous year and was observed to exhibit normal behaviour and produce an infant. This report documents a wild strepsirrhine primate able to survive significant soft tissue injury in an anthropogenically disturbed habitat.

 

RÉSUMÉ

Il est rare que des blessures dans les tissus mous soient signalés chez les primates vivant à l’état sauvage car ces blessures guérissent rapidement, sont moins visibles ou que les animaux eux-mêmes se décomposent ou sont rapidement mangés par d’autres animaux après leur mort. Une femelle adulte de lémur catta (Lemur catta) a été trouvée avec une fistule gastro-intestinale chronique. Elle avait été observée vivante tous les mois pendant 13 mois avant que nous ne trouvions son cadavre, qui montrait des signes de prédation par des chiens. Jusque-là, elle était en bonne condition physique, avait pris du poids par rapport à l’année précédente, montrait un comportement normal et avait donné naissance à un petit. Ce rapport documente une lésion grave des tissus mous sur un Prosimien qui a été capable de survivre dans un habitat perturbé par l’homme.

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Published

06-06-2012

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2012)

Section

Short Notes

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