Varis
| Varis | ||||||||||||
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Black and White Vari ( Varecia variegata ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Varecia | ||||||||||||
| Gray , 1863 |
The Varis ( Varecia ) are a genus from the primate group of lemurs . A distinction is made between two types, the
- Black and white Vari ( Varecia variegata ) and the
- Red Vari ( Varecia rubra ).
features
Varis are the largest members of the common makis family . They reach a head body length of 43 to 57 centimeters, the tail is 60 to 65 centimeters longer than the trunk, it is densely hairy. Their weight is around 2.5 to 4 kilograms. The fur of the Varis is long and soft, it is patterned in black and white in the black and white Vari and reddish-brown in the Red Vari. The head is characterized by the long, dog-like snout with the long tongue, the tufts of ears and the ruff.
distribution and habitat
Varis are native to Madagascar , their range includes the forests in the east of the island. Their habitat are the primary rainforests , where they occur up to an altitude of 1300 meters.
Lifestyle and diet
Varis are diurnal or twilight-active tree dwellers that rarely come to the ground. Their locomotion is rather slow, they mostly climb on all fours, but they can also jump well. When foraging for food, they sometimes hang upside down on a branch and only hold on to their hind legs.
Social behavior is variable; in addition to small family groups with 2 to 5 animals, there are also larger associations of several males and females, which can contain up to 16 animals. They mark their home areas with the secretion of their anal glands. Another important role in communication is played by loud calls, which are mainly heard in the evening and are intended to make other groups aware of their own presence.
The food of the Varis consists mainly of fruits, in addition they consume leaves, seeds and nectar. Their long tongues are well adapted to licking nectar, and they also play an important role in the pollination of plants, such as the travelers' tree .
Reproduction
In terms of reproduction, the Varis differ significantly from the other representatives of the Common Makis . In contrast to these, which only have one pair of teats, variant females have three pairs. Varis usually give birth to two or three young, and the gestation period is significantly shorter at 90 to 100 days. Reproduction is seasonal, as with other lemurs, with births between September and October.
At birth, the female builds a nest out of twigs and leaves in which the newborns spend their first weeks of life. Sometimes the mother carries her around with her mouth and "parks" her in sheltered places while she is looking for food. The young are weaned at four to five months and are sexually mature towards the end of the second year of life. Varis can live over 30 years in human care.
threat
The main threats to the Varis are the destruction of their habitat and hunting. Since they are dependent on primary forests as a habitat, they are very sensitive to disturbances from slash and burn, deforestation and mining. In addition, their large size, daytime activity, and loud calls make them easy targets for hunters. The populations of both species are still in decline, the areas of distribution are greatly reduced and fragmented. The IUCN lists the Red Vari as "high risk" ( endangered ) and the Black White Vari now "critically endangered" as a ( critically endangered ).
Systematics
The Varis are part of the family of common Makis (Lemuridae), which also includes the ring-tailed lemur . Within this family they form the sister group of all other living genera.
The two color variants were traditionally listed as subspecies, but in more recent literature they are usually referred to as separate species. The genus Pachylemur , which died out around 1000 years ago, was closely related to the Varis .
literature
- Nick Garbutt: Mammals of Madagascar. A Complete Guide. Yale University Press, New Haven CT 2007, ISBN 978-0-300-12550-4 .
- Thomas Geissmann : Comparative Primatology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin et al. 2002, ISBN 3-540-43645-6 .
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
